Kiwitea County

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 2

Kiwitea County

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Kiwitea County Council was held yesterday, Cr. L. T. McLean, chairman, presiding. Also present were Councillors. W. I*. Shaw, W. G. Clapliam, A. S. D’Ath, J. IT. Williamson, D. Stent, A. E. Shannon and F. E. Tappin. The annual meeting followed the ordinary meeting and Cr. L. T. McLean was re-elected chairman on tho motion of Crs. W. P. Shaw and ,T. 11. Williamson. The clerk, Mr. W. L. Ilesseltine, stated that on no fewer occasions than 21 he had been able to declare Cr. McLean re-elected chairman. On resuming the chair Cr. McLean returned thanks for his re-election and said that with tho co-operation of Mr. Hesseltinc, Mr. Ilallimau and the councillors, his work was a pleasure. Consideration to the estimates for 3940-41 was given, and the rates will be the same ns last year. Correspondence. The following correspondence was dealt with: — From Palmerston North Hospital Board forwarding copy of the board’s financial estimates for the current year. The lovy on the county is £4019 4s.— Councillors were pleased to note that a small reduction had been made. From the secretary, the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, thanking the council for donation toward the funds of tho society.—Received. From the Publie Works Department, with reference to public works fund roads vote 1940/41, and advising that it will be necessary to conserve this year’s funds under the roads vote iu order that the moneys available can be applied to works of the most urgent nature having regard to settlement needs and the desire of the Government to increase primary production. The writer further advised that the current year’s allocation will be substantially less than last year’s, which means that a much smaller sum will be available for new works during the current year. It was stated that the estimates would not be affected as no new works were

contemplated. From tho district engineer, Public Works Department, relative to the annual review of the main highways in tho Nos. 9 and 10 highways districts, and advising that in yiew of tho present financial stringency, tho Main Highways Board had decided that no increaso in mileage, except where minor adjustments are concerned, can be contemplated.—Received. Mr. J. Ilallinan (county overseer) in his report detailed the activities of the employees during the month and reported on the work in hand.

The big filling on the Auputa Road has been completed but this road is now blocked by a number of slips. ThJ tractor-grader has been brought out of Titirangi Road where it was working after having been caught between two slips. Water tables have been cut by this grader on this road for its full length and the deep ruts filled iu. The recent rains have made this road worse than it was-before any work was done on it, ;and-it is impossible to make any further progress with it until the sum-.

On the Main South Road large quantities of spoil and bush camo down blocking the road for four days and a track was finally cut through on Sunday the 12th late in the evening. This road is unsafe for heavy' traffic as the road is narrow in places where the outside of tho road has given way, and it will be some time before tho widening work will be completed, as these widenings will have to bo cut weH back into the solid formation.