WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 13

WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. GENERAL AGENDA, ITEMS. ROAD TO RUSSELL. The monthly meeting of the Wha? ngarei County Council was held yesterday, the chairman, Mr L. Webb pre? siding over,a full attendance pf members. . ; Waimateniß pevelbpments. •' The District Engineer advised that a single men’s, camp was being established at Waimatenui, and the work pf widening and metalling would commence shortly. The Public Works Department did not accept liability for removal of fences, legislation, surveys and disposal of spoil. Two bridges would be necessary, and the council was asked whether it would be prepared to contribute. Cr, Blake thought that the co-opera-tion of the settlors could be secured. One bridge he deemed to be essential, but it was doubtful whether the council should finance the other. The matter was left to the riding' member and engineer, who will confer further, with the District Engineer,

Wants Anticipated. The A.A.A. drew attention to the rough state of the Waiotu-Whakapara road and pot-holes in Keay’s Deviation. It was reported that maintenance was being done in both cases. McLeod’s Bridge. - Mr Eonayne advised that construed tion funds for this year would not permit of the replacement of McLeod’s Bridge (Whangardi-Kawakawa highway) being replaced by a more modern structure. He suggested that the council consider the erection of light hand-rails on the existing structure, also the erection of wing fencing, all to be painted white. Or. Elliott expressed disappointment that a new bridge would not be available to replace the old rattling structure. The visibility was good and no accident had ever occurred there. The chairman said that the council must continue to press fqr a new bridge.' Quite a large amount had been available for bridge replacement in the North this year, but only one of the two applications advanced by Whangarei had been granted.

Titoki School Matter. The Titoki School Committee recently ‘brought under the attention of the Education Board the state of the road between the end of the metal and the old Wharekoho school site. The teacher is required, as part of her duties, to convey the children from this locality to school. The committee stated that duing the winter months the nnmetalled portion was impassable Without undue wear and tear on the car. The committee’s representations Wete referred by the Education Board to the council. Or. Blake said that rates ; were collected from the toads. It Would not bo economic to do anything dutihg the winter. ‘ 1 Ngungum Ford Road. A misunderstanding appears to have arisen • over the Ngungurn Ford Bond, concerning which a deputation of settlers waited upon the Hon. E. A. Ransom. The Hon, .T. Bitchenor, Minister of Public Works, advised the council that notes of the prdeeedings hud been, forwarded to. him by hla col-

league. Mr Bite honor wrote confirmation had been received’fofih 'the County Council that it A would edptribute towards’ the metalling of the first 3. miles 60 ehaips'g sunt p£ $l5O, provided the. department would contribute a' like amount. The ipetalling of the section.wpuld cpst>£7oo. Itvwga a desirable worfc, and arrangements would be made to qa account on the estimates for rent year. ,l vV ' " The council ha 4 later ’a letter went pnultlmt.tion on :which its) was that: the on from the 3 miles 60 to the terminus, a total ‘distance of 7 miles 20 chains. If advantage was taken of an offer which had been made the formation of a Hft road (metal-

ling not included) for the was estimated to cost £2400. Mr Bitchener noted that the work was considered a desirable one and that the formation of The road' would no doubt help the native .settlers to increase production, but whether it would be possible to provide for this work also on the estimates, ;could not be decided until relative claims "for consideration had been gone into.' .'' br. Morrison said that at the conference with Mr Ransom the council had been given to understand that all-' it would be required to oontfibitte whuld be £l5O, and that the Public Workk Department would undertake tW cbnstruction and metalling of - the whole length. The intention, he thought, had been to do tho worlc with unfemployed labour, and to obtain- the finance apart from the tion. Fbr the £l5O to come out of 'the year’? allocation would leave little for the rest of the riding;: J The riding matter further with the: Pistriet gineer. ’ ; ■

■< *i*oy Maioly.’ * ". / A further request for assistance:ln carrying out improvements mp ; jtbe' ;■ Helena Bay-Whangaruru Road was re- - reived from the District .- Thip led the chairman '■£A statement concerning the - Public Works Department policy in connee- y tion with handing oyer foij county ,/I maintenance long stretches, of what he { ; termed largely tourist roacUk.. Mr f ' Webb said that 25 miles of . the Bussell- 51 Whangarei highway ran .through..hjs ; ? riding. This was covered with alight coat of shingle, in some places, only six inches thick. Today an expendK ;' |S tore of £IOO in metalling and a further 1 £2OO was required to'put the road.'in decent order. / Between Mokau and ; the county boundary, a distance of 5 15 miles, only three ratepaying settlers f t were located, and it was impossible for the Otonga riding'.’to.' nmintain the road to the standard required, highway had been put in by the Public ; ‘ Works Department without cdusnltihg ; '■ the council ns to its" necessity;; ~ u " - When roads were built bythp ptibljfc 5 Works Department on its bwjg ihitili* ■■■-; tive, said Or. Elliott, he thought that ■■■■,: tho department should carry the itiidhtenancy until at least wn« complete. ' ; v 5 Tt was decided to again appeal lot; assistance form the i partrhent fot maintaining the section of road between Mokau and h