COUNTY AFFAIRS

Northern Advocate, 15 September 1934, Page 10

COUNTY AFFAIRS

WHEN YOU’RE “FORTYISH”

WHANG ARE I COUNCIL MEETS YESTERDAY’S AGENDA ITEMS, DAMAGE BY FLOODING. The Whangarei County Council met yesterday, the chairman, Mr L. Webb presiding. The balance sheet was returned from the Audit Office free of charge. West Coast Route. Control of the Waipu Cove-Manga-wai Road has been handed over to the Whangarei County Council. Cr. A, J, McKay referred to the good work done in providing an all-weather, through route. He understood, however, that the newly laid metal had gone through in places, and attention will be drawn to this. Northland Bridges. No. 1 District Highways Council recently recommended that future bridge renewals be on the basis of £3 for £l, on the ground that councils in the district found it beyond their financial resources to provide contributions on the basis of £2 for £l. In reply, the Main Highways Board stated its inability to depart from the usual bridge subsidy rate, stating that there were seven other districts where the number of lineal feet of bridging per mile exceeded that in respect to the No. 1 district. Flood Damage.

The Public Works Department sought enumeration and further details concerning the various roads in respect of which the Whangarei Council had sought special grants for flood damage. The clerk, replying, drew attention to the serious financial position of the Kiripaka and Otonga ridings, which had been most affected. Owing to the illness of the county eng'ipeer detailed estimates could not be prepared. The chairman said that under present conditions the Helena Bay-Rus-sell Hoad could just be kept passable, but a heavy expenditure was required to deal with the damage done. “I have never seen so much damage done to a road,” commented Cr. J. Morrison. “It was just as though an earthquake had shaken the banks, precipitating them on to the road. So huge were the slips that, if another flood had come before their removal, all the metal would have been washed away.” The Onerahi Town Board requested that the county engineer make an inspection of the main road through the township, where considerable flooding was taking place in places and the drainage at these points required attention* —Referred to the riding member.

Dairy Company Cartage,

The Whangarei Co-operative Dairy Company was granted a concession in regard to the carriage of cream on the Horahora-Pataua Road, where a 2£ton restriction has been imposed. The company undertook not to carry any fertilisers during the period of restriction without a special permit. “Dairy Company trucks seem to tread very lightly on the roads,” commented Cr. J. A. S. Mac Kay. Whananaki Coast Road. Provision is made in the current P.W.D. estimates for metalling the Whananaki coast road, the work to be done with relief labour. In answer to queries made by the district engineer, the county clerk pointed out that, with so miles of roads to maintain in Otonga riding, together with the intention to contribute towards metalling, the Waiotu Block access and Oakura roads, it would be beyond the county’s resources to contribute towards the proposed improvements. To extend the road to join ultimately with Webb’s road, was not considered essential. Settlers had been circularised as to their preparedness to contribute, but so far only one had replied, and until this information was forthcoming nothing could be done. Light Metalling.

The matter of several roads in Mangapai riding recently top-dressed to a depth of six inches has been taken up with the district engineer. Some of the metalling, tire council contends, was carried out on green formation, and in many instances with no regard to the capacity of the foundation to withstand a light coating of metal, with the result that the maintenance of these roads was already beyond the financial resources of the county. Unless the department put on a further three inches of metal, the safety of the roads concerned was considered to be in danger. In reply, Mr Ronayne asked for information regarding the financial position of the ridings, the classification and maximum weights of the loads carried, and what expenditure had been incurred by the council on any of the roads referred to since they were metalled. Mr Ronayne also pointed out that a portion of • the Wheki Valley—a main highway—had been metalled to a depth of six inches a few years ago. Replying, the county clerk said that the necessity for additional metalling was piling up maintenance costs beyond the council’s resources. The Wheki Valley metalling had only been in the nature of a makeshift, and the metal had since been thickened to 9 inches. Arurua-Waiotira Road.

The Northern Wairoa Dairy Company drew attention to the deplorable state of the Ararua-Waiotira Road, and asked that reconditioning be carried out.

Cr. A. Stephen said that negotiations for the improvement of this road had been entered into with the Public Works Department. " Overworked Farmer.

“We have now received notice from the Dairy Company of a daily collection of cream, and this will make our position hopeless, for it takes me about an hour and a half to get my cream out. After 20 years of toil in breaking in this place, my strength and spirit fail to respond to the calls made upon them.” So wrote Mr A. E. Baker, who sought a Government grant for the metalling of the Waiotama Bridge— Kerihunga Road, which took all through stock traffic. Cr. J. H. Hayward said that, considering* the amount of rates collected and the long length of road, the metalling of the whole stretch was impracticable. However, if a £2OO grant, £2 for £1; was secured on the supplementary estimates, a start could be made on the Kerihunga end. Water Trouble. “Until you give proper access to the water, I will not pay my rates, or otherwise you pay me compensation.” wrote Mr S, R. Rapson, who contended that the . filling across the Mauwhare sh*eam on the Mangapai-Taura-

roa main road had caused serious flooding to his property. Owing to the insufficiency of piping outlets, he claimed that through traffic was also subject to frequent blockage. Cr. Stephen said that the extraordinary flooding of the past few months had covered the filling. The chairman: “We cannot provide for exceptional downpours.”

The matter was referred back to the Public Works Department. Mr H. B. Martel, of Kamo, also complained of an inadequate culvert on the road near the Ruatangata railway station, the overflow from which damaged neighbouring properties.—Referred to riding member.

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