RODNEY COUNTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 14

RODNEY COUNTY

MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES ROAD MAINTENANCE PROBLEM [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WARKWORTH. Wednesday The Rodney County Council at its meeting to-day received advice from the Main Highways Board that £3620 was to be expended on highway construction in the Rodney County in the current year, and £3787 on highway maintenance. The principal work to be undertaken was the construction of a new bridge over the Wharehine Stream on the Kaukapakapa-Port Albert main highway. The county's share of the cost of this bridge was £750. A letter was received from the Public Works Department notifying the council that 7J miles of the roads on the Pakiri block of 4000 acres were being handed over to the council. A further length of road was to be handed over at a later date. The department had made a free grant of £IOO toward the first year's maintenance.

Members expressed concern at the considerable increase in expenditure consequent on taking over these roadH. The clerk said it was unlikely that nearly all the £7O rates payable annually on the block would be paid. The chairman, Mr. W. K. .Becroft, said the Public Works Department had spent over £19,000 in constructing the roads, while for maintenance the council had only £7O a year. The council would have to consider restricting loads on the new roads to about 2ji tons gross during the winter. The council considered tenders for the construction of new bridges on the Port Albert-Wellsford Valley Road. The tenders of Mr. W. H. Forsyth of £548 for the old School Bridge and £663 for Pearmain's Bridge were accepted.

Members of the council stood in silence as a mark of respect to the late Mr. W. C. Chipchase, of Te Arai, who for six yeais was a member of the council.