AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5352, 8 February 1916, Page 2

AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

WAIHI RATEPAYERS’ COM. PLAINT.

WORK ON THE ROADS

The monthly meeting of the Akitio County Council was held at Pongaroa. on Saturday. There were present: Crs. R. B. Robertson (chairman), J. W. Murray, W. A. Burling, M. F'etf'rick, A. K. Grubner, O. Liverton, and C. Lassen.

The monthly report submitted by the overseeor, Air W. Whittaker, was as follows > — Alfredton-Weber Road: Sheehan is making slow progress with his contract; the crusher recently broke down, and Shcelmn had to take parts to IVannevirke. When the crusher was started again it would not work, and it was necessary to get an engineer to report. Timber has been ordered for repairs to the Pongaroal bridge. Rimu Road: Repair metal is now being placed on to the upper portion of this road, and I propose to widen out the sandstone cutting immediately. as it is dangerous in places. Glenora: Contract for metalling on this road was advertised, but no tenders were received. I made nn agreement for tile carrying out of this work, and have notified the contractor to sign bis contract and start at once.

P'ongproa-Aohango: J. Neilsenlias completed bis contract, and lias now started on Waiotiaki metalling. The timber has been ordered for the decking of the small bridge, and the work will be done immediately. The surfaceman is at present engaged clearing out the blue cutting. Afakuri-Pongaroa Road: Repair metal lias been completed to the junction with Rimu Road, and the balance will be done on completion of R repairs. . It will be necessary to do some repairs at the junction with Cross Road. Miscellaneous: I would rcommend that any future metalling on main roads be done S inches thick and 12 feet wide where convenient, instead of 10 feet wide. Tin's will make it necessary to w iden the roads before metalling, but will prevent the carriers having to work in the same wheel nit and be cheaper to maintain Tlie report, was adopted. Air G. Lloyd, on behalf of certain ratepayers in the Waihi riding, desired information as to why no work was being effected on the "Waihi Valley Road, although sawmill traffic, the letter stated, had practically ruined it: also why the work promised on the Korora road last September had not been done. As the rates were high (4Jd in the £) the writer thought liis clients were entitled to have some money expended on road work. Cr. Grubner said the work was started as soon as the weather permitted. Tin' overseer remarked that the Korora road was one of the best in the County at the present time. The chairman pointed out that the work was grader work. It was docided to point out to Mi Lloyd that the work required was in progress cr would be in progress at an early

On the suggestion of Cr. Lassen, the overseer was instructed to try find arrange to procure labour for burning papa to repair the Huia road. Cr. Lassen also mentioned that some of the culverts on the Huia and Spur roads required repairing. For the latter work it wa s pointed out that it was difficult to procure pipes ns the Government required n largo number from the van ops works for the military ramps.

The Commissioner of Crown .frauds notified that the Council’s application for the leas*', from year to year, of a small section near the Pongnrqa township had been granted. The District Engineer, Mr J. I>. Louch, telegraphed that the voucher for the Waterloo bridge extras would be forwarded during the coming

week. The overseer reported that the blue

I papa cutting on the Coast Road, ■ near Glencoe was in bad order and I required attention Before the . winter set in. He also referred to the rough state of a short length of the MakuriPongaroa Road at the junction of this road 1 and Cross Road. He remarked that the heavy winds had blown the metal from the load leaving several large rock boulders protruding. It would be necessary to “blow out” the boulders and re-form and metal five or six chains. The piece of road referred to is in the vicvicinity of a portion of th e County, commonly known as Hurricane Flat. A circular was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding th(t administering of war funds raised by patriotic societies, defining boundaries and treatment of discharged soldiers, stating that these subjects would he discussed at a Conference to be held in Wellington on Tliurdhy, 17tli in«t.—Received. The Minister of Finance acknowledged the Council's monthly contribution to £7 8s for the Belgian Fund. The overseer was instructed to inspect the Akitio Road betwen Clarkson’s Creek and Maori whare, and give an estimate of the cost- of placing ' a coat of clay over the sand so as to stop the latter from being blown away by the wind. It was pointed out that this work eoujd be carried out during the winter months.