PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 13 January 1926, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

OEDINAEY MEETING. Tlio ordinary monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held on Tuesday, Mr. J. Gibbs presiding. Councillors Taylor, Sutherland, Back, Alexander, McDonald, Watkins, Belton, Scown, were also present. v The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Tenders for work on the Whenuakura HUI were opened, that of Mr. I Lankshear being accepted. Correspondence was read from settlers on Block 9, asking for work to be carried out. It was decided to inform the settlers that 25yds of metal will be carted as soon as possible, and the balance before the end of March. The question of metal supply was considered at some length, and it was finally decided that the engineer consult with the various riding members as to what metal shall be used on roads in their respective ridings. Mr. F. Train asked for the road at the junction of the Eawhitiroa Hoad and Waitotara Eivcr to be made passable for horse traffic. It was decided that the request be granted, and the engineer be authorised to put the work in hand. It was decided to instruct the engineer to take a tally of traffic on the Station Eoad, Waitotara, with a view to the road being declared a secondary highway. The engineer was instructed to report O" work necessary on Ball Eoad. Constable Tindall wrote asking for repairs to footpath and culvert opposite the Police Station at Waitotara. Eeferred to engineer to attend to. The Toavu Clerk, Wanganui, wrote forwarding cheque for £237 7s 9d for heavy traffic license fees collected to September 30. Eeceived. The District Public Trustee wrote asking if any gravel had been removed from the Mcßroom property leased by Mrs. Hopkinson. Eeplied to by clerk. Tho Prime Minister wrote asking that all monies received for memorial to the late Mr. Massey be forwarded to Mr, T. S. Weston, treasurer to the fund. Eeceived. ; , ENGINEEE’S EEPOET. The engineer's report was read as under:Main Eoad and General: Very good metal supplies have been coming to hand this last month from Kakariki. This has been used mainly on the Patea Station Eoad, and on various roads in the Patea East district. The final sealing coat has been commenced on the Patea Hill length, and on the one to two mile length the filling at Hird’s has been finally metalled and grouted, and the -sealing coat over this length has been commenced. The pot-holes in the bitumen through the whole length of the main road, are being attended to, and the approach to the Manawapou Bridge has been made up to the deck level of the bridge and grouted. The contractor for the Waverley Eaceeourse is making fair progress. Metal is now coming to hand in readiness for this work. Another survey has ■ been made of the Whenuakura Hill, which has effected a saving of about 5000yds of excavation. This work has been advertised, tenders closing at this meeting. As the result of a visit from Inspector Pear, of Wanganui, the heavy traffic fees are now coming in more readily. Otoia West: The work of putting the Otoia Gorge into order has been completed. Other work in this district has been mainly confined to the Ball Eoad, which is being blinded. Otoia East: The metalling and grouting on Portland Quay has been completed. The metalling on the Otauto Hill, under Government grant, has been commenced and completed 24 chains. Counter-sinking is being carried out for a short length of metalling on the Opaku Eoad above Gower's. The work of putting the extension of the Matuku Eoad has been completed, Waverley Biding: The grader has finished in the Okutuku district, and has now moved over to the Kohi and Karahake districts. Metalling under the Government grant and separate rate has commenced on the Karahake and will now be pushed ahead. Moumahakl Biding: The point on the

Block IX. Bead which was to be removed near the breakaway has been completed. The contractor for the Ngutuwera Bridge has not made much progress owing to the holidays and

other causes, but has now' returned, and this work should now be completed at an early date. Kapara Biding: The contractor on the A h arn.n Hill has commenced on the anctal contract and is making fair progress. I have inspected the hill contract and instructed him to do further work at various places. The hill is now in good order, and all the wool this year has been carted out by motor lorries. A contract has been let for widening, etc., on the Eidge Eoad track under a Government grant. Another contract has also been let on this track for clearing back the scrub. The roads in the riding are in very fair order, extra work having been carried out on the Taumatatahi length. Accounts were passed for payment and the council rose.