PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 14 November 1928, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

(MONTH by; ai. kith nil 'Tin: usual monthly i n<■ ■■: i ll id' the Pa tea Comity Council was held in Hie County Council chamber.-. yesterday, Air has. Bibbs presiding. Councillors \V. (1. Helton, -I. Jt. Taylor, li. B. Bcown, C Johnston, B. Alexander, \\ . 11. Watkins, \V. Hack, anil D. Sutherland wore also present. APPLICATION TO KUPCT PIUVATE TELEPHONE LINE. The Post aad Telegraph Department wrote applying tor permission to erecl a .private telephone doe along Block IX. Ptoad, Ngnluwera and the Lower Waitotara Valley itoad to eight residences. The application was granted .subject to the usual conditions. CLOSED LOAD AT WAVEPHLY ItACECOLDSL. All'. T. 1:1. Hubert* wrote forwarding engrossed eertilientes and orders which sested the two portions of the dosed roads at the Waverley Uaeeeour.se in the purchasers, Air. W. J. JeJLTies and UAL. the King for the Okoluku Domain Board. it. was resolved that the chairman sign same on behalf of the council. ACCESS TO PiiOPEiiT V. The A!inister of Public Works wrote acknowledging receipt oi the council’s inquiry as to whether his Department could oiler any Jinancial assistance to meet the cost of providing access to Alessrs. Annabell Bros.’ properly, Man-ga-papa. He would have the matter fully looked into, and would advise the council as soon as possible. Deceived. CESSPIT NUISANCE. Air. W. Wills, Kakaramea, wrote asking the council to attend to the cesspit near his house, as it was at present a menace to health. Ir was resolved that the matter be • eft in the engineer’s hands to attend to. DOB TAX COLLECTOK. All. AlyJes wrote applying for the position of dog tax collector on a commission basis of is for each As Gd col,ar sold and 2s for each 10s collar sold.

Mr. Myles was appointed collector tin the -basis named. INCREASED WAGES WANTED The main road gang wrote asking for an increase in wages of Is per day, the present wage being 12s per day, the reason for the request being the high cost of living. Considerable discussion ensued, Councillor Fatherland being of the opinion that. A2s a day was not sufficient for a married man. Councillor Belton suggested that the gang be ghen the option of working for i->. a day or Is Od per hour worked, wet or line. Councillor Sutherland said he was not in lavour ot this, for the alteinative would certainly nut be in the men's favour. Councillor Seowu said the crux of the whole matter was what service was given. Homo men were "worth inoic than 12s per day, whilst others were worth loss. Councillor Fcown, seconded by Councillor Johnston, moved that all men employed on any special work, including, the tar and roller gang, be given the option of working for 12s per day ..t for Is l)d per hour, wet or line, the hours to be kept by the foreman in chart." of the gang. Thu engineer said be was not in favour of interfering with the wages of the men employed permanently by the council. There were some casual labourers iu the gang, however, who could bo paid by the hour. The motion was carried. INC LEASED ALLOWANCE WANTED. Mi, D J. i’ankhurst wrote asking for an increased, allowance iu view of the facr that he had to do county work before and after county hours. It, was resolved that the request be not granted. TENDERS FOR DOG COLLARS Two tenders for supplying the council wiih dog collars were received. It was resolved that the matter of accepting tenders be held over until next meeting, pending negotiations with an Auckland Jinn. DOG TAX. Tin* dog tax was fixed at the same ;i h bi.w, year, namely 2s lid for working dogs and 10s for others. FLANS An^OVED. The Fublic Works Department wrote approving the plans and specifications submitted for expenditure of the grant of iNOO for widening to lift about two miles of the road from Kaimamika to Bi ranui. The engineer said the grant had been largely duo to Mr. H. G. Dickie s e'forts. Tenders for the work had been cull - e.l and two had been received, and he had been advised that additional, ten-

ili.'is would Ik* received from Kalmanuka if a little more time, was given. it was resolved that additional time be given, the matter being loft in the hands of the chairman and engineer \ ith power to act. IAR SEALING WAVEKLEi* MAIN STREET. The Waverley Town Board wrote asking when the Batea (.’minty Council could tar seal the main street at V\ averiey. The chairman said he did not think the council could do anything for the Town iiourd until it was a little further ahead with its work. They had a very full programme this season, ft was resolved that the board be informed that the council could not fix the date at present, but the matter would lie further considered when the tar gang was in the Aloumahaki district. HOADS TO BE METALLED. It was resolved that the following metalling be done in the Otuia East Riding: Otauto Hoad (near Ryan’s), 8 chainiiukatere Hoad, d chains. Soiitlicumbe’s and Baker’s Hoad 10 chains. .Maluku Hoad, d chains. (Jhaltertou’s Hoad, 2 chains. Airs, Pearce’s Hoad, 4 chains. Kuchlcr’s (Lower Nicholson) Hoiid, 2 chains. Airs. Bremer’s Hoad, d chains. Opaku Hoad (near Loftus’ gate), 2 chains. GENERAL. It was decided to recondition the Waitotara .Station Hoad with pit metal, chips and tar sealing. .

Jt was resolved that the Btate Farmi’oad be dressed with .lin metal from the main road to -Mr. G. Alexander and tar sealed from Mr. Matthew's to the school. it was resolved that Mr. L’amsbottom’s offer to pay half the cost of metoiling three chains of the Otoia Gorge up to £25 be accepted and the work put in hand. It was resolved that three chains of metal nine feet wide be placed on Williamson 's ,Hiil on the main road to Kakaramca, the chairman remarking that he thought that in the next few years all such hills on the main road uhero milk carts were used would have to be metalled, as the horses could not safely travel on the slippery tar-sealed surface, and without metal on the side road it became hopelessly cut up by tue' cart wheels, especially in the wet weather. The chairman also said that next year he would like to sec the culvert ‘at the Kakaramca watcrhole lengthened and the road straightened, as there were several bad turns there. Permission was granted the Ngutuwera Dairy Company to make an approach to the whey tank near the road opposite the factory, ami to put a pipe under the road, to connect the tank with the factory, the work to be approved by the engineer. The clerk was instructed to sue for ail outstanding rates in the Moumahaki Hiding. EXCI.XkEi; >ti REPORT.

Tlxc engineer's report was read as under .and adopted:— Main Eoad and General: For the time being the work of widening the points on the Mauawapou Hill has been completed and will be resumed when Die men are available. A portion of the Burke’s Gorge length reconstruction has been given a final seal coat and the remainder will be completed at an early date. Chips from 'Wanganui Fiver Metal Company have been coming to hand and have been carted on to Bosley’s length in readiness for the dual seal coat. Mr. Commerer has not yet been able to commence supplying metal from Kapuni owing to weather conditions, and this has held up progress of work generally. Otoia West: The work of strengthening the metal and sealing Ball highway has been going ahead. The length from the main road to the railway crossing has been practically completed (first coat). Work is now com-, uig back from the gorge towards the station, and is making fair progress, as weather conditions and metal supplies allow. One of the high points between H. Palmer’s and Pearce’s has been lowered and the spoil used for improving ihe railway crossing. Before removing the plant from this road it is proposed to seal tiic length above and below the factory. The tender of Messrs. Green and Dalbeth has been accepted for the formation of the access to Mr. Wpratt’s property, Lower Tanmaha ltd., and this work is now being proceeded with. The pipes for the culvert on this svork have been ordered. Repairs have been carried out on the Kakaramea, Hunter, and Otoia Gorges. Otoia. East: There is no work outside the ordinary surface work to report. Waverlcy Biding: The No. 2 grader continued work on the Kohi and Kohi hush Bonds until removed to the Waite tarn County length of the Lower Waitolara Valley Load. At present there : ■ no surfaceman on cither the Kohi ,■ r Karahake Bonds, as I have arranged with yinclair to look after these lengths with assistance in the meantime. Monmahaki Biding: The No. .1 grader has completed work on Matthew’s Ed., and is now on the Motoroa Bond. Weather has considerably held up the programme of work. The work of opening' up the Wcraworaonga Hill, where ir, -was carried away, has been done. Else where there is nothing special to report. Kapara Biding; No. 2 grader moved up on to the Waitotara length of the Lower Waitotara Valley Boad last week, and so far has done half a day’s work owing to the weather. Metalling 'by Peachey made- good progress

at the beginning of the month and for the month a total of about 400 yards was carted out. The work as authorised last year is now nearing completion and fresh proposals for an expenditure of £BOO are being prepared and will be forwarded to the Public Works in a clay or two. Proposals for the expenditure of £4OO free money 'widening the Te Ngaue Hoad have been forwarded to the Public Works. The horse grader has made a commencement in this riding, having been for the most part up to the present employed on the Alakakaho Road. Accounts were read and passed for payment and the council then. rose.