PATEA COUNT'S COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 9 March 1932, Page 3

PATEA COUNT'S COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING,

The usual monthly meeting of the Patou County Council was held yes' day, Mr. W. ICi. Belton presiding. Councillors J. Lupton, E. G. Scouii, E. J. Watt, A. J. Gibbs, J. Peat, W. Back C. E. Johnston, and W. 11. Watkins were also present.

PUBLIC WORKS GRANTS

The Minister of Public Works teleg.aphed that all Government subsidies to County Councils for Public Works' grants had been cancelled as from i day last on account of financial stringency. The chairman said the council would not be affected greatly as most of its Public Works’ grants jobs kad been completed or nearly so. He had hopea to have the Henson Eoad metalled in this manner, but it would have to be held in abeyance. The engineer luu. sent away fresh applications fo>. those Public Works’ jobs that were not completed.

ELECTEIC LIGHT POLES ON COUNTY LOADS. The Waitemata County Council wrote giving details of the appeal case in which it was concerned with regard to the removal of electric power polos on county roads. The letter was received. INSUKANC'E OF EMPLOYEES. The field manager of the Australasian Temperance and Mutual Life Society wrote stating that the council was under no liability with regard to the payment of premiums for an employee once the latter has left the council’s service.

Tlic letter was received and the society was granted permission to interview 7 the council's employees after working hours on the matter.

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES,

The Town Clerk, Wanganui, wrote enclosing particulars of heavy traffic fees collected to February 19 last, Fatca borough and county fees totalling £lll 2s. Received. TREES FOR PLANTING. The Unemployment Board wrote stating that trees would be available from the State Forest Service on payment of the cost of lifting, packing, and freight charges only, the trees to be planted in suitable areas by the unemployed. Received. ELECTRIC POWER BOARD. . The secretary of the South Taranaki Electric Power Board wrote stating that the two representatives on the beard would be automatically re-elect-ed this year in accordance with section 10 of the Electric Power Boards' Act. Received. UPPER AND LOWER BALL ROADS. Councillors Gibbs and Scown brought forward the matter of attending to the Upper and Lower Ball Roads in time for the winter.' They were agreeable that all the rates collected on these roads should be spent on them. The engineer said he hoped to have a lorry track as far as McCartney's in two w r ceks' time, provided the fine weather lasted. £3O worth of pipe and some timber had been sent up, and the road would be put in as good condition as possible with the funds available. The upper part of the road to Greaves' was-a bridle track, and in the winter months creeping slips would always give trouble if there were continued rain. It would take hundreds of pounds to put it in proper order, but the best would be done for it, WAVERLEY BEACH ROAD. Councillor Johnston reported that the road to the Wavcrley Beach, just beyond Mr. P. Aiken's, where there was an avenue of pine trees, was getting in a bad state owing to the inroads of tree roots across the road forming bumps and pot-holes. The engineer was asked to inspect the road and report at next meeting. OPENING OF MOEAWATEA ROAD. The matter of opening up the Alocawatea Road so as to give access to Eltham County- by it came up for discussion, councillors being of the opinion that it would be an added liability. It was stated that four miles would need opening up, there being one settler on this part. There was already a stock route there. GENERAL. It was resolved that the council apply to the Valuer General for a revaluation of the- county. The, clerk reported that of the- total of £11,721- rates struck this year, £11,055 odd had been collected, leaving a balance of £1558 outstanding. It was decided to carry out repairs to the In gab ape Road in the Otoia. West

Riding. The engineer was authorised to have the following metalling carried out in the AVaverley Hiding: Ncwlands Hoad, 5 chains; Blake’s Road, u chains; Paiahaki Koad, 12 chains (in two sections). Accounts' were read and passed for payment and the council then rose.