WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16542, 9 January 1928, Page 5

WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL

THE MONTHLY MEETING (Herald Correspondent.) Tho monthly meeting of tho Waiapu County Council was presided over by the chairman, Cr. A. W. Kirk, there being also present : Crs . Burdett Fairlie. Hyland, A. B. Williams, and F. J. Williams. The Engineer-in-Chief forwarded a copy of the proposed new motor regulations and asked for constructive criticism.—The action of the chairman in writing in reference lo headlights was approved, and if was resolved, in writing to the department, to mention a certain anti-glaro device. The president of the Counties’ Association wrote asking the council to protest against the likely increase in the allocation of tho petrol tax to boroughs. Tho chairman stated that he had telegraphed the Hon. K. S. Williams objecting to tho increase, and the .Minister find replied that, the matter was receiving close attention. An application for a billiard-room license at Wainia was refused. The District Engineer forwarded approved tenders for the Ihungia bridge, and the Ruatoria school road drain. Tho Cook County Council wrote asking the council to support the representations for the completion of the Morere deviation. —It was decided to reply stating that, owing to the. Waiapu council s own position it was unable to offer its support in the meantime, it,riming pointed out that, the work would prejudice the council’s claims for 20 miles of its own unmetalled road. It, was resolved to support Mr. H. Thompson’s suggestion for compulsory third-party motor insurance, provided the business was done by a Government office. It was resolved to call tenders for the Poroporo deviation. On the motion of Cr. F. J. Williams, seconded by Cr. A. B Williams, it was decided to write to the Minister of Public Works asking for assistance in the matter of tho metalling of the J'oto-kaiituku-Tikitiki road, for which the council had a large sum ot loan money available. The tender of Mr. Bellamy, of Auckland, for dog collars for 1928, at £2 14s 2d per hundred 1 , was accepted. In referenco to the. To Puia roads, it was resolved to utile to the Crown Lands Department asking that, a surveyor should bp sent to look into fhe matter, the present roads being impassable. It was decided that tho engineer should arrange for the blasting of some large rocks on the beach track. It was stated that Richardson and Co. were charging 6s per bale for wool from Hicks Bav and 7s 6d from Tbkomaru Bay, and ‘il was decided that inquiries should he made, and the company written to asking for the same charges from Tokomaru Bay as from Hicks Bay. It was agreed to apply to the Government, to purchase a small block of land at the first Mangaroa bridge as a scenic reserve. It was agreed to approach the Bank of New South Wales with a. request that, the new building be kept on a line with the present premises. The engineer intimated' that the plans for the Tapuwaeroa protection works would be available shortly. The attention of the engineer was directed to a bad bend on the road near Mr. Kemp’s property. Permission was granted to the Ruatoria Football Sub-Union to put in a culvert at the entrance to the grounds. Attention was drawn to the fact that, several owners of motor vehicles were not taking out heavy traffic licenses. Accounts amounting to £23 were passed Lir payment. ENGINEER ’H REPORT “The filling ol ! approaches in connection with the Poroporo bridge contract. are about completed. This will, not complete sufficient of the approaches to allow wfieel traffic to use the bridge and until ,the plans for the deviation are returned approved from Wellington nothing further can be done. Maintenance is good apart, from metalling surfaces requiring top dressing; wherever possible roadmen arc patching .with two horse teams. One lorry has boon started at Tokomaru carting out, dumps on the various sections around there. When this is completed, the lorry will go to the Hikuwni to do the same there. No. .1 power grader after completing work on tho Rotokautuku-Tikitiki-Marac-hara section, scarified and graded metal at Makarika for top dressing. The top dressing contract near Makarika has been completed; also top dressing approaches to lvopuaroa No. 4 bridge. District roads are now gett ting a general overhaul. .Surfacemen are busy with plough, scoop and grader. No, 2 power grader is still on the Tokomnru-Mata road and has been employed chiefly on the PaunrikiMakomako section, putting this in order again. This section was allowed to get' into bad order through the surfaceman’s time being taken up with last season’s metalling operations on this road. After completing formation work on the road between the Makarika stream Mr. McCracken is now widening a few corners and regrading part of the Ihungia road on .which it is proposed to do this sesason’s metalling. This will be completed soon, and ho .then goes to start on the construction of the Ihungia, bridge. No 1 power grader was used to trim up tho Rotokautuku bridge-Rnatoria road, and after that started on the re-form-ing of the Tapuwaeroa road. This work will be continued right up to Pakihiroa, and' it, is badly needed. Through the fencing off of the Maka-rika-Horehorc road line beyond the suspension bridge access by vehicle is now nearly impossible; one day’s work by the nearest surfaceman would put this right. There is also a bridge in bad repair and dangerous, erected by the Makarika station some years ago. “Arising out of instructions received at last meeting the following matters have been attended to: —Interviewed poundkeeper regarding sale of Gisborne Motor Service Co.’s horses. The right procedure was carried out in regard to this sale. Material has been ordered for boat shed at Tikitiki and on its arrival the shed will be completed. An extra man has been put on to assist; Ihe surfaceman on the Ihungia-Mata mail. I hope to have material ordered for surfaceman’s cottage at H’ikuwai shortly. An extra man has been put on to assist, the surfaceman on .the Awanui road. Plans and specifications have been returned approved for the following works and tenders have been invited: (1) Construction of the. Kdpuaroa No. I bridge and approaches; (2) metalling Ihungia road; (3) metalling Tapuwaoroa road. The pegging of the Mnkn-rikn-Horehore road is still proceeding, but I hope to have it completed shortly.”