RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11417, 21 December 1917, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Council met yesterday. Present: Crs. B. P. Lethbridge (chairman), J. Brice, A. G. Simpson, F. Brice, H. U’liallaghan, A. Gibbs, R. Brown, and T. Duncan. CORRESPONDENCE.

From Public Works Engineer, advising that £SOO is available for the Ramunui road and £25 for the Puk--1 emapou Hiding. j From Railway Department and : Health Inspector, drawing attention j to the insanitary state of affairs on and near the road behind the Marton I Junction Hotel.-—Resolved (Chairi man —Cr. Simpson), That the clerk I write to Health Inspector pointing '• what is necessary in regard to onD L M&rton Junction Hotel, drainage n».. • - work is carried and to see that tin. out. , . . From Hawke's Bay Cofliiiy hovmcil, agreeing to meet the delegate’s from this Council early in January, 1918, re proposal to transfer Erewhon Riding of the Hawke’s .Bay County to Rangitikei.—Left with chairman to arrange date. From Ngawaka Sawmilliug Co., re payment of heavy traffic license and and giving of securit} 1- against damage to ro-.-ds by their traffic.— Council decided that it could not see its pay to reduce the license fee.

From T. Kelly, asking for exemption from payment of rates. —Not granted. From J. G. Collins, re claim for royalty on metal taken by the Council from his property.—Left to Cr. Gibbs to arrange. From W. S. Farlaud and others re sanitary arrangements in connection with their premises at Mar ton Junction. —Application to be made to sanitary contractor. From District Engineer Railways, re compensation claim on behalf of a charitable aid recipient at TJtiku. —Left with chairman, Cr. Gibbs and clerk to make inquiries. From B. G. Grice,- asking attention to culverts on Whaka road.— Matter to be attended to as soon as possible From Under-Secretary of Lands, stating that road in section 66, Block XIII. Mauugakaretu S.D. is a legal road. From A. R. Russell, re road laid off through Ohiugaiti No. 3 Block to the crania Block. —The clerk to take necess ry steps to gazette the ro«d.

( From Commissioner "of Crown Lauds, re access of water at the Hautapu bridge, Taihape.—lt was decided to apply to the Taihape Borough Council for access. NOTICE OF MOTION.

The Chairman gave notice: “That at the next meeting of this Council a sufficient sum be voted out of the general account to execute the work of making the cut along Hoki Street to divert the Bangitikei River in accordance with the engineering plans prepared by Mr Muir. 'deputation. Mr H. McManaway waited on the Council and applied for a grant towards making the road leading to the sea beach on the Bangitikei co st. Three teams were now employed in repairing thejroad, and he asked for assistance towards the work being completed. The speaker stated that the committee had £lO in hand, and he thought they could raise another £lO. (Or. Brown—Duncan), That the Council vote £25. OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr A. Thoms reported The boisterous weather experienced has not been favourable for the metalled roads. Clay has been laid on most of the rojds where the grader has not beeen working, and the roads

gener illy are in fair order. During the month the grader has been working on the Cliff, Pukepap*, Makirikiri, Williamson, Union, Bulls .Wangaehu, Martou, Turakina, Fern Flats, Upper Tut*euui, Jefferson, Somersal, and Lethbridge Town Bo a-d roads, and although it makes the roads rough at the time-it will save putting on clay at present. ' Messrs Manning and Nattrass have completed their contract for forming Somersal road. I propose to call tenders for metalling this road to close at your next meeting. The following are my estimates of the cost of forming and [metalling the unformed and uumetalled portions of the Porewa road, Tutu Totara. To forming 52}4 chains at 15s per chain. £39 7s Gd; to concrete pipes £6 is 6d. ! otal for formation £45 9s. To metalling 120 chains at 84s per chain, £504. Up to the present 1 have been unable to obtain labour for taking off the point on Porewa road; but hope to be able to do so soon. I have made out estimates ofCtho quantity of maintenance metal required this season. Owing to the scarcity of labour and teams have hept them as low as possible. Should the war last several years longer it is doubtful whether it is a wise policy to cut down the quantity. The following are my estimates of the approximate quantity of metal required iu e oh Riding this seisou and the cost of same, also quantity put out last season and cost: — Rangitoto Riding, estimatedquantity required this season, 1458 yards; estimated cost, £4291 4s; quantity put out last season, 1769 yards; cost £473 7s 2d. Otakapn Riding, 1450 yards, £405; 2060 yards, £489 16s 2d. Porewa Riding, 1587 yards, £4lO 3s Gd; 2688 yards,'£6s4 Us 7d., Rangatira Riding, 200 yards, £45; 80 yards, £2O. Wangaehu Riding, 300 yards, £9O; 377 yards, £sl 19s 6d. Totals 4995 yards, £1389 17s 6d:6874 yards, £689 4s od. ENGINEER'S KEPORT. y r. S. A. R. Mail- reported:— Rangatira Riding: —Good progress has been made forming roads in Putorino Block, Rata. The stumping is about completed, and the grader is doing good work grading out the formation. . I have invited tenders for gravelling and these should be before you tod->y- ~ , Mr Wm. Moore, the successful tenderer for contract No. 485 on Putorino roads, has decided not |jo proceed with the work, so I am endeavouring to relet this job. i have received the new Western grader from Anderson Bros, and have it now on the ground at Rata ready fora trail. The old Austin has been sold to Mr Campion, but not yet delivered. Wangaolui Riding:— Contractor for gravelling Wharoroa road has nmle a good start, about 30 clmns completed. Mr Campion lias offered to either sell or lease about 2 acres of i:'.n:l at

the corner between Beard’s Gate, and Ohaumoko-road. This should bea very convenient place for the roadman, being about midway in his road length. Otairi Riding:— A small hut is being erected at junction of Ongo road and Whareroa road, for the roadman.

The old bridge near Glenmervenhas been removed, and replaced with concrete pipes. Tekapu Riding ; I have pegged out a water drive to replace the derelict culvert on Matiiaponga stream near Pohonui school. The work is now in hand.

Fair progress has been made with gravelling work on Pukemspou road. I have let hauling of gravel on Namuuui road, to Mr All Ghee. Kin, and ho lias made a good start with the -work.

The site for the crasher is being prepared, and the roller is in, the meaner 16 down the new gi’avei on the Tan.jp e ’"^' a^roa Difectly after the new year I hope to put the crusher into icomruissibfi;' using the roller to drive it with. The work of building a bridge on. Baird’s road lias been delayed, pending arrival of timber. This is now to hand, and the job should soon he completed.

The contractor tor forming Otaihape Valley road has abandoned the work, and removed his c mp,’ tools, etc. I therefore recommend his interest in the contract be determined forthwith, and the work can he completed when labour is available.

Gravel repiirs on Murray’s track, Mataroa, have been completed. Awarua Riding—Grader has trimmed up the Main road to Utiku, ami has moved on to Pukeokahu. i Good progress has been made with cone ete work for Too Toe bridge.

The ironwork has arrived, but I am still in difficulty o»er securing the totara for superstructure. The contrator for ’i oe Toe Road Extension is working single handed, and therefoe little progress has been made.

I have obtained the sanction of Public Works Department to substitute a water cut culvert for Donovan’s Creek, on Inland road, instead of tbe proposed bridge. The work is now well in hand.

Erevhon * Riding:—The grader ia now trimming up roads around Pukepkahu, and will afterwards' move - on to Moawhango and Erewhon. RESOLUTIONS. It was resolved—(Cr. J. Brice—Chairman), That arrangements be made with Mr Jas. Cimpion for the lease'and purchase of laud at Okirae for a roadman’s hut. (Crs. O’Callaghan—Gibbs), That tiie aotion of the enigneer in letting contract No. 468 on Namunui road to flr, Chee Kin at 6s per yard for carting metal be confirmed. (Crs. O’Callaghan—Chairman), That W. Moore's.interest in contract No. 476 be determined and that the work be completed at the contractor’s expense.

(Chairman—Cr. J. Brice), That the engineer and overseer attend the N. Z. Enigneers’ Conference. (Chairman —Cr. Gibbs), That thedog tax for the County of Rangitike,iexclusive of the Town District of Lethbridge, for the year ended 31st December, 1 918, be fixed at 2s 6d per dog for all sheep and cattle dogs' and dogs used exclusively for the. purpose of destroying rabbits, and 10s per dog for all other dogs and that Alfred P. Stewart be appointed registrar and collector.’ (Crs. Gibbs—F. Brice), That tenr per cent, be added to all rates for the year ending 31st March, 1918, unpaid after the expiry of six months and fourteen days from demand thereof. The Chairman stated that he had been approached by a number of the Council’s workmen for six days’ holiday on full pay instead of thethree days as previously. He moved —That the holidays of the Council’s' permanent workmen, who have been six months in the employ of theConncil, be extended from three to six days. Cr. Duncan seconded the motion, and said that bo was quite in favour of granting the extra days. The motion was carried. A Christmas bonus of £5 each was granted to the assistants in the County offices—Messrs Sutcliffe, Nicoi and Blundell. The treasurer reported:—Receipts during mouth, F £10,367 8s 9d (including rates, £10,206 Is 2d). . Dr. balance after Isst meeting £9985 16» lOd. After to-days’ payments there will be debit balance of £IB4B 9s 7d. The following tenders were accepted:—Contract No. 486, Mr F. Manson, £584 7s 6d. The tenders for grass seed rights wore left to. the engineer to deal with.