RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11446, 28 January 1918, Page 4

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, JSB* jw*e« The Council met on Saturday, President: Crs. B. P. Lethbridge, chairman, W. Doole, A. Gibbs, H. O’Oallaghan, P. Brice, A. G. Simpson R. Brown, and T. A. Duncan. OORR ESPONDENOE.

Prom Department of Justice, with following rider in reference to the accident on the Bulls-Tura-kiua road by which John Skinner lost his life.—“ That the attention of the Eangitikei County Council be drawn to the fact that the roadway at this particular lull is considered too narrow for safe motor traffic. ’ ’ —Received. From H. M. Trade Commissioner, asking for return of makes of motor cycles and cars registered for 1917 —Clerk stated that there were 111 motor cars and 43 motor cycles registered.—Buick cars 29 ami Excelsior cycles 8, being at top of the list. From Treasury, advising payment of £1875 on account of subsidy on general rates. From State Advances, payment

of £7OO loan for Taihape-Mataroa Road; £6OO Whareroa Road; provisional approval of £340 Williamson Road and £325 Baggett’s Road, and re £IOO Pukemapou Road Loan. From Public Works Department, advising that there was no power to borrow without poll of the ratepayers for proposed Rangitikei River diversion at Scott’s :—No action taken.

From same, authorising grant of £6O for bridge on Inland Road.

“From Department Agriculture, for warding slaughtering licenses for J. Lewis, Utiku, and W. Mcßoth, Martou.

From Commissioner Crown Lands, stating that it is proposed to set aside a portion of Sectoin 63 Block XIV., Ohinewairuu S.D., as a reserve for the watering of travelling stock at the Hautapau River.— Engineer to report on safety of site for stock. From Upper Waugaehn Road Beard re alteration of Comity boundaries, also re subsidence in road near Wainui Junction. —Subsidence attended to. Resolved— (Ors O’Callaghan— Gibbs) That when the Upper Wangaehu District has been merged and the Road Board dissolved, this Council will thou agree with the Wanganui County Council to take it over. From District Railway Engineer, re nuisance created near the station master’s residence, Martou Junction hy drainage from the Junction Hotel discharging on to the —Referred to the Health Inspector to take stops to abate the nuisance. From Hawke’s Bay Council, deferring matter of proposed handing over to the Rangitikei County of the Erewhou Riding of the Hawke’s Bay Comity From Oroua County Council, expressing the opinion that the Martou Borough Council should contribute toward the Onepuhi Bridge. Chairman gave notice to rescind previous resolution re allocation of payments by Councils —Chairman, Or. Brice and Mr H. H.“ Richardson were appointed to wait upon Marton Borough Council. From Kairanga County Council, circular re asking the Government to reduce the railway freights on road building materials —Endorsed by Council. 'From A. V. Brown, assistant clerk, stating that he proposes to resume his duties-r-Resolved—(Or Duncan—. F Brice) That Mr Brown be written to stating that his position is still open and that the Council will increase his salary by £SO per year when he resumes duty. From O. Leary, re fence between the roadman reserve and the Domain at Pohonui—Council undertakes to maintain the fence. From W. Beuck, secretary Pukeokahn Picnic Committee, asking for permit to collect for war funds— Granted. Petitions were received in connection with the location of the watertrough to bo erected at Martou Junction. —Trough already erected in Waitore Street. From John Bone, asking for refund of 10s paid for grass seed on Warren’s Road, as the seed had been eaten by straying stock—Left to overseer. From J. S. Crichton, re his contract on Pukemapou Road. Mr Crichton also attended the meeting, and explained the position. He stated that the whole of his time was occupied in chasing and nursing labour. He asked tor an increase of Is per cubic yard on the metal delivered.

Mr A. E. Russell deputation waited on the Counci re the road through Ohingaiti, Omuia and Ohurton Blocks and produced tracing of road survej r ßd in 1894, which he considered would be the best route to adopt if a road was required. Resolved —(Chairman—Or. O’Callaghan) That the matter be referred to the Clerk and the engineer to make inquiries as to the road line in question and report. Mr A. Stuart waited on the Council and asked that a water trough be erected at the Martou Junction near Gronn’s yards. It was resolved (Ors. Duncan— Simpson) That the cost of this trough and any troughs lobe erected in the future be borne half by the general account and half by the riding account in which the trough erected, also cost of annual maintenance be borne in equal portions as above. OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr A. Thoms reportedwith the exception of a few heavy gales the weather conditions have been fairly good for the roads, and in most cases they are in fair order. During the month most of the roadmen have been assisting the farmers with the havest, and in some cases some of the roads have been slightly neglected ; but they will be attended to as soon as the harvvest is over. The grader has been kept going constantly right through the holidays and with the aid of the few showers has assisted very much in keeping the roads in fair conditions. I hud that the coarse grit ground off the roads by motor traffic is the best top dressing to prevent motor traffic from cutting “pot holes.” The clay top dressing is the best for preventing the roads from breaking up in dry weather with stock traffic, etc. ; biit in showery weather it holds the water and assists the motor traffic to cut the “pot holes. ” The difficulty will bo to obtain the grit. There are only a few of our road where the traffic makes sufficient grit to be of much use, and there are a very few places where it can be obtained from pits, The sand or grit!

from the' Wangaehu river makes a good motor road if used in sufficient depth to consolidate; hut if used in small quantities as a top dressing on an old metalled road it is very little use owing to the line gravel being worn round by the action of the water and when placed on the road the action of the motor wheels sweeps it right to the outer edge of the road in a very short time. It would require ' sweeping back about every fortnight to keep it on the road. We.are experimenting this season with the different top dressings, and as tar or concrete roads' are practically out of th# question under present conditions, I believe that grit will have to take the place of clay for top dressing where there is much motor traffic. "With the consent of Councillor Simpson the grader made about 25 chains of new formation on the Porewa road at a cost of about £ls and it now wants three seta of small pipes put in, which would cost about £B.

The settlers on the Rataua road extension have agreed to pay for the concrete pipes and the forming of the fiat portion of the road by the grader, and they are going to make the cuttings and fillings themselves. The grader has completed the level formation at a cost of about £32. Messrs Baggott and Phillips, have agreed to pay for forming the rcr.d into their property at Wangaehu to be refunded to them when the loan is raised. The grader is doing this work. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr S. Mair reported;— Hangitira Riding.—Mr Manson, contractor, has made a good start with gravelling Putorino roads, Rata. I have also accepted his tender for contract No. 485, forming Clifigoad, Rata-Eowa road, and this work will be proceed with at once. Wangaehu Riding. —Good prorgess has been made gravelling Whareroa road. The old gravelling is also being repaired. Otairi Riding.—Grader is now trimming up Poukiore roads, and will -work up Watershed Road to To Kapua.

Te Knpua Hiding.—Good progress hcs been made witli gravelling on Pukam-.pou road, and the work should bo completed esrly next mouth. Repairs to Murray’s track will be put in hand before tire teams leave for Makino road.

Gravelling Pukenana-Namunni roads has progressed fairly well during the mouth Owing to wet weather the roller could not get to the crusher stand, but it is now in position, and has started crushing the coarser portion of the ballast. Hewreith I submit a Special Rating District for gravelling McDonnell Road, Taihape. It will bo necessary to get the ballast from Oliingaiti for this work; therefore, it cannot be carried out till atfer next winter. The contractor for Baird’s road has not done much during the month. The bridge over Otaihape stream has been built, and men are now engaged filling in approaches. Awarua Riding.—Tenders have been invited for gravelling balance of Tuhoe Road extension. Mr Manson, the contractor for the far end of the road, not being able to make suitable arrangements for paddocking his horses, decided to proceed with hiscontract at Rata, in preference to this one. He has agreed to forego the balance of the contract upon certain terms, and I have included this work in the new contract. This is really more suitable as all the ballast has to come from the same pit, and two contractors could not work in it simultaneously.

The contractor for Toe Toe Road Extension is working single-nauded, so little progress has been made. The towers for Toe Toe bridge are now completed, and the men are putting in the anchors. I have secured the totara timber for the bridge in the King Country, and some of it is now awaiting my -inspection before being delivered. The watercut in Inland Road is about completed. I have laid out the sites of proposed suspension bridges over Hikurangi and Upper Kawhatau rivers, and made jireliminary estimates for cart traffic bridges. The Hikurangi will require a spin of 160 feet, and the Kawhstau 160 feet. I ’ propose to build both bridges on the stiffened snapeusion principle, towers and anchors to be of concrete, and superstructure tot .ra, with eight wire ropes inches diameter, to each bridge I estimate the two structures with approaches and road formation to connect, to cost £3300. The ropes would be discarded tramway cables unless the war should terminate, when, no doubt, galvonised plough steel ropes would again be available at a reasonable price. Erewhon Riding.—The grader is now trimming up roads in Pokeokahu district. Timber has been sent out to repair decking of bridges on Moawhango-Erewhon road, and the work is now in hand. GENERAL.

Plans, specifications, etc., for Onepulu bridge have been completed, and are now' available to be sent in to Government and Local Bodies concerned. RESOLUTIONS. That Is per yard be granted Mr Crichton on the maintenance metal on Murray’s track, (Ors. Gibbs —Brown) That Mr Manson be given 7 days’ notice to proceed with his contract, otherwise it will be cancelled. The Treasurer reported: Receipts during the month £7161 3s 4d; dr balance after last meetings payments £1348 4s 3d; to-day’s payments £531 7s od; cr, balance £3Bl 10s 9d.