RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11477, 4 March 1918, Page 4

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting .of the Council was held on Saturday. Present: Ors. B. P. * Lethbridge (chairman), J. Brice, A. G. Simpson, F. R. H. Brice, A. Gibbs, H. O.’Callaghan, W. Doole, E. Brown, and T. A. Duncan.

. CORRESPONDENCE. From, State Advances Office, approving of loan of £IOO for Pukemapu road. Prom Chief Surveyor, re road through Mr A. A. Russell’s property. From Railway Department, asking permission to lay water and gas pipes along King Street, Martou Junction.—Granted, subject to the pipes being laid to the approval of the inspector. From War Expenses Department, agreeing [to pay rates on behalf of a 'soldier on active service.—Resolved (Chairman —Cr. F. Brice), That the Department be applied to re rates unpaid by any soldiers on active service.

From Health Inspector, stating that drainage works at Junction Hotel is in progress. From Auckland City Council, forwarding copy of resolution urging the-retention of Samoa.—Endorsed by ..the Council. From Mauawatu County Council, asking this Council to support the resumption of the running, of racp trains owing to the damage occasioned to County roads by motor traffic to race meetings.—Received.

From W. H, Clark, applying foxpayment for work done on the roads.—Resolved (Ors. J. Brice —T. Duncan), that as the work was not authorised the Council refuses to roco2uise the claim. From Kiwitea County Council, declining to contribute towards the .cost of the Upper Kawhatau and Hikurangi proposed bridges. —Her solved (Chairman —Or. F. Brice), That the clerk proceed to obtain a warrant under Section 119 of the Public Works Act for the erection of the Upper Kawhatau and Hiku rangi bridges. ; From Bulls Town Board, asking that Mr Blair be allowed to act as vainer in connection with the Board’s proposed purchase of electric light plant.—Granted. •; .... Fron\ Koitiata Domain Board, asking Council to advance funds for survey of building, allotments on the Domain.—Resolved (Chairman — Or. Brown), That the Council advance the necessary funds for the survey. From Mayor of asking Council to be represented on deputation to Ministers asking that Government take over Gorge Road and bridges .’rs a national highway. —The Chairman was appointed to represent the Council. From C. L. Harris, forwarding petition re alleged nuisance Qaused by the borough septic tank.—lnspector Pargeter’s report stated that the nuisance emanated _ from a neighbour’s piggery, and it was decided to forward the inspector’s report to the petitioners cud to the owner of the piggery. From J. W. Marshall, drawing attention to dangerous railway crossing at Porewa. —lt was resolved (Crs. Simpson—F. Brice), That the attention of the Railway Department be drawn to the dangerous railway crossing at Porewa. From J. G. Collins, ‘claim for royalty on gravel taken from his laud.—Left to Cr. Gibbs with power to act.

From R. C. Gardner, asking permission to make~road through v ouucil’s plantation at Bulls bridge. — Left to overseer to report. From J. Campion, asking permission to lower culvert across road at Ohinemuri. —Granted. From M. Morrison and H. H. Cook, asking for exemption from 10 per cent, hue on rates.—Council regretted inability to make exemption.

An extension of time for payment of rates wus granted to the relative of a deceased soldier.

RANGITIKEI RIVER DIVE RSION

Correspondence was read from Messrs A. W. Amon and L. McKelvie re Raugitikei River proposed diversion.

The Chairman stated that in company with Cr. Brown he had waited on Messrs Amon and McKelvio, who distinctly stated that they were under the impression that the cost of the work was to come out of the general rates. The Chairman concurred in this view.

Ors. O’Callaghan and F. Brice were of opinion that the cost should come out of the general fund. Cr. Gibbs opposed the cost of the work coming out of the general fund as the work was of no use to the people of the northern Ridings. The Chairman moved, and Cr. Brown seconded—That a sum up to £350 be voted by special order, to be hereinafter made and passed, out of the general account to execute the work of making a cut along Hoki Street to divert the Rangitikei River in accordance with the engineering plans and specifications prepared by Mr Hair, subject to a guarantee from Messrs Amon and McKelyie as set forth in Clause 10 of Mr Martin’s opinion.—Carried.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr S. A. R. Mair reported Rangitira Riding.—Good progress has been made gravelling Pntuorino Roads, Rata, and Mr Manson should complete '.his main contract before the end of,next week. He has made a start with formation road along cliff and should soon have this portion completed. Wangaehn Riding.—Light repairs have been carried out to gravel on Mangatipona Road, ‘Kauangaroa. Fair progress has been made gravelling Whareroa road. -This work has been conisderably delayed owing to contractor not being able to secure labour. Otairi Riding.—Road grader has completed trimming up Watershed road in Otairi Riding, and is now in Te Kapua. Te Kapua Riding.—About 500 cubic yards of papa has been burned on Pauemange road for repairs. Contractor has finished gravelling Pukemapou road and will have repairs to Murray’s track completed in a few days. Good progress has been made with gravelling on Namunni road. The crusher has been breaking all boulders in dump satisfactorily. ' ■■ ~ Awarua Riding.—Most of the timber for Toe Toe bridge is now on the site. The anchors have been put in position and cables run across, and the 'work of erecting superstructive is in hand. Very little progress has been made , with Toe Toe Extension road as contractor is

working almost single handed. The water cut and filling on Inland Road are about complete. Mr Crichton has moved some of his teams from Te Kapua to Makino road and has started gravelling. Erewhon Riding.—Repair gravel is being spread upon TaihapeWainui road. Tne road grader has finished the roads] about Moawhango, and is now on Erewhon road. OVERSEER’S RE PORT.

Mr A. Thoms report:—The roads generally are in good order for this season of the year, especially considering the Iju’ge quantities of stock that are continually travelling over them.

During the first part of the month most of the roadmen wore assisting the farmers with the harvest; hut lately they have been helping each other to renew bridges and culverts with concrete pipes. At present there are only two of the metalling contracts that the work is in progress. Messrs Manning and Nattrass have nearly completed their contract for metalling Somersal road, aud.Mr Hill is making good progress with his contract . on the Bulls-Scotts road, etc. I find that the decking on the bridge over the lurakina river at Turakiua will have to be renewed. I propose to renew it with riron timber as I think this will last as long as the balance of the bridge which has been built over thirty years. I have started men to tar and sand the footpath to the Martou railwaystation. When this work is finished I would suggest that the piece of tarred road near Mr Beckett’s bo given another coat of tar and sand. The decking on the Bulls bridge also requires some attention; but I do not think it will be necessary to re-tar and sand the whole surface this season. The work authorised at last .meeting to no done on the Raugitikei beach road has been completed. Thanks are due co Mr Amon who gave the clay and gravel free of charge for this work. The work of taking off the point near Tutu Tot i.ra has been completed. The signatures have all been obtiluhed for the loans for gravelling Wiiiamson’s road, also for forming, bridging, Bud partly gravelling Baggott’s road. I propose to call tenders for metalling Williamson's road this month, and to put the work of erecting the bridge over the creek on Baggott's road in hand as soon as possible. With the consent of the chairman I let contract No. 2:398, gravelling 42 % chains on Somersai road to Meirss Manning and Nattrass at 5s per yard pins £.O for opening a new metal pit. Also let < ontract No. 242 for delivering 500 yards of gravel on the AUrton-Turakina roads etc., to Messrs Muming and Nattrass at 5s 5d per yard. It was resolved, That Mr Mauson be informed that he can proceed with the completion of ins contract No. 459. '

Or. F. Brice proposed, That the Clerk end Overseer interview the Marton Borough Council with a view to getting a reduction in the price of water" used at any troughs erected by the Raugitikei County Council in the vicinity of the borough.—Seconded by the chairman and c -.rried.

The treasurer reported:—Cr. balance after last meeting’s payments, £3Bl 17s 7d: receipts during mouth, £5971 8s lid; to-day’s payments £3500 13s 9d: cr. balance £3804 12s 9d.

It was resolved (Or. Brown—Chairman), That the overseer prepare a special rating district for a loan of £l5O for metalling Green’s road.