RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11819, 2 May 1919, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting was hold yesterday. Present: Ors. Lethbridge (chairman), A. G. Simpson, F. R H. Brice, R. Brown, J. Brice, O’Oallaghan, P. Pedersen. Crs Gibbs, Duncan and Doole -were granted leave of absence. Correspondence was read— From F. F. Martin, forwarding legal opinion that it was not necessary to close Hoki street under the Public Works Act. From Valuer-General, stating that existing values in the Runnui and Te Kapua Ridings will remain in force for the current year. From Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, advocating Government control of main arterial roads with a view” to the formation of permanent higwhays.—Endorsed. From Foxtou Chamber of Commerce, advocating that steps be taken to stop sand drift between Wanganui and Paikakanki.—Endorsed. From Waimarino County Council re proposed alteration of County boundaries. —The Chairman and Cr. Pedersen to attend Conference at Taihape. From P. F. Toomey, accepting appointment of ranger upon terms offered by the Council. From J. T. Davey, in connection with his contract for the construction of Toe Toe road extension. —Referred to Engineer, From Public Works Department, offering grants Tuhoe road £175 and Inland Road £SOO.

From manager Blockhouse, asking for permission to place a culvert across the Bulls-Scotts road.—Left to Engineer, From Mrs Donovan, asking that Inland road be attended to. —Left to Engineer. From Fullerton Smith and Miles, stating their clients .were prepared to pay for the survey of the road through Howard’s estate to Kakariki road, if Council would pay for necessary plans and diagrams. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The Road Inspector (Mr A. Thoms) for the mouth of April as follows: Rangitoto Riding:—The metalling contracts are completed and good pro grees is being made with the stone breaking. Owing to the dry weather water cannot be obtained for rolling down the new laid metal, and until wafer is evailabeit is not much use starting the roller. The work of repairing the tarred deck of the Bolls bridge is well iu hand; but has been delayed owing to the sand not coming forward. This has now arrived and the werk should be completed in a few, days.

With the consent of the Chairman I let the cutting of tbe drain along Hoki street near the mouth of the Rangitikei river to Mr T. Bastin at £169 16s. A contract has been let to Mr W. T, Hill to deliver 100 yards of gravel on the lower end of the Tura kina Bulls road at 3s 3d per yard. Porewa Riding;—Most of the roads are in fair order. Good progress is being made with the gravelling contract on hand. Mr Nattrass has completed both his contracts, and Mr Stokes should complete bis in the course of a few days. Great difficulty is being experienced in obtaining labour to break the stones. Otakapu Riding:—The Easter traffic cut the road about considerably, and thev will require a good deal of attention to put them in order againThe metalling of the worst portions of Glasgow’s road leading up to Mr Q. L. Marshall’s property has been completed. Mr Marshall found the teams, and the Council paid the men in the pit.

The clayed road oyer the sand drift on the Tusakiua Beacn road has beau repaired. During the mouth the bridge on Baggott’s road has been erected. Also the bridge over the big drain on the Rakautawa road baa been rebuilt, and Bruce's bridge on Bruce's road has been longitudinal decked. Tenders were obtained from several contractors for delivering gravel on the Turabina-Wangae-hu roads etc , and the Chairman accepted the following:— For about 60 yards on the Turakiua beach toad Messers Fell and Dnrdle at os per yard. For about 70 yards on the Tarakiua Valley road Messrs Fell and Durdle at 4a 6d per yard For about 150 yards on the Turakina Wangaheu roads Mr R. Porter at 5s 6d per yard. For about 60 yards on the Euatangata road R. Porter at 5s 6d per yard. For about 40 yards on the Kakautawaroad R. Porter at 6s 6d per yard Lower End Waogaebu Riding:— Messrs Fell ana Durdle have started to deliver gravel on the Turakiwa roads etc. Lower End Eangatira Riding;— The metal contracts in the lower en I of the Rangatira Riding are completed ; but I have been unable to obtain men to break the stones, ENGINEER’S REPORT

The engineer, Mr S A R Mair, reported. for the mouth of April:— Rangitira Hiding:—Roads are in good order. So far I have not been able to let the contract for concrete bridge over Pourewa at Silverhope. Excavation lor reservoir, Putonno waterworks, has been completed, and the work of laying pipes is now proceeding. Wangaehu Riding:—Roads are in fair order. Small bridge near Omuri Hori woolshed requires renewing, and|l propose to build in concrete as soon as iron reinforcements are available. Otairi Riding—Roads are in fair order. The work of reopening , Otairi Road is in hand. I have explored the gravel pit on Mr Ales. Downie’s place at Maugaouoho, and the proposed read access to Watershed road, with a view to opening ■up to gravel Watershed road. The pit is situated on the top of a sharp ridge,acd about 100 chains of formation would be required to give access to Waterfall road. This would cost about £SOO, aad unless very comprehensive metalling is contemplated on Watershed road, the cost of opening up this pit would nor be warranted. Tbs saving in carting from Mangaonoho would be a bout 5a per yard, therefore it would be necessary to take out at least 2000 j cubic yards to make the work worth | while. 1 Tekapua Riding:—Reads tbrough- < out are now fairly good For the > litst'time since it wa£ formed the , Turakina Valley Road has been re- : opened from Papanui through : Collier's, fcut I contemplate heavy | slips again this wider, ii b;id 1 weather prevails. No. 2 grader has • completed work in Tekap’oa, and j the burnt papa road to Eoeka, and t

is now trimming np Mangamabo road. Spreading gravel has been completed on Otaihape Valley road, and the stones are now being broken. Sufficient signatures hare been obtained to carry loan for gravelling McDoneli’s mad. Ruanui Riding:—Roads are in fair order. The Waimarino County Council have advised me that they have granted £ls towards clearing slips on Otara road, as this road is tbe only access to Section 1 iu that •country. Repairs to fillings on Waiaruha road have been completed. I have inspected the metal reserve laid off on Konkcpo rosd, ia exchange for a similar two acies on Owhskura road. The former has quantities of goad s:;tll rock mstal, while the latter hns none, therefore the exchange is very desirable, and should be agreed to.

Awarua Riding:—Tbe last of the slips have now been cleared, and roads generally are ia better order than at any time (lining last two >ears. Contract ter gravelling Makiuo road is about complete, with the exception of breaking metal and a few other repairs. Gravel repairs are in progress on Torere and Gorge road, also on Fanakai road. No. 1 grader, has completed Gorge and Tuhoe roads, and is now working on Puke road. It will then, if Hue weather continues, trim up Eawhatan and Toe Toe roads. Metalling Rifle Range road, Maugaweka, is in progress. Erewhon Riding— Roads ate in good order. Grader nas completed in this riding. Gravel repairs have been carried out on Wainoi road, metal being caited from depot at Taihape. Sawmillers are also carting gravel for repairs. With Councillor Doole 1 inspected the portion of Hawke’s Bay County proposed to be merged Into Raagitikei County. Owing to the difficulty of crossing cars at Erewhon Fori over Kaugitikei River, I would recommend light wire ropes and windlass he install, d, so ttyat cars may be pulled through tbe river when stack. General: —Preliminary estimates for current year 1919-20 have been prepared, and laid on the table. Ironbark timber required for Ouepuhi bridge has been ordered from Australia, and should be here in about two mouths, when the contractor will be to start work. The financial year 191819 just ended has been one of he most unsatisfactory experienced iu the County from a roads construction standpoint. During practically ten months of the year, an abnormal rainfall obtained, to scarcity of labour the greatest difficulty was experienced in keeping even the Main Road lines open for traffic. The high prices ruling for ‘horse feed and labour has practically driven the contractor out of the field, and It Is now of the utmost difficulty to get formation or gravelling works undertaken. Almost the whoie of the year’s expenditure has been confined to restoring flood damage, and not only has little new work been undertaken, but the general maintenance of the roads, both metalled and unmetalled is much behind the standard obtained for some years past. Curiously the only manner* iu which this leeway can be pulled up is by comprehensively investing in. self propelled trucks tor both carrying and haulage. Varions makes of motor trucks and tractors are, iu many localities, in tbe Dominion, giving satisfaction, and 1 strongly recommend Council to thorongly investigate, and invest in such a modern road building plant, otherwise not only can no progress be made, but oar roads must gradually depreciate. The time is also fast arriving when Connell will have to prosecute a modern road building policy, to place our Older Main Roads in a standard tit to carry the modern traffic of fast travelling propelled vehicles. No time should he lost in defining, by experiment and enquiry, what is to be the adopted method suitable to oar local conditions. During the year about £20,000 has been expended in tbe Upper Ridings, £16,000 of winch lias been mainly spent in the upkeep and maintenance of the roads and bridges. This has barely sufficed to keep them in repair, and a close investigation will reveal that the time is fast approaching when the interest and sinking fund charge-: on the cost of modern built roads, will be less than the cost of annua! maintenance of the inferior roads we at present have, and above this the public will derive a huge indirect saving in wear and tear anti other inconvenience incidental to travel over inferior roaos. Various governing bodies representative of the whole public contemplate » joint conference during the next eessian of Parliament, to consider this very important matte'’, and 1 would recammend Gunnell to investigate and prepare for '.the much needed reform that is fast approaching. RESOLUTIONS. • The Council decided to form and culvert Kotukuraeroa Road from Taihape-Otuarei road, generally southward to Prime’s gate, and to gravel same road from TaihapeOtuarei road to Barton’s gate. It was resolved that notice be given of the intention of the Council to raise a loan of £3OO for its share of the cost of Onepuhi bridge. That application he made to Government to vest in Council a 2acre reserve at Rangiwea Junction, being section 11., Block 11., Maungakaretu S. D., for purposes of a roadman’s cottage. That ropes and windlass be provided fpr Erewhon ford, provided settlers find the posts. That Engineer be authorised to select a site suitable for a roadman's cottage at Haihaitahi.