OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11960, 11 December 1919, Page 5

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held, yesterday. ’ Present: Crs. Hugh Burrell (chairman), J. Morrison, W. McLennan', J. Vincent, W. G. Greenhow, A. E. Pearce and O. McElroy. CORRESPONDENCE. C orrespondence was dealt with: — From Messrs Haggitt and Elliott, re claim for damage done by timber carters on Tokoraugi road.—Received From Messrs Haggitt and Elliott, forwarding agreement for transfer of part Penelope road.—Received. From N.Z. Society of Engineers, asking Council to facilitate attendance of County Engineer at. annual conference to be held in Dunedin next February.—Engineer to attend. From Public Works Department, suggesting that local authorities confer re “Manawatu Gorge Road and Bridge Act, 1919.”—Held over until reply received from Mr Nash, M.P.

From Secretary Chamber of Commerce, circular re proposed Wanganui District Development League. —Received. From Auckland Railway League, suggesting alteration of control of Public Works allocations. —Received, -TREASURER’S REPORT. of general rates collected,. £5760 16s 4d.

Riding Accounts —Makiuo Riding, cr., £199 158 4d; Hiwinui Riding, dr., £73 17s lid; Otangaki Riding, dr.. £134 13s Id; Taon'ui Riding, dr.' £524 7s 8d; Mangaone Riding, cr., £B4 4s lOd; Eangitawa Riding, dr., £358 14s lOd; Ranmanga Riding, cr., £136 2s 6d. Bank Balances—County fund account, cr., £317 14s 8d; interest account, cr., £231 Is 7d. TRANSFERS.

The following Alterations were made in the rate roll: —W Bolton to E T Sutherland, H and A Burrell to Cheltenham Dairy Co., H Dittmer to G. } O and L Story, G W Francis to H Longstaff and W W Murton, W J Horn to"H E Sawdeu, A Mepham to J Marstqn and G R Fitzgerald, E Marshall to J H McLean, J H Taylor to P H and A Taylor, A F Whibley to A Stitt and H Monk, I. Anderson to G H Wheeler, F E Harrison to J. Ludemann, Sharpe Bros, to J L Fergusson, J Graven to T Templeton, W Thomson to H M the King, J Garlick to H R Humphrey, J Garlick to H O Terry, T H Ingley to O Jepson. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr R. Harding) reported:— Mangaone Riding—A small portion of the Run road has been gravelled and cleared. This piece will be rolled in the course of a day or two. Rangitawa Riding—The HalcombeKakariki road has been trimmed, with the grader. The surface of this road is very rough, and I propose scarifying an 3 gravelling it in the autumn.

Raumanga Riding—The rough portions of Tokorangi road have been clayed and rolled, and some gravel repairs effected to Makino road. Makino Riding—Kimholton road has been trimmed with the grader and is now in fair order. I would recommend that a track he made from Kimholton road to the Kivvitea stream along Spur road. This would effect a considerable saving hauling gravel for Kimholton road. Taouui Biding—Very little work has been done in this Riding. I have put on a new roadman at Colyton and the Bunnythorpe roadman has been engaged m ost of the time on the Aoraugi bridge. The teams will commence garvelling at Bunny thorpe on Wednesday.: Hiwinul Riding-Gravel repairs have been effected to Siberia roads. The watertables on these roads have also been attended to. As the teams are now disengaged the present would he a suitable time to widen the Palmerston-Ashhurst road.

Otangaki Riding—-The Ashhurst streets have been trimmed and a protective fence erected on the large filling leading to Gorge bridge. The road leading to Hardie’s factory will require some gravel repairs. Otherwise the roads are in good order. GENEKAL. For tiie greater part of the mouth two men have been engaged on Aorangi bridge replacing the old maire blocks which are in an advanced state of Idecay. Two lower chords also require replacing and a number of filling places are being replaced in concrete. The bridge should then be in fair order. It was resolved—Ors. Pearce--Greeuhow—That the clerk be authorised to write to Pohangina County Council and ask if they are willing to contribute, say, £SO, on condition that this Council contributes £IOO, or £1 from Pohangina and £3 from this Council for what the work may cost, either over or below the above estimate for the purpose of re-grad-ing what is known as Bray’s Hill on Taonui road.

Speaking to this Cr. Pearce said the work had been authorised two or three years ago. There had bseu many complaints, ami the engineer had been instructed to take off ti piece at the point. This had not been done, it was a pity to leave it like it is. They should take out the cutting to about 15 feet, and what was taken off could be used for tilling in at foot ot hill. The Pohangina County should contribute. Accounts amounting to £4Bl 15s 2d were passed lor payment oh general account and £lOls 17s lid on interest account.