KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12091, 28 June 1920, Page 4

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Preseutt: Crs A E Pearce (chairman) A P Francis, D H McLean, W P Shaw, A i> Gower, J J Bryce, P B Lewis and O Mclntyre. Correspondence was dealt with from

Minister of Lands, forwarding copy of memorandum from the Hon Minister of Public Works to the effect that the Government is prepared to find two-thirds of the cost of work for forming Tataewhio road in Otamakapua Block. . Commissioner of Crown Lands, forwarding schedule of “thirds” accrued to Slat March, 1920, and requesting Council to forward proposals as to the expenditure of the money. Town Clerk, Stratford, requesting support to a resolution urging Government to make Saturday afternoon a universal half holiday throughout the Dominion —Approved. Clerk Bay of Islands County Council, requesting support to a resolution re payment of rates on Maori lands —Approved. D Martin and requesting improvements to Conspicuous road, Apiti. „ . Town Clerk Hawera Borough Council, requesting support to a resolution with reference to the removal of duty on children’s footwear —Approved. Controller of Customs, notifying refund of £26 4s ordinary duty paid on the grader, and from toe Treasury Department notifying payment of same. Clerk Pahiatua County Council, requesting support to a resolution urging Government to amend the Housing Act, 1919, in order to ma£e provision for the purchase of laud to erect dwellings or of buildings already erected —Approved. F Pearson, Rangiwahia, declining to accept 4d a yard as royalty on metal —Council agreed to pay 6d. Alex Lawson, requesting that two or three yards of metal be placed on the roadway at the entrance to his property, Kimbolton road To be supplied at cost price. R Rees, on behalf of Miss Johnston, accepting Council’s offer of 6d a yard royalty on metal supplied from pit at Rewa, ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer, .Mr Jarrett, reported Haotapu Riding -The heavy ram experienced during the past month has brought down a number of heavy slips on the Kawhatau and Manga• wharariki roads, these roads being blocked on several occasions. A number of men have been engaged assisting roadmen in removing same. A culvert near Fraser’s creek on the Mangawharariki road has collapsed. Owing to the size of this culvert and the amount of water flowing through it during the winter months. I propose bridging the gap for the time being and nntil the old timber work can be replaced by a concrete structure. A number of smaller culverts have collapsed and have been replaced with pipes. The concrete bridge has been completed near Mr Hamilton’s property on the Kawhatau road and is now open for traffic. Rangiwahia Riding—A large slip was reported on the Mangahuia road near the ford. The latter has been shifting and scouring a good deal during the recent floods in the stream. These are receiving attention hy the roadman. Roads in this Riding are in fair order. Pakihikura Riding—A number of small slips have been reported on back roads in this Riding, and are receiving attention by the roadmen. A number of slab culverts have been replaced with concrete pipes during the month.

Peep o’ Day Riding—Owing to tbs bad state of road across Brown’s slip, which is now practically impassable to wheel traffic, Or Francis called a meeting of ratepayers interested which was held at the Slip on the 16th inst, when an inspection was made of the proposed now road line and retaining wall site by a number of ratepayers. The following resolution was proposed by Mr 0F R Engalnd, seconded by Mr E H Thomas, and carried; "That the work ns proposed b 7 the County Engineering building retaining wall at the top of slip, also forming 35 chains of new road through Mr Brown’s property, be proceeded with at cost of £7OO, and that the necessary rating area be struck to meet cost of same.” The road machine is now trimming up roads in the viciinty of the Pabihikura village and working towards Peep-o’-day. Waituua Riding—l have inspected the Lower galley road which has been cut up by the heavy traffic in hauling logs for the local® sawmill. 1 have drawn Messrs Quinlan Bros’ attention to the pres nt state of the road and they have agreed to pot the road in order on completion of their contract.

General—Roads in the Waitnna, Ongo and Cheltenham Ridings are in good order. Roadmen are attending to necessary maintenance work, ■ A start has leeu made hauling and crushing metal irom the Kimbolton pit for roads in the Kiwitea and Kimbolton Ridings. Owing to the weather conditions prevailing daring the past sis weeks which have cut np the narrow road from the pit, has made the haulage exceptionally heavy and has retarded the output. The road in its present condition is only lit for summer haulage, but as it is essential that this particular class of metal requires being pat on the roads during the winter months to allow it to set before the dry season I recommend that a different system of haulage be adopted and I submit a plan of proposed tram incline haulage for Council’s consideration to-day.

RESOLUTIONS, It was resolved —i Ors Francis —Gower—That the Clerk"take n 3 cessary .steps to raise •special loan of £7OO for purpose of road formation and retaining wall at Brown’s slip, Pabihikura road. Crs Gower —Francis —That State Advances Office be informed that the dates most convenient for the payments of principal and interest in respect to all loans lifted by Oonncil to fall dne will be April and October of each year. Crs Lewis—D H McLean—That the deputation going to Wellington on County business interview the Minister of Public Works re grant for Tutaewhai road, Otamakapua block, and also interview Hon Guthrie re a subsidy for Brown’s slip. That Engineer attend to bridge and washout at Conway’s on Kimbolton road, at once, and that necessary repairs to roadman’s cottage at

iimahiue be carried out as early as? possible. (j! vM cI at y r e—Go vT* v— T bat notice be given that, stock must not he grazed on Maugoira street, Rangiwahia, and Ritzman’s rani. Crs Mclntyre—Gower—That necessary repairs to Conspicuous road be carried.out as soon as men can be procured for the work. DEPUTATIONS. Mr Chas K Hubbard, electrical engineer to Foilding Borough Council, waited on Council and delivered an address on hydro-electricity similar to that given at Marten, and suggested that adjacent Counties should form a one power district in connection with obtaining power from Mangahao hydro-electric works —The Chairman pointed out that the question was important to everyone. They were all looking forward to cheaper power, locomotion and lighting. He thanked the deputation and said the matter would be favourably discussed. The time was cbming when electric schemes would be an accomplished fact. Government did not move in these matters rapidly, bnt people in the country wore anxious to move in the matter. ROADING THE OTAMAKAPUa. Messrs S A R Mair and Thompson asked that McGregor’s roal, known as the metal pit road, be legalised. This road runs through the Otamaiiapna Block, near Ohingaiti, and the question of its being taken over by Council has been discussed at meetings for a number of years. Mr Thompson understood that Council was prepared to submit the matter to arbitration. Mr McGregor assured him that his position was sound, and that Council could be compelled to take,the road over, but it was not wished to take this step. Another thing which made it imperative that the matter should bo settled was that returned soldiers were desirous of settling in Fm district, and reading would nave co bo gone on with. Mr Mair said he was speaking on behalf of returned soldiers. He had been organising endeavouring to get then* settled on the laud, which they would agree was satisfactory. Tlie matter of settling soldiers on this block of land was coming before the Land Board. There was no legal difficulty in accepting dedication, which would not entail any financial difficulty. If the road was taken over,' and the soldiers wanted something better they could ask Council to raise a loan. Certain deviations on the road, which is very steep, were necessary, but this could be cone with little expense. H« asked Council to meet the case from a reasonable standpoint. The matter was urgent and if not settled now would come up again. Nine soldiers were going on the land, and all going in for dairying. The Chairman thought the matter of deviation v(as not an extensive one. A good grade could be obtained by following the old tramline. The work necessary could bo a charge on the block itself. Or Gower thought the settlers would be heavily rated. It would coat £I2OO, which meant that each man would pay £77 a year, hot they must have a road. Mr Thompson said the road came fairly within the Public Works Act. Public money had been spent on the road and Council had an obligation to take it over. The Chairman admitted that public money had been spent on the road, which was steeply graded. A better road was wanted. That was partly why Council did not take it over. He assured the deputation that they would do all they could to assist returned soldiers. After a brief discussion it was resolved Chairman—Cr Mclntyre That Crs Goyrer, Francis and Bryce interview F F Hockley, M.P., and Hon D H Guthrie, in Wellington, with reference to the road, and also ascertain if it is the intention of the Lands Purchase Board to acquire Mr Ewen McGregor’s property tor soldier settlement.