WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 27 October 1911, Page 2

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHEY MEETING. The ordinary meeting .of the Council took place in the Council Chambers an Wednesday, when there were present: Crs A. Meredith (chairman), Roberton, Mcllroy, Anderson, Jones, Davis, and 11. McCluggage. REPORTS. Engineer. Mr E. C. Robinson reported as follows: ... Tenders have been invited for contract No. 28 (formation of portion of Mauku Road) and contract No. 29 (felling and clearing portion of I pper Mangaehu Road). In regard to the latter contract, it was my intention to lay off the work for formation, together will the felling and clearing, but on commencing to do so it was found so thick with underscrub and second growth in addition to the hush, that' a very considerable time i v . • 1

would have' been required to make a clearing wide enough for a levelling survey: Also it would have been impossible to secure without a good deal of unnecessary work the best line for formation. The Mauku Road formation under contract extends in patches over the first 70 chains. The intermediate portions simply require dressing up, and can be arranged for with the successful tenderer. As soon as this contract is under way, a fresh length will bo let.. Pohokura Road.—Up to the present a great difficulty has, been experienced in obtaining labour to make the repairs authorised on this road, but two men have now been secired for the work. ; Ma.uku Road.—ln regard to the expenditure of the late ere tit on this road it is not necessary to look past the bridge near Ohura Road Junction, the renewal of such bridge being in my opinion the most necessary work to be undertaken. The piers and carbcls are about done, and the superstructure though not very unsound is tar too light to carry the class of traffic now passing over it. The renewal woulcf cost about £3OO in haiclwood. . , , Upper Mv.ngachu Road.—Kerrisk s formation contract on this road has been completed. Brewer Roach—l must once more bring under the Council’s xiotice the condition of the bridge on this road at Strathmore, which is decidedly unsafe for all classes of traffic. The outgoing correspondence for the month includes the following; Carmichael (notice to clear watercourse), Bonn and Mercantile (notice to put in culvert), Public Works Department (re Matirangi Road) bridge and lutikituna Road slips). . Approach to Mounsey’s lord.—this work has been put in hand. 1 am obtaining a large bridge spanner in order to have the various bridges in the county properly screwed up.

Strathmore Foreman. Owing to the very broken weather which prevailed during the greater part of the past month, I have pushed on with necessary work on the metalled roads throughout the riding, and a few days are still required to complete this work. The roads generally arc in a very fair order; it will be necessary, however, to fill in all ruts on the unmetalled roads, with a view of making travelling as easy as possible, and to allow the surface to become consolidated by the summer traffic. This' work applies particularly to the Akama, ivirai, O’Connor’s, and the Brewer Roads. A portion of the latter ■ road has been attended to. I am erecting a poundboard at Huiakama, and i found it necessary to engage Mr Burnett for a few hours, also to procure four 9 9-16 bolts, as the necessary bolts apparently were not forwarded by the firm that supplied the board. There was 2s Bcl freight charged by the Railway Department for the carriage of board and posts from Stratford to Te Wera. I have had a papa auger and the necessary lengths of piping made locally. When carrying out the proposed work to access to Mounsey’s Ford it will be necessary to re-erect a length of timbering at the intake of drainage tunnel which has broken in, owing to the action of the water freeing the supports. As I had the misfortune not to see the surfaceman at

Mahaku on Friday I also regret not being able to forward Ids time-sheet, which cannot be forwarded until next meeting of the Council. Whangamomona Foreman. During the month there was a good deal of wet weather, which has prevented my getting the necessary work started on the Whitiangi Road, but it will bo started as soon as the weather takes up. The Mangawata Road would require a man for about two weeks to clear off small slips on the new formation, and also on the metalled portion. The Taliora Road requires repairing and rounding up from end to end, and would bo cheaper in the long run than a few days with a man now and again. The Prospect Road was repaired at the lower end about a month ago, and is now as bad as ever, there seems to be nothing of any good to this road but to metal it up to Baker’s gate; on the upper end of this road some work is also required. Large numbers of stray stock are on every road in the ridings’ at which a number of ratepayers are complaining. The reports were adopted. THIRDS.

Cr. McCiuggage moved in accordance with notice of motion: “That the resolution of 23rd August, 1911, scheduling the Ohura Road thirds in the I’ohokura' Riding for metalling tlie said road near the railway station he rescinded.” —Carried Crs McCiuggage—Mcllroy: That the Ohura Road thirds in the Pohokura Riding be scheduled for interest an a £2001) loan for metalling provided the Land Board’s consent is obtained, and that the Minister for Public 'Works be asked for a £ lor £ subsidy on the loan.—Carried. CORRESPON DEN CE. From the Department of Lands, informing the Council that the ranger’s report on the proposals for expenditure of thirds accrued to the 31st March last, is satisfactory, and a vouchor for the amount of £2227 18s Id has been passed for payment. From the Minister of Public Works, re grants, informing the Council that tiio provision asked for will receive consideration when the Public Works estimates for the current year are being framed.—.-Received. From the Public Works Department re Stratford-Kawakawa railway, enclosing proclamation published in Gazette No. 77, of the 28th September, 1911, allocating land reserved for the above-mentioned railway to the purposes of a road in blocks 11, 10, 8, and 1, Ngatimaru Survey District.—Received. From Manoy and Hassall, applying for about ton loads ol earth for fill-ing-in purposes. Request granted subject to the approval of the Engineer. Mr A. Meredith’s application tor earth from road reserves he granted subject to the engineer’s approval. ' From William Brunette, resigning his position as ranger.—Accepted.

From F. Calghcr, offering tho Conncil the sum of t(i a year tar the lease j of reserve.—Moved l»v Cr. Anderson, ■ that Mr Calgher be advised that the Council grant an annual lease upon terms offered by him, upon payment | of six months rent in advance; such lease may be determined upon six months’ notice being given on either side.-—Carried. From the Valuation Department, informing the Council that it is unable to supply addresses asked for, as they are not known.— . Received. From the New Zealand Counties Association, forwarding Council’s op- 1 inions No. 95 and 9d. —Received. j DEPUTATION. Mr Coxhcad waited on tho Council | with regard to the Putikituna Road, j and asked if the Govenmernt was go- j mg to do anything in regard to same, j as at present it is in a bad state, slips having practically blocked traffic. It was decided to leave the matter over till next meeting of the Council to see what can he done. RIDING BUSINESS.

Strathmore Hiding.—Cr. Meredith moved that a public meeting be called at Stratl'.more to strike a bridge rate of id in the £, and to consider proposals for raising a bridge loan of £GOO for renewing the Brewer Road bridge at Strathmore. —Carried. Pohokura Riding.—Moved by Cr. McCluggage that the Makahu Road accrued rates and thirds, and the 1 ohoknra Riding special fund account lie expended in renewing the Makahu Road bridge. After a good deal of discussion tbc motion was lost. Central Riding.—Cr Anderson asked on behalf of Mr Smith (bricklayer) for permission to start brickmaking on Prospect Road. The matter was loft in the hands of Cr Anderson and the engineer. Cr Roberton moved that the engineer be empowered to arrange for a man to do the required work on the Tahora Hoad for one month. Gairied. GENERAL. Cr Roberton moved and Cr McCluggage seconded, that no expenditure be made on account of (Tahora Riding) Ohnra Road thirds lie undertaken’untill the election of the now Council.—Carried.

The clerk was instructed to have summonses issued against certain native land owners for the recovery or arrears of native rates registered against their land. It was decided on Cr Roberton s motion that the special order authorising an additional member for the lahora Riding be confirmed. The engineer was instructed to place a notice on the Makahu Hoad bridge drawing attention to its unsafe position for heavy traffic. It was decided to call applications for a ranger, to close at next meeting of the Council. Cr. Mcllroy moved, and Cr. McCluggage seconded, that Mr W. 1)• Anderson be appointed the Council’s solicitor.—Carried. The engineer was instructed to cad for tresli tenders for contracts Nos. 28 and 29, to close in a fortnight s Accounts amounting to £94 11s bd were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.