WHANGA COUNTY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 62, 24 May 1928, Page 2

WHANGA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Whangamomona County Council met on Monday, there being present Mr N. R. Cleland (chairman), 'Feltcher, Gower, Ford, Robertou and O'Neill.

The Valuer-General, Wellington, 'gave notice that a general revision of values in the county has taken place, and will operate as from 31st Mr,vch, 1928. The new roll would be iorwar'ded next month for the Council to place on public inspection .Received.

The Commissioner Of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, forwarded a schedule of "thirds" and "fourths" accrued from sections in the district. ' A motion was carried pledging the (thirds for maintenance of the roads ! )rom which they were accrued. The engineer-in-chief and undersecretary of the Public Works Department, wrote re application for provision to be made on the Department's estimates for road or bridge ■construction works.

ICr. I'coberton moved and Cr. Ford .seconded that bridges be given preference in the Council's application 'to the Public Works Department for grants and subsidies in the current year.

The motion was put to the meeting and defeated. It was deckled that application be withheld pending the visits of the Minister of Lands and of Public Works.

Notice of its annual levy on local ' authorities in the district was given *by the Stratford Hospital Board. The •Whanga County's contribution was '£6oo 14s.

The chairman was appointed the Council's delegate to the New Zealand Counties' Associations' annual conference of delegates, which is being held at Wellington on July 17th. The chairman was also appointed to attend the annual meeting of the 'Taranaki Local Bodies' Association on the 30th inst.

A circular letter was received from 'the clerk of the Waipa County Council requesting support of resolutions passed by his Council, protesting against the action of the Government in passing regulations of a ,nature which restrict the powers of councils to make by-laws fixing the speed limit of motoif vehicles 'for the purpose of preserving the roads, and that representations be made by county councils to the Minister oj Public Works, through members of Parliament to have enacted

an amendment to the Public Works Act, enabling local authorities to Imake by-laws restricting the speed of motor vehiclse Received. TRAMWAY AT TANGARAKAIJ.

Messrs Rutherfurd, Macalister and Coleman wrote with regard to Mr W. Shank's application for permission to erect a tramway on the Tangarakau Road, asking that the Council fortaulte the conditions to which the license would be subject, at as early a date as possible. It was regretted that the Council could not see its way to grant permission for the construction of a tramway over the .Ohura Road, but it was trusted that the matter would be reconsidered later.

It was resolved that the matter .be referred to Mr Sladden with; instructions that he formulate the conditions and submit same for the Council's consideration at its next meeting. AOTUHIA BRIDGES.

The lion, sec-otary of the Aotuhia Settlers' Association (Mr D. E. L. Rose), wrote stating that he had Been diiecter'. to notify the Council of the following resolution passed hy the Association at its last meet- " That this Association desires to draw the attention \of the Whangamoaoiiii County Council to the unsatisfactory and dangerous condition of the bridges in this (Aotuhia) district, especially the swing "bridge .'over the Whangamomona River, and requests that it will be notified as to what steps the Council are taking to have the bridges renewed or put in older.'' —It was suggested that should the Council' deem it necessary, the Minister of Public Works should be approached in connection wiui the cost of renewal of bridges. The clerk was instructed to reply that the Council are quite av/ai'e of the state of the bridges, but In 'view of the fact that the Whangajfcnomona Road metalling had absorbed all the subsidy money allocated to 'this road during the past few years, the Council are not in a position to have the bridges attended to. Mr P. Coates, Pohokura, wrote drawing the Council's attention to the state of the Mauku and Arnold '.Road bridges. The Mauku ' Road 'bridge, which required some new decking, had been unsafe for horse traffic for some time. The Arnold Road bridge was also very dangerous.—lt was decided to advise Mr Coates that timber is in readiness for the repair of Arnold Road bridge, and the Council hope to have she work put in hand 'shortly, the Mauku bridge to receive attention at the same time.

Cr. Fletcher reported a number of slips on the Mahgere track, in the clearing of which a small sum would require to be expended. It was decided that the Minister of Public Works be approached for a small grant for the purpose of clearing slips from and repairing the Mangere track. A resolution "That the sum of £4BO Ohura Road Loan be raised," was carried.

The action of Cr. Roberton in obtaining planks for the repair of Mangapapa bridge and having repair work carried out on the Mangapapa Road w r as confiremd. The matter of having work put in hand on Rerekarpa track was left in Cr. Roberton's hands.

Accounts passed for payment totalled £1246 2s lid.