WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1930, Page 2

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. I ' - REQUIREMENTS OF RATEPAYERS. The monthly meeting of the Whangamomona County Council was held at Whangamomona on Monday, there bein rr present Messrs. N. R. Cleland (chairman), J. Law, G. Gower, M. P. Ford,W. J. Rawlinson and B. Newstroski. The Telegraph Department notified that whether the liability was with the department or not, 'where the 'removal of telegraph or telephone poles was necessitated by roading operations, the department was prepared, to share equally with the local authority concerned the cost of . such removal. The advantages would be the elimination of disputes as to liability, the minimising of unnecessary removals and by co-operation and joint interest the reduction of the cost of all removals. Messrs. M. S. Jackson and J. Coulter; settlers of the Poliokura riding with land adjoining the Tawhiwhi Road, asked that during the time the Public Works Department employees were camped in the vicinity something should be done to widen the Te'whiwhi Road and generally, make the access more suitable for motor traffic. -

Mr. Rawlinson said Mr. Rawson was one of the early settlers in the district and deserved all the assistant the council could give him. It was I ' probable that tho Junction Road would shortly be metalled right through and when that was completed the settlers in the Tawhiwhi Road might also go in for a metalling loan. The council decided to make the necessary application. Messrs. G. M. Wilton and AV. Gill, ratepayers on Pleasant Terrace Road, petitioned the council asking that a turning place for waggons be provided at the end of the present metal. The council decided to raise no objection to the- settlers securing burnt papa from the old road if such was available. Mr. J. Dromgool, secretary of the Strathmore-Te Wera branch of the Farmers’ Union, notified that the branch had passed a resolution asking the Wluuigamomona County Council to endeavour to obtain a number of Public Works relief men to cut off some of the dangerous corners on the Brewer Road, the Expense to be borne by the Public Works Department as was being done in other districts. Mr. Ford said he had advocated either having the road declared a-highway and so qualify for a £2 for £1 subsidy or a "rant on the estimates the following year. He agreed with the chairman’s suggestion that a deputation should wait on the Acting-Prime Minister. The chairman said it seemed hopeless to aim at declaring any more roads Inghwavs as at present they were unable to cope with the existing highways. Mr Law doubted if the council would net a straight-out grant for metalling. ° Mr Gower held that the Whangamcmona Road, wlych traversed three ridings, had a prior claim tor consideration "to any other road in the county. He pointed out that the Brewer Road had previously been under the main read system but that had been abolished at the request of the representatives of that riding. The Strathmore riding, too, bad had its rates reduced twice. Now that the Whangainoniona Rond was metalled he would like to see. it brought, under the, highways system. Mv t>rd said he would support the

claims of the Whangamomona Road for a maintenance grant but he did not think that should debar the Brewer Road from applying for assistance. He deprecated pitting one road against another. The chairman said there were dangerous corners on practically every one of the by-roads but possibly the Brewer Road carried more traffic than others. .- ’ ' ' . Mr. Ford said it would not be- economical to maintain the road, which required metalling. If the settlers could raise a loan he felt sure they would receive a subsidy. However, the settlers were already rated for a special loan and would not. be permitted by the Loans Board to raise another loan. It .was resolved that the chairman and Mr. Ford wait on the ActingPrime Minister at Stratford. It was resolved to procure 190 yards of sand for blinding the new metal on tb.e Brewer Road arid to employ a casual hand on the lower end of the W hangainoniona Road to clear slips and do other work. As soon as the grader is finished in the Strathmore riding it will be sent to the Poliokura riding. In reports' to Mr. Gower it was stated that the unsettled weather had prevented progress being made ifi connection with .the plans and specifications for the Kohuratahi Road metalling. In order to, save delay when the contract v-as let authority had been given 'the clerk to order 1000 yards of metal from To Wera for the Kohuratahi Road and 560 yards for the Putikitiina Road. Mr. Law reported that he had received a complaint from Mr. O’Dea regarding the state of the Okaru Road and the Tahunaroa swing-bridge. The pipes for culverts on the road would be carted shortly. Councillors recognised the necessity for repairs to the bridge and the matter will be placed before the district engineer.' Mr. Gower thought pressure should be brought to bear to have the Tangarakau swing-bridge attended to. There was a, vole of 1600 on the estimates and he considered it should be expended, ■ r ' It was agreed to supply a set of pipes for the Rimupota Road. Work will also be” done on the Mangaro track to enable stock to bo driven. Replying to Air. Ford (lie clerk stated that no reply had been received from Mr. AV. J. Polson, AIT., in connection with the Huiakania metalling scheme. It was resolved io uotity the settlers concerned that the Acting-Prime Alinister would be at Stratford next Tliiirsday and the council would assist them if they wished to wait on him-