PATEA COUNTY CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 9

PATEA COUNTY CONTROL

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. WORK ON THE RIDING ROADS. ’The monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held yesterday, those -present being Crs/W. G. Belton (chairman), W. H. Watkins, C. E. Johnston, W. Back, J. Peat, J. Lupton, R. G. Scown, R. J. Watt and D. Hurley, The engineer, Mr. J. N. Anderson, was authorised to engage a temporary assistant for survey work required in preparing estimates for submission and was instructed to report on drainage work required, on a road in Waitotara township. The Ngamatapouri Ratepayers’’ Association asked that the council repair the present one or make a new accommodation paddock for stock at the Moumahaki lakes, to be charged against the rates. The matter was left to the engineer. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, writing on behalf of Mr. C. Menefy, drew attention to the collapsed state of the bridge at the junction of the Puraroto and Makakaho Roads, which was unable to carry heavy traffic. Mr. Menefy had to sledge his wool to the junction as carrying firms would not take their lorries over the bridge. It did not seem necessary to build a new bridge, but it would be gratifying to have the council do something, although the council had informed Mr. Menefy that nothing could be done owing to lack of funds.

, A reply will be sent to the effect that the bridge’s state is such that repairs, cannot be made. In connection with a circular from the Counties’ Association. regarding the Patea council’s views on motor taxation, it was decided to recommend that farmers’ own lorries used to carry produce from farm to farm or to the station be exempt from heavy traffic fees. The engineer reported on the month’s work as follows:—

In Kapara riding general maintenance was done and slips removed where necessary. The surfacing of the Waitotara Valley Road was continued. In Moumahaki riding ordinary maintenance was attended to on the riding roads generally and the Waitotara township roads were cleaned up. Okutuku Road and Waitangi Road in Waverley riding were resurfaced where necessary and various other roads were graded. Drainage was improved on various sections and the bad flat on Kohi highway was sanded. In Otoia East riding Hukatere and Otauto .Roads were resurfaced and several other roads were graded. In Otoio West riding ordinary maintenance was attended to where necessary, and unemployed relief men were engaged widening a cutting and filling on upper Manutahi Road. On Ball highway some drainage work was done to carry the water away from the sub-grade. On the main road drainage improvements were carried out on Waitotara Hill and near Waverley, and shoulders were graded where necessary. The repair work on the Patea bridge was going ahead satisfactorily. The crushing plant was thoroughly overhauled and was ready for the season’s work. The contractor had a quantity of boulders on the bank and crushing would be commenced as soon as possible. Most of the county plant was reconditioned and the remaining units should be completed by the end of the present month.