county; of patea

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 9

county; of patea

REQUESTS OF RATEPAYERS HEARD.

MANY SLIPS NOW CLEARED AWAY.

The Patea County Council’s meeting yesterday, which was the final one before the elections, was attended by Messrs. W. G. Belton (chairman), J. Lupton, R. J. Whtt, R. G. Scown, D. Hurley jun., W. H. Watkins, W. Back, C. E. Johnston and J. Peat. The engineer, Mr. J. N. Anderson, reported that in the Kapara riding resurfacing was being carried on with shingle from Marahemo pit. In the Moumahaki riding shell rock had been laid on Waverley beach highway, Waitangi Road and lower Okutuku Road. A portion of the Government grant, work on Moturoa Road had been done, and’ the balance of the road had been formed ready for metalling. Maintenance and grading was being done on various roads in the Moumahaki riding. The Government grant work on the upper Okutuku Road in the Waverley riding was practically completed. Most of the slips in the back country had been cleared. Most of the slips on the Maben Road in Otoia east have been cleared. The Kaharoa highway had been surfaced with shingle. A short section on Niagara Road was being formed and metalled. Work in the Otoia west riding had been confined to maintenance. The contractors on the Manawapou hill and the Whenual lira hill on the main road were making 1 sod progress and the contractor had stalled work on the Waitotara hill. Sev gal sections of road were now being resealed. A start had been made with the work of clearing the Whenuakura Stream above the bridge where the banks slipped in during the flood in February. A petition was received from 22 Waitotara ratepayers - asking the council to open a drain in Kello Street and allow the surface water to be carried into the river. During the summer months, the petition stated, the surface water became stagnant and was a menace to health. The engineer was instructed to report to the next meeting upon what was required and upon the state of the present outlet. Better access to his property on upper Maben Road was sought by Mr. F. Greaves, who waited on the council. The engineer stated that proposals submitted by him for carrying out work on that road had not been approved by the Public Works Department, which considered that the work should be carried out in conjunction with the Unemployment Board. After a discussion it was decided to ask the Government to set aside a sum of not less than £2OO out of a grant of £5OO on the Government estimates to replace the bridges damaged in the last and previous floods. It was also decided to put an unemployed man at work on the Ball Road track giving access through Hurleyville to properties of which Mr. Greaves’ was one. . Three ratepayers wrote asking for the 12J per cent, rebates to be paid in cash instead of being credited to next year s rates. One ratepayer wrote agreeing to his rebate being so credited. The clerk stated that he had written to the three ratepayers stating that there was no provision for dealing with the rebates and that the council had considered the action taken to be the most satisfactory and convenient. The position arose through several ratepayers paying their rates before the rebate was authorised. After a discussion as to the procedure to be adopted, it was decided to give the ratepayers concerned the opportunity of applying for a refund. Advice was received that the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. Bitchener, would visit Taranaki about May 12. It was asked whether the council wished the Minister to inspect any flood damage in the county. It was left to the chairman and the engineer to meet the Minister and place before him the position arising from recent flood damage. He had been advised by the Public Works Department engineer that he proposed to oppose the closing of the unformed Rakaupiko Road on the Wybourne estate leading to the Whenuakura River, stated Mr. H. G. Horsley, solicitor, Wanganui, in a letter to the council. An inspection of the area would be carried out by a sub-committee consisting of Crs. Lupton, Watkins, Johnston and Back, and the engineer, which would report to the next meeting. _ The sanitary inspector, Wanganui, advised in his annual report that the period under review had been a very light one, only one case of pulmonary tuberculosis having been notified. The Commissioner of Transport, Mr. J. S. Hunter, advised that he had received a report from the No. 5 licensing authority that the question of licensing carriers in the upper Waitotara district had been under consideration for some time and, though not' yet definitely finalised, a satisfactory working arrangement had been made, pending the hearing of two applications for licenses to ply in that area. A letter was received from Mr. S. W. Smitheram, Hurleyville, thanking the council for the manner in which settlers had been enabled to get their cream out during the recent floods.