WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL

Wairarapa Age, 20 December 1919, Page 7

WAIRARAPA SOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa South County Council was held at Carterton on Saturday, there being present Crs. W. Perry (chairman), C. A. Cameron, M. McGregor, D. McGregor and J. Hodder. An apology for absence was received from Cr. T. V. Moore.

The treasurer reported a credit balance in tho Bank of £2219 14s sd. Accounts amounting to £IOOO 4s 9d were presented for payment. The receipts since last meeting were: General rates £4138 lis 9d, arrears £l2 103 3d, penalty on overdue rates £1 6s 7d, special rates £395 7s 10d, water race maintenance rate £341 5s Bd, motor registrations £5 10s, forage rates collected £7 0s 4d.

The secretary of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme wrote, pointing out that the Council had not yet become a member of the League, and stating that the great majority of the local bodies interested had joined.—The Chairman asked, where does the Wairarapa come in?— The Clerk replied that nobody, seemed to know.—Cr. D. McGregor said he thought there was little chance of the Wairarapa getting any power from the Mangahao scheme. However, the first duty of the Wairarapa Board would' be to ascertain if power could be obtained from Mangahao before proceeding with the local scheme.— On the motion of the Chairman, secI onded by Cr. Hodder, it was decided that the letter be referred to tho Wairarapa Board when elected. The Wairarapa Hydro-Electric Investigation Committee wrote asking for a contribution towards further incidental expenses.—lt was decided, on the motion of the Chairman, that a sum of £lO be voted. A letter iVas received from tho secretary of the New Zealand Counties' Association, stating that if a sufficient number of County Councils signify if they are in favour of establishing an Employees' Insurance and Fidelity Guarantee Fund the special committee proposes to'take the necessary steps under legal advice to e*i- 1 power the Association to undertake j the business on behalf of its mem-1 bers.—On the motion of the OhsTr- j man, seconded by Cr. it; was decided to join the scheme provided it was generally adopted. A communication was received from the Department of Agriculture in reference to the plant known as Lantana, and stating that it had been added to the third schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act. —It was resolved

to prepare a special order declaring the plant a noxious weed. H. P. Harrison wrote, stating that the hill of! tko Flat Point' road, leading to Waikikino and Glenburn, is not kept in a reasonable state of repair, owing, he understood, to the fact that the roadman had too great a length of road to look after. For some time last winter this portion-of the road was impassible owing to slips not being cleared away.—Cr. Cameron agreed that the length of road was too long.—lt was decided that the Overseer put the road in order, provided labour is available. Roy Tankersley wrote asking the Council to instruct its Overseer to have some repairs carried out on the Mangatarere Valley road.—The Overseer reported that the work had been put in hand. Thos. Corlett wrote asking that certain repairs be done to the roadman's cottage at Gladstone. —A commitee was set up to' report to next meeting on the repairs required. The Clerk to the Featherston County Council wrote notifying that as all the local bodies embraced in the allocation of cost of the Rimutaka roads and bridges had not consented to the proposal a conference of representatives would be held at Carterton on Wednesday, t January 14th. —The Chairman and' Cr. T. V. Moore were elected to represent the Council at the Conference. The Clerk to the Masterton County Council wrote stating that he would be glad to know whether the Council was taking any steps towards raising a joint loan for the Kaituna bridge.— It was decided that the special committee appointed wait upon the Masterton County Council at its next meeting in reference to the matter. — The Clerk pointed out that he did not thing joint action was necessary. Rendall Booth was given permission to cut grass seed on the Mangahuia road at a fee of 10s. Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt forwarded drawings and specifications of proposed road through Mr H. A. Bunny's property for the Council's approval. The same firm also forwarded plans and specifications of a proposed road through D. Buchanan's property, Te Whanga. The State Advances Office notified that the Council's application for a loan of £3OOO for the purpose of metalling Admiral road in the Gladstone district. H. M. Trask wrote asking for permission to lower the drain pipes at the rear of his property on Hilton road to enable him to drain the paddock next the road.—On the motion of Cr. Hodder, it was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the representative of the Riding to deal with. The State Advances Office wrote asking the Council to amend its application for a loan of £4OOO, its share towards the new Waingawa bridge, to £3500 in order to comply with the Act.—lt was decided that the application be amended as suggested. The action of the special committee in accepting a tender for the Carrmgton water race was endorsed. The Overseer suggested that the Admiral road metalling be let in three contracts.—lt was decided to approve of the suggestion, and that the representatives of the Mungarakj Riding be empowered to open tenders, which were fixed to close on January } 13th. , The matter of having the through cutting at McKelvie's metalled was left in the hands of the Overseer. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Hodder, it was decided that the manager of the freezing works be written to pointing out the inconvenience caused by blocking up the water in the water race. Cr. Cameron brought up the question of expending- the Government; grants in the Flat' Point district.— The Clerk stated that he intended visiting Wellington to see if he could not hurry up the Department.

OVERSEER'S REPORT. The Overseer reported as follows: Belvedere Riding.—Reeve Bros, are making fair headway with their metalling contract on the Tea Creek road, having completed 22 chains up to the 17th. Metal on the metalled portion of the Tea Creek road is being raked in. A few bad places on the Maungatarera Valley road have been widened. Patch metalling on the Hururua and Maungatarera Valley roads has _ been completed. Light metal repairs have been carried out on the Haringa and Hinau Gully I road, with the Council's horse and j dray. Patch metalling has been 00mj pleted on Manning's road, and BrookI lyn road has received similar atten--1 t:on. The approaches to Brooklyn I road bridge are complete, and ' tho | road is now open for traffic. Two | gorynes are necessary in the Maungatarera river. Mr Hooker will supply , the necessary netting if the Council [ will carry out the work. Parkvale Riding.—The water-tables have been cleaned out on the Kokot'au hill. Manuka has been cut and the water-tables cleaned in a cutting

on Woodland's road. Metal on Hughes' road has been raked in, and also on a portion of Cornwall road. Dalefield Riding—No work of any consequence has been carried out in this riding during the month. Maungaraki Riding.—General repairs are being carried on on Mahapuka and Longbush roads. Patch metalling is being dono on Longbush road, and two broken culverts repaired. Portions of the "Westmere road have been repaired. Light metal repairs have been carried out on Driscol road, and the unmetalled portion trimmed up. J. Ward is making good progress with his metal contract on Flat Point road. Weather permitting this work should be completed early in the New Year. Broken culverts on Bismarck road have been repaired. I would suggest that tho manuka on this road be cut down in places where necessary. General repairs have been carried out on the Katwhata hill. I would recommend that a small groyne be put in the little Kaiwhata river to prevent any further encroachment at the toe of the side cutting. Water-tables are being cleaned and ruts filled in on tho unmetalled portion of the Admiral road. General. —Pot holes on Park road have been attended to with the Council's horse and dray. LigHt metal repairs have been carried out on a portion of tho road leading to Gladstone. Light metal repairs are being carried out on the Bank View flat with the Council's horse and dray. The 2ft cement pipes necessary to renew the culvert at the. foot of the Taipo hill are on the spot, and will be put in position ,as opportunity offers. Two new straining blocks are being put in the Kokotau bridge. Willows at this bridge have' also been cut down.