FEATHERSTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Wairarapa Age, 13 March 1922, Page 3

FEATHERSTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MO:< . III.Y MEEI ...(I. (Our Travelling Reporter). The monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council was he!< at Mart in borough on Friday, thciv being present Crs. Q. Donald (chair man), J. C. Bidwill, W. B. Martin D Cameron, G. Gillies, A. D. McLeod J. McLeod, H.-Cook, A. Matthews. The treasurer reported that the sum of £2410 6s Id had been received since last meeting, including £1730 19s 2d for rates. The county fund account showed a dr. balance of £‘5175 0s 7d. Rates amounting to £l6lO 16s 2d were still outstanding. Accounts amounting to £1495 5s

were passed for payment. The Department of Public Health wrote in reference to anti-plague precautions. The elerfe reported that only one application had been received for lat poison.

H. G. Loader wrote making a clann of £lO in connection with an accident caused to Messrs. Rigg Bros,, car by a loose telephone wire stretched across ' tte Tuturumuri road by county em ployers and in which accident he damaged a suit of clothes and was oat of work for several days owing to cuts. —It was dcided to ask the telephone linesman to report on'the matter. John W. Miller, Featherston, wrote applying for the lease of Section 21, Lake Ferry, held by the late AV. L. Humphries.—On the motion of C-. Gillies the application was granted. Ranger Abbott reported having impounded 125 head of stock during the ir.onth.

The resident engineer of the Public AVorks Department wrote stating that the Minister of Public AVorks could not see his way clear to concede to the request that the Department pay half the salary of Inspector McHattie il employed inspecting the erection of the Kahautara bridge. The offices pointed out that it would be necessary for the council to keep an efficient Inspector of AVorks continuously on this bridge.—Received. Messrs Hart, Tucker and Daniell, solicitors wrote, on behalf of Mr T. C. Udy, making a claim On the council for £5O 0s 6d in connection with work done by their client for the council.— On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. A. D. McLeod it was decided to reply that the council recognised no liability . C. R. Benton, Featherston, wrote complaining of the nuisance caused by cows allowed to wander at large on Underhill road. —It was decided that the ranger’s attention be called to the complaint. Geo. Banks, a council employee, wrote applying for a bonus similar to that paid him last year as driver of the motor lorry.—lt was decided that a bonus of £lO be granted. Messrs. Sladden, Pavitt and Dyett, civil engineers, forwarded tracings of the proposed Cape River road deviation.

Messrs Gawith and Logan, solicitors, wrote stating that a search of the land disclosed there was a properly dedicated road giving access to 11 Bendigo,’’ and asking to know the correct position.—The clerk was instructed to reply that the council considered the road g legal thoroughfare. The engineer to the Public Works Department, advised that the first por-

tion of the Pihautea Settlement Road tc the homestead was gazetted on January 20, 1921, and handed over in good condition. The Department had hande.d over all roads in this settlement in good condition, and did not intend doing anything further.—Cr. Bidwill stated that the roads were in a frightful state and he considered the Department should contribute something towards the repairs.—lt was decided that the Department be written to pointing out the disgraceful condition of the road when handed over and stating that flood water protection promised had not been provided. The Napier Borough Council forwarded resolutions suggesting amendments to section 45 of the Finance Act, 1920, providing that credit balances of local authorities on loan accounts shall he set off by the banks against debit balances on other accounts as regards payment of interest on the latter accounts. —It was resolved to support the suggestions The Otago Hospital Board wrote

asking the council’s support to a protest against the increased audit fees. — Cr. A. D. McLeod stated, he ha 1 brought the complaint under the notice of the Department and was informed that increased travelling expenses, etc., made it necessary to increase the fees. —The letter was received. Cr H. Edwards, Featherston, wrote applying for £3O, being a balance al leged to be due in connection with work done for the council at Pirinoa.--Mahood considered that Edwards had no claim on the council and jt was decided to notify him to this effect. The Inspector of Health wrote stating that the Martinborough, spoil dump had been closed and suggested precautions to prevent the spoil be coming a menace—A petition, signed by 23 persons, was presented to tie council objecting to the dump as a menace to public health.—lt was con sldcred that if the suggestion of the health officer were carried out it would satisfy the council that is, to put a fire trough the refuse and cover the debris with eart. The secretary of the Featherston Longwood AVatcr Race Commitroe wrote asking the council to serve notice on several property owners asking them to clear gorse from the water-races. —It was decided that the notices be served as requested. K. McNab, Featherston, wrote ar>-

plying to be included in the Feathers-ton-Longwood water-race rating area. —lt was resolved that - the nm/te.r of making a charge for the use c.i waler be left to committee. P. S. McDonald applied for the hire of the county roller for the purpose of crushing gorse.—lt was decided that the application be not granted. The tender of C. Liford at £306 was accepted for making approaches to the uimutuka Hill road bridge; that of G. Busch at 3s per yard for metalling the Valley Road. Tenders for cleaning 125 chains of drain on the Battersea road ranged from 2s 6d to 6s per chain, and that of Glasgow and Smith, of Grey town, of 2s 6d was accepted. PAHAOA BRIDGES. The engineer reported that all the clips on the Pahaoa swing bridges reeded duplicating to prevent a recurrence ef the recent accident. He suggested that in order to regulate the traffic a swing gate be placed at each end of the structures, and recommended that the anchorage be inspected. Even when the anchorage was strengthened the structures were not safe to carry other than light moW aafl vehicular traffic. The bridges were now loaded to their utmost carrying capacity by the concrete deck and suggested that the concrete deck be substituted with wood. A departmental report on the bridges would be available later. They should all commend Mr Dawson, in his ’efforts t tG give access to the back blocks*, though the structures were not sound from an engineering point of view. Nothing had so fa-*r been done in repairing the bridge that had collapsed. GENERAL AVORKS. The engineer reported that No. 1. bridge on the Rimutaka Hill was completed and tenders had been called for the approaches The piles had been cast for No. 2/ x bridgc and were ready for driving. In accordance with a request from the Department No. 6. bridge would be proceeded with next. Mr John McHattie was erecting a fence protection to the Upper Tauherenikau bridge from timber taken from the old structure. There was no possibility of Hume’s Road being completed within the stipulated time. (It was resolved to send a letter - to Mr Hume on the lines of the engineer’s report). The time had arrived for topdressing the decking on Lower Tauhereni’kau bridge. WESTERN WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The committee, consisting of Crs. Cook, Matthews and the chairman met at Battersea road on March 1, and examined the drains complained of by the deputation, that waited on the council at its last meeting. The committee first examined the drain on the upper side of Mr Galycr’s property from the Battersea road to a water race. This drain is in a bad condition and the water from it flows across the road in two different places. MGalyer offered to take.the water across his land, provided the council consented to put in two sets of pipes across the road—one set of 12-inch near where the principal overflow takes place, and the other, of 6-inch, further on towards his house. The committee agreed to this arrangement, and also decided to have the drain blocked near the water race and cleaned from that point to the Battersea road and a set of 12-inch pipes across the road. At the junction of the two roads a bad corner was found and it was decided to have a part of the drain filled and the road made up to relieve the abruptness of the turn. Several settlers joined in on the Battersea road and a general discussion too*k place relative to the best way of dealing with the road drains, which are in i bad state and causing injury to the adjoining land The committee eventually agreed to have the drains cleaned, the riding to bear the expense, but tho widening and deepening of the drains, which is necessary for the benefit of the adjancent land, was considered a matter the Government should deal with in the interests of the settlers. Should this work be carried out and as tore appears to be metal at the bottom of the drains and the road requires making up, the committee offered to place any metal so obtained on the road. Although your committee thought it necessary to have the drains cleaned this year by the council, the settlers present were told that in the future they would have to bear one half of the cost of their maintenance. It is understood that the Commissioner of Crown Lands will be visiting this locality; If sucji is the case, your committee are prepared to meet the Commissioner at the same time. The report wa? adopted.