COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 15 June 1927, Page 3

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. ROROKOKO APPROACHES. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Councillors W. l. Armstrong (chairman), J. W. A. Walloon, J. Judd, F. Dorset, G. Moore, J. McGillicuddy and H. H. Mawley. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £4588 Ils, the principal accounts being County Fund, debit, £3919 15s 7d; Loan Accounts, credit, £3177 8s Id; Bridge Fund Account, £321 14s; Bridges Loan of £5OOO (fixed deposit), £3194 14s 6d; Stronvar-Ngahape Road Loan (fixed deposit), £984 10s; Wairere Road Loan (fixed deposit) £BOO. Receipts since lasit meeting amounted to £2501 17s 6d. The balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, was authorised to be signed and sealed. The chairman complimented the County Clerk (Mr Mackley) upon having the ibalance-sheet completed so promptly, remarking that it was a record for the Masterton County, and probably for any other county in New Zealand. The Lands and Survey Department forwarded a list of “thirds” accrued in the county for the six months ending March 31. The matter was left in the hands of the clerk to attend to. The Local Government Loans Board asked for returns to be furnished . of estimated loan proposals for the financial year ending March 31, 1928. The District Engineer of the Public Works Department, advised that a return showing each item of plant owned by the council, also the first cost and present value of each, and the amount charged per day for hire be furnished, in order that a satisfactory ' basis for calculating the rate of charge for county plant might be arrived at. Permission was given to McKillop’s Estate to re-erect a gate on Glenlean : Ivoad at a more convenient locality. The Eketahuna Chamber of Commerce wrote complaining of the conditi®n of Mount Bruce Road. In reply i . the clerk advised that the portion of the Wellington-Napier Highway in the Masterton County was in a particularly good state and the matter did not concern the council. The clerk’s action was endorsed. A ratepayer was granted, on the usual terms permission to secure 50 yards of limestone from the Weraiti Quarry for metalling his private road. Councillor Armstrong asked if the ■Rorokoko approaches had been metalled. The engineer said that the work should have been done this week, and undertook to see that it was carried out immediately. The ranger reported having dealt with 36 head of cattle and 15 horses during the mdnth. A letter from the State Forest Service with reference to tree planting by local authorities on reserves or steep road faces was received. With reference to a request by 'a Kopuaranga ratepayer, the roadman is to be instructed to attend to a defective culvert, the ratepayer to pay for 10 yards of metal which he requested to have plabed on the road leading to his property. Councillor Moore asked for an extra roadman to be engaged temporarily on the Blairlogie Road, as a lot of work needed to be carried out. The request was acceded to. ENGINEERS’ REPORT. The engineers (Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt) reported as follows:— Nine-mile bridge, Bideford.—The approaches have been completed and traffic is using the bridge. Fourteen-mile bridge.—A commencement with the excavation for pier foundation is being madg this week. Rorokoko Road deviation.—Excavation for the big cutting is nearing completion. Adverse weather conditions during the month have made progress slow. Homewood bridge.—A commencement has been made with this work. The steamer conveying the steel girders has arrived in Auckland. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. F. Exell) reported as follows:— Qpaki Riding.-’ The Waingawa to Camp Road has been graded and patch metalling has been done. Patch metalling has also been done on the Factory, Donald’s, Jackson’s, Upper Plain, Fernridge and Paierau roads, and on the Wellington-Napier Highway. The Paierau Road drain has been cleaned. An 18in.-12-20ft culvert has been put in at Kopouranga, and a 10in.l0-28ft culvert replaced on the Wellington-Na-pier Highway. Rangitumau Riding.—The Bluff to Rangitumau Road has been graded and a culvert 18-12-20 has been put in The Masterten-Weber Highway has been graded and patch metalling done. The Ruamahanga Bridge at Opaki has been repaired and a new corbel put in. Upper Taueru Riding.— A. collapsed culvert, 3-3-24 ft on the Wainui-o-mapa , Road has been repaired. It is in a very bad state and requires renewing. To Whiti Riding.—Two groynes have been put in in the Waingawa River. Solway Road has been rolled. The Mas-terton-Martinborough Highway and the Masterton-Manaia roads have been graded. A culvert 8-Bin.-24ft has been replaced on the Masterton-Weraiti Highway. Uriti Riding.—The Masterton-Tinui Highway has been graded to the 13 m. and four culverts have been replaced with pipes. Wainuioni Riding.—The metalling on the Brancepeth Road is completed. A culvert has been replaced with 12in. pipes.