COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 12 March 1930, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. WIDENING OF HIGHWAY CORNERS. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday, the chairman, Mr. J. W. A. Falloon, presiding. Others present were: Councillors J. McGillicuddy, Gordon Lee, H. H. Mawley, G. Moore, W. I. Armstrong’, and J. W. Colquhoun. The first three items on the agenda paper concerned' loans for various county works. In the ease of the Motukai special loan of £750, sanction was received from the Local Government Loans 'Board to raise the money, and in the other two the council’s seal was affixed in anticipation of sanction being obtained. The loans were the Ngaumu special loan of £5OO and the Tanglewood Sream Bridge loan of £SSO. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded a copy of a circular from the Main Highways Board concerning the super-elevation and additional widening of curves on main highways and requested that particular attention be paid to the contents of the circular and that the worst curves be attended to as quickly as possible. Ample provision, the letter pointed: out, should be made in next year’s estimates to enable this work to be completed. Cr. Mawley considered that it was a very important matter. Half of the accidents, he said, happened on bad corners. He moved that it be an instruction from the council to the Overseer that improvements to corners be made wherever possible. Several other councillors supported Councillor Mawley’s motion, which was carried. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote asking what expenses the council anticipated would be incurred if it were necessary to take land under the Public Works Act for the approaches to the Ruamahanga River Bridge. The Clerk (Mr. J. C. D. Maekley) said that if they wished to purchase the land under ordinary conditions it would cost about;£34, but if it were taken under the Public Works Act the cost would be about £155. The Clerk was instructed to advise the department of the estimated costs.

Advice was received from the District Engineer, Public Works Department, that the council’s application regarding the Blairlogie-Langdale Road, of November 28 last was submitted to the Main Highways Board who now advised that the board would not consider any further declaration until the next annual review, which will take place some time later. The District Engineer suggested that another traffic tally be taken in March of this year. Acting on this advice, another tally was taken by the council on March 2, 5 and 7. The tally was: Cars 96, lorries 14, gross weights, 29.3. Average daily traffic, 86.6 per eent. It was pointed on that the result showed an increase of 6.6 per cent, as compared with the result of the last tally. It was decided that the depart-' ment be supplied with the figures and to point out that the tally was taken over twelve houiS;

The Castlepoint County .Council advised that it would undertake to attend to the future maintenance of that section of the Alfredton-Tinui Road' within the boundary of their county. On the motion of the chairman, the clerk’s action in the matter was endorsed.

Mr. C. S. Graham wrote asking if the council would metal Graham’s Road, Wangaehu, for about 4$ chains, otherwise it would be impassable in the winter. Mr. Graham stated that he was prepared to pay half the cost up to £ll 10s. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of Councillor Mawley. A letter was received from Mr. L. Gaskin explaining the position regarding the purchase of the flax on the Paierau Road. It was decided that the letter be received.

Messrs. Summers Bros, forwarded a copy of a letter received by Colonel T. W. McDonald, M.P., from the Minister of Public Works with reference to the Kaiwhata Stream Bridge, on the Ngahape Road, giving access to their properties. Councillor Armstrong was instructed to interview tie persons concerned and report later to the council. A notice of motion tabled by Councillor J. W. A. Falloon regarding the Maungahina Road: ‘■‘That the resolution passed by the council on the 10th day of December, 1909, and confirmed on the 18th day of January, 1930, resolving that no action be taken regarding the closing of the Maungahina Road leading to Mr. J. McKenzie ’a property be rescinded and that the council proceed to take the necessary steps to close the road under section 12 of the Land Act, 1924,” was held over, pending' receipt of advice from a solicitor requesting the postponement of further action in the matter in the meantime. The ranger reported having dealt with three head of cattle and four horses during the month. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineers, Messrs. Beaton, gladden and Pavitt, reported as follows on the Ruamahanga River Bridge: During the month the driving of piles in piers Nos. 6 and 7 has been completed and those in pier No. 5 are being driven. The base for pier No. 7 has been put in. Falsework to carry the superstructure for one span has been erected and the reinforcing steel is being placed. To date half the piles have been driven, the eastern abutment and No. 10 pier have been constructed, and the bases of three piers, Nos. 7,8, and 9 put in. Pile-driving has been easier and the work is now beginning to make a show. It is hoped that the present low state of the river will continue and permit good progress to be made. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

The Overseer (Mr. B. L. Larson) reported, inter alia, as follows:—Opaki Riding.—Black Creek Road: Expenditure of thirds. The work of widening a block cutting on this road has been completed. Paierau Road: Sealing 20 chains of road near Kummer’s Bridge with Colfix. The second and final coat has been completed. Rangitumau Riding. — Gra h a m’s Road: This road has been graded up in readiness for metalling. MastertonWeber Highway: The highway has been widened and corners superelevated at the 6-mile. From the Bideford Bead corner to the deviation the road has been scarified and reshaped; this portion of the road will require to be metalled.

Upper Tauern Riding.—Mangaparupare Road: The erection of a small bridge and approaches on this road has been completed. WaWere Road: The road is being regraded and repaired near McKay's. Te Ore Oro-Bideford Highway: A filling has been put in

and the road regraded and metalled to the 15-mile*. Te Whiti Riding.— Masterton-Wera-iti Highway: This road has been widened and corners superelevated for a distance of 30 chains near the 5-mile. The filling at the 4}-mile has been metalled with uncrushed limestone. Masterton-Tinui Highway.* Surface sealing at Goodlands. The final coat of bitumen has been put on this »ection and the work is now finished. Uriti Riding. — Homewood Road, Twisted Creek Deviation: The metalling of the deviation has been completed. All works have been completed satisfactorily and traffic is using the new road. Blairlogie-East Coast Road: Mangapakia Stream Bridge. The con tractors on this bridge have commenced work. Riversdale Road: Good progress is being made with the earting of metal to the dumps on this road. Wainnioru Riding.—Ngahapo Road: The'installation of culverts on this road has been completed. The metalling of the road has also been completed. Kintail Road: Approximately five chains of metalling has been done on this road, using loeal metal. Ngatahuna Road: The temporary bridge on this road has been sitrengthened with new piles and cross braces. The bridge requires to bo replaced as soon as possible. Motukai Road: The contractors commenced the metalling of this road. On Monday, March B. Good progress is being made.