WANGANUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17664, 13 September 1919, Page 8

WANGANUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Wanganui County Council met yesterday. Present: Crs. T. Hine (chairman), A. Mackintosh, D. Mackintosh, D. McGregor, J. Kennedy, A. H. Collins, R. Neilson, A. Robinson, H. Collier. CONDOLENCE. Feeling reference was made to the recent deaths of Messrs A. McGregor and A. Mason, and it was decided to" forward letters of condolence to their relatives. PROPOSED TOLL GATES. A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works stating it would be necessary to advertise the intention to establish a toll gate on No. 1 Line in order that ratepayers could object if necessary. The chairman considered it was unnecessary to advertise as suggested but perhaps it was best to comply. Cr. Robinson considered the idea was to delay the establishment of a gate. Cr. Neilson said if they advertised Wanganui Borough and Waitotara and Rangitikei Counties would perhaps object and the matter would be delayed. It was decided to inform the Minister that until the County got approval to establish the toll gate it was useless to advertise, and to ask for permission forthwith. ROAD TRAFFIC. A letter was received from the New Zealand Automobile Association urging that all county ' bridges should be painted whi';e and that the local bodies should have power to trim trees or hedges obstructing the view. ; Cr. Collier mentioned a couple of dangerous bridges on the No. 1. Line. Cr. McGregor considered trees on private property should not be cut to assist in greater speed. Cr. Mackintosh said there was a belt of'trees at Cherry Bank that obstructed the view of the road. Cr. Robinson said the Association was a very reasonable body and their request was absolutely reasonable. Trees hiding sharp corners of roads should be dealt with. The Council should assist the Association. On Cr. Robinson's motion it was decided to paint the first posts of all the County bridges white. MOTOR SPEEDS. The Waihemo County Council asked support of a resolution to get legisaltion passed to limit motor speeds to 25 miles an hour. The chairman favoured the proposal. If people drove at a reasonable rate there would not be the same wear and tear on the roadsSome of the present speeds were excessive. Cr. Robinson held that a, better solution would be to license ■ every driver. The resolution was endorsed. MAIN ROADS, The Manawatu County Council urged that the local bodies should unite in asking the: Government for a subsidy to repair damage to main roads caused by extra motor traffic during the railway cut. ; The chairman said bigger subsidies were wanted for main roads. It was only temporising to ask for a subsidy for a particular occasion. After further discussion it was decided to support the proposal, by Manawatu County. TENDERS. Mr A. McCullum's tender of £97 for work on Lismore Road was accepted, i. , MISCELLANEOUS. The chairman and Crs. Robinson and Collier were appointed a committee .to report at the next meeting on motor tractor and machinery for carrying out roa-1 work.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Kaitoke Riding.—No. 1 Line, from Marangai to Wangaehu, has been repaired as well as possible for the time being. Repairs are now being effected from the Borough boundary to Marangai. When this work is completed it will be necessary to employ a two-horse grader almost continuously grading up the metal from the road side, and also a further supply of approximately 800 cubic yards will require to be deposited on the road side for future requirements.

I Kaukatea Riding.—The' roads in 'this riding are in a fair state of re(pair with the exc2ption of the No. j 3 Line, \\|hich will be repaired as jsoon as possible. An inspection of the Okoia Valley has been made (with the object of devising a scheme Ito relieve the flooding of lands in this valley. As far as the area in jthe Wanganui County is concerned, it would, in my opinion, be morj effective and economical to deviate from the present watercourse, between the Borough boundary and Okoia, with the exception of about half a mile from the Borough boundary, and open a nev: main drain parallel with the railway line, thereby doing away with the present long winding route and increase the velocity of water. If this were done sub-drains could be made by the owners of properties directly concerned. The cost of making the main drain with a cross section of 100 square feet would be approximately £2000 a mile. That estimate is necessarily a rough approximation as a result of a hurried preliminary survey, but may serve to indicate to the property owners concerned the extent of the proposal, and if the scheme is thought to be financially practicable, a detailed survey and a more accurate estimate could be given.

Mangawhero Riding—The Wanganui River Road formation contract at Pitangi is progressing slowly. The survey of Parapara-Wangaehu Road has been completed and plans will be submitted immediately for examination and approval necessary for legislation purposes.

Mangamahu Riding.—The roads in this riding are in a very fair state of repair for this time of the year. The slip has been removed on the Wangaehu Valley Road so that all roads are open for traffic-