WANGANUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18533, 15 July 1922, Page 2

WANGANUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting yesterday there were present;'Crs A. D. Mackintosh (chairman), T. Hine, Allen, Broderick, Hamilton, D. Mackintosh, A. H. Cdllins, G« McGregor, and D. McGregor. The Waimarino County Council wrote declining to agree to the boundaries proposed by the Wanganui County Council in connection with the proposed merger of Kakatahi lands. That practically knocks it on. the head as. far as we are concerned. It. is now a matter for the ratepayers concerned,” said the chairman, who added that the next step would be the setting up of a Commission. It was decided to send a copy of the Waimarino County’s letter to all the ratepayers concerned. The Wanganui. Harbour Board forwarded a copy of petition to Parliament re the foreshore.—Approved. The Hospital Board notified that its levy for the year would be £2246 0/8. The Power Board wrote re the erection of new telephone lines, asking that the County Engineer should first communicate with the Power Board.—Agreed to. The Clerk was instructed to get information regarding the making of a by-law- affecting heavy traffic, and to report at next meeting. ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR. RATES GO UP A BIT. The Council passed the year’s estimates. Mangawhero Riding requires a revenue of £9020, which necessitates a rate of 2d. In Mangamahu Riding the rate will be IJd, the required revenue being £4825. In Kaitoke Riding the figures are lid rate, £2396; Purua lid, £2303; Kaukatea, lid, £1817; Morikau Id, £1112; Upper Wangaehu 2d £9OO. AH the rates are based on the old valutions, but as in three of the ridings—Kaitoke, Purua, and Kaukatea —new have been made, the rates will be based on that, which means that while the ■amount to be collected will be the same the rate in the £ will be less than what is stated. The average rate over the whole country works out at 1.57 d.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr Tosswill reported for the month: MANGAWHERO RIDING.

At the northern, end of the Parapara Road several miles of water tables have been re-cut and overhanging scrub has bijjen cut back at shady bends, a filling near Otoko has received a coating of grit and slips have been removed at Heroti’s Cliff and from other parts of the road and the surface of the road has been picked and the larger stones have been broken and ruts filled in near 22 mile peg. From the Upokongaro township the road surface has been scarified and harrowed, all large stones have> been broken down to a reasonable size, and additional gravel has been added where found necessary before putting the road into final shape and rolling. The bad corner at junction of the River Bank and Upokongaro roads has been considerably improved and the former road has been trimmed with the grader and gravel patched. A fair amount of tabling scrub cutting and gravel patching was done on the Makirikiri Valley Road, and a- bridge and approach about 6 miles up' this road which suffered considerable damage by the heavy rain experienced at the beginning of the month has been repaired and re-opened for traffic. Temporary bridges and culverts have been renewed and repaired on the Wanganui River Road and work of a general nature was carried out on Parihauhau, Tekomai, and Mangahowhi roads, and the grass verges on Kaimatira Road were trimmed off with the grader.

MANGAMAHU RIDING. Some of the worst places on the Wangaehu Valley Road at and about Harper’s Cliff and Toketapu have been given a light coat of sandy grit and lower down the outer edges of the road have been made up at several places. Slips have been removed and water tables have been attended to near Mount View. An old wooden culvert near the Blue Cliff has been replaced by 9in. concrete pipes and a supply of pipes has been forwarded to Mangamahu for the Creek Road.

From 40 to 50 yards of gravel has been delivered near the 24 mile peg, a portion of which has been used in filling ruts in this locality—gravel patching has also been carried out on other portions of the road.

A cottage for the surfaceman is required on the Creek Road. A suitable site for same could possibly Tie procured immediately beyond the Mangamahu. Creek Bridge. Sonic spring holes alongside the road near the 17 mile peg are a source of danger to cattle being driven along the road and some fencing at this point is suggested. . KAITOKE RIDING. The work of widening and turfing the sides of fillings was continued at

the far end of No. 1 Line, and the road in this locality has also been gravel patched. A light coat of metal is being laid on the Marybank hill and arrangements have been made for the supply of small amounts of mstal on various side roads. Gravel patching was also done on the Holmwood Road and along the Putiki Flat. PURUA RIDING. The first hill on the Deniair Road has received a light coating of Wangaehu gravel and the road has been lightly patched in other parts. Portions of the Deniair and No. 2 Line have been scraped up with the small grader and No. 2 Line has been patched in various places. Gorse has been grubbed on the Council's section at Fordell. An appliction has been received from the occupier of land adjoining the road at the 12 mile peg to erect a fence on the road for a distance of about 7 chains along a dangerous cliff, and this would undoubtedly add to the safety of the road at this point. KAUKATEA RIDING. On the Long Acre Road grass verges have been cut off -with the grader from the Gordon Park Junction to Preston Hill, and a considerable amount of scattered metal has been gathered to the centre of the road and rolled in. The road sides have also been similarly trimmed on Gordon Park, portions of No. 3 Line, and Waikupa Roads, and slight maintenance work has been carried on throughout the Riding. MORIKAU RIDING. General surface work has been continued on Wanganui River Road and Matahiwi Track. UPPER WANGAEHU. Several small box culverts ha<e been renewed and larger ones redecked, and a timber breastwork has been put in at an underslip on the road below the Pangarara Creek bridge, and waiter tables have been cut out from the lower end of the Wangaehu Road to the end of the metal.

Slips have been cleared on Rangiora Road, and tables have been opened on Owakura Road.