RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19009, 9 May 1924, Page 11

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The council met on Thursday, there being present: Crs. A. G. Simpson (chairman), A. Stuart, R. G. Dalziell, W. Doole, A. Livingston, P. Pederson, H. Belk, G. E. Anderson, and A. S. Coleman, and K. W. Dalrymple. The Auditor-General returned the council’s balance-sheet certificated as correct. CORRESPONDENCE. Inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: State Advances, advising that £lOOO on account Wilson’s Road was paid off, provisionally approving of £1775, Murimotu West Roads, and declining application for loan of £2500 for workers’ dwellings. Public Trustee, advising payment of £4OOO on account of loan for metal pit of £17,500; granting loan £BOOO, Papanui, under certain conditions, and granting loan £lO,OOO, Erewbon Riding (balance of loan of £40,000). Commissioner of Crown Lands, statting that Reserve 62, Block XIV., Ohinewairua, was reserved as resting place for travelling stock, and asking if council is willing to have this cancelled.—Council decided not to agree to cancellation.

Public Works Department, advising payment of grant of £5OO for Waiaruhe Road.

Chairman of Main Highways Board, stating that as the Manawatu Gorge Road and bridge have been provided for by special legislation, the Highways Board does not propose for the present to bring the road within the provisions of the Main Highways Act. It was unanimously decided that now the Highways Act is in operation the council should not be a contributing party to the Manawatu Gorge bridge. Manawatu Gorge Board of Control, asking for payment of £335. Lethbridge Town Board, re improving the main road through Turakina, and regretting that the matter was held over till after Mr Lethbridge’s departure.—Cr. Stuart stated that in company with the overseer he had waited on the Town Board, and repairs to the road were now being carried out, a new pit having been opened up. Hussey and Ongley, forwarding a claim for compenstion for accident on behalf of Joseph Somers, a former emplyee of F. M. McCulloch, contractor.— Engineer, chairman and clerk instructed to injterview the insurance company, and report to next meeting. Mrs E. G. Harris, agreeing to supply enlarged photo of her husband to hang in the new Council Chamber.—Received with thanks. Marton branch of New Zealand Labour Party, applying for use of Coronation Hall for meetings.—To be informed that the Coronation Hall cannot be used for political purposes. R. J. Boyd, accepting .position as ranger. J. T. Macleay, asking permission to erect his road fence on outer edge of the road formation at Turakina Valley. Public Trustee, advising further payment of £4OOO on account of metal pit loan.

R. H. Trotter, drawing attention to bad state of corner near his property. Hunterville Town Board, asking if council would be prepared to undertake the metalling and general prepara-

tion of the main road through the township with council’s staff and aplianees.

The Wanganui Hospital Board forwarded a list of levies of contributing local bodies as follows: ’Rangitikei County (excluding Lethbridge Town District), £9359 3a 3d; Waitotara, £2525 8s lid; Waimarino, £2095 15s 7d; Wanganui County, £2916 8s lid; Wanganui Borough (including Gonville and Castlecliff Town Districts), £6033 4s 2d; Marton Borough, £6OO 12s 6d; Taihape Borough, £527 12s lOd; Ohakune Borough, £l2O 14s 6d; Raetihi Borough, £243 8s 8d; Hunterville Town District, £B3 14s; Mangaweka, £47 8s Id; Bulls, £55 Is 2d; Rangataua, £23 2s 8d; Lethbridge Town District, £53 153 2d. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Credit balance after last meeting, £6892 9s 7d; loss payments during month, £267 9s 8d—£6624 19s lid. Receipts during month, £l6BB Is. Credit balance after to-day’s payments, £4305 14s Id. I GENERAL BUSINESS. I The request of the Hunterville Town Board for council’s staff and appliances for metalling in township was referred to the chairman and Cr. Dalziell. The Government # to be asked to put a special clause in the Washing-up Bill this session to enable Vinegar Hill bridge to be brought within provisions of section 119 of the Public Works Act. The council agreed to take over land at Kakariki in connection with metal pit as a public road. R. H. Trotter’s complaint is to be attended to. The council considered £lOO per annum for a health inspector’s services excessive, seeing that his district embraces such a large area. In view of legal opinion, the council regretted that it could not remit the amounts of rates which Mr Lourie contends have been overpaid. J. L. McLeay’s request re fence was granted, subject to approval of inspector; also Mr Livingston’s similar request, subject to approval of engineer. R. J. Gibbs’ application to lease a portion of the road reserve off Huia Street at Utiku was referred to Cr. Belk, with power to act.

The council decided it was unable to accede to G. H. Nitschke’s request to plant shelter trees close to the fence along the east side of Union Line. A considerable discussion took place on the matter of insurance of employees generally, and it was resolved that the matter be held over until next meeting, when the clerk will produce statistics covering the council’s insurance operations of the last two years. Mr Brodie attended the council on behalf of Mr Salt, in connection with the contract for the erection of a bridge at Kauangaroa, across the Wangaehu River, part of which was destroyed in the recent floods. Mr Brodie detailed the loss incurred by Mr Salt, and also the inadequacy of the bridge for traffic. It was resolved that the matter be referred back to the sub committee, with power to act. The tender of W. Salt for a temporary bridge at Kauangaroa for £432 2s 6d wts accepted. The chairman’s action in letting contract for roadman’s cottage at Poukoire to A. S. Lewis was endorsed. The tender of Baker Bros, for firewood cutting was accepted, subject to money being available from the Public Trustee. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr S. Mair reported:— Rangitira Riding.—Notwithstanding the extreme traffic in bad weather during the strike, the main roads stood the test well. Gravel repairs have been effected near Rata factory. Wangaehu Riding.—As a result of a conference of delegates with Wanganui County Council it was decided to erect a temporary suspension bridge at Kauangaroa. The work has been let to Mr Salt and is now in hand. Cables were secured from the Kelburn Tramway Company, Wellington, and are now on the bridge site. Roadman’s hut near Okirae has been moved to Mangahoe Road. Removal of obstruction in Turakina River near Whareroa is in hand.

Otairi Riding.—Contractor for roadman’s cottage at Poukiore has all material on site and has commenced work on building. It will be necessary to make final arrangements with trustees of Hunterville cemetery re section. Painting and repairs to Vinegar Hill bridge have been completed, also repiars to Klatt’s bridge, Vinegar Hill Road. Contractor for metalling West Road has made a start with the work. Repair metalling has been carried out to enable the work to proceed should weather permit. Culverts on West Road have all been renewed with pipes and points widened preparatory to mealling. Tc Kapua Riding.—Lilburn’s bridge has been repaired, and Pukeroa bridge

over Turakina river is now being repaired. It is proposed to build a new bridge in concrete in Pukeroa Township to replace the temporary bridge which has been doing duty for 20 years. Owing to wet weather only a portion of firewood has been carted for papa burning at Papanui. The burning will be put in hand as soon as weather permits. Roadman’s cottage at Papanui is about complete. Metal repairs have been carried out on Taihape Road South. Pipes have been delivered for culverts on Makohine Valley Road and will be put in as soon as labour is available.

Ruanui Riding.—Only fair progress has been made with contract for metalling Waiaruhe Road. At the request of the Public Works Department, during the strike the engineer put in hand pumicing and metalling the main road between Hihitahi and Waiaouru to enable the transport to inland towns to continue. A good gang of men aud team were now at work. Quarrying shell-rock for metal has been let to Mr Snow, who has temporarily left his contract in Waiaruhe Road. Mataroa Hill has been scarified up and stones broken down and generally repaired. A large concrete pipe culvert has been put in on Ngawhaka Road. Metal repairs are in hand on Taihape-Opaea Road. Mt. View Road has been opened up and men discharged. Ercwhon Riding.—Contracts No. 570 A, B, C, D, have been completed satisfactorily. Tikitere Bridge, Moawhango, has been repaired. Metalling contract on Otuarei and Toi Roads has been completed. Mangahaota Road is being repaired. Awarua Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Utiku main road and Ohutu and Torere roads. Repairs to decking of Knight’s bridge over Hautapu are in hand. Carters have repaired damage done to Toe Toe Road in carting gravel for butter factory. Metal repairs have been completed on Potaka Road. If weather permits it is proposed to continue metal repairs on Taoroa end of Torere Road. Awarua end of Taihape-Waiouru Road is being repaired with trucks. General Matters.—The construction of siding at Kakariki has been delayed by strike but full work has now been resumed.

OVERSEER’S REPORT. Mr A. Thoms reported:— Rangitoto Riding.—Mr Ireland has completed his contract for delivering metal for repairs on the Marton-Bulls Road. When the stone breaking is finished I propose to roll it in with the roller. Mr Stokes has started ■work on contract for delivering metal on the Bulls-Turak' .a Road. This metal is urgently required in places. The grader has been over the main roads in the riding. The Rangitikei River has again altered its course above tho Bulls Bridge and the main stream is striking the bank at the top end of the protective works, and may necessitate some work at this point. Otakapu Riding.—The increased traffic owing to the railway strike did considerable damage to all the main roads. I put on extra men and material to repair them, and also worked the grader over them. They still require

more metal and labour to put them in as good order as they were before the strike. The Marton-Turakina Road especially wants attention. Mr Ireland is making good progress with his contract delivering metal on Bowen. Marton-Turakina, Turakina-Bulls and Makirikiri roads. Labour and material have been put on the TurakinaWangaehu Road to repair the damage done.

Porewa Riding.—This riding also suffered from the strike and repairs are in hand. The stone crusher plant at Upper Tutaenui crushed about 800 cub. yards in Mr Morrison 's pit, which was used for widening and repairing Bryce's Road and repairing Fern Flats Road. It is now erushing in Griffin’s Pit and has crushed about 700 yards, which have been spread on the Upper Tutaenui and Jefferson’s Roads. I propose to crush a further 600 yards for the roads in this district. Repair metal has been laid on Calico, Cliff and Hammond’s roads and the grader will be going over some of these roads shortly. Lower end Wangaehu Riding.—Mr Manson started his contract for delivering metal on the Bridle Track road, but owing to showery weather the work has been delayed. I inspected the Turakina Valley Road, where Mr McLeay wishes to fence along the outer edge of the formation along the side cutting. I estimate the cost of the work required to widen and strengthen the road before the fence is erected at about £75. Lower end Rangatiri Riding.—These roads have been neglected owing to the roadman being engaged with the crusher. I hope to give them attention shortly. The Onepuhi Road also requires repairs. RESOLUTIONS. It was resolved that notice be given of intention to strike and levy a hospital rate of six twenty-fifths of a penny in the £ upon the rateable value (on the basis of the capital value) of all rateable property within the County of Rangitikei for the purpose of providing the council’s contribution to the Wanganui Hospital Board.