RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 3

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

The council met on Friday, tnere berng present Or. A. G. Simpson (chairman), A. Stuart, W. Doole, P. Pedersen, J. Brice, K. W. Dalrymple, G. E. Anderson and A. S. Coleman. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. Belk and Dalziell. Correspondence. Inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: State Advances Department, approving of loan of £1250 for workers dwellings; declining application loan of £260 Manawatu Gorge Road, and approving of loan of £4OOO, Erewhon riding. Agricultural Department forwarding notice to clear gorse off council’s section in the Marton Extension. —Resolved that the council take the necessary steps to hand over the council’s three properties at Marton Junction to Marton Borough Council, the borough to pay all legal costs relative to same. Russell and Birch, asking that attention be given to road into the Mount View Station.—Being attended to. B. Chambers, asking that a mile of road into Otupae and Mangaohane stations be metalled.—Consideration of matters held over until next year. L. J. O’Keefe, applying for additional compensation on account of his accident expenses.—Request not acceded to.

A. Binnie (Ohutu) complaining of stock on roads at Ohutu.—lt. J. Boyd was appointed ranger. Returned Soldiers’ Association, complaining of drainage on to Mr Geo. Clerk’s section at Putorino.—Council recognises no responsibility. General Business. Hinciti Wirehana to bo paid £25 in settlement of her claim. Mr Porter is to be informed that the matter is in the hands of the police and *he council cannot interfere. The action of the chairman in authorising payment of subsidy to Lethbridge Town Board was endorsed. Cr. Dalrymple was appointed Council’s representative on the Wellington Provincial Court at the Dunedin Exhibition. Tho council is to make application for £1 for £1 for work of maintenance on Bulls-Wangaehu Highway. Tho engineer is to be instructed to point out to the Alain Highways Board that work on Bulls bridge is not all maintenance work, certain portions being re-construction. The Chief Surveyor is to be asked to expedite the passing of plans of Turakina rever road deviation. Application is to be made to the Public Trustee for a loan of £2500, being the council’s share for tho erection of Vinegar Hill bridge, and that a copy of plans be forwarded to the Kiwitea County Council when approved.

The council decided to apply for part section 20, Block IV, Hautapu S.D., containing" 2 acres, to be vested in the council as a gravel reserve. £99 19s is to be spent on Tarawarau cutting, half to be charged to general account and half to Erewhon riding account.

The plans as amended by the County Engineer for the Auckland-Wellington and Taranaki Main Highways near Turakina are to be referred to the Main Highways Council for consideration.

iTho engineer was instructed to take steps to proceed with the removal of gorse on roads in those cases where two months’ notice has been given to adjoining owners, who have failed to comply with notice and that the cost of carrying out the work be charged against owners as a rate on their properties. The tender of A. E. Chase at £2B 10s for supplying a new body to motor lorry was accepted. A resolution was passed merging the Lethbridge Town Board district in the Rangitikei County Council. Crs. Coleman and Brice were appointed to sign the rate book. Engineer’s Report. < Mr S. A. R. Mair reported:— Wangaehu Riding.—Gravel and cement have been sent out to Mangahoe to concrete the floor of tunnel on Ngaruru creek. This work will be put in hand next week. Gorse and blackberries continue to spread along several roads in this riding, the responsible settlers ignoring notices. These weeds harbour rabbits, as well as interfere with the maintenance work. Both gorse and blackberries are becoming’ a serious menace upon many roads in the southern ridings, and unless something is done to check them now they will soon be quite out of hand. It is unfair to the owners who keep their frontages clear of noxious weeds their frontages should allow them to flourish and dis tribute broadcast, polluting clean roads and farm-lands.

Otairi Riding.—Gravel repairs are in hand on Vinegar Hill roads. A good pit has been opened and metal is being distributed by motor truck. Te Kapua Riding.—The contractor for metalling Turakina Valley road at Pukeroa has opened up his pit and commenced crushing and carting metal. A very satisfactory face of metal has been opened up. Culverts are being renewed with pipes before metal is spread. Work has been resumed on papa burning on Turakina Valley Road at Papanui. A strong gang of men arc. at work clearing slips and widening ready for spreading papa. Sawmillers on Bongoiti Road have been carting heavy loads of 2000 feet of timber and have considerably damaged tho road. Steps are being taken to make them reduce their loads, and repair the damage.

Ruanui Riding.—No. 2 grader is about to start trimming up Hihitahi Waiouru Road to northern boundary. Erewhon Riding.—A satisfactory tender has been received from Messrs Oldfield and Parkes for metalling Matawhero Road from Pukeokahu to the bridge. Men are engaged opening up the pit ready to start setting up the crushing plant. Men are engaged reforming Ercwhon-Napier Road on Rangitikei Hill. A quantity of metal has been quarried for bad places. An inspection was made of the roads between Rangitikei Rive and Napier. A conference was held at Hastings with the ratepayers on the east of river, and as a result it was decided to reform the Tapawarau cutting and repair other bad portions of tho road. The Kakakino crossing was inspected, and a’ good bridge site selected, with solid rock abutments. However, as a suitable bridge would cost about £6OO. it is suggested the matter be held in abeyance in the meantime. The District Engineer of Public Works at Napier was interviewed re the Tai-hape-Napier road, and he reported that investigation had shown that no economic deviations were feasible between the Ngaroro and Tarawarau Rivers, as both cost of construction and maintenance would be out of proportion to the benefits arising.

Awarua Riding.—Little progress has been made with embankment on Otaihape stream. The water has been turned through the tunnel and if weather permits, the embankment will be pushed this month. Corners are being removed on Gorge Road and Manga-weka-Utiku road. Repairs are in hand on Raku-Toru road, North Mangaweka. Main Highway Works.—Tutaenui bridge at Bulls has been completed. As the Turakina bridge at Turakina de' eloped serious defects, the traffic was limited to four tons, and men placed on the bridge day and night to properly restrict traffic. The bridge being unsafe, the chairman directed that temporary repairs be put in hand immediately. A contract was let to Mr W. Salt, who carried it out with despatch, and traffic has now been extended to a limit of eight tons. The chairman of the District Highway Council approved of the repairs and issued an immediate authority for a subsidy of £lOO towards the cost. Drawings, etc., have been completed for a new bridge in steel and concrete with a double width track. These will be submitted to Public Works Department foi approval forthwith. The proposal to regrade Turakina hill by crossing over the railway and easing the curvature of the “Devil’s Elbow” was submitted to the chairman of the District Highway Council, who considered the cost would be too great, and recommended a modification.

Kakarikl.—The mill has only worked intermittently during the month, much delay being caused by trouble with the motors. The coutractors were notified, and experts made an inspection to locate the trouble. It has not yet been cleared up, but the contractors have a representative now on the job. It was found that enough water was not available in the well, so a three inch suction pipe has been laid to the river. About 700 cubic yards of metal of all classes have been sent out during the month. Traffic Inspector’s Report The traffic inspector (Mr McKenzie) reported:—During the month I issued 13 motor drivers’ licenses and the fees received were £3. The total number of drivers’ licenses issued to date is 1182, and the total amount of fees collected for same is £295 10s. During the month four heavy traffic licenses were issued, and the fees received in respect of same were £43'2s Bd. The total number of heavy traffic licenses issued to date is 46, and the total amount of fees collected is £557 12s 4d. A further payment of £BO is expected in the course of a few days. Land Drainage, Wangaehu Valley The council is prepared to proceed with the scheme as asked for by ratepayers over the drainage area, as drawn up, amended by including 70 acres of part Ruatangata 2D, instead of 50 acres, and cutting out Lot 1 Haunui No. 1 (80i acres), subject to necessary petition being received from rate payers of the above district, and to all claims for compensation being waived in regard to drains to be taken through the lands affected. Old Ngei Line of Boad The council decided to apply to the Lands Department for issue of proclamation under Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Act, 1925, to give effect to exchange of the Old Ngei line of road for other lands to be vested in the council for tree planting purposes.