RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19842, 17 May 1927, Page 2

RAETIHI

RAETIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL [ From the " Chronicle’s ” Special Correspondent. ] The monthly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers on Thursday evening. The Mayor (Mr AV. H. Sandford) presided; Councillors A. W. Ashwell, T. Fagg, A. G. Laloli, G. Anderson, W. Harris, L. J. Vile, H. Reiper, R. Sigley, V. A. Keucke.

A letter was received from the Director of Town Planning to the effect that he would bo unable to visit Raetihi during his present tour but would be visiting Ohakune, and invited the Council to meet him there. The Mayor said he would attend and he would like to see as many of the councillors, who could possibly get away, attend also. The Valuer-General notified the Council that applications had been received for new valuations, under Section 50, of the Valuation of Land Act, .1925, from J. P. Punch, J. J. Lindoart, R. C. Church Trustees, Ashwell Bros., and A. W. Ashwell.

The Public Works Department informed the Council that authority had been granted, by Order in Council, to use the water from tho Makara, Little Makara, Orantotia, Makotuku and Mangaone streams for the purpose of generating electricity, and to erect electric lines within portion of the Mangaone, Makatuku and Karioi S.D. in terms of the Public, Works Amendment Act, 1908, and 1911.

Tho Fire Brigade applied to have a notice board erected, giving instructions how to ring the fire bell, also to procure 500 ft. of new hose, mentioning that at the present time they only had 1600 ft. of first class hose on hand, and would the Council consider building more accommodation for the brigade at the fire station. ♦

Mr E. AV. Mathewson, power house operator, tendered his resignation. Mr H. Thompson’s application to have the partly erected electric line from the main line to Picture Hall and Mr Plunket’s house, taken over by the Council on the following terms: The Council to pay £8 10s, the cost of the

poles and labour, and he would guarantee the Council the sum of £2O for five years should the Council show a loss over the connection. Resolved to take over the partly erected line and complete came upon the terms offered. Alterations to the office arc being carried out immediately. The engineer is to be empowered to purchase tools, etc., to the value of approximately £35. The Town Clerk is to be granted a bonus of £lO. Accounts amounting to £1664 14s lid were passed for payment. The following from tho Electricity Committee were approved. The town clerk cd instruct tho engineer to immediately forward plans, specifications and estimate for retaining wall at power house, and also to obtain quotes for ironbark poles. The football club’s application for lights to be reinstated on the domain be agreed to, but at no expense to the Council, and all the work to bo to the satisfaction of the engineer. The Fire Brigade Committee recommended that quotations be obtained for 500 ft. hose. That the time is opportune that reasonable accommodation be provided for the brigade. WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting was held in the County Chambers last Saturday, there being present: Councillors A. B. Harris (chair), D. Strachan, C. H. Ball, T. E. McLean, C. B. Soley, J. Morton, and J. A. Oliver. The Council decided to lease a cottage from Auburn Bros., Ruatiti, for the roadman, at 10s per week. Mr C. B. Scarrow’s application to erect a fence on the edge of the road fronting his property on Pukakaha Road, was granted subject to a fencing agreement being signed. Mr E. L, Sommervillc was granted permission to erect a motor-car shed near the road, subject to the engineer’s, approval. Mr C. G-. Houghton’s application to erect a motor-car shed near the Oraukukuru Road was granted. Gallitts Bros, applied to have the present agreement extended to cover an additional length of road, but considered that the Council should put this portion in first-class order before

they take it over.—Engineer is to interview the applicants. Mr W. J. Inenury informed the Council that owing to illness he was unable to carry out the contract for metalling and asked to have his deposit returned. —The Council agreed to return tha deposit. The State Forcstiy Department advised that “fifths” of royalties, etc., on State forests and Provisional State Forests in tho Waimarino County amounting to £229 J6s 7d for the quarter ending December 31, 1926, had been remitted. The Public Works Department advised that the sum of £5BO 6s 6d had been forwarded to the Bank of New Zealand, Raetihi, for the Council’s credit for the following grants: Mangawhero stream and Horopito, £ll7 0s lid; between Raetihi and Ohakune, £53 5s 7d; Oraukukuru-Karioi Road and Mangawhero River, £4lO. Tho Minister of Public Works wrote that the suggestion of tho Council to abandon the proposed construction of a traffic bridge over the Manganui-a-te ao River giving access to Waimarino Reserve No. 3, section G in Block XVI. Whirinaki S.D., and the money diverted to the construction of a bridge lower down. He would be pleased to give the matter careful consideration, and as soon as he was in a position to do so would communicate again.

The Minister of Public Works acknowledged the receipt of the Council’s request of the expenditure of the grant provided on the estimates for the formation of the Makakahi Road on Blocks XV. and XVI. Whirinaki S.D. for the purpose of affording better access to the settlers, and of relieving unemployment. The Rangitikei County Council advised, re metalling main highway between Waiouru and the Road junction, that they had decided to vote £3OO on the basis of £1 for £3 to meet the portion of the road within tne boundaries of this county. The work is now in progress. Makotuku Stream Bridge. Tho Public Works Department forwarded a copy of a warrant, authorising Raetihi Borough Council to con-

struct a bridge qver the Makotuku stream at Raetihi (together with approaches thereto) and apportionate the costs in terms of section 119 of tho Public Works Department Act, 1908. The commission set up to apportionate tho costs of this bridge between the Borough Council and the Waimarino County Council decided that the Borough Council pay 52 per cent, and tho Waimarino County Council 48 per cent, of the cost of the bridge. The applications of H. F. White, of Horopito, and W. T. Harrison, of Karioi for motor drivers licenses to be endorsed as taxi-drivers’ licenses, was granted. The matter of compensation for land and feficing at Harris’ deviation was again brought before the Council, Mr H. H. Harris being present. After a long discussion the following resolution was agreed to: That Mr H. H. Harris and Mrs L. A. Harris be offered the sum of £493 4s 6d in full compensation and satisfaction for all liabilities in connection with fencing Harris’ deviation. Raetihi-Ohura Road, payment for same to be made from time to time as the work proceeds. The following tenders were accepted for regritting the various roads: R. Tautini, Raetihi-Ohakune; H. W. Littlewood, Rangataua-Ohakune; and A. Smith, Waiouru-Karioi.