WAITOTARA COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19914, 9 August 1927, Page 2

WAITOTARA COUNTY

SETTLERS’ REQUESTS WORK OF THE MONTH. The Waitotara County Council held its monthly meeting yesterday, when there were present Crs. W. Morrison (chairman), J. Campbell, R. Laird, L. Jones, H. Goldsbury, G. Russell and L. Jones. The Council decided to make a grant of £lO towards the cost of a boat at Koriniti (Wanganui River). Application in the matter was made by Mr F. 1). Allen, who pointed out that he paid rates but was not getting any benefit from the county roads. The matter of supplying facilities for crossing the river at several other points was referred to. Cr. Goldsbury said that the whole trouble was that settlers nowadays would not go two or three miles to make use of a boat or punt. It was the same with cream; they were getting too lazy to cart it any distance. Cr. Jones disagreed. He said that many settlers on the river had not been able to get from one centre to another by travelling over a track. Mr A. E. Hooper wrote asking that the Council metal a road giving access to his property, as he would shortly have to cart milk over it. —It was stated that Mr Hooper had offered a horse and dray for use in carrying out the work, and the matter was referred to the engineer for a report. Mr Robert Ross (junr.), wrote in reply to the engineer’s request that the bridge giving access to his property from the Rangitatau Road be raised 18 inches to 2 feet. “He stated that the bridge was only the result of the Council’s action in digging the drain, and accepted no responsibility. —lt was left with the chairman and engineer to interview Mr Ross in the matter.

Engiiieer’s Report. The engineer (Mr T. Dix) reported on the work of the month as follows: Auckland - Wellington Highway. Metal patching, requiring 446 yards of chips and shell-rock, has been carried out over the whole length of highway, and the loose surface has been constantly graded. Between the 14 and 15 mile-pegs a short length was scarified and reshaped. Several slips occurred, but only one was of any magnitude; these have been cleared. Authority is required for the purchase of chips for asphalting work that is proposed to be carried out during the coming season. Rangitatau - Watershed Highway.— The usual routine maintenance work has been done. Two large slips occurred on Paparangi Hill; the road was blocked for vehicular traffic for three days. There is very real danger of the road being carried away at one of the slips; unfortunately no work can be done to prevent the damage. On Bay ly‘s Hill, three large pipe culverts have been placed and flood relief ditches made. Westmere Riding. Metal repairs have been carried out on the Rapanui, Springvale, Fox, Tayforth, Heads, Mission and Surrey Roads, Buxton and Parsons Street, Clarkson and Fitzherbert Avenue; 312 yards of gravel were utilised. 231 yards of chips for a loose surface were spread on. the

Rapanui Road. The Heads-Mosstown Springvale and Tayforth Roads and Clarkson Avenue were graded. Brunswick Riding.—The dry slip on the River Road has again caused trouble, the outside of the road was ] washed away owing to water-tables becoming blocked. The road has been reinstated and a relief culvert pilaced on the top end of the slip. The new j metal on the River Road was graded a and blinded. Metal repairs were done 3 on the Brunswick, Kaikokopu, River, Mission, Tokomaru East, Koatanui, Grange, Westmere Station, Western Line, Blueskin. and .Campbell Road.s. , Watertables on the Kaikokopu and Mission Roads and Delhi Avenue received attention. , Tokomaru Riding.—The customary j flood damage occurred on the back , blocks roads after the recent snow storm. With the exception of the Ahu Ahu Road, all roads are again opened r I for vehicular traffic. The Ahu Ahu , Road should be passable in a week’s time. Ou the Tokomaru East o and West Roads, overhanging scrub and fern were cut, metal patching was . carried out and water tables received ’ cleaning. Waitotara Riding.—Metal repairs * were carried out on the Oruakaingu, Rangitatau West, Brewers and Upper j o Pakaraka Roads. Several large slips occurred on the Waitotara Valley Road. The road was blocked to vehicular s traffic for several days. Casual labour was engaged to help the surfaceman to re-open the road. Fifty yards of shell-rock spawls were used to repair n the approaches to two bridges on This o road. Slips were cleared on the Handley and Kai Iwi Valley Roads, and the Pukerimu Road was graded. Contracts.—Upper Pakaraka Road. Progress has again been slow; 310 ’ yards of metal were carted. Rapanui '] Road. 231 yards of chips, for a loose surface, were spread. Rangitatau- ( Watershed Highway. Waters and Jennings have satisfactorily conupleted J their contracts; slow progress is being made on the two other contracts. e The report was adopted.