RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY

WORK OF THE MONTH MONTHLY MEETING HELD. The Council met on Thursday, there being present; Crs. K. W. Dalrymple (chairman), W. Doole, A. Stuart, J. Brice, L. Hammond, A. S. Coleman, G. E. Anderson, P. Pedersen, H. A. Belk and R. G. Dalziell. Correspondence was received as follows: — Internal Affairs Department agreeing to Council levying separate rate in Wangaehu Valley drainage district ou a uniform scale.—Received. Commissioner of Crown Lands, stating that he is unable to grant a grazing license of section 13 block v. Pukeokahu to the Council.—Received.

Whakatane County Council, urging that the Government increase the petrol tax to enable it to completely finance all primary main highways.—Council decided to support the Council. Taihape Borough Council, agreeing to receive deputation from the Rangitikei County Council re the Hautapu Bridge. —Clerk reported that the deputation had alrca ly visited Taihape. N.Z. Counties Association, notifying that a conference will be held commencing on July 2, 1930.—Appointment of delegate held over James Craig and D. G. Sutherland. Wangaehu, agreeing to find tw’o-thirds of cost of metalling portion of Rakautaua Road from end of present metal to Air Sutherland’s residence. —Agreed to. Air F. Blackler, offering to sell to Council buil Lug on roadside near Rata. —Lett io engineer with power to act. The chairman and Cr. Doole were appointed to represent the Council at a public inquiry at Wanganui on Alay 26 to determine boundaries of region to comprise cUy of Wanganui and surrcur.diug district. Finance.—Credit balance, after last meeting, £15240 13s 9d; receipts during month, £949 5s 3d; total, £1618:9 19s; payments since last meeting, £ll2O 7s lid; payments to-day, £5228 10s 3d; credit balance after to-day’s payments, £9841 Os 9d. Engineer’s Report. Air S. A. R. Afair reported as follows: ‘Rangatira Riding.—General maintenance has been carried out on all the roads inclding main highways. The latter have been trimmed with power grader. As directed he had made a preliminary survey and estimate of a new

concrete bridge at Alaungaraupi on Bulls-Taumarunui Highway. The new bridge would be located about 100 ft. up stream and as the northern approach would require considerable spoil in embankment it is economic to realign the road right on to the flat at the foot of Polgreen s Hill to obtain the necessary spoil without recourse to borrowing. The proposed bridge would have a clear span of 25ft., and deck level 10ft. above the stream bed. The width of deck would be 20ft. clear between wheel guards. He estimated the cost of bridge and 16 chains of approaches at £lOOO. An inspection was made of the bad corner opposite Rata store. It is suggested to tar surface about three chains on the corner and to keep a white line along the centre to divide the traffic routes. To protect pedestrian cross traffic from parked cars,

conspicuous notices should be erected. It may even be necessary to regulate the speed over a definite portion of the highway.

“Wangaehu Riding.—Contractor for Mangatipona deviation has completed the work satisfactory. Large concrete pipes have been delivered on the ground for a replacement culvert on Pipiriki stream near Kauangaroa. Repairs and metalling are in hand on the north end of Ohaumoko Road. Th e concrete culvert on Alangahoe Road at Lourie’s has been completed. “Otairi Riding.—Routine work is in hand on all the roads. The main highway near Makohine is being widened at a very narrow and dangerous place. Cook Road has been put in good repair throughout. The lower end of West Road at Poukior e i s being reformed with power grader and will be dressed with fine metal. Roads about Kaipahore are being trimmed and repaired, m Kapa Kidin g-—Metal repairs on lurakina Valley Road above Pukeroa have been completed. Tractor grader has completed trimming Alangamahoe. Pohonui and Okaka Roads and has now returned to Alarton. Repairs to bridges over Alaungapapa on Whaka and Pukemapou Roads have been completed. Aletal repairs have been in hand where required on various roads.

Awarua Riding.—The roads being generally good, roadmen have been employed widening corners and making up bends. No. 3 truck has bQen engaged with metal repairs on different loads in Kawhatau and Aloawhango Valley. Power grader No. 4 has trimmed the main highways at regular intervals.

“Erewhon Riding.—Tractor grader has trimmed up all roads and highways in Moawhango district. Repairs to the laihape-Napier Road between Otupae Junction and Gentle Annie have been completed. The bridge over Otuareiawa Stream on Otuarei Road is being overhauled and repaired. Ruanui Riding.—General trimming up with Power grader and metal repairs on Waiaruhi and Rangiwaea Roads have been completed. Alain highway between Taihape and Waiouru has been trimmed up with No. 4 power grader. General repairs to MataroaRuanui Road have been completed. Hautapu Bridge on Ngawaka Road is being overhauled and repaired, also the small bridges in Mataroa township. “Main Highway Construction.—Contractor for formation Turakina to Wangachu has completed. The remetalling contractor has made good progress but owing to heavy overburden in metal pit is having difficulty in obtaining ‘the required quantity to complete. About 400 cubic yards is yet required. The question of acquiring the metal pit has been discussed with the occupier of the land, and as the pit is just about worked out it may be as well to accept his offer in preference to purchasing an area of land outright. “Hautapu Bridge, Taihape.—The county clerk and myself waited on the Taihape Borough Council re above. The matter will be finally dealt with at the next meeting of the Borough Council, when we have every reason to believe the basis of contribution etc. will be agreed to by the Borough. “General Matters.—Estimates of expenditure for the current year have been for construction by the Council. “Kakariki.—The plant has worked steadily during the month. The river has kept very low but plenty of shingle

is available. Mr Pearson met the chairman, Air Congreve and myself and pointed out the land he desires to lease as a playground etc.

Overseer’s Report. Mr A. Thoms reported:— “Rangitoto Riding.—The late rain has assisted to bind the loose metal on the surface of the roads. The bare patches on the highway between Bulls and Heaton Park have been resurfaced with new Kakariki chips which has improved the road. The Bulls-Grcatford Road has also been patched with Kakariki chips, and is in fair order with the exception of a few places ■ where the chips have been put on rather thickly. Aletal repairs have been in hand on the Bulls-Scotts, Raimai and Brandon Hall Roads. The graders have been working on practically all the roads in the riding. “ Otakapu Riding. —The contractor for crushing metal in Schultze’s pit has stripped the pit and the road out of the pit has been metalled. He should be ready to start work in a couple of days’ time. The main highway is badly in need of the pit metal and will also require some Kakariki chips on the surface when metalled. Air Atoye, con-

tractor for delivering metal for repairs ou the Turakina Valley and Bruces Roads has commenced work. The contractor for delivering metal on Bowens and Turakina Valley Roads is making fair progress with the work. Air Lewis is making good progress with the work of renewing in reinforced concrete a bridge over the stream near the junction of Bowen Road with the Turakina Valley. There arc several other bridges on the Turakina Valley road that should be renewed in concrete next summer.

“Porewa Riding.—The showery weather has caused some pot holes in places; but generally the rain has improved them. The crusher in Griffin’s pit has crushed about 1554 cubic yards of metal which has all gone on to the roads in the Porewa Riding, and when consolidated will improve the roads very much. A fair quantity of this metal has gone on to the highway; but the side roads have also received a fair quantity. The Upper Tutaenui Road has been resurfaced with chips and a little iater both Jefferson and Fern Flats Roads will require to be sacrificed and rolled and then resurfaced with chips. “Lower End Rangatira Riding.—The surface of these roads require attention, especially at Leedstown. The Cliff Road wants the outer edges built up and the super elevation at curves made up to prevent them breaking away. The distance of the unmetalled portion of the Porewa Road is about 28 chains and to metal it 10 feet wide and 6 inches deep would take about 12 cubic yards to the chain or 336 yards Practically the whole of the metal around here is very rough and would be very expensive to hand break and it would be cheaper to cart it from the Rangitikei River, or the crusher at Griffen’s Pit.

“Lower End Wangaehu Riding. —The contractor has commenced work of delivering repair metal on these roads. Generally, the roads are in fair order. Traffic Inspector’s Report. Air H. J. Fowler reported:—A visit was paid to the Waimarino County during the month, and the district given a good look over. A motor-bus was found near Karioi engaged in the carriage of school children. Enquiries showed that it was not licensed for such a purpose, and the owner was ordered to have it attended to. This has been done. Otherwise matters were found to be in order in regard to heavy traffic. In rhe Alarton area a person was found operating a motor-lorry without a heavy traffic license, and although he was given the opportunity to license the vehicle he failed to do so. The sequel was heard ar the last Alarton Court when he was fined £2 and costs. At the same Court a person was lined £2 and costs for cutting a corner thereby i causing an accident. In working up/ this case he had found the hand camera < a great asset in taking photos of marks : •hi the road. Several cases were also | heard in connection with brakes and equipment, and fines inflicted in all cases. One case stands adjourned pend- | ing civil proceedings. He had investigated several accidents during the month, and was pleased to say none of them resulted in serious injury to anyone. This county is fortunate in not having had any recent fatal motor accidents, a regrettable feature in many places. From enquiries he was convinced that almost ail accidents are

due to some personal fault. There are very few cases of unavoidable accidents, or of accidents which can be traced to failure of the mechanism which could not have been foreseen. In the course of testing oat drivers for licenses, he found a very large percentage who have only a very cursory idea of what is required of them under the various acts and regulations. Some have even admitted that they never heard of them, while with others replies to questions appear to be mere guesswork, He thought this state of affairs leads to over-confidence. The Alotor Regulations provide a code for the motor-driver and while it may not be reasonable to expect a slavish adherence to them, he was fully convinced that a reasonable observance of them would lead to an immense decrease in the number of accidents. Of course there is the reckless or temperamentally unfitted driver upon whom no re-* gulations will have any effect, and such persons should be dealt with severely, or taken off the road. In this connec- | tion he was certain that too much lax- ■ ity has been observed in the granting of licenses to new drivers. The practice in many cases consists of a test for ability to handle the vehicle only, while the important matter of seeing that the person concerned has a reasonable knowledge of the regulations, is completely ignored. In many cases even the first part is ignored. This matter has occupied by attention for some time, ami was considering the question of undertaking the testing of all drivers personally throughout the county,-or as far as he possibly could. This will necessitate having set days for testing at the various centres, at intervals to be arranged. By this means it may be possible to impress on new driver the idea that there is more to be learned than the mere ability to drive a car along a road. It seems certain that if the issuing of licenses is handed over to the Post Office, when th<f proposed Transport Bill becomes law, no person will be licensed who cannot produce a certificate from a duly appointed tester. Alaking it too easy for a person to get a license leads to too easy an abservance of road rules, and this in its turn leads to accidents. He should be pleased to learn if the Council approves of my taking this step. In conjunction with Councillors Dhlziell and Hammond and the County Engineer, an inspection was made at the school corner at Rata, with a view to improving its safety, and he understood that proposals will be placed before you. Motor-drivers’ Licenses. —For the current financial year eleven of these have been issued, the fees collected being £2 Iss. Heavy Traffic Licenses. —Two new

licenses were issued. The fees being £8 13s 4d, and two instalments amounting to £4 ss, a total of £l2 18s 4d.

LAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS THE CHAIRAIAN’S REPORT At the Rangitikei County Council’s meeting, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple, chairman, gave the following interesting resume of the Council’s operations for the past year:— ‘ln my report upon the operations of the Council for the past financial year it is my painful duty to refer to two very sad occurrances in the history of the County. Firstly, the removal from our midst by death of the County; chairman, Mr A. G. Simpson early in! the year and a little later the passing away of Air B. P. Lethbridge, who had been a member of this Council for many years and occupied the chair for over nine years. The valuable services rendered to the County by these two sterling gentlemen will long he record cd in the annals of the Council. “Financial statement: 1 am pleased to say that the financial operations of the Council for the past year have been quite satisfactory, all accounts being in a healthy condition. This is je.rticularly fortunate for the Council at the present juncture because owing to the falling prices for our primary products revenues may not in the ensuing year be so buoyant as in the past. The fact of there being a substantial balance in the county account at the close of the past financial year should therefore not be taken as an indication that the Council must not pay due regard to economy.

“County fund account: The amount at credit of the county fund account (which embraces all accounts < her than the loan accounts) at Af.arch 3.1, 1930 was £19,916 12s 10d, as against a credit of £16,839 5s 2d at Afarch 31, 1929. General and Riding Accounts The several riding accounts of the county commenced the year with credit balances as follows: Rangitoto riding. £1355 Ils 8d; Otakapu riding, £1554 17s sd; Porewa riding, £633 17s 7d; Wangaehu riding £2206 12s lid; Rangatira riding £582 5s lOd; Otairi riding £197 15s 6d; To Kapua riding, £845 8s 8d; Awarua riding £560 15s 3d; Erewhon riding £1714 13s sd; Ruanui riding £1254 13s 6d. Total credit balance at April 1, 1929, £10,906 Ils

“The credit balances at the close of the year were as under: Rangitoto riding, £lB9B 17s 6d; Otakapu riding £1486 10s 3d; Porewa riding, £1552 Is 8d; Wangaehu riding, £2248 3s 3d; Rangatira riding £1025 Ils 4d; Otairi riding. £495 9s lOd; To Kapua riding, £866 10s sd; Awarua riding, £B4B Is 8d; Erewhon riding, £1959 2s lOd; Ruanui riding £2083 6s 6d- Total credit balance at Afarch 31, 1930, £14,463 15s 3d. “These good results can be attributed largely to the fact that the county has been fortunate in not suffering to any extent damage from floods and that the revenues have come in very freely exceeding in a number of cases the expectations and that a number of items, some fairly large, provided for on the general account estimates were not expended within the financial year.

“Public works: Among the more important public works carried out during the year were the. completion of the Rangitikei River Bridge at Vinegar Hill, reconstruction of the Alain Highway between Turakina and Wangaehu, completion of the metalling Hihitahi-Waiouru section of the Alain Highway and metalling on Whaka, Okaka, Alaukuku, Inland and Alangatipona roads, etc. Unemployment relief works were also again put in hand, the amount expended on same being £1,635 Is 7d towards which the Government contributed one-half. Quite a lot of useful work was performed by the men employed in widening, etc. on county roads other than Alain Highways. The expenditure during the year on Alain Highways was £31,668 6s 8d as against the previous year’s total of £30,873 9s 2d. The question of formulating a scheme for the reconstruction and bitumen sealing of the Alain Highways has been before the Council from time to time, the present proposals, however, only extend to the section of the Alain Highway from Wangaehu to Bulls and further consideration must

ere long be given to this very important matter as it must be recognised that the Council will be obliged to fall into line with the general highways’ policy of the Dominion. Negotiations have been carried on by this Council and the Alanawatu County Council with the Alain Highways Boa; ' regarding the new proposed bridge over the Rangitikei River at Bulls; but finality has not yet been reached. Proposals have been made to the Government by the Haw’ke’s Bay County Council and this Council in regard to the TaihapeNapier Road and if these are agree to the position will be fairly met so far as the local bodies are concerned. Negotiations with the Alain Highways Board for a new bridge over the Hautapu River at Taihape have been final ised enabling the work to be proceeded with at an carlv date.

“Alachincry and plant: The Council’s machinery and plant, both the Kakariki metal crushing plant and the mechanical transport and road making plants have been working satisfactorily throughout the year. The possession By the Council of more fully equipped workshops enabling repairs to be undertaken more economically and more expeditiously has been of material advantage. The output of the Kakariki crushing plant for the year was 42,118 cubic yards and the value of this output. at the works was approximately £lO,OOO. The earnings of machinery and plant have been sufficient to meet all working costs and replacements as well as providing for interest and depreciation charges. “Engineering department: I am

pleased to say that Air S. A- R. Alair has reconsidered the matter of his resignation of the position of county engineer and that he will be remaining in the service of the Council. Air H. A. Truman, assistant to the county engineer at Taihape resigned to take up the position of engineer to the Taihape Borcugh Council. Air Truman was an efficient and conscientious officer and the Council was sorry to part with his services. |

“Superannuation: The Council has adopted the principle of establishing a superannuation fund for its permanent employees. This is in keeping with the policy of many of the local bodies throughout the Dominion including a number of County Councils. It is expected to have a scheme in operation in this county soon.”