PATEA COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 12

PATEA COUNTY

THE MONTHLY MEETING REPORTS AND GENERAL BUSINESS Business was put through very briskly at yesterday’s meeting of the Patea County Council. Those present were Crs. W. G. Belton (chairman), W. H. Watkins, C. E. Johnston, W. Back, J. Peat, J. Lupton, R. G. Scown, R. £ Watt and A. J. Gibbs. The engineer (Mr L. F. Row) was also in attendance. On application by two of the employees of the council, who had been on leave owing to injury received at work, it was decided to g.ant half pay to om during his absence, and pay for the three days’ absence of the second. Following a judgment given in the local Magistrate's Court, Mrs Neal applied for permission to graze her cows on the road. She stated she could not afford to sell them at present, and had not grazing for them. The chairman stated that there had been several complaints from the travelling public about stock on ’•oads. It was decided to inform Mrs Neal that tho council not authorise the issue of collars for cows, or their registration, and that the council could do nothing to help her. Her cows would have to bo kept off the road. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote .rawing the council’s attention to cyclists without lights and straying- stock on the main road. Cr. Johnston spoko against the proposal to erect a police station at Waitotara. He thought that there was no need for an extravagance of this kind, when Waitotara could bo worked from Waver Icy or Wanganui. Tho chairman spoke on the same lines, stating that he had interviewed the Minister of Public Works on the matter. It was decided to write to tho Minister protesting against tho contemplated unwarranted expenditure. It was decided to call a special mi jting in order to make a special order for tho allocation of £3OO to the Kapara Riding. ENGINEER’S REPORT The following report was submitted by the engineer (Mr L. F. Row): — “Kapara Siding.—Tho Valley Road is now reasonably clear of slips, but much extra work will still bo required to clear the road back to tho original width. No work other than ordinary maintenance has been attended to during the month. “Moumahaki Riding.—A section of shell rock metalling on Aiken’s Road was completed early in the month, and so far the road is standing up well under the extra traffic duo to tho timber mill. Tho alterations to tho Weraweraonga Bridge are now nearing completion, and a start will be made with clearing slips and general repairs on the Weraweraonga Road shortly. With the exception of the WaitotaraNgutuwera Road, all roads are in fair condition. “Waverley Riding.—Ordinary maintenance only has been carired out during the month, including the grading of practically all roads on tho seaward side of the main highway. “Otoia East.—Further repairs have been completed on the Upper Maben Road, and the ordin..ry routine maintenance of other roads has been attended to. “Otoia West.—A start has been made with re-conditioning the Manutahi Beach Road. All roads aro now in fair condition after the wet winter. “Main Road. Bitumen and pea gravel are now coming to hand in readiness for the season’s programme of widening, and re-sealing. Tho top corner on the south side of tho Manutahu Gorge has been widened to allow a clay track for horse-drawn vehicles. “General.—Estimates and specifications have been submitted to tho Highways Board for H tumen work on the Main Road, Ball Highway, Kaharoa Highway and Waverley Beach Highway. The crushing plant is now set up at the Manutahi Beach, and a itart has been made with tho season* s metal crushing programme. The report was adopted.