WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 41, 18 February 1932, Page 5

WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waimarino County Council was held at Raetihi on Saturday when there were present: Crs. C. H. Ball (chairman), H. I A. Wright, D. H. Strachan, A. S. Ashmore, G. J. Goldfinch, D. J. Berry, G. H. Price, the county engineer (Mr. H. L. Hogg) and the county clerk (Mr. A. Mabbott). Special Meeting. A round-table discussion took place on the question of the abolition of riding accounts. The chairman pointed out that the present council was near the end of its term and should hesitate before making such a change. In answer to a question the clerk said the representation of the ridings was not affected by the method of keeping the accounts. Cr. Wright agreed tnat tiie consolidation of funds would increase the facility for doing permanent work. Crs. Goldfinch, Berry and Price would like more time to consider the effect of such a change with regard to valuation and rates. Crs. Ashmore and Strachan were in favour of the change. On being put the motion that riding accounts be abolished was lost. General. The Rangataua Town Board wrote drawing attention to the damage done by lorries carting metal for the county through, the town district. Damage has been done to Dreadnought Road and the board thought that Mangateitei Road could be used as an outlet from the pit. The board had been compelled to close the roads to that class of traffic.—The matter was referred to the engineer. The Public Works Department advised the payment of £2577 9s lOd refund highways expenditure. The Public Works Department intimated that the material for the Tokitokirau bridge and the other bridge on the Makakahi Road had been ordered and the construction would be commenced as soon as the material had been delivered to the sites. The Unemployment Board forwarded circulars dealing with the cultivation of land by relief workers.—The clerk said the Unemployment Committee had appointed an inspector and overseer who would attend to the matter. The Wanganui Hospital Board sent a copy of a circular that had been forwarded to all contributing bodies pointing out that the outdoor relief account had been over-spent by £794 and tho maintenance fund had been underspent by £2OOO. The board had asked for a further grant for outdoor relief. The Prime Minister wrote with regard to the requirements of the coun-

cil if it had any loans falling due in London. —The clerk said there were none. The Waitemata County Council forwarded a circular letter asking for a contribution toward lodging an appeal from a Supreme Court decision with regard to erection of power board posts on constructed main highways. As it was agreed that all county councils w’ere interested in the final decision the cost of the appeal should be distributed and the Waimarino county was willing to bear part, but the amount was left open until the total J cost was ascertained. Messrs Seth Smith and Stephenson asked that some channelling be done I on the road adjoining their property. I The engineer pointed out that channelling would not be of much use until steps were taken to keep cattle off the road. Mr. A. Weir, Valley Road, Horopito, wrote asking permission to erect gates on a road line being the old HoropitoOhakune Road, so tnat he could use it. The request was granted provided all the requirements of the Public Works Act were complied witn and there were no objections. The secretary of the Central Licensing Authority, under tne Transport Act, advised the date of meeting. No application having been made by any motor proprietor in the county no action was needed. The chairman said the Raetihi Unemployment Committee had considered the action of tho County Council with regard to the employing single men. A motion to approach the council and ask that the services of thes? men be dispensed with had been lost. Councillors agreed that it was a big question and Qr. Wright pointed out that the Government had not given a lead in the matter and continued to employ hundreds of single men. The chairman and member for the ridings were empowered to accept tenders for contracts closing before next meeting. The tender of L. Godfrey for metalling Motete Road was accepted. Cr. Ashmore reported that at a meeting of settlers in the Ruatiti riding the question of th’b necessity of having to dispense with four surfacemen was discussed and it was agreed to send a deputation to the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Public Workks and seek for financial assistance for the riding. Accounts amounting to £3095 12s Id were passed for payment. Engineer’s Report. The engineer, Mr. H. L. Hogg, reported for the month as follows: Parapara Riding.—The repairs to the Ararawa Bridge, Parapara Road, are now completed. Practically a new substructure has been necessary to carry the truss. Heavy timbers wore required as the whole weight of the truss is being carried on the new work. He anticipated being able to set tho 4ft. concrete pipes, and construct the filling

at the small bridge near Sollitt’s old mill during the current period. It is proposed to construct an 18f£. roadway at this point owing to an extremely dangerous corner leading thereto. He had not yet received approval of the proposals for further metalling on the l Oruakukuru Road. He proposed calling tenders for the work immediately the monetary authority comes to hand. There has not yet been an opportunity to remove the dangerous corners on this road; this will be done when labour is available. The grader has been used, slips cleared and the usual maintenance work done. Karioi Riding. —Timber is being delivered for repairs to the Waitangi I Bridge, Waiouru Road. The work will be commenced as soon as the council accepts a tender for repairs to county bridges. Rough sections of the Waiouru Road have been top-dressed with grit and generally improved, banking, however, is urgently required in many places to keep the surfacing material on the roadway. It is proposed to reduce several dangerous corners on the Wangaehu Valley Road immediately the necessary labour is available. Banking has been done near the Waiouru Road junction where the road was extremely dangerous. Several culverts have been lengthened, and other improvements done. Manganui Riding.—A further section of the Motete Road is being metalled, principally by relief labour, good progress being made. The monetary authority for further subsidised work on this road has come to hand. There is a metal deposit on the section to be metalled which, no doubt, will greatly reduce the cost of any extension of the metalling on this road. He anticipated being able to recommence metalling work on the Makakahi Road within the next few days, and proposed using relief workers as far as possible. The approval of the proposals submitted for further subsidised metalling on this road has not yet come to hand. Tenders should be called for the work immediately the monetary authority comes to hand and to close as early as possible. The re-formation and draining Mangaturuturu Road is being continued where considerable improvement has been made to old formation. Approval of the proposals, and the monetary authority have been received for further metalling on the Middle Road. Tenders will be called for this work as soon as possible. Tho grader has been used and the usual maintenance work done on the different roads. Ohakune Riding.—A distance of approximately 30 chains of the old Ohakune Road has been metalled with material from the river nearby, the completion of which gives all weather access to the last settler in the meantime. Relief workers were employed on the work as far as possible. Topdressing has been done on the Lakes Road over certain sections. The Koporotuku, and other roads in the locality will bo repaired as opportunity offers. The drains on the Rata Maire Road

will be cleared and widened immediately the necessary labour is available. Nothing further has been done in connection with the completion of the formation of Dreadnought Road. This work will be put in hand when the culvert and bridge timbers are supplied. Practically all the rough sections of the Waiouru Road have been top-dressed between the Ohakune borough boundary and the Mangaehuehu Stream. The grader will be used to dress up the roadway immediately conditions are favourable. Rough sections of the Mangateitei Road have been topdressed, and ordinary maintenance work Uune on other roads. Huikumu Riding.—The tunnel near McArthur’s, Mangaeturoa Road, is now completed. There is. however, an accumulation of timber to be removed from me tunnel mouth. Material is being delivered for the concrete retaining wall to be in readiness for placing in position later. The filling over the tunnel near Lovenfosses ’ is now being done, good progress being made considering the broken time of the workmen employed on the work. The Mangaeturoa Road has been re-formed and trimmed, and several concrete pipe culverts set, wandering stock, however, will, to a great extent, nullify the benefit of the work done. The recently metalled section of the Pipiriki Road is settling down satisfactorily and should ultimately produce a good surface. The River Road is still closed to motor traffic owing to numerous slips which will take a considerable time to clear. He anticipated being able to put men on water-tabling on tho Waipuna Road during the current period. The usual maintenance work has been done. Ruatiti Riding.—Tho contractor for metalling on the Ohura Road has completed his contract, subject to the maintenance period, and other details. Owing to the contract distance not reaching certain boggy sections of the road it was deemed advisable to extend the distance a further 20 chains to cover these troublesome sections. A survey has been made of the two sites for new bridges where the road washed out during the recent flood. Good progress is being made with the extension of the metalling on the Muruinuru Road. The base course is practically completed and has been done in a very satisfactory manner. Should funds be available it will be advisable to apply a liberal coat of sandstone on several boggy sections of road beyond the contract distance. If this were done the road would be negotiable during most of the year. Four surfacemen have been dispensed with from this riding, leaving only one workman to look after tho metalled roads. The repairs to the small bridges, Waipapa Road, have been completed, slips cleared and the usual maintenance work done.