RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 301, 21 December 1933, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH E COUNCIL MEETING HELD The monthly meeting of the Rangitikei County Council was held on Wednesday. Present: Crs. K. W. Dallymplo (chairman), J. Brice, A. S. Coleman, W. Louie, R. G. Dalziell, J. McHardy, J. D. Lilburn, 11. A. Belk, L. Hammond and Mr. H. H. Richardson (county clerk), and Mr. S. A. R. Mair (county engineer). Leave of absence was granted Cr. A. Stuart. The Treasury wrote with reference to the application to raise a loan of £.lOOO for Watershed Road, and the council decided to hold the matter over until the estimates were considered. The Minister of Public Works wrote approving of subsidy of £l5O (£ for £), towards the work of metalling Ngauinga Road. Left in hands of Cr. Lilburn and engineer to report to next meeting. Unemployment Board advising amended rules governing work under scheme 5 (‘‘Over the fence”). —Referred to engineer. The‘chairman an( i Crs. Dalziell and Hammond wore appointed a committee to go into the matter of the proposed by-law governing the keeping of pigs. The action of the staff in installing the telephone in the workshop was endorsed and the ’phone at present in the small front room is to be transferred to the meeting room. The council expressed its sympathy with the resolutions from the Warapu County rc native rating. The engineer was granted permission to attend the conference of engineers at Dunedin in February, the council to defray travelling expenses. A special meeting of the council will be held on the date of the next ordinary meeting to declare variegated thistle to be a noxious weed within the county. A further letter is to be written to each internal local body re the eradication of “hemlock” in their districts. Application from the Young Men’s Christian Association, Hill Bros., Meads Bros., Smyth Bros, and Borycr for permits to be allowed to take loads in excess of classified weights on main highway were referred to the engineer. Mr. T. C. Revell waited on the council and asked that £lOO balance of his contribution to Turakina Valley Road, be not called up. —The opinion of the audit department is to be obtained on th e matter. Mr. AV. Franke was granted a renewal of his contrart to maintain Franke’s Road at £3 per annum. Mr. B. Collcston is to bo informed that the formation of Addis Road is to be proceeded with. Messrs. Mitchell Bros, arc to b e informed that the owners of the gates complained of on Ohaumoko Road have received notice to remove same by March 31, 1934. Th e council decided that it was unable to give a donation to the Hunterville Town Board. Notice is to be given that gates on Baggott’s Road must be removed within seven days. Public notice is to be given that the bridge over the Hautapu at Jacobsen's is unsafe for loads in excess of two tons. A letter from I. AV. Turner, Wangaehu, with reference to his milking shed was referred to .the traffic inspector. S. Andrews’ application for renewal of slaughterhouse license was granted. The Main Highways Board wrote forwarding authority for £5OO (£2 for £1) for Mangaraupi Stream bridge. Cr. Coleman and the engineer were appointed to interview the Marton Borough Council with reference to the culvert that has recently been placed on Calico Road and also as to the renewal of the bridge over the Tutacnui Stream. Resolutions It was resolved: That pursuant to the provisions of regulations 5 (2), of the Heavy Motor Vehicle Regulations, 1932, 8. A. R. Mair, engineer to the council, be empowered to give, on behalf of the Rangitikei County Council, written permission for any licensed heavy motor-vehicle to be used on any road or main highway under its control and classified so as not to be available for the use thereon of such heavy motor vehicle, subject in each case to such conditions as he may deem fit, all such permissions to be in the form prescribed under the said regulations and copies to be furnished to the traffic inspector. —The powers conferred by this resolution shall not be held to be mandatory. Finance Debit balance after last meeting’s payments £3680 6s 9d f plus payments during month, £1095 3s 5d—£4775 fOs 2d. Receipts during month £4646 16s 9d.; debit balance before to-day’s payments, £l2B 13s sd. To-day's payments, £3032 8s Od; debit balance after today’s payments, £3161 Is sd. Engineer’s Report Mr. S. A. R. Mair reported as follows for the month of December:— Rangitoto Riding.—Overhanging trees have been topped on Scott’s Ferry Road below Parawanui. Sides of BullsGrcatford Highway have been trimmed and banked with grader. Repairs have been carried out to running deck of Bulls Bridge. The river protection reserve on east side of bridge has been fenced. Rabbits have been poisoned on the tree plantation on west, and gorse along west boundary has been burned off. The continued dry weather has been severe on the trees planted out last spring. Otakapu Riding. Wangaehu Valley Roads have been trimmed with power grader. Gutters and footpaths in Turakina township have been weeded and trimmed up and blinded. Fair progress has been mae widening McQuarrie’s Hill. The lower portion of embankment at Gower’s Hill has been metalled full width. Only a shoit distance is now restricted to one-way traffic. Removal of hedge and levelling on Wing’s Hoad lias now been com plcted. Galpin’s Road has been wid ened and drains cleaned out on Tutaenui and Fern Flats Hoads. Plans have been completed for regrading Calico Road from Tutaenui Bridge to Cliff Road. After the holidays it is proposed to carry out the heavier portions of this work with unemployed on the piece work system. Wangaehu Riding. —Two old culvcits on Makohau Hoad have, been replaced with concrete pipes. Several places on Makohau and Turakina Valley Roads have been top-dressed with fine shell gravel. Tractor grader has trimmed up

roads around fCauangarua and Okirue. Definite and final nutice has oeeii given to owners of gates on Ohaumoko Road that all gates must be off by March 31 next. A new roadman has commenced duties on Mangahue Road. Bangalira Riding.—Approaches to Maungaraupi Bridge arc being constructed by relief workers. Overhanging scrub through Silverhope Bush ha l been cut back and weeds cut iu county reserve. Aidworth Road has been trimmed and repaired. Decks of small bridges at Lceustown have been repaired. Little work has been dune on Ougo Road. Deviation, Chubbins Hill, this month, as the men have been employed elsewhere. Otairi Riding.—Routine work ha s been carried out on all roads. Side streets at Ohingaiti have been graded and trimmed. A new roadman has been installed on Watershed Road. To Kapua Riding.—Single men's camp of 11 men has been removed from Papanui to Mangamahoe Road, Kocka, and men are getting firewood for papa burning. Tractor grader has trimmed Wairepu East and West Roads, Kaweka, Ridge and Namanui Roads. These roads are practically uumetallcd and are now in guod order for summer traffic. Corners widened on main highway near Taihape Cemetei} have been metalled. 1 hoped shortly to have the settlers’ agreement for metalling \\ airepu East Road fully signed. He had applied tu the Labour Bureau for single men tor the campon Wairepu West Road, but at present no single men arc available. ±t may be necessary to substitute married men if single men are not available. Awarua Riding. —Metal repairs have been completed bn Tauroa Road, Toe Toe Road aud Muugaweka-U nku Higa way. Makupua Road is being trimmed up and slips removed. A protection fence has been erected each side of Moawhango Bridge at Taoioa. Comprehensive repairs have been carried out to Mangateweka Bridge at Manui. Makohinc V alley Road South is being widened and trimmed up. Erewhon Riding.—No. 1 tractor grader has trimmed up Otuarci Road. \\ ainui-Moawhango Highway has been trimmed with power grader. The Tai hape-Napicr Road to Auripapango is in good order. Kuanui Riding.—Fourteen married men are in the Kuanui Camp. Firewood is being obtained to burn papa on Wilson Road. He hoped to increase th 0 men to 20 after the holidays. Otakapu Riding.—Wangaehu Valle; Roads have been trimmed with power grader. Gutters and footpaths iu Turakina Township have been weeded and trimmed up and blinded. Fair progress has been mao widening McQuarrie’s Hill. The lower portion of embankment at Gower’s Hill has been metalled full width. Only a short distance is now restricted tu one way traffic. Porcwa Riding.—Removal of hedge and levelling on Wing’s Road has now been completed. Galpin’s R-oad has been widened, aud drains cleaned out on Tutacnui aud Fern Flats Roads. Plans have been completed for re-grad-ing Calico Road from Tutaenui Bridge to Cliff Road. After the holidays it is proposed to carry out the heavier portions of this work with unemployed on the piece work system. Wangaehu Riding Two old culverts on Makohau Road have been replaced with concrete pipes. Several places on Makohau and Turakina A'alley Roads have been topdressed with fine shell gravel. Tractor grader has trimmed up roads around Kauangaroa and Okirae. Definite and final notice has been given to owners of gates on Ohaumoko Road that all gates must be off by March 31 next. A new roadman has commenced duties on Mangahoe Road. Highways Generally.—Classification notices have been erected at all road junctions notifying that all highways ar e third class, permitting a gross load of 64 tons. As the Heavy Motor A r ehicle Regulations provide for council permitting exemptions under certain conditions, I suggest the classification bo not advertised till after the holidays. It will also be necessary for the council by resolution to appoint an officer to grant any temporary exemptions with safeguarding conditions. Crushing 1 hints.- AVork at Kakanki has continued full time, as the Railway Department recommenced taking ballast at the rate of five rakes, of 9U cubic yards per week. Repairs have been carried out to machinery units, and new anchors placed across the river for track line. At the request of the machinery inspector, extra guys are being placed to th 0 mast. The river is very low at present and good shingle is available. However, a good flood would be welcome to augment the supply. The Utiku plant has been closed, as all present requirementshave been completed. The pit is being stripped and the plant overhauled ready for future operations. 1 ha\ i arranged to hire one portable crushing plant to the Waitotara County for the summer months. The highway on Mataroa Hill opposite the stock paddocks is being widened. Fencing materials are being obtained, and as soon as widening is finished, the fencing of paddocks will be put in hand. Metal repairs have been carried out on Taihape-Hihitahi Highway, TaihapeMataroa Highway and Ruanui Road. AVidening and repairs are in hand on main highway at Hihitahi. Main Highway Works.—Auckland-AVellington-Turakina to Bulls: The contractors for surfacing from Turakina to Bulls still have about two clays’ work to complete. Tenders have been invited for the following further works on this highway: (1) Forming and metalling from Turakina School to top of Dalvey Hill, two gaps totalling 123 chains and including Glasgow’s Deviation. (2) Makirikiri Stream Bridge on Grant's Flat. (3) Second coat, bituminous surface from Dalvey Hill to Bulls, a total distance of 8| miles. Bulls-Te Kuiti: Tenders should be before you for the following: (1) Maun garaupi Bridge. (2) Terakcti Culvert.