PATEA COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 12, 15 January 1936, Page 9

PATEA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING HELD GENERAL BUSINESS DEALT WITH (Own Correspondent.) Mr. AV. G. Belton presided at the monthly meeting of tne Patea County 1 Council on Tuesday. Also present ■ were Crs. W. Baek, R. J. Watt, J. Lupton, D. Hurley, C. Campbell, AV. ' H. Watkins and J. Peat. Approval was given to an application from the Post and Telegraph Department to erect a private telephone line from Air. J - .. JL Nicholson’s residence, Orangimea, to Air. T. Alexan- , A cheque was received from the I Wanganui Ciiy Council for £1.12 6s ! 3d lor heavy tiallic fees for the quar- , ter ended November 30 1935. A copy of an Order-in-Council and . wariam was received from the Trans- ; port Department, whereby confirmation . was provided of tire existence of ar- , rangements whereby the collecting authorities were authorised to deduct 1 5 per cent, of the heavy traffic fees ; before paying the fees to the distributing authority, and that when the • Alinistcr was requested to apportion the total heavy traffic fees for any ' heavy traffic district he was authorised to deduct 2/ per cent, of the levs towards the expenses of the Government in investigating the proper apportionment. It was decided that the council was j well satisfied with the present system of traffic inspection and would oppose any change. Advice was received from the district engineer, New Zealand Railways, that local bodies had power to call on adjoining owners to clear any trees or growth which interfered with the view at a level crossing. A letter of thanks was received from the Governor-General expressing satisfaction at the reception accorded the official party at Waitotara. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Air. 8. Blake, of Hawera, was passed. The chairman remarked on the fact that Air. Blake had been a member of the council some year ago. Saturday was proposed as the i weekly half-holiday in the county and approved. It w.*S moved that Air. Alilliam, of Kakaramca, be asked to place a swing gate on section of road fenced by him. r The chairman and engineer were appointed to go into the matter of tenders fur rescaling some of the existing roads. J A tender was accepted for erection i of the i’uriroto Bridge over the Alakaj kaho Stream. The chairman’s action in selling the i old Ford tractor for £5O was apapproved. The engineer was asked to report at the next, meeting on the protection at Karahaki Bridge. The engineer reported that the grant had been received from the Public Works for work on Maben Road. Authority was given the engineer to call tenders for water drive and bridge on Upper Alaben Road. The engineer was authorised to call tenders for earth work on the top end of Waitotara Hill. Engineer’s Report The engineer’s report was accepted as follows on the work, carried, out during the past month:— Kapara Riding. —AVork has been confined to general maintenance and the contractors employed on the several sections to be created under Hood damage grant have bet-n at work. The Public Works Department have established their camp in Aloeawatca. Several men have been working erecting the camp and a number of men are expected to arrive to-morrow. The offset grader has completed Mataimoana Road to Ross. Aloumahaki Riding.—Moturoa Road and Paru Road have been metalled under Government grant, proposals, and metalling on Waitotaia-Ngutu-wera Road is in hand. Waverley Beach Highway has been metalled and the roller is at present on that section. The grader is at work in the Manga whio Valley preparing a section of road for metal, 'lhe Public Works Department advis-e that metal carting will start as soon as the road is ready. Waverley Riding.—The offset grader is working on the, Kohi Bush Road and should have all the back roads completed by the end of the present week. Tire new metal on Karahaki Road has been rolled and the shingle surface is now being laid. the contractor on Kohi Highway formation has made good progress and should complete about the end of this week. Ot.oia East Riding. —The sealing work on Kaharoa Highway authorised under major maintenance puroposals has been completed. Otautau Road is ready for metal and work will be started within the next few days. Kaharoa Road and Matuku Road are being formed in readiness for metal. Otoia West Riding. —All roads metalled under Government grant proposals have been rolled and blinded and most of the other sections metalled have been similarly completed. Alain Road.—Manawapou Hill formation is now nearly completed, and the metal will be relaid as soon as Uc formation permits. Manutahi Crusher.- -Owing to adverse conditions on the beach, the crusher closed down on December 14. Practically all the metal required was crushed but a further supply is needed for Alanawapou Hill and the contractor will come back and get this cut while the job is in hand. Waitotara Pit.—The contractor is 1-jiQjjing up a. ptaqdy supply P-uA

has put out 1000yds. during the month. Pariroa Pit.—The washing plant has been completed and the contractor has been at work for over a week stripping and opening up tire face. Carting is to start on Wednesday. Employment of Surfacemen The question of expense incurred m employment of surfacemen was discussed. It was thought that the preseat system was too expensive and that the council should resort to the ohl one. Two men employed as surfacemen in tlio Waverley Hiding, it was suggested, should be returned to that work. Uicy are at present engaged in a metalling construction programme and an objection was raised to tins. * The engineer reported that when the construction programme finished lie intended to place the men back where they came from. He had always had that intention, and regretted there had been some misunderstanding. When the metalling programme was finished, the chairman said, the whole matter ’should be discussed by the council. He had discussed the matter with the engineer during the month and found they were each viewing the matter from different angles. A num-

ber of very valuable men were employed by the council who could be used during the metal construction season but when that work was finished they became more or less superfluous, although they were kept employed. The question for the council to consider was whether these men should be kept in employment or wnether the council should put on casuals. Cr. Watkins said he was against the programme from the start. Ho understood the men were to be returned to their respective lengths on December 1 but he had told the engineer long before that date that he was not satisfied with the arrangements. Cr. Campbell, who had supported Cr. Watkins, said he was not in favour of interfering with the engineer s piog ram me. , It was suggested that a general review of the work be undertaken before the end of the month. The Waverley Beach Road came under discussion. A report that the read was full of corrugations and that the part metalled showed signs of wear caused concern. It was decided that something should be done and the road gra-1-1 00-ib’c.