RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 18 March 1936, Page 3

RAETIHI

WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Waimariuo County Council was held in the County Chambers at Raetihi on Saturday, when there were present; Urs. D. •I. Berry (chairman), ]•. C. Bettjeuian C. L. Duigan, R. Lilburn, J. A. Morton, P. Wise and G. H. Price. The chairman referred to the death of Mr. Walter Harris, which took place during the week. The late Mr. Harris was one of th« best known public men of the district. He was connected with nearly every ’organisation and was a great worker in every good cause. He was one of the pioneers of the district. He was one of the first County Councillors being at the first meeting in 1903. He moved that the County Council express its sincere sympathy with the relatives of t!he late Air. Harris and as a mark of esteem adjourn the meeting for an hour. This was carried in the usual manner and the meeting adjourned till the afternoon. Balance-sheet.—The annual balancesheet for the year ended June, J 935, was circulated and considered, and duly edopted. There was no “tag, the Auditor-General reporting that the bal-ance-sheet was in order and the accounts had been duly examined and found in accordance with law.” Councillors complimented the clerk on again having the balance-sheet returned without any comment from the audit, office. This had been the for many years and was very satisfactory and pleasing to the council. Storm Damage Repair.—The Minister of Public Works, the District Engineer, and Hon. Frank Langstono wrote with regard to subsidy for repair to cyclonic storm damage. The. Government was prepared to give £3 for £l, but the whole of the storm damage restoration murt be taken in hand and the poorer districts must not be left and the work done in the more financial ridings. If necessary the county could get a loan from the Government at a low rate of interest. Damage tu private property could also be restored, but application must be made through local bodies. The county engineer (Mr. H. L. Hogg) reported on the work done during the mont'h in connection with the clearing of slips and washouts. Ho stated that several troublesome slips had again occurred, on the Alakahaki Road, causing a certain amount of damage to the metal. A small bridge on the Pukckaha Road near Scarrow ’s required attention as the result of storms and. flood. In the Huikumu Riding, the engineer stated, that a temporary crossing had been made over the washout near Davey’s, on the Pipiriki Road, where later a bridge will be necessary as this it the third time this parti Var filling has washed out. A vehicle

track nad been cleared through the slips, work now being concentrated on clearing the roadway. The Fordson and grader had done good work in shaping • «p Ine metal wiiure damage by floods and the road is gradually being brought to normal condition. I’he Mangoihe Road had bevn opened for sledge trathe, in the meantime. A track bad been cut through the solid sandstone round the large washout, where it is proposed to widen same out tu dray wiutih as soon as possible to enable the cartage of timber to the bridges on this road where urgent repairs are necessary. The maiii slips have been cleared from the Waipuna and Mangaeturoa Roads, on which roads the rentoration of flood damage generally is being attended to. It has not yet been possible to attend to tihe flood damage on the River and Owairua Roads; the main accost’ being a first call. In the Ruatiti district, said the- engineer, the Ohura. Road had been opened for vehicular traffic, anti it is now possible to roach t‘he Mangatiti by motor, which section, in tlb-e meantime, iis being concentrated upon, as it will be some time before the AT.augatiti Road is open for motor traffic. In addition to numerous slips and serious washouts extensive repairs to the metal will be necessary to restore the damage done by the heavy rain. Slips are bing cleared from the Alakino Road. There is, however, a washout that will require a breastwork before the road can be widened, as this occurred on a sharp in-bend. The large washout on the Ohura Road has b'een filled across and widened out to normal width. As a protective measure a line of 24in. concrete pipes have been set as an emergency waterway. Considerable work will be necessary on this road to repair the damage done; the main slips have yet to be cleared, and the metal repaired over a considerable section of the roadway. In view of the extent of flood damage work on other roads, it may be advisable to let a contract to clear the Rangatiti Road, ami repair tb-e washout, as it will be some time before the necessary labour is available for this work Damage to Bridges. The engineer reported on the necessary work to repair bridges damaged by storms as under: — The bridge over the Wangaehu River, Waiouru Road, was damaged by the recent floods, the bridge being considerably weakened. Workmen are engaged on the repair work, in the meantime notices restricting the loads of vehicles have been fixed to each end of the bridge. This bridge should be under-strutted in the near future as its genera! condition is unsatisfactory. The repairs to the waslhout near Quirk’s old mill have been completed, and willows planted to straighten the filling. The Tokiahura bridge near tlhe Field’s track junction is in a damaged condi tion as a result of the recent floods. A new pier is being erected, and the

bridge generally strengthened. It will be necessary to understrut thib bridge in tlhc near future. Afetailing operations have been commenced on the Oruakukuru Road, the work, however, is held up pending the completion of the repairs to the Tokiahura bridge. McDonnell’s bridge has been temporarily repaired. It will be necessary to make provision for a now concrete foundation and pier in the next year’s estimates, as the main pier and foundation were w r ashed away. The temporary bridge over the Alangaehuchu Stream wai< again damaged by flood waters; the poundation of one pi-er being damaged, ami some of the timbers dislodged. The work necessary to make provision for a new bridge next year, the plans for which will be prepared in due course. A foot bridge has been laid over , the Afangateitei bridge, Dreadnought road. This bridge was extensively damaged by the heavy floods, and will practically require renewal. A footbridge has also been erected over the Mangawhero River on the old Ohakune Road, the settlers being isolated since the floods. Licensing Committee. In reply to the suggestion of the council that there was not any need for a Licensing Committee to be elected in distiicts where there were no hotels, the Minister of Justice (Hon. G. Alason) replied that all electorate districts were licensing districts and it was necessary to elect a committee under the A.ct. Alceting of the committee may be cancelled. Hon. Frank Langstono also wrote t'hat consideration would be given when amendments to the Licencing Act were before the House. Parapara Road. The engineer reported that a vehicle track had been maintained through the slips on the Parapara Road. Tnc main slips will be cleared from the roadway immediately other roads have been opened. The washout near Cave and Wickstead’s is becoming dangerout and will require attention without further delay. It is proposed to erect a willow breastwork to take the filling, blip-clearing has been done on the Alatahiwi and Boyd’s Roads. Further work will, however, be necessary to restore these roads to normal condition. Cr. Lilburn asked that the Alatihiwi Road be opened as soon as possible, as settlers wanted to cart out some wool. Air. Hogg said the work would be done as soon as labour was available. Surfaceman’s Cottage.—Alessrs. Sandford and Brown applied for an. extension of time for the completion of their contract, building the surfaceman’s cottage at Oruakukuru. The engineer said the work was well advanced and the cottage should be ready for occupation within the next two weeks or so. A certain amount of delay had been occasioned owing to transferring one of the builders to bridge repair work. Extension was granted, subject to the work being completed by Afarch 28, failing which the council will require to be reimbursed for any loss of subsidy through non-complction by that date.

Ohakunv Riding.—Air. At. Coffey, Ohakune Junction, was granted permission to erect a garage on the road line, subject to the approval of the engineer

as to site, etc. The garage was to bo on the ATangaturuturu Road and opposite his house. The engineer reported that the power-grader had been used frequently on the Ohakune Road, additional attention being necessary on account of the increased volume of traffic through roads being blocked other localities. Raetihi Cemetery.—The Raetihi Bor ough Council wrote asking for an annual contribution towards the cost <<f maintenance and upkeep of the Raetihi cemetery. It was decided to decline the request. General.—The ranger reported that he had impounded 14 heads of cattle and five horses. The county engineer stated that owing to all available labour being diverted to the restoration of storm damage it had not been possible to commence the work in connection with replacing the defective bridge with concrete pipes and filling on Harris’ Hill, but this work would be put in hand at the first favourable opportunity. Fencing the stock reserve on the dhura Road is still being deferred, all labour being employed on flood damage restoration. Arrangements have been made to fence the back line and one side. Accounts amounting to £3OBl 10s 8d were pae«ed for peymen h