RANGITIKEI COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 11

RANGITIKEI COUNTY

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH COUNCIL MEETING HELD The Rangitikei County Council met on Thursday, there being present Crs. W. Doole (acting chairman), J. Brice, A. S. Coleman, R. G. Dalziell, J. McHardy and J. D. Lilburn. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. A. Stuart, L. Hammond and H. A. Belk. Cr. W. Doole was apointed actingchairman during the absence of the chairman, Cr. K. W. Dalrymple. Correspondence. The Prime Minister wrote conveying thanks on behalf of the Government for response to his request for co-operation in connection with the appeal for the King George the V. National Memorial Fund.—Reseived. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrotere proposed sale to the council of sections 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13, Block V Pukeokahu Survey District, for roadman’s cottage purposes.—Received. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote forwarding schedule of accrued “thirds” and asking the council to submit proposals for the expenditure thereof—amount £49 16s 7d.—Referred to engineer. The Chief Surveyor wrote forwarding tracings duly approved of plan of proposed new road in Mr. F. G. Schwarz’s property at Bonny Glen.— Approved by council. The New Zealand Employers’ Federation wrote forwarding copy of the agreement arrived at with the Wellington Local Body Officers’ Union — agreement to come inti) force on October 1, 1937, and to be for a period of one year.—Received. A letter was received from the New Zealand Counties’ Association advising that the above agreement is as finalised by the association on behalf of the county councils acting under their authority.—Received. A letter from the Patangata County Council was received advising that the agreement has been confirmed by that council and asking the views of other local bodies re the adoption of the five-day week.—Clerk to reply that the policy of the council was to agree to the five-day week of 40 hours and the offices will be closed on Saturdays. The New Zealand Counties’ Association advised that a meeting of the executive will be held .on November 119 and asked that remits be sent in not later than November 10.—Received. The New Zealand Institute of County Clerks (Wellington branch) wrote asking that facilities be granted members of the staff to attend the conference to be held at Palmerston North on November 19.—Messrs. H. H. Richardson, A. V. Brown, and R. McKenzie and any other member available were granted permission to attend the conference. The Public Works Department advised that the Main Highways Board will not subsidise premiums for local authorities public risk insurance so far as main highways are concerned. —Received. The Eketahuna County Council wrote advising that the Main Highways Board contributed on a £3 to £1 basis towards the damages and costs awarded against that council.—Received.

A letter was received from the - Hunterville Town Board advising that 1 the board has deferred consideration ‘ re matter of repairs to the Hunter- ' ville public pound. Mr. J. H. Dalrymple wrote asking • refund of 7s 6d registration fee on thee dogs he had inadvertently twice J registered this year.—Agreed to. Mr. J. H. Perrett wrote re clearing 1 noxious weeds from off his property on Raumai Road.—Attinded to. J. D. McClymont wrote re removal of gale .from off the Ruatangata Road, . Wangaehu Valley.—Received. Fullerton-Smith and Co. wrote re acquiring the title to the gravel reserve, Heaton Park Estate.—Referred to clerk. N. A. Thoms applied for permission to erect private telephone line, which was granted on the usual conditions. The Main Highways Board with authority for £166 13s 4d (£2 for £1) acquiring land for river protective works at Onepuhi. . T oxious Weeds. Mr. A. W. Trotter, noxious weeds inspector, reported that farmers this year were paying greater attention to the destruction of noxious weeds by making a vigorous effor to cope with same by cutting and treating with sodium chlorate. Hemlock is still to be seen growing in the boroughs and two boards adjoining the county. In all cases where the treatment of sodium chlorate is necessary he advised applying with a mixture of lime which has proved far more effective, particularly if rain should deevlop after treatment, and is less dangerous to handle. 1053 dogs have been registered during rhe current year. Mr. John Robinson reported on having paid two inspections in the northern districts. Hemlock appears to be well under control in the Taihape Borough and also at the Crown Reserve at Utiku, which is now being grazed heavily with sheep. The clearing of blackberry, sweet briar and hemlock in the Moawhango district is well advanced. During the month 90 dogs have been registered, the total for the year being 1340. Finance Debit balance after last meeting £17,582 3s 6d. Payments since, £3227 Is 6d—£20,809 ss. Receipts since last meeting, £4683 18s 7d. To-day’s payments, £5965 6s 4d. Debit talance after to-day’s payments, £22,090 Ils 9d. Resolutions It was decided that the matter of gorse growing on the banks of the Rangitikei River at the northern end of the county be Ifet in the hands of Cr. Doole and the engineer to inter,iew the settlers concerned with a view to having it eradicated. An additional room is to be erected at the Torere Road cottage. Messrs. Lord and Maegaard’s tender fur £783 15s for concrete culvert ind embankment at Moawhango was accepted subject to authority for the i Trant being received for the work. The question of rents for county ■ workers’ dwellings is to be submitted to the New Zealand County Councils’ Industrial Union of Employers for consideration. A special meeting of the council

will be held on the date of the next ordinary meeting to declare barberry to be a noxious weed in the county. Tenders are to be called for the third and final section of the county oilices at Marton. The engineer was authorised to take action against those persons having gorse on roads opposite their properties and who have failed to comply with statutory notices served on them to clear same. Notice is to be served on the Public Trustee in the estate of D. J. Crabb to fence the metal pit known as Ross’ metal pit, Upper Tutaenui. The work of widening the Tutaenui Road in order to provide a footpath from the Marton Borough boundary for a distance of about 26 chains as recommended by the engineer was approved. The next meeting of the council will be held on November 25. Engineer’s Report The engineer, Mr. S. A. R. Mair, reported inter alia:— “Rangitoto Riding.—Routine work has continued throughout this riding. I have not yet been able to finalise the transfer to the council of the old metal reserve on the Santoft Road. “Otakapu Riding.—Turakina Beach Road has been trimmed with the grader and repaired. Metal repairs have been carried out on Lower lurakina Valley Road. Repairs t</ a bridge deck on Williamson's Line have been completed. Good progress is being made clearing and deepening Lower Wangaehu drains. “Porewa Riding.—Part of Tutaenui Road has been reformed with the grader and remetalled. Metal repairs have been completed on Galpin’s Road. Several owners in this riding who have failed to clear the gorse on their road frontages have been given final notice. “Wangaehu Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Turakina Valley Road, Mangahoe and Whareroa Roads. The grader has trimmed up Taurimu Road and Okirae-Kaua-ngaroa Road. A survey has been made of Taurimu Stream Bridge site on the Turakina Valley Road. Repairs to a culvert on Ohaumoko Road have been completed. “Rangatira Riding.—Leedstown-Sil-verhope-Mt. Curl roads have been trimmed with the grader. A large wooden culvert on Aidworth Road has been replaced with concrete pipes. The contractor has made fair progress with the concrete bridge over the Pourewa Stream on the Tutu Totara Road. All piers are completed and the deck is being laid. Repairs are being carried out to Onepuhi Bridge. “Otairi Riding.—Repairs to Watershed Road cottage have been completed, and a hot and cold water service installed. Watershed Road has been repaired. Ongo Road has been trimmed with the grader and chips spread where necessary. All the material is on the site for fencing the stock reserve at Poukiore. The stock paddock at Dowman’s has been repaired,

“Awarua Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Rangitane, Mangaweka-Tekapua, Makino, Torere and Hautapu Roads. A bad corner on Hautapu Road has been widened. It is proposed to fence in two stock paddocks on the Mangaweka-Tekapua Road. As soon as possible I propose to add a room to the Torere Road cottage, as the roadman’s family has outgrown the accommodation. “Tekapua Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Koeke, Upper Turakina Valley, Mangamahoe, Wairepu East and Otaihape Valley Roads. Naumunui - Kaweka-Ridge roads are being trimmed with the grader ready for metalling. Authority to accept the tender for metalling approved at the last meeting, has not yet been received. The Public Works Department has recommenced metalling on Mangaone-Watershed Road and on Mangamahoe Road. The protective fence on Whaka Road has oeen repaired. “Erewhon Riding.—Metal repairs have been in hand on Moawhango Valley, Otuarei Pungataua and Wainui Roads. Good progress is being made forming Makokomiko West Road. Messrs. Lord and Maegaard submitted a satisfactory tender for the concrete culvert at Moawhango. This was sent to the Public Works Department, but approval has not yet been received. “Ruanui Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Ruanui, Upper Turakina Valley and Mataroa Roads. The tractor grader has trimmed Ngawhaka and Opaea Roads. A fairly good track has been cleared along Hale’s Road to Mt. View. The contractor for the Namunui deviation on the Mataroa Road has made good progress with his work. The contractor for metalling Owhakura Road has recommenced carting metal.”