PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 5

PATEA

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The department was contributing towards the cost of many overbridges but only on main highways, wrote the Ministry of Transport regardng the crossing on Upper Manutahi Road. The council’s representatives would, however, be mentioned to the Minister of Railways to see if a safety device could be installed. This advice was received at the Patea County at a meeting yesterday. The matter was left to the chairman. Mr. W. G. Belton, to handle at Wellington. The Public Works Department advised that it was not proposed to proceed with the deviation at the present time, but to erect the new Patea bridge to fit in with the proposal, making a temporary junction with the present highway. The council were of the opinion that the site proposed for the renewal of the bridge was satisfactory, but the proposed deviation on the state highway giving access thereto was not warranted in view of the large capital expenditure involved. The present road was quite satisfactory and it was proposed that the deviation be deferred indefinitely. Advice that the main highways board had not taken over the maintenance of footpaths in any party of New Zealand, therefore no help could be given with the footpaths in the Waitotara Township, was received from the P.W.D. The matter was left to the riding representative and engineer subject to a satisfactory reply to the clerk’s letter in which it was stated that on the advice of the counsel to the N.Z. Counties Association, the council understands that the responsibility for maintenance or construction of footpaths on a state highway, rested entirely with the Main Highways’s Board.

The district engineer, P.W.D. advised that he w as asking his head office to issue the addtional sum of £l5O (£ for £) authority in respect of the Ingahape Stream Bridge, which was being handled by the Patea County >n behalf of the Hawera County. He pointed out that the council had been fcisued with the full amount on the Hawera County estimates for this item, and presumed, the additional sum was asked for with the concurrence of the Hawera County. Engineer’s Report. Mr. J. N. Anderson, county engineer reported as follows for the period ending April 8: “Kapara Riding.—Work has been confined to maintenance on the Waitotara Valley highway and this road is all in fair condition. The offset grader plant has been shifted to the Upper Waitotara Valley Road and will work the full length of the road. “Moumahaki Riding.—Block 8 road has been formed and the Government grant metalling is now in progress. Portion of the Omata Road is being formed in readiness for metalling by the Public Works Department. The offset grader has graded the top end of Block 8 road to Rawsons and general maintenance has been carried out on several roads.

“Waverley Riding.—B2 chains of metal have been completed on the Karahaki Road and a further section is to be metalled when the formation is completed. 40 chains of new sealing were completed on the Waverley Beach highway and 25 chains of the old sealed section was re-sealed. Mataimoana, Kohi Bush and Upper Okotuku Roads were graded with the offset grader and general maintenance has been attended to where necessary. "Otoia East Riding.—-The Government grant metalling on Otauto Road has been completed and the whole of this road is now metalled and Matuku Road is being formed in readiness for metal. Maben Road has been graded with the offset grader. 40 chains of new sealing was done on the Kaharoa highway and 24 chains of the old bitumen surface was re-sealed. A portion of the Railway Station Road has been re-sealed. Portions of Kaharoa highway, Hukatere Road, Otauto Road ahd Chinaman Hill Road were resurfaced with shingle.

“Otoia West Riding.—Otoia Gorge Road is being metalled under Government grant proposals and the old metal in the gorge has been graded and resurfaced. 65 chains of re-seal-ing was done on Ball highway and 10 chains of new sealing on Hursthouse Road. General maintenance has been attended to where necessary. “Kakaramea Pit.—The new bins have been completed and work is at full pressure again. The total output for the month was 1335 c.yds. The quality of shingle produced is good. “Waitotara Quarry.—The total output for the month was 1380 c.yds. all of which has been used for new metalling on Karahaki and Block 8 roads. A new bearing and new toggle cushions were put into the crusher during the month and this improved the machine considerably.

“Reserves—Office Building. New iron was put on the roof of the engineer’s office and a portion of the main roof was renewed. The old roof is in a very bad condition and I would recommend that all the iron be rej»**wed.**

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Harry Hodge, farmer, of Alton, pleaded guilty and was fined £7 and costs 12s in the Patea Magistrate's Court by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., for failing to keep his property clear of ragwort under the Noxious Weeds Act. Mr. J. D. Anderson, inspector for the Department of Agriculture, gave evidence that defendant was the occupier of 72 acres of land at Alton, all more or less badly infested with ragwort. Warning notices had been issued in September, 1937. and January, 1938. An inspection was made on January 28, 1938, and it was found that about 18 acres that had in full flower had been made into ensilage, and an additional five acres had been grubbed end left lying on the ground. The remainder of the farm was covered with odd plants in flower. Again on February 14 a lot of second growth was found in flower and at the final inspection on March 11 second growth was actually seeding. Defendant was in the habit of leaving the ragwort until it was in full bloom before starting on it and sufficient care was not taken afterwards.

Mr. C. Nicholson, appearing for defendant, said the ragwort had been cut three times this year and the land was cleared at least a week before the summons was issued. Defendant had never appeared in Court before. In view of being badly infested and a number of fines last June, the fines

must be consistent, stated His Worship when imposing the penalt;. Robert John Jrown, of Palmerston North, was charged by Inspector D. Burdett, of the Transport Department, with being the driver of a horse float and exceeding the speed limit, which was a maximum of 25 miles tor heavy motor traffic. He was fined 30s and costs 10s.

William Isaac Clark, of Wellington, was fined £2 and costs 10s f or exceeding the speed limit of 30 m.p.h. in Egmont Street, Patea. Inspector Burdett gave evidence that defendant was travelling up to 45 m.p.h. at 12.20 p.m. There was not much traffic about. Arthur Boyle, of Patea, was fined £2 and costs 10s on a first charge of exceeding the speed limit in Egmont Street. Patea, and 10s and cos.s 10s on a second charge of driving a motorcar without a tail lamp. Constable W. Kelly gave evidence that at 8.30 p.m. on 27/3/38 he saw a motor-car travelling at about 45 m.p.h. without a tail light. He interviewed defendant who did not know’ what speed he was travelling at and admitted having no tail light. Eric Joseph £lince, of Patea, was charged by the police with riding a bicycle during the hours of darkness without a lamp attached. He was convicted and fined 10s and costs 10s. Judgment summonses were issued as follow:—W. Tupito was ordered to pay Taranaki Chain Stores £l2 5s and costs £1 Ils 6d, in default 12 days; Paddy Broughton wjl ordered to pay R. A. Adams and Sons £l3 11s 7d, costs £1 Is, in default 14 days, warrant suspended so long as £2 is paid per month; J. Roretane was ordered to pay R. A. Adams and Sons £4 6s 2d, in default 4 days, warrant suspended so long as 10s is paid per month.

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of the following undefended civil cases:—W. Aitchison’s Ltd. v. G. Agate, £3 9s Gd, costs £1 5s 6d; Maypole Stores v. F. Meyers, costs only, 18s; J. A. Haswell v. C. Stevens, £lB 19s 7d, costs £2 15s; J. A. Haswell v. R. Bull, £3 ss, costs £1 9s 6d; Patea Butchery Co. v. Charles Booker, £22 0s 7d, costs £3 11s,

KAKARAMEA PLUNKET SOCIETY. Mrs. G. Dyer presided at the annual meeting of the Kakaramea Plunket Society on Monday. Mesdames R. W. Haddow (president) and L. Honey field (secretary), of the Patea branch, were also present. Sympathy was expressed with the relatives of the late Sir Truby King and Miss Patrick.

Mrs. Haddow congratulated the branch of its healthy balance-sheet and the increase in membership. Mrs. Anthony thanked the president and secretary for their good work during the year and presented them with dainty posies. Mesdames Haddow and Honeyfield were presented with shoulder sprays by Mrs. Dyer. Letters of good wishes for a speedy recovery are to be sent to Mrs. Lord, senr., an ex-president and Mrs. Young. The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs. Hobbs; vice-presidents, Mesdames Dyer and Anthony; secretary, Mrs. Pat. Hurley; committee, Mesdames Anthony, Potter, Dyer, S. Lord, Watt, Northcote, and C. Lord; auditor, Mr. Pope. Mrs. Haddow was accorded thanks for an interesting address she gave, before a dainty tea was served.