ROADS AND BRIDGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 180, 2 August 1940, Page 3

ROADS AND BRIDGES

RANGITIKEI COUNTY MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL (Own Correspondent.) MARTON, Aug. 1. The monthly meeting of the Rangitikei County Council was held today. Cr. K. W. Dalrymple presided and there were also present Crs. G. L. Marshall, A. S. Coleman, J. Brice, R. G. Dalziell, W. Doole, A. D. Mair, L. E. Deacon and V. Smith and Messrs. H. H. Richardson (clerk) and S. A. R. Mair (engineer). Leave of absence was granted Cr. L. Hammond. Correspondence Inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: Controller and Auditor-General, stating that the audit office is taking up with the Department of Internal Affairs the question of amending the Counties Act in regard to keeping an imprest account.—Referred to the county clerk. Local Government Loans Board wrote in connection with the requirements of the board with applications for sanction for rural housing loans. —The council decided to take the preliminary steps to obtain the board’s sanction to the raising of a loan of £lO,OOO for rural housing.

The council accepted the offer of £6 from Mr. J. Fitzgerald for the purchase of the metal pit at Marton Junction.

In connection with the county councils’ insurance scheme, it was decided to ask Mr. Belton to attend the next meeting of the council. The council decided to take 39 copies of the Wellington Provincial History.

Ohingaiti School Committee, asking that the footpath along Onslow Street leading to the school be tar-sealed and that the drain through the school ground be cleaned out. —It was decided to carry out the tar-sealing of the footpath. Disabled Soldiers’ Products, asking to be afforded an opportunity to tender for the council’s supply of dog collars.—Tenders to be called.

Mr. J. H. Hyde, secretary Ohingaiti Production Committee, asking that the road drains opposite Mr. J. Hammond’s property be cleared.—Notice is to be given to Mr. C. Mclntyre to clean out the drain under the Land Drainage Act. District Public Trustee (Palmerston North), asking the council to metal 18 chains on the Weston Road fo afford access to part of A. E. Russell’s estate. —The council decided to subsidise the work £1 for £1 up to £25. Car Testing In connection with the recent complaints against the traffic inspector failing to keep appointments at Taihape, the traffic inspector wrote stating that he considered that two days in each month would be sufficient at Taihape. On account of petrol restrictions, he had been testing at Hunterville on his way north. The re-testing of drivers over the age of 70 years has entailed an increase of tests in that town. One one occasion recently there were three people waiting to be tested at Hunterville and this resulted in his arriving at Taihape later than he had anticipated. He would be prepared to set aside the first and third Wednesdays for testing at Taihape. After a short discussion it was decided that the Taihape Borough Council be recommended to appoint a car tester for the borough of Taihape. Finance Statement of accounts as at August 1, 1940: Dr. balance after last meeting, £9073 15s sd; payments made since lart meeting, £2904 Ils 1id—£11.978 7s 4d. Receipts since last meeting. £2125 Is 3d; dr. balance before to-day’s meeting. £9853 6s Id. To-day’s payments, £12,723 8s 2d; dr. balance after to-day's meeting, £22,576 14s 3d. General Business. The council decided to ask the Mai). Highways Board if it will forego any claim to 28 acres of county land situate above the Bulls bridge., and if so, that the council authorises this area to be planted, Several property owners on the Hunterville-Poukiore Road are to be given notice to clear the course of the Porevva stream through their properties.

A discussion took place on the advisability of postponing the county elections for twelve months, and it was eventually decided to postpone a decision till the next meeting of the council in September. The majority ot the councillors were in favour of the postponement of the elections. The Marton Borough Council is to

be written to asking what action it intends to take in the matter o£ in-.-Tutaenui stream above Makohau Road.

Cr. Brice and the engineer were appointed to report upon the application of the roadman for a new cottage on Mangahoe Road. The next meeting of the council will be held on Thursday, September 5. ''Worst Road in the County.” The engineer reported that no definite word has yet been received regarding reconstruction of the TaihapeWaiouru State highway. “This is one of the worst roads in the county,’’ stated Cr. Deacon. “There is very little metal on the road and it is practically impossible for a car and a lorry to pass one another on about twenty corners.” The concrete foundations of the bridge that was being erected north of the site of the recent fatal accident were not high enough, and in the event of a flood the bridge would probably be under water. There was no doubt that the Main Highways Board should devote their energies to improving the road in view of the fact that the Waiouru military camp is established at the north end of this road and traffic would be considerably increaseci in the near future. Cr. Deacon took strong exception to Mr. E. B. Gordon's remarks in the House when rne question of this road was being discussed. Engineer's Report. Mr. S. A, R. Mair reported as follows for the month of July: Rangitoto Riding.—Metal repairs are in hand on Raumai and Parawanui Roads. McHardy’s Road has been trimmed with power grader and routine work carried out. A survey has been made of the proposed embankment at Flock House to prevent flooding of settlers’ pastures. An inspection has been made on the ground with the county chairman, director of fields division department of Agriculture and engineers of Public Works Department. I have inspected the Rangitikei river-bed adjoining the river protection plantation above Bulls bridge. The riVer is now generally along the east bank and about 28 acres of good silt accretion has formed along the plantation on the west bank. For some time there has been a strong tendency for the river to return. As the accretion is now valuable land, I suggest the Main Highways Board who controls the plantation should plant the accretion to prevent further inroads of the river, which may be detrimental to the bridge.

Otakapu Riding.—Upper and Lower Wangaehu Valley Roads have been trimmed with the grader and repaired. Drains in Rakau Tawa drainage district are being cleaned out. The iron flood gate on the concrete outlet has been repaired. Ratana and Turakina Beach Roads have been repaired. Lower Turakina Valley Road has been dressed with chips. Drains and culvert outlets have been cleaned on Makirikiri Road West.

Porewa Riding.—Metal repairs are in hand on Mt. Curl and Upper Tutaenui Roads. Wing’s Line has been widened and metalling repaired. Wangaehu Riding. Kauangaroa Roads have been trimmed with the grader and metalling repaired. Small slips have been cleared off Okirae and Ohaumoko Roads. Routine maintenance work has been effected on Turakina River and Mangahoe Roads. The former has been much damaged by large mobs of travelling cattle. Rangitira Riding.—Leedstown-Pare-karetu Road has been trimmed with the grader and repaired, and culverts and drains cleared. A wet area in Rhodes’ plantation has been drained and planted with macrocarpa.

Otairi Riding.—Routine maintenance has been carried out on Watershed Road. Poukiore Roads have been trimmed with the grader and watertables repaired. Metal repairs have been carried out on Haumakariri and Whareroa Roads. Morton's suspension bridge, wrecked by Turakina River flood, has been dismantled. Poplars are being planted along roads at Otairi. Metal repairs are in hand on Ohingaiti Streets. Awarua Riding.—Metal repairs have been carried out on Makopua, Kawhatau North, Gorge, Weston and Tuhoe Roads. Utiku-Torere-Taoroa Roads have been trimmed with grader. A wire-stone groyne has been built to protect the approach to the Makino Stream bridge. Tekapua Riding.—The large culvert in Mataiaponga Stream-bed, Pohonui, has been lengthened and embankment repaired. Metal repairs have been in hand on Mangamahoe, Turakina Valley and Koeke Roads. Mangapapa Stream bridge, Rongoiti Road, has been repaired. Murray’s Track has been trimmed with the grader. Erewhon Riding. Wainui - Moawhango Road has been trimmed with the grader and metal repairs effected. Routine work has been carried out on all roads. ‘ Ruanui Rising.—Taihape-Mataroa and Ruanui Roads have been trimmed

with the grader. Metal repairs have been in hand on these roads, also Upper Turakina Valley and Waiaruhe Roads. Faulty culverts on Ruanui and Cresson's Roads have been replaced with concrete pipes. No definite word has yet been received rewarding reconstruction of TaihapeWaiouru State highway. MAIN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. Cliff Road-Onepuhi M.H.—Pourewa Stream bridge contractor has satisfactorily driven all concrete piles, erected temporary staging and concreted the first span. Contractor for the bridge approaches has commenced his work to enable the old bridge to be dismantled as soon as the new one is completed. Vinegar Hill-Feilding M.H.—The contractor has satisfactorily completed his work. Taihape-Mataroa - Murray’s Track M.H.—The contractor has about halt completed the water tunnel on Paeangaroa Stream. Mataroa township. Noxious Weeds Inspection. Mr. John Robinson reported. - “Most ot my time during the month has been spent on an inspection of foxglove and hemlock infested properties in the Tiriraukawa, Omatane and Utiku districts. The hemlock is now mostly confined to small patches in sheltered places, and where large areas were infested three years ago, only a few isolated plants are now to be found. Apart from the Mangaweka township most barberry hedges have now been cut down or sprayed with sodium chlorate.” Mr. A. W. Trotter reported.—Tim principal work done during the month has been confined to the trimming of gorse fences, much of this werk still remains to be done, but owners still have to the end of August to complete. A few men are enquiring for work of this nature, and any farmers experiencing difficulty in obtaining a man should apply to the county office. Further big areas of barberry and blackberry are being cleared during the winter months in the Tutaenui. Rata and Leedstown districts. All other weeds are in their dormant stage, although a few farmers have already made a start in destroying their variegated thistles, which on present indications will not be as bad as in other seasons.”