MASTERTON COUNTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 49, Issue 14960, 11 July 1923, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Countv Council was held yesterday. There were also present: Crs. J. Judd. IL IT. Mawlev, F. Dorset, L. T. Dnniell, G. Moore and AY. Dal/.iell. The treasurer reported a balance of £247S 6s 3d, comprising County Fund Account debit, £5058 Is 9d, loan account, cr., £lßl6 T 4 Bd, interest account cr., £SO, receipts since last meeting, £5556 8s 3d, including £250, AYestmere road grant £l5O, Ngahape road grant £ll4 12s 6d rates arrears, and £6 15s motor registrations. The county balances are as follows: Opaki Riding £2450 7s, Rangitumau £2043 17s sd. Upper Taueru £1173 10s s cl, Te AVhiti £1772 12s 6d, Unit! £3112 14s 9d, AA'aiiiuioru £157 4s ltd. The Public Works Department wrote asking for the names of all persons having contracts of £IOO or over. — The clerk was instructed to supply same.

Letters were received from Air. McGovern and Messrs. Gawith and Logan in reference to the road at Wnngaehu. —Left in the hands of the chairman and Cr. Moore.

A petition from five residents of South Road [Extension was received, asking that this piece of road be metalled and formed. After discussion, which was generally in favour of something being done, the matter was left in the hands of Or. Judd and the overseer. Owing to the weather nothing could be done just now. The Castlepoint County Council wrote stating that it was opposed to the transfer of Air. O. A. Bunny's property to the Alasterton County, owing to the fact- that about £2500 had been spent on a road which added value to the property. —Tt was decided to have a-com-mission appointed to decide the matter.

Letters were received from the Higliwavk Board and the Wairarapa South County Council in connection with the main highways scheme. The AVairarapa South County Council were of opinion that the AVoodvillc County should be added to tille Alanawatu district, as ii was not quite equitable that AVairarapa should be saddled with two different, approaches for upkeep.—it was decided that the chairman interview Cr. T. A’. Atoore (Wairarapa South County) on Thursday. The clerk reported that there was still £250 to come from tille Government for AVestinere road, but that lie was waiting until the bottom end is cleaned up. The Government statistician wrote for particulars of all bridges over 30 feet long.—lt was decided to supply same.

The matter of the Kaituna bridge was left over until next meeting. Cr. Atoore brought up the matter of the Blairlogie hill deviation and mentioned that it consists of a number of small deviations, to remove sharp corners and dangerous places. He produced the plan, and it was decided that the plan be approved by the Council, to go before the Public Works Department. The carrying out of the work was subject to obtaining a grant of £2OO, which it was stated, is on the estimates now.

The question of removal of the pro tection of hares was raised by Cr. Dan ieli, who moved till at representations be made to the Government in order te have the protection removed.- —Carried.

Mr. M. Kerins’ tender tor the metal ling of Weraiti road was accepted. The dork (Mr. R, S. Hanna) stated that he had attended the conference at Dannevirke and had mentioned that whilst Masterton was not in any way agitating- for the smaller counties in these parts to amalgamate, it was prepared to entertain proposals to take in any county adjoining that desired to merge. He pointed out, that, according to the last printed balance sheets of Masterton, Manriceville and Castlepoint counties, provided the same rates for reading works were collected over the three counties, the

two ridings of Mauriceville would have had £IOO more to spend on roads and Castlepoint would have had £250, whilst the six ridings of Masterton would have lost amounts varying from £ls to £SO. The counties taken would form new ridings and would contribute their proportion to the general expense of the county, which, being spread over the united county, would be very small, and the balance would be for reading works. lie was disappointed that no figures other than those quoted by him were given, and there was nothing to show that amalgamation would be a benefit or a saving, although all recognised that amalgamation would certainly tend to reduce overhead charges* Since the conference the Government Statistician had forwarded his

latest report, and from this Masterton is still low vvitiln its overhead charge. The administrative charges of the Wairarapa counties may be of interest: —

From this they would sec that tlvo three largest counties of the WairaraI>a were the lowest in, their administrative clmvg'es, In reply to a question as to the position of the smaller counties in the event of amalgamation, it was stated that they would be in a better position than ever as to. rates, 'being on . the ■same basis as the large counties. Also as to subsidies, these would be worked out on the valuations of ridings as at present. ENGINEERS ’ REPORT. Thu engineers ’(.Messrs. Sladden and Pa vitt) reported: — Maori Gardens Fridge, Bideford. — The drawings have been approved by the Public Works Department. Tin* matter of subsidy-is being dealt with by Head Ollicc and authority for expenditure should be ready in a few days.

Taueru Bridge Approaches. The small matters requiring attention under maintenance have been attended to, and we have given final approval to tho work. Rorokoko No. 2. —The suggested long deviation does not appear feasible, and a report on the matter is not now desired.

Blairlogie Road. —Details and estimate for the proposed improvement of bad corners have been prepared for Unis meeting.

OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Air. F. Excll) reported: Opaki Riding. —Three lorries are engaged metalling on the WaingawTCto Camp road, and two teams are patching on the Opaki district road, while metal patching is also done on the AYestbush and Pagg’s roads. Rangitumau Riding. —Aletalling on the AVangaelui road Inis been completed, 290 yards having been put. on same. A culvert has been put in on Dorset’s road and water-tables cleaned. Aletalling has been done on the AVaingawa to Camp road and holes filled on the AlastertonWaimate road. A small bridge on Bennett’s Flat being undermined by flood water, a new pier lias to be put in and a small groyne to protect it. The Soldiers' Settlement road has been graded. Te Whiti Riding.—The contract for metal ling the AListerton-Gladstoue road is completed. .1180 cubic yards having been put on. The Pakaraka road has been graded, water-tables cleaned, and 90 cubic yards of metal put on. Grading has been carried out on the various roads in the Te Ore Ore estate. A culvert has been put in on the AVeraiti, and grading is now being done in readiness for metalling. Uriti Riding. —Two hundred cubic yards of crushed metal has been put on the Mastcrton-AYaimatta, road, from Devil's Elbow to the Taueru. The Te Fame road is in a bad state with slips, and two men are engaged removing them. AATitcrtaides require cleaning on Lett’s road.

Waingawa. Bridge.—The protective works have been carried out according to instructions.

' On On Receipts Payment. Per cent. Per cent. Masterton 5.21 5.20 Featherston .. .. 5.19 2.94 'VVftii'fli'flPf! 7.21 7.55

Kk eta luma .., ... 12.:!0 11.12 1 Inina tun ... 12.76 11.12 Mnuriceville ... .10.02 9.54 Castlepoint. . ... 14.44 10.05