PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15993, 9 December 1919, Page 6

PATEA COUNT Y COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The usual,, monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held jester day, when there were present—Crs. Bolton (chair), Gibbs, McGregor, Cave, Hurley, Murphy, and Taylor. An apology for absence was received from Mr G. V. Pearce, the chairman. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer’s report was read and adopted, and, inter alia, reported were the following matters: — Main Road and General.—The work of re-metalling and tarring the mam road is progressing steadily 19 chains below Waverley and 16 chains on the Whenuakura Hill length being completed and an additional length of metal laid ,on both sections ready for tarring. Metal has been arriving sfeeadly at Waverley all the month, 220 tons of metal and screenings being received and carted out. The metal stacked at the Whenuakura ■ is now practically all carted out, and further supplies have been ordered to complete this work. A considerable amount of work has been and is necessary to reshape the Whenuakura Hill before metalling. A length of rough road near the Whenuakura bridge has also been scarified, re-shaped, blinded and roiled. The surface of the Whenuakura bridge will be faced with tar and chips as soon as the chips are available., Maintenance metal has been received'and carted out north of Patea, necessary blinding has been earned out, and the tarred roads banked up and the corner opposite Fairweather s rdad widened and clayed by the surfaceman. A light coat of pit metal is now being laid out on two worn-out sections of the main road beyond the Ball Road corner. , Waverley Riding.—A quantity of pit metal has been obtained and dumped at the Waverley Station for the improvement of the Station Road, which will be put in hand as soon as the engine is available. In regard to the metal for Ainslie’s road, the contractor has increased the price of the Eastown metal to 9s 9d per yard, as against the 8s 6d last season, and it is doubtful if this metal is worth the rnonev. <- Moumahaki Riding.—The timber for the repair's to the Motoroa bridge now to hand, and plans . will be pared and submitted to the P.W.D. as soon aa possible. PUBLIC WORKS VOTES.

The Public Works have advised that the following votes appear cn the Estimates, the expenditure of which is to be carried out by this Council, and in r«.ply to a request as to order of urgency have placed them as follows; Bead, £500; (2) Motoroa Stream Bridge, £300; (3) Gorge Eoad, £"SO (£1 for £1); (4) State Faxm Eoad, .£-500 (£2 for £1); (o) Karahald Road deviation, £200; (6) Foot Bridge, £l3O (£l for £2); (7) Makakao Suspension Bridge, £ooo (Ai for £1); 18) Moumahaki Stream Bridges, c.a. of £ISOO (£1 for £1), £600; (9) Yvaitotara Eiver Bridge (lower), o.a. £BOO (£1 for £1), £250. Bead. —The settlers on the Eangitatau road are anxious to get the worst portions if this road metalled and sanded this season if possible, and I propose to call tenders for this work if considered advisable. There is a good face of shell rock available within reasonable distance of the worst of this road, and sand is available at ° tl Scr rt West District.—Mr Newton called in with reference to the formanon of the Ball Eoad track to the Patea Eiver and asked for an estimate of the cost. The track is two miles 43... chains and a deviation is proposed to put the road on the suimy face. I have been unable to go over this, but a rough guess shows that probably £3900 will be required to do this wort, as there are some heavy codlings in papa on the length. The proposal is that settlers pay a special rate fora lean for half the amount and toe Government be approached for toe balance. FOOT-BEIDGE.— Be toe foot-bndge over toe Patea Eiver, the Patea Borough Council wrote stating that they were anxious, if possible, to avoid the expanse of a commission in this matter, and with this in view too following resolution has been passed; “That this Council is prepared to offer the County Council toe sum of £l5O as a grant tow'ards the cost of erecting a footbridge over toe Patea Eiver, provided toe County Council will build toe bridge and provide all engineering expenses.” Discussing this matter. Or. Gibbs said that a very unsatisfactory state of affairs existed in regard to the

foot-bridge, and it was time some defi nite arrangement was arranged at between. the Council and the Borough. Regarding the cost of the erection of a foot-bridge the engineer stated that when he drew up his last, estimate he calculated the cost would' be in the vicinity of .£3BO. This estimate had been taken in J’antiary of 1918, but he thought that it would be impossible to carry out this contract on his previous estimate, as the cost of material and labour had so greatly increased during the past year. After further discussion it was decided, on the motion of Or. Gibbs, seconded by Or. Taylor, that the matter concerning the foot-bridge should bo deferred till the next meeting, while the engineer makes a fresh estimate of the cost of this work, and that the roestimation should bo submitted to the Public Works Department for approval, and also to the Borough Council for their perusal. RESOLUTIONS.—The following resolutions of appreciation were passed;— “That this Council records its appreciation of Mr J. H. Fowler’s services as Government Auditor io the Council for some seven years, and for the courtesy and consideration shown in all matters connected with his duties, and trusts that that he may have a successful career.” “That this Council wishes to express its appreciation of Mr H. H. Sharp’s courtesy and assistance in all matters that came under his control, and regrets Iris severeance from the district as Public Works Engineer, and congratulates him on his promotion.” The following motion of regret was passed: “That the Council expresses its sincere regret at the death of Mr G. Symes, for many years chairman and councillor in this county, and closely associated in many public positions, and that a letter of condolences be forwarded to Mr Symes relatives.” Mr G. Y. Pearce was re-elected chairman of the County Council for the ensuing year, and Cr Belton was elected deputy-chairman.. Leave of absence was granted the Engineer (Mr McLaughlan) to attend a conference of engineers at Dunedin, which is to be held at an early date.