KAIRANGA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 241, 10 September 1929, Page 8

KAIRANGA COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Ivairanga County Council was held to-day, Cr. Batchelar presiding. Also present were Crs. Collis, Small, Clieetlrain, Hopcroft, Moody, Mercer, Voss and Anderson. Mr J. Vining, ranger for the Fitzherbert Riding, wrote asking for permission for his son to act as deputy in the event of it being impossible for him to execute his duties expeditiously'. The request was agreed to. The Highways Board advised that it would purchase a truck for the county, the council to refund the cost of instalments. Several settlers in the Whakarongo district wrote stating that a drain near Stoney Creek was in a bad state. The engineer reported that the work of putting this drain in order was in hand.

The engineer was instructed to put in a suitable culvert at tho entrance to the Longburn School. In connection with the reconstruction of the bridge on No. 60 highway, near the boundary of the Kairanga and Horowlienua Counties, the Horowhenua County Council wrote asking for the confirmation of an arrangement that the cost of the bridge, less the Highways Board subsidy, be borne equally by the two bodies, the Kairanga County to undertake future maintenance. The chairman pointed out that the maintenance costs would be very light once the new bridge was erected.

The engineer stated that the cost would be £IOO to each county.

Cr. Mildon expressed the view that, as the bridge had been formerly in the Horowhenua County, that body should have the responsibility of the maintenance. Cr. Small asked what would happen if the bridge were destroyed. The upkeep of the bridge should not be solely the Kairanga County’s responsibility. The chairman stated that the bridge was now in the Kairanga County. He did not think there would be much responsibility on the Kairanga County. It was decided to agree to the Horowhenua County' Council’s request.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

The engineer, Mr J. E. Menzies, reported as follows: —Twenty-six day men have been employed and six contracts are in hand. The contractors are now carting out metal for foundation on Foxton Line. Two rollers are now employed on this road. Taonui Hiding: Awapuni bridge is now completed and open to traffic. The approaches and deck have yet to be surlaced but this , cannot he done for some time yet. General maintenance work has been carried out on a number of roads and one truck has been continuously employed carting out shingle. The culvert on Jackeytown Road extension has been put in. Extra metal has been put in Riddiford’s No. 2 Road. Gravelling will be continued on the Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road. Mangaone Riding:—Aorangi Bridge to Taonui railway crossing: In connection with the encroachment of the road formation on the railway property, I have discussed the matter with the district railway engineer and he has asked that plans be prepared showing the exact position of the road and railway. These plans are now ready for forwarding to the railway engineer and if his department is agreeable to the road remaining where it is the work on the foundation course can be commenced. A considerable amount of water-tabling lias been done on various roads. A new eighteen-inch pipe culvert has been put in on Rough’s Road where the existing culvert was too small. Drains in the same locality have also been attended to. A bridge, constructed of old timber, is being erected in the unformed portion of James’s Line near Newbury Line. This is for the convenience of drovers u’lio use this road. Metal carting has Cieen continued on the Kelvin Grove area. The motor grader has been over most of the roads. Fitzherbert Riding: Arrangements have been made for widening two embankments on the main highway. These are very narrow and have been the scene of several accidents lately. The main highway has been graded several times and a quantity of metal put on it. An extra pile has been put in one of the pieces in the first Tiritea bridge and similar work is required in the second bridge. This will be done as soon as the creek is low enough. Preliminary plans have been prepared for improvements to the hill on Old West Road. A good grade can be obtained but the cost will be approximately £250. If the council decide to proceed with this work detailed plans will be prepared and a contract let for the formation. The new motor lorry should be ready for the road in about ten days. I have not been able to finalise arrangements for crushing metal at Kahuterawa, but will have something definite for next meeting. It was decided to ask the of the property on the corner of the Kai-ranga-Bunnythorpe Line and Rangitikei Line to permit the trees on the corner to be cut down as they interfered with the visibility of drivers of motor cars.

The engineer was instructed to prepare an estimate for the drainage of Cameron’s Line.