POHANGINA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 243, 12 September 1929, Page 2

POHANGINA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held yesterday, Cr Stralian presiding. Also present were Crs Howell, Close, Arbon, Knight, AlcKay and Roulston. » ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer (All- D. Watson) submitted he following report Awahou Riding.—A small quantity of metal was carted and the light grader was used on two occasions for trimming on the main highway. The decayed running planks on the bridge near No. 3 Line were taken off and, after the decking had received a good coating of tar and sand, they were replaced by much heavier timber. Some improvement was effected on No. 3 Line by way of widening out a sharp bend, and a start is about to be made to repair No. 4 Line where it is very unsafe owing to a washout. I have inspected Beil’s Track and find that, with the exception of a slip at the extreme end, the track is in the same condition as it has been for many years. Coal Creek Riding.—Metal was carted and spread on the main road at Ngaputahi, which was shaped up with the power grader. A fair amount of gravel was carted by the permanent roadman on Ridge and London’s Roads. The main highway was trimmed up and the water-tables cleaned out with the use of the grader. A start will be made at an early date with the grader at raking in and water-tabling on Makoura Road. The permanent teamsmen are at present employed cutting and carting willows for protection work on the bank of the Oroua River above Parson’s Ford Bridge. Alangaone Riding.—The main highway and Ferry Road have ben trimmed up with the power graded and 210 yards of screened river metal carted and spread. A small quantity of gravel was put out on the Taonui Alain Highway. This road will be attended to by the grader efit during the coming week. A start has been made on Finis Treack, where the road has slipped away, to cut back a very high bank and widen out the road at a very sharp bend. Aiangapikopiko Riding.—The work of cutting off the shoulder and raking in the metal on the main highway, Alorton Block, AlcNae’s and Norsewood Roads, and part of Table Flat, has been finished with the grader. A small quantity of gravel was put out on AlcNae’s Road, which will probably hold it reasonably good until the dry season. when the new road will be completed. The addition to the roadman’s cottage near Apiti dairy factory is now finished and, as the material is coming to hand, a start is being made to build a five-roomed cottage for the permanent roadman on the council's reserve in Apiti. The drain on Alakoura Road was cleaned out. Other work necessary on this road will be attended to as soon as possible. Pohangina Riding.—The main highway and the Pohangina Valley Road were shaped up with the power grader and 220 yards of gravel were carted and spread. Slips were shifted off To Awa, Branch and Ridge Roads. Repair gravel was spread and a washout repaired on Ridge Road. Tamaki Riding.—A piece of land to be purchased by the council for a roadman’s cottage has been surveyed and, on completion of the transaction, a start will be made with the building. Large concrete pipes for a culvert on Opawa Road are just to hand and the road will be put in order at an early date. A small quantity of gravel was carted by horses and dray, and the work will be completed with motor trucks when the road is dry and can stand the cartage. Umutoi Riding.—A start has been made to metal Alt. Richard Road and about 150 yards of pit gravel were put out. The slip on Alakoura Road was built up with 118 yards of metal carted by motor trucks. Repair gravel was carted out and some concrete pipes put in on Umutoi North Road and a drain cut to divert the water from the road near Horopeto Road. Alt. Richard Road was also shaped up with the power grader.—Adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer (Air A. E. Orgias) reported the following accounts to be in credit: —Cemetery account, £9l 2s lOd; loan account, £1246 2s 9d; loan on deposit, £900; No. 2 plant account, £485 18s lOd; county fund account, £997 17s 6d. GENERAL. Hon. J. G. Cobbe wrote with reference to the extension of the Pohangina valley main highway and stated that, so far, no reply had been received from the Alinister of Public Works on the matter. However, further enquiries would be made and the council would be advised of the position as early as possible. The anxiety of the council and settlers to have a revaluation of the county made as early as possible had been noted by the writer and the matter would be taken up with the Alinister in charge of the valuation Department. The council would be advised of the position immediately it was known. The rangers reported having impounded 26 head of stock during the month. . The district health inspector reported that it was very pleasing to note that the county had been free from infectious disease during the worst part of the winter. Routine matters had been attended to in the county during the month, but there was nothing to warrant special mention. , , . it was decided that the rangers be instructed to advise all owners of stock taken by. them that, if the fees are not then paid, or paid before the following meeting of the council, the owners will be summonsed for having stock on the road, notwithstanding the fact that it may bo the owner's first offence.

OROUA COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

(Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, Sept. 12. The monthly meeting of Oroua County Council was held at FeiJdmg yesterday, Cr Campbell presiding. Also present were Crs Groenhow, McDonaid, McLennan, Green, MeElroy and Shannon. . Arising out of the minutes ol the previous meeting, the chairman reported that ho had investigated the position in regard to the non-payment of rates on certain sections at Almadale, and Mr A. Stuart, of Marton, the district member on the Land Board, had promised to watch the council’s interest when the matter came before the board. CO RRESPONDENCE.

From the Public Works Department forwarding £404. 5s 4d being a refund of - maintenance on highways. —Received. From the Main Highways Board giving authority for work to be carried out on main highways.—ReCe From the Minister of Defence (Hon. T M. Wilford) forwarding a copy of tlie bill empowering local authorities to contribute towards the cost of establishing aerodromes. —Hie chairman observed that the matter did not concern the council and the letter was received. From Mr A. de Malmanclie, Ashliurst, stating that in nis opinion the taking of gravel from the Manawatu

River below the bridge at Ashhurst inay cause river, erosion to piopeities.—Referred to the engineer to report upon. „ ti , From the Ashhurst Domain Board drawin 0 * the council’s attention to the state of the triangle fence near the Post Office at Ashhurst, and suggesting that £ls 15s be spent on renovating work. —It was decided to make a grant of £7 10s for the work, provided it is carried out to the satisfaction of the engineer. The request of the board for a car parking area in the township was referred to Cr AlcDonald and the engineer for action. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The county engineer (Mr R. L. Harding) submitted the following report :—Eastern Riding: The_ work of preparing the Palmerston North-Ash-hrn-st Road for sealing has proceeded satisfactorily and is now well in hand. Plans and specifications for this work have been forwarded to tho Highways Board. Preparation work on the Tao-nui-Bunnythorpe Road has also been proceeded with. Gravel repairs have been carried out on Reid’s Line, Bunnythorpe, Stoney Creek and Alannestad’s Roads. Taonui Road North has also been repaired. The following roads have been trimmed with the grader and the watertables cut back: Watershed Road from Spur Road northward, Midland Road, Forlong’s Road and Spur Road AA’est. Three old culverts at Aorangi require replacing with concrete pipes. AVestern Riding: Teams have been at work repairing Junction Road and are now carting out maintenance gravel to a dump on Alakino Road. Some gravel repairs have been carried out on the main Feilding-Halcombe Road, but owing to the fact that all suitable gravel is inaccessible to the trucks I have arranged for teams to cart out a dump of 500 yards and in the meantime the trucks have been shifted to tho Onepuhi dump from which portions of the Tokorangi and Alakino Roads will be gravelled. Some pit gravel lias also been dumped along Alakino Road for repair work. Several side roads around Halcomb,e have received attention and watertables cleaned out. Some small slips on Reu Reu Road have been cleared. All the main roads liave received frequent attention with the graders.—Adopted. RATE ROLL. The following alterations were made on the county rolls:—Vile and Son’s to Albert E. ‘Buxton; AV. and D. AV. Reid to Herbert A. Seifert and Brian E. Keiller; AV. and D. AAL Reid to Harold Gothard Alonrad; estate of Alicliael Murphy to John Alurpliy; Presbyterian Church property to Douglas H. Bryant; J. AAk Gordon to Tlios. Hayward; Thomas Hayward to Cecil AV. AVhite. TREASURER’S REPORT. The report of the treasurer was adopted as follows:—Total rates levied, £14,740 0s sd; collected to date, £1516 10s 8d; outstanding, £13,223 9s 9d. Total rates outstanding (lour years) on 31st Alarch, 1929, £1137 8s 6d; collected, £34 12s; 16s 6d. Riding Accounts: Expenditure on maintenance, AAffistern Riding, £668 18s 2d; expenditure on maintenance, Eastern Riding, £795 Is 6'd. Bank balance: General account (dr) £3594 13s lid; highway loan account (cr) £795 9s. Commenting on the finances, the chairman said the position of the county was quite satisfactory. At this peliriod last year the overdraft stood at £SOOO and the improved position was largely due to the more prompt payment of the maintenance subsidies by the Highways- Board. Tho expense of the county this year was £704 less than last year, notwithstanding that a full season’s work was in progress and a lot of work was in hand. Alucli of this work, however, had been lone out of loan money. COUNTY UAL AN CE-SHEET. Subsequent to the usual meeting of the council a special meeting was held when the county balance-sheet was received from the Government auditor “untagged.” The auditor desired to express his appreciation cf the manner in which the county affairs were being controlled and also ol the concise manner in which the balancesheet had been prepared. Reference was also made of tho Auditor-General s appreciation of the fact lhat the Oroua County expenditure last year had shown a reduction, manifesting a desire on the part of its officials to ehfvk the growing local body debt of New Zealand. In moving that the balance-sheet be received, the chairman thought that the auditor’s remarks •effected, great credit on the county office staff for their careful work in preoueng ihe dreument.