Woodville County Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7027, 10 December 1932, Page 4

Woodville County Affairs

COUNCIL TRANSACTS MONTHLY BUSINESS Captain M. O. Grainger (chairman) presided at yesterday’s meeting of the Woodvillc County Council. Others present wore Councillors R. T. Mabcy, G. Peebles, T. 11. Williams, R. Morgan, J. Galloway and H. Sheffield. Cr. O. 11. Drucc was granted leave of absence. Maharaliara Deviation Before taking the correspondence, the chairman briefly reported on tho result of his visit to Napier in regard to the proposal that a deviation should be made at the Maharaliara railway crossing. He stated that the engineers were now going into the matter. He added that although the railway line had been raised the road was safe provided there was no speeding. A compulsory stop sign had been erected and the crossing was safe with reasonable care.

Cr. Galloway contended that it was a particularly tricky crossing for people approaching tho main road from the Hcrotaunga by-road. Cr. Galloway then asked if it would be possible to have the main road widened a bit where the Heretaunga road joined up, as at present there wasvery littlo room for vehicles to pass. He asked that the matter of widening the mninroad at the foot of. the hill on the far side of the Eaparapawai bridge be also considered. The chairman suggested that Cr. Galloway’s flrst request could bo held over in the meantime, pending some decision in regard to tho deviation. In regard to the other the stumbling block in view of the reduction in tho Highway Board allocation, would be tho matter of expense, as a big filling would be required. Tho work was an urgent one, but the best that could be done would bo to place it on next year’s estimates. Correspondence A letter was received from the Hawke’s Buy County Council re. the proposed conference on January 16. The conference will decide matters relating to the allocation of traffic fees. —The letter was received.

Health Inspector’s Salary Further to tho advice that the council’s proportion of the Health Inspector’s salary had been reduced 10 per cent., tho department wrote intimating that the council could not expect to pay a specified amount each quarter, but would have to find a fair proportion of any unexpected increase in the expenditure. —Tho clerk was instructed to write agreeing to the conditions. In reply to the council’s inquiry the Minister of Agriculture wrote to the effect that though quite agreeable that unemployed labour should bo diverted temporarily to ’ ragwort destruction, neither the board nor tho department was able to contribute to other costs such as transport. Local Body Loans

A request was received from the Otago Electric Power Board on support to a proposal that all local bodies loans should be made subject to a compulsory conversion schemo with the object of reducing tho burden of heavy interest charges.—lt was resolved to support the proposal, though the chairman, commenting, said ho did not think it would come to anything in the face of the Government’s action in issuing authority to raise loans at 5J per cent. Tlio Canterbury Progress League forwarded copies of resolutions carried at a conference of Canterbury local bodies and motor organisations held in Christchurch in October. The resolutions referred to the National Expenditure Commission’s recommendations on highways finance. The Commissioner wrote with reference to the emergency unemployment charge tho erroneous belief that old-age pensioners aro eligible for relief; farmers and relief work under Scheme No. 5; workers’ compensation for relief workers; Christmas and New Year holidays for No. 5 men; payment of unemployment levy. —The various letters and circulars were tabled.

Transfer Approved The transfer of property from P. Scally to P. W. MeDonell was approved. ' Wandering Stock Nuisance “For many weeks past a small herd, tended by small children, has been grazed each day on the roads in the vicinity of our farm," wrote Mr. T. E. Turner, of Mastcrton road, in a lettei complaining that the county ranger was not of much service to that particular district. The letter went onto say that one cow from the herd had become a definite nuisance in that she broke down road fences and gateways to join up with other stock. The chairman summed the position up when he said the remedy lay in the writer’s own hands. If he were to lay information the council would go further with the matter. Engineer’s Report The engineer (Mr. W. J. Hawkcs) submitted the following report covering the work of the month: "Woodvillc Hiding, —Metal repairs were carried out on Whariti, Woodlands, Pinfold and Oxford roads and on McLean street. Drains arc being cleaned on Pinfold road. Bridges and culverts on Oxford, Saddle and Bushmill roads were repaired. Grading was don on Oxford road and McLean street. Slips wero removed and water-tables cleaned on Whariti and Saddle roads.

“Manga-atua Hiding. —A washout on Davcy’s road has been repaired and the road widened; culverts and side drains were cleaned. The main drain leading to the Manga-atua stream was cleaned out. Metal repairs were attended to on Eange, Priest’s and Jackson’s roads. Grading was done on Range, Judd’s and Jackson’s roads. "Kumeroa Riding. —Metal repairs were attended to on River, Little’s and Township roads. Watcrtabics on River road were cleaned. A culvert on Little’s road was repaired. Drains in the Kumeroa township' are being cleaned. A small bridge near .Thompson’s was partially rcdeckcd. • r ‘‘Maharahara Riding.—Metal repairs were carried out on Ilerctaunga, Freeland’s, Gaisford’s, Oringi and Jackson’s roads. Oringi road was regraded and culverts repaired. Grading was done on Jackson’s road. The waterway under the Raparapawai stream bridge on Gaisford’s road, has been

considerably reduced owing to excess shingle deposits; this is being cleaned, out and the shingle utilised for road repairs. Main Highways "Woodville-Palmcrston North No. 1. —Surface work was carried out on scaled surface and at bridge approaches. Side drains arc being cleaned. Minor bridge repairs were attended to Men employed: Two men for 2 days. ‘‘Napier-Wellington 2/5. Grading was done periodically and metal repairs carried out. Water-tables were cleaned. Portions of the Mastcrton road were top-dressed with J-Inch grit. Shoulders on the old sealed portions arc being repaired and evened up. Trucks employed: No. 1, 3 days; No. 2, 3 days; No. 3, 7 days; No. 4, 4 days; power grader, 11 days; 104 c. yards of metal were used in maintenance. Four men were employed for a total of 20 davs.

"Woodvillc-Hopeland No. o.—This road was graded periodically andmetai repairs carried out where necessary; water-tables were cleaned and decking repairs carried out to small bridges. Trucks employed: No. 2, 3 days; No. 4, 9 days; power grader, 3 days; Si c. yards of maintenance metal were put out. Three men were employed for a total of ton days. "Woodvillc-Tamaki 7/S. - Grading was done throughout and minor metal repairs attended to; culverts were Topaired and lengthened. Trucks: No. 2. 4 days; No. 4,2 days; power grader, 3 days. 42 c. yards of metal were used. Two men wore employed for a total oi 8 days." Tho report was adopted. Christmas Greetings Before the meeting closed the chairman extended seasonal greetings to the members of tho council, the council’s staff and the Press, these being reciprocated.