Pohangina Valley

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7285, 12 October 1933, Page 9

Pohangina Valley

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL Pohangina County Council met at Pokangina yesterday. Present: Crs. S. Strahan, W. Howell, T. E. Craine, T. Close, J. McKenzie, W. T. Pratt and M. Arbon. The Palmerston North Hospital Board asked for consideration of a proposal to erect accommodation for medical v incurables at Awapuni Homo at a cost of £6500, and an administration block at the hospital at a cost of £6OOO. It was pointed out that this was part of a building programme shelved since 1915 and the proposals could not bo delayed longer without prejudicing the welfare of patients and administrative control. Pohangina’s annual share towards the cost would be £2l 10s. Cr. Howell, the county representative on the Hospital Board, said he was sorry to say tho expenditure could not bo avoided. The hospital wards, built to accommodate 23 beds, were now holding 33 beds. It would cost less to build a chronie ward at the Awapuni Home, which was a one-storcycd structure, whereas at tlio hospital a twostoreyed edifice would have had to be put up. Tho cost of erecting a chronic patients’ ward at the hospital would have been in the vicinity of £IO,OOO or £II,OOO. The old wooden portion of the hospital had been condemned by the department, which would not sanction any alterations to it. It might bo said tho administrative block could be clone without for a while, but the inconveniences patients had to put up with necessitated some new arrangements. Tho proposal was supported. C. Stevens (Apiti) wrote offering te lease tho j;-aere section on which the council’s shed was on, at 7s Gd a year. —Granted. J. Ruddiek (Umutoi) asked foT permission to carry loads of 74 tons on a G-ton road. —Granted for summer months. The Madge Char-a-banc. Motor Coy. applied for exemption under Regulation 5, clause 2 (load limit), for mystery trips they proposed running. Their heaviest bus was rated under class 1, and though it was possible they might never be on a road inferior to class 3, they would like permission in ease of necessity.—Left with tho engineer. Acting under powers delegated to it. by Ordcr-in-Council, Messrs IV. J. Osborne, J. F. K. Jensen and J. Kearney, junr., nil of Apiti, were appointed to act as trustees for tho .Apiti cemetery in connection with tho present trustees, Messrs H. Osborne and E. 11. Cuinmorflcld. Tho Unemployment Board advised that labour would again bo made available to farmers for tho eradication of ragwort, on similar conditions to those operating last year. —It was decided to sec if similar assistance could bo obtained for tho eradication of foxgloves and other noxious weeds in the county. The clerk of the Kairanga County Council forwarded a cheque for £B9 Ss sd, Pohangina’s share of heavy-traffic fees collected for the quarter ended August 31. It was decided to erect notices at the various picnic . sites in tho county, warning against the leaving of rubbish about. Pohangina Hall The Local Government Loans Board referred back tho application of tho council for permission to raise a loan of £4OO for the erection of a new hall at Pohangina. Tho boaTd was of opinion that the ease was not one for the raising of a loan over a spocial rating area, and suggested that consideration be given to tho possibility of financing the work by local effort. It was noted that there were 43 ratepayers in the special area, and it would require a contribution of £9 6s from each, either in cash or in kind, to enable the work to be carried out. If the ratepayers were agreed that the work was necessary, it should be possible to arrange the finance on that basis. If arrangements could not be made in the direction suggested, the board would be prepared to consider an application for a loan over the whole county. The Chairman: Tho whole county is out of tho question, and £9 6s is a lot for anybody to pay out at tho moment. Cr. Strahan reported also that the ratepayers concerned wanted the matter referred back to the Loans Board. Cr, Craine agreed that it w r oulcl be impossible to raise the money by local effort. The Chairman: And tho whole of the

county is impossible, becauso each district has its own ball. It was decided to refer tbe matter back to tlio Loans Board and point out that the ratepayers desired the formation of a special area. Te Awa Bridge The Public Works engineer advised by telegram that the plans for a concrete bridge over the Oroua river at Te Awa had been approved and that tenders for the work could be called. Tio estimated cost of the concrete structure was set down at £3OO more than for a wooden bridge. Or. Crainc stated that with approaches and everything else necessary the job would cost £3137, which was below the council’s original estimate of £3OOO. The new r plans arc to be submitted to tho Kiwitea County Council, which is providing a portion of the cost, for approval, and tenders are to be called for the w'Ork. Treasurer’s Report The report of the clerk (Mr A. E. Orgias) reported as follows: — Credit at Bank of New Zealand: Cemetery account, £22 ISs 7d; do. (deposit), £6O; loan account, £504 15s 8d; plant account, £2005 14s sd. County Fund Account: Accounts for payment, £907 10s 6d, less paid, £l4; balance, £953 19s Od. Credit at Bank of New' Zealand, £4OB 10s, less outstanding cheque, £S 15s; total, £459 12s Sd. Dr. balance, £494 6s lOd. Ridings Expenditure Awahou, £123 6s lOd; balance, £347 13s 2d. Coal Crock, £162 9s 7d; balance £258 10s sd. Mangaone, £247 12s 9d; balance, £3lB 7s 3d. Mangapikopiko, £331 15s Sd; balance £251 4s 4d. Pohangina, £lB7 2s; balance, £319 ISs. Tamaki, £72 10s 6d; balance, £373 9s 6d. Umutoi, £333 2s 3d; balance, £449 17s 9d. The ranger reported having impounded 32 head of stock, fees totalling 235. .■Notices of Transfer 'From .District Public Trustee to Mrs ,T. O. Bcnseman, Sect. 11, Blk. 8, Apiti S.D. From District Public Trustee to Mrs E. M, Shadbolt, all tho sections in the Pohangina township owned by the late J. Shadbolt. From J. Cantwell to Miss K. E. M. Strahan, Scot. 112, Apiti township. Engineer’s Report The engineer (Mr. D. Watson) reported as follows:—• General.—Plans for tho proposed Te Awa concrete bridge are completed, and have been approved by the Public Works Department. Delivery has been taken of the light runabout truck, which was constructed in accordance with specifications. No. 2 motortruck has been overhauled and is now in good wbrking order. Awahou Riding.—The old totara bridge over Dundas creek was taken down and the lighest of the timber was carted and stacked in tho council yard. The heavier timber remains at present stacked on the roadside. Some fine gravel was carted for repairing the main highway, which was also raked over with the grader. A start has been made to cart some pit gravel for Arvaliou South and No. 3 line. Coal Creek Riding.—Some decayed decking planks on Apiti-Kimbolton bridge wrnre replaced by new timber. A good quantity of gravel was carted by the permanent surfaceman, with horse and dray, to repair Ridge and London’s roads. Mangaone Riding. Ashhurst-Poha-ngina and Ferry roads were trimmed up with the grader. One or two places which were very narrow on tho firstmentioned road, were built up and widened out, and fine gravel was carted out and spread. Mangapikopiko Riding. —The main highway and Marion Block road were trimmed up with the grader. Gravel was carted by motor truck and spread on two of the side roads in Apiti; also on Reed’s line and Ridge road. The renovation of the roadman’s cottage has been attended to. Pohangina Riding—Fine gravel for repairing the main road was put out by motor truck, and also by the roadman with horso and dray. Gravel on the Ridge road has boon £rot ready for carting, and will be put out by the roadman with horso and dray during tho present month. Tamaki Riding.—Gravel was raked in with the grader and the usual maintenance work has been attended to. Umutoi Riding.—The grader was run over Piri Pin road and Makouraroad. A concrete pipe culvert was put in on Makoura road. Tho roadman, with assistance from men working under No. o scheme, has been getting motel ready in Mr Jensen’s pit on Norsewood road. Applications ivcre received for the 1000 totara posts that the council had had split, the requirements of the applicants being for 2500 posts, whereas the council itself wanted 300 of the 1000. That left 700 to be divided amongst the other applicants in proportion after the elimination of those who had secured posts from the council when it had its last lot of posts for sale.