WAIAPU COUNTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 28 November 1939, Page 2

WAIAPU COUNTY

SPEED AT TOKOMARU RATING AREA VETOED ROAD GATES QUESTION WANDERING STOCK (Herald Correspondent.) At n meeting of the Waiapu County Council last week, there were present: -Cr. I). W. W. Williams, chairman, Crs. .1. Busbv, 11. li. Fairlie. F. R. Jefl'erd. M. Hyland, and F. Manuel. Mrs. A. Lomas, Mangawhero, Tokoman! Bay, wrote requesting the council to reconsider the question of the removal of the gates on the IhungiaWaitahaia road, and the fencing of tlie road boundaries. She also pointed out the danger of stock wandering on Hie road, and referred to several mishaps that had occurred because of it.—The member for the riding and the county clerk were deputed to draft a reply setting out the reasons why the gates had not been removed. ■ The postmaster, Tokomaru Bay, wrote appealing to the council to support the health stamp campaign.—The council decided to purchase health stamps to the value of £6. Tokomaru Bay Speed Limit The Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, replied to the council's request to have the Tokomaru Bay to Waima highway declared one on which the speed limit should be HO miles oer hour. The Minister seated that after making investigations he had come to the decision that the road was quite open, the visibility was good and as there were few houses along the length, in no sense did the road pass through a closely populated locality. % Inquiries he said, had been made into the particulars of accidents which had occurred on the highway. These, it was revealed, were all caused through general carelessness on the part of the drvers or the pedestrains themselves, and were not due to high speed. The Minister stated that after taking all the factors into consideraton, he did not feel justified to declaring the road to be subject to the 30 miles an hour limit, but would be pleased to arrange for as much attention as possible to be paid by the local traffic inspector to the con- ' trol of drivers and pedestrians using the road.

Poroporo Valley Deviation The chairman reported having discussed with the district engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton, the question of financing !he proposed deviation of the Poroporo Valley road, and the district engineer had been in favour of the council setting up a special rating area to provide the funds for the work.—The council agreed that as * only' three settlers would benefit by the deviation it would not be advisable to set up a special rating area, and the clerk was instructed to advise the district engineer accordingly. A report of a special committee of the council set up to consider proposals of the New Zealand Counties’ Association in regard to the formation of an association to undertake mutual insurance of county councils’ insurance business or other scheme of group county council insurance, was presented to the council. The report stated that after fully considering the scheme as outlined by the Counties’ Association, the committee recommended that no action be taken. —The committee’s report was adopted. The health inspector reported that five cases of infectious disease had been investigated during the month, this being the highest total for any one month this year. Engineer’s Report.

The county engineer, Mr. A. K. Oilinour, reported as follows: “Mangakino-Wai-o-matatini highway. —Groynes are being built at the ends of the wings of the Mangakino Stream bridge to protect the fillings. "Reconstruction and sealing of Ruatoria Township—All the foundation work lias been completed, and work on the kerbing and chanelling is starting this week. Insertion of culvert pipes on this work will be started

shortly. ‘‘District Roads Maintenance.—On the Mangnoporo Valley road, near the Mangaoporo No. 2 bridge site, the bullgrader was used to widen the big slip, but owing to the wet condition of this slip it was not possible to widen it out sufficiently to a permanent width. This work will be continued later when the dry summer conditions prevail, while the big slip on Grogan’s job also will be attended to. “Poroporo Bridge Approaches.—The forming of the approaches have been completed. “Te Horo-Tikapa Road Culvert The formation of approaches and filling over the culvert have been car-

ried out. “Pauariki River Bridge—Piles have been driven for the eastern abutment pier, and pile-driving is now proceeding for the western abutment pier. Towers and cable have been erected over the river for handling, materials. About the middle of the week a start will be made on the excavations for one of the two piers that are to be built in the river.’’