OROUA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 13 August 1937, Page 4

OROUA COUNTY

COUNCIL’S BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Oroua County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present were Crs. A. Campbell (chairman), O. AlcElroy, T. Green, A. B. Shannon. Bruce McLeod, AV. McLennan, AV. Greenliow. CORRESPONDENCE. From tho Public AVorks Deaprtment, asking that traffic tallies again be taken at certain points oil main high-ways.—-Received, the engineer (Air R. L. Harding) to make the necessary arrangements- The chairman expressed the opinion that the present time was the quietest as far as traffic on the county’s roads was concerned, on account of farmers being engaged in farm work in connection with the lambing season. From the Masterton County Council, asking what arrangements this council had with the Power Board with regard to the removal of power poles occasioned by road improvement works.—The chairman said that no arrangement had been made with the hoard, hut in view of improvements being made to the Halconibe highway it might be necessary to reach an agreement with the board. It was decided to reply on these lines. From Alessrs AV. T. Alaxwell and H. Dittmer, asking that a drain along Nannestad’s Road be deepened.—Referred to the engineer for an investigation and report. From the traffic manager of the Palmerston North City Council, suggesting that authority bo given him to issue permits to the P. arid T. Department to operate vehicles carryihg loads with excessive overhang.—Agreed to.

.From the Feilding Agricultural High School, asking the council to appoint a person to represent it on the electoral committee, —Cr. Campbell was appointed. From the District Engineer of the Railway Department, asking 'if steps had been taken to guard against loose stones being graded on the railway line. —Keccivcd. From the secretary of 'lie New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, suggesting that load limits imposed by road classifications be increased. —The chairman said that nothing could be done as the council was under the control of tllo Alain Highways Board, and lie considered that the classifications should lie leit as at present. Cr Green said that there was no limit restriction on by-roads. Cr. Campbell said that there was practically no restriction on the by-roads, and all that would be affected would be the main highway, which was classified as a class 3 road. —It was decided that the matter was one for the Alain Highways Board to decide, and it was resolved that tho letter he replied to accordingly.

GENERAL. It was decided that an insurance policy be taken out to cover employees in cases of accidents. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer to report at next meeting. Alterations to the county rate roll wero approved as follow: Est. J. Trewin to John Campbell, Airs O. Edmund to R. Gavigan, Halcombo Alethodist Church Trustee to R. Lo\y, AV. J. Rogers to J. AV. Young, Alls N. Jepson to Jas Dunn, AV. Hambrook to P. E. Pederson, P. E. Pederson to J. G. B. CrOsswell, D. H. Bryant to Halcomhe Alethodist Church Trustee, Est. Jas. Fraser to A. Schneren, Est. Jas. Fraser to AV. H. and B. L. Harris.

Air Harding reported that the Deisel road roller recently purchased was giving entire satisfaction, and that it rolled twice as much of roadway per day a 3 the old steam-powered one. Cr. Green asked if the steam roller could be sold and the engineer replied that he had been offered £lO for it. this value having been placed on it by a scrap-iron buyer.

Cr. McKay, who lias just returned from a trip north, said that in all his travels lie had not seen better roads (either sealed or metalled) than those in the Oroua County and he thought it was something to be proud of.

Reference was made to the unsightly rubbish dump on the BunnythorpeEeilding highway, it being stated that bulky material was being dumped with the result that the site was now an eyesore.—lt was decided that fhe engineer take the necessary steps to prevent any further bulky rubbish from being deposited there. TREASURER’S REPORT. Rates outstanding, previous three years to March 31, 1937, Natives £454 Is 2d; ditto, Crown, £125; ditto, European, £419 14s 2d; total, £998 14s 4d; European arrears collected, £125 19s 3d; arrears outstanding at August 12, 1937, £872 15s Id; current rates collected to date, £ll4O 12s 7d. Riding accounts. —Expenditure on maintenance, western riding, £1907 11s 8d; presented for payment, £9O 6s Gd; expenditure on maintenance, eastern riding, £2O/3 8s Id; presented for payment, £323 Os lOd. Bank balance.—General account, cr., £56 3s Bd. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Tho following report on the month’s activity was submitted by. tile county en ; giiiecr (Mr R. L. llarding) : “East Riding.—Tho No. 2 crushing plant has been in operation at tho Ashhurst pit, and gravel has been supplied for tho various roads as follow: Ashhurst Township, 137 . cuhic yards; AshhurstColytoii Road, 334; Uiyssos Road, 222; Uunnythorpe-Ashhurst, 212; Pohangina Rond (dumps),-634; sundry, 22; total, i 1561. Stripping from this pit has 'been used to widen and raise tho filling across tho swamp on Raukawa Road, and a 24inch concrete pipo culvert has been put in near Mr Larson's property. Eorlong’s Road, from Taonui ltoad to the Oroua River, lias been repaired. 285 yards of gravel having been used for this purpose. A slip came down on Watershed Road and has been removed, and some repairs have been carried out on Penelope Rond. The cleaning out cf the Taonui Road dram has been completed, and those on Reid’s Line are now being attended to. Aorungi Road from Reid’s Line to the railway lias been scarified, reformed, and rolled. The contract for (he erection of Reid's Lino bridge is proceeding satisfactorily. Tho three piers have boon completed and the contractor should bo ready next week to place tho concrete for beams and decking. West Riding: Some gravel repairs have been carried out on Alma.dalc Road, and portion of tho Kimbolton Road drain has been eloaned out. Tho whole length of Tokorangi Road from Tialcombo to Tokorangi corner has been scarified, reformed, and rolled, and is now in good order. About 1£ miles of Makino Road at the Oncpuhi end have been troated in a similar manner. Mt. Biggs and Kakariki Roads will be the next to lie put in order. All roads have received frequent attention with grader.”