Pohangina Valley

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 36, 12 February 1937, Page 9

Pohangina Valley

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS. A meeting of the Pohangina County Council was held at Pohangina on Wed nesday. Present: Crs. S. J. Strahan (it) the chair), T. E. Craine, W. McKay, J. T. Montgomery, J. Mackenzie and M. Arbon. Also in attendance wore Messrs A. E. Orgias, county clerk, and D. Watson, engineer. Leave of absence was granted Cr. W. Howell. Correspondence. From Odlin Timber Coy. enclosing cheque for timber royalties. From the Health Inspector notifying that there were no cases of infectious diseases in the county during December. From the Main Highways Board statthat the introduction of the State arterial roading system consequent upon the recent passing of legislation, involves extra financial commitments against the highway’s account and under these circumstances it was not possible to approve of additional highways this year. From the Department of Health enclosing copy of the recently gazetted company ground regulations. The object of the regulations was to obtain adequate sanitary control of camps. The regulations did not apply within the district of any local authority until so applied by the Minister on application by the local authority. If the council requires the regulations to bo applied in tho county, application to that affect should be made. The clerk stated that there were no camping grounds within the meaning of the Act situated in the county. From the Transport Department enclosing a copy of a warrant gazetted on December 22, disallowing certain parts of county and borough by-laws relating to speed of motor vehicles. The clerk stated that there were no by-laws governing speed in the country. Statutary Half-Holiday. The clerk reported that Wednesday half-holiday was favoured by the majority of storekeepers in the county. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to take steps to declare Wednesday the statutary half-holiday throughout the county. Bell’s Track. The assistant engineer, P.W.D. wrote stating that the Minister requested that the council give consideration to making an early start with the improvement of Bell’s track for which there was a free grant of £165 on tho Public Works Estimates. Mr Green had made representations to the Minister during his recent visit to the district, and the Minister was very emphatic that sometning should be done as soon as possible, in view of the fact that the grant had been on the estimates for several years. The department was aware of the difficulties in connection with the case which the council had raised from time to time, but these points were not likei> to carry much weight with the Minister who considered that tho work should be carried out as soon as possible. Cr. Montgomery said that it was recognised that some improvement to the track was desirable but the question was, what kind of road was desired by Mr Green? The grant of £165 was offered for a six foot track, and was considered to be sufficient for the purpose at that time. However, costs had gone up and he doubted whether that job could now be done out of the grant. Mr Green now asked for a cart road and that it be fenced. This would cost many times the amount of the grant. It had been suggested that if the topside of the track was fenced it would -be sufficient, but this would not eliminate the necessity for gates and further, would have the effect of holding cattle on the road, making for higher maintenance costs. If Mr. Green would accept a six foot track and waive the question of fencing, he thought it* would be possible to do the work. An increased grant would probably bo given to cover the increase in labour costs. ,Cr. McKay said that evidently Mr. Green wanted tho road fenced to dispense with the gates. He personally had every sympathy with any man who had to put up with gates on the road. The chairman stated that the council had no wish to deprive any man of reasonable access to his property, but in this case it was felt that the Minister did not fully understand the position. It was obvious that the grant was not sufficient to build a proper road. Tho council had invited the Minister to inspect the road, but owing to pressure of work he had not been able to do so as yet. The council had received no authoritative specifications as to tho type of road required nor the width required. The question of fencing also came in and it was possiblo that the occupiers of tho lands adjoining would object to doing this work. The council had no specifications to work on but it was obvious that the grant was not sufficient for the construction of a cart road. He moved that the Department be requested to forward specifications of tho road required, the clerk to point out that the Minister had promised to mako an inspection as soon as possible. The clerk was also instructed to write to the occupiers of the lands adjoining, asking if they were prepared to fence the Toad. Noxious Weeds. Proposed by Or. Mackenzie and seconded by Cr. Arbon: ''That in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Noxious Weeds Act 1928, the Pohangina County Council thereby resolves and declares by way of a Special Order, that Silybuin (milk or variegated thistle) is a noxious weed within the County of Pohangina.” The chairman said that the weed was the worst of the thistle family. Besides destroying a large area of land by killing the grass, it was poisonous to stock. There were only a few plants in the county, but it was desirable to deal with them at once. The order was passed. Rate Penalty. On the motion of Cr. McKay, seconded by Cr. Mackenzie, it was decided to apply the 10 per cent, penalty on rates on March 24 and to advertise accordingly.—Carried. Apiti Sale Yards. The clerk reported that no license fees for the Apiti sale yards had been collected for two years. He had approached one of the two stock firms concerned, but he was informed that the fee of £3 3s was too high as com-

pared with fees charged for similar saleyards in the adjoining counties. The fee was fixed by legislation and the council had no power to alter it. After a discussion, the clerk was instructed to forward an account for the two years’ fees, requesting payment. General. Cr. Montgomery asked that the upper portion of No. I line, Awahou North, be graded. Cr. Mackenzie recommended that a corner on Piri Piri hill be cut back, and a coating of metal bo applied to Cave road. Cr. McKay asked that the grass be trimmed off the footpaths in Apiti township. The engineer was instructed to attend to the matters enumerated. At the conclusion of the meeting, a vote of sympathy with Cr. Howell in his illness and wishes for his speedy recovery was carried. Ranger’s Report. The ranger, Mr. N. C. McPherson, reported that the roads were being kept well clear of stock. Certain offenders ignored all warnings and he recommended that more drastic action bo taken to deal with these cases. He also asked for a ruling on impounding bucket-fed calves. Some considerable difficulty was encountered in collecting foes. Sixty-eight head of cattle were impounded during the month. Cr. Craine said that the council should prosecute for unpaid fees. If a strong stand were taken, much of the trouble would be eliminated. Cr. McKay was of the opinion that where the ranger could not collect the fees he should insist on the owner of the stock signing an acknowledgement of the liability. After further discussion it was decided to inform the ranger that he must collect the foes before releasing the cattle. With regard to calves, it was desirable that the owner should be given the option of paying the fees before driving tho calves to the pound. Engineer’s Report. Awahou riding: Timber and other

material to repair two bridges in the riding will be to hand during the week, and a start will be made to carry out the work in tho course of a few days. Nos. I, 2 and 3 lines have been well shaped up with the heavy grader. The surface on No. 439 highway has also been maintained in good order. Coal Creek riding; Work required to complete the renovation of the council’s cottage an London’s road has been completed. The surfacemen have been instructed to cut back overhanging scrub, and clean out watertables. The surface of No. 53 highway was trfmmed up with the grader. It is expected that a start will be made to repair the bridge over the Oroua river on No. 53 highway during the coming week, particularly one of the abutments and some of the piles that are in a decayed condition.

Mangaone riding: Raking in gravel on No. 78 highway, opening out watertables, and general maintenance work only have been attended to during the month.

Mangopikopiko riding: Gravel was carted by motor truck to repair Marton block, Ridge and Makoura roads. Marton block was shaped up with the grader. Gravel on part of Nos. 43U and 53 highways was raked in. Pohangina riding: Only the usual maintenance work during the month was attended to. As the result of illness, one of the permanent surfacemen, for the past few weeks, has been incapacitated for work. However, the roads in the riding with the exception of having a very narrow appearance owing to the prolific growth of grass, etc., are in good repair. Tamaki riding: A very noticeable improvement has been made on No. 439 highway where several bad projecting corners have been cut back. Some new concrote pipe culverts have been put in, and others, where necessary, lengthened, as a good length of the narrow road has been reformed and metalled. Men with the motor trucks usually employed carting gravel are engaged on this

work. The grader outfit is at present trimming in gravel on No. 439 highway. Umutoi ridibg: A gang of six men who are employed on Norsewood road extension are making good, progress with the excavating and formation work. Culverting and metalling the new length of road will be commenced shortly. Tunipo road, as the result of slips, is almost impassable for traffic, and to have it cleared without further delay, it was necessary to transfer the. jneu from Norsewood extension for a few days. Concrete pipes for Norsewood road are to hand and will be placed as soon as convenient. Treasurer’s Report. Credit at Bank of New Zealand: Cemetery account, £4B 7s fid; loan account, £443 Is fid; plant account, £339 8 s fid. County fund account: Dr., £1147 6s 2d. Rates levied for year, £7356 18s; collected, £3075 8s sd; outstanding, £4281 9s 7d. 4 'Fifths” No. 439 mai highway: Dr., £l7l ss; Norsewood road extension, Dr,, £SB 15s.