OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8833, 8 June 1907, Page 3

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thß Coimoil mot yesterday. Present i „;Crs. iQoo- "Wheeler (ohairman), "W; ojid, B. Wrlghtson. J. H; Vincent, fe. Rowling, W. G. Pearce. The inward correspondence was dealt sfttb as follows i—>J>torn W. Smith and W. T. Hill, asking ijjj Council to withhold the amounts due tjthem- from Jas. Shapleski.—No action Mien. from John Graham for E. Hodgkins, $k order from Shapleski Bros, for all jjoney due to them on Ashhurst con* Met. —No action taken. from Robert Brown,, stating that there _{jß about thirty cows grazing on Midjpi road on 12th May.—The ranger to u instructed to take action. from James Purkiss and Son, Hal-((i-flbe, objecting to anyone being Riven toe of road line opposite their section, objection sustained, road not to be leased. from E. "Woodman, Colyton, asking „])* his rates had been raised higher those of his neighbours.—lncrease ; c f rates oaused by special rate on loan. from J. McLennan, complaining of «$ state of the road in front of his place, goi stating that Council had promised joerect fence at "White's crossing long o,— Left to chairman to have attended

■ From Clutha County Council, asking Hfie Council's co-operatioa in urging upon IJQovsrnm3nt the advisability of local Sbodies being allowed to make valuations ■jn their own districts.—Cr Pearce said IjGfovernment valuations had brought ■about uniformity in valuation, which was ■an advantage though the cost had been Bygher.—The Clutha proposal was not ■adopted. B From secretary of Counties Association, I stating that a Conference would bo held at HWellington on July 9th for purpose of conH sideriag the Looal Government Bill and H other matters. —Chairman appointed deleH From Harrison Bros.; Ashhurst, stating Hjbatthey were prepared to erect footbridge Hon Kaukawa road for £ls, the Council to Bjnpply timber.—Timber from old bridge to nbe supplied, but no further assistance to be | e ' TCn ' REPORTS. H The Treasurer reported riding accounts las follows: —Debtor, Mangaone, £l4 lGs 13d, Bangitawa£G2 7s lOd, Mak'mo £224 1193 4d, Taonui £487 17s 3d, Hiwinui £B7 12s sd, Otangaki £428 lis sd, and RauSmango, alone in credit £B2 9s 7d. H Bank balances, credits to general ac- j 1 count, £323 13s, interest account £l7 8s gd, No. 1 Joan account £4260 12s Gd, | general account, amount of general rate levied, £4813 7s Id, amount collected £331 15s Id. The Chairman reported having visited Penelope road with Crs. Pearce and Rowjjag, inspected its junction with the Feilding-Ashhurst road; and looked at the suggested deviation. They were met by Messrs Frances and Taylor, with »honi the compensation was discussed. These gentlemen talked of a large sum for severance, and the fencing to be done by tho Council. Tie loan moneys are jnsnificiont to pay such compensation and as it would be a great mistake to make a road of one in five I am of opinion thatthe Council should make the Peuolope road so as to provide access for the settlers thereon; while if that part towards the Feilding-Ashhurst road were culverted it would allow a thoroughfare for stock, and settlers at that end have access by the Feilding-Ashhurst road. This would provide for present requremonts, and nhen it becomes necessary to have a good graded road perhaps the owners will be more willing to help on the improvements.—The report was adopted. I H. Tremewan, Road Inspector, reported that the contractors for Watershed road bad ceased work because of the wet weather, there being 20 chains yet to finish ; and there was 30 chains to finish on No. 2 contact. The contract on Ulysses road had teen completed, and the formation o n the I Spur road was nearly finished. One hundred and fifty yards of metal was required I oaPalmerston road, Hi*inui riding, and 100 yards on same road in Otangaki riding. Someone was blocking a culvert on Todd's road.—Report to be made to police re culvert. OTHER BUSINESS. It was resolved that tenders be invited lor supply of metal as follows :—Palmerston road: Otangaki liding 100yds, Ashhursttireet and Creamery road 200yds, Bunnythorpe road 50yds, Hiwinui riding : Bunnythorpe road 50yds, Palmerston road 150yds. The conditions to be left to Crs. Vincent and Rowling and the accepting of tenders. That the action of Cr. Rowling in arranging with Mr Burgess for supply of metal on Bunnythorpe-Ashhurst road, and letting culvert to Mr I. T. Entwistle on Penelope road for the sum of .£lB, be approved. . It was resolved to declare ragwort, gotse and pennyroyal noxious weeds ffitiin the Oroua County. It was resolved to raise a loan of .£5560, being the Council's contribution towards the cost of tho Gorge bridge.

That Mr Caldwell's offer to eroct an 8-wire fence on Spur road at ,£1 per chain be accepted, and that fence be placed on boundary.

Cr. Pearce presented a petition containing 151 names praying the Council to erect a light suspension traffic bridge at Jlenzies' ford. He said Mr Short had erected a bridge higher up for ,£6OO, and settlers believed therefore a longer and bettor structure could be erected for about £IOOO. He hoped the Council Would recsive the petition favorably, though for the present he thought no action could be taken.

Several councillors expressed doubt as to whether a bridge of the kind suggested , Fould be sufficient. The chairman said nothing was more trying to a bridge than stock traffic, and if a bridge was required at all something substantial would need to be erected. In any case, nothing could be done within the next twelves months as the whole of the receipts of the Council were pledged up to that period Of the signatories to the petition 90 reside in the Oroua County, 18 in the Mangina, 28 iu the Feilding Borough, and 15 others.

Cr Pearce was of opinion that the cost of such bridge should be borne by the Oroua and Pohangina Counties and tie Feilding Borough Council. It was resolved that the petitioners be informed that the Council cannot deal with the request until the completion of the Lower Gorge Bridge, and that an estimate of the cost of the proposed work would, in the meantime, be obtained.