RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8858, 8 July 1907, Page 3

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho mont ],iy meeting was hold at M»rto”onsinrd» Og. E. K. Siinpsou. <j : Simpson, raser a. McGregor, S“&2u ST. Duncan. b M i2a?e of absence was granted to ° was dealt with as ' f °l'rom -Treasury, advising payment c „~0 0 o q craut, Taihape-Waiouru ; £OO grant, Taihapo-Otuarei; £lO Mangamahoe-Mataroa and provisionally approving loans cf rl°ao Pukeokahu road, £IOOO Rgarlirn road, £350 Rangitane road and £ 00 Makohau, Turakma Valley and

Tiinrimti rofids. From District Health Officer, Statius? lie will confer witli Council shortly in regard to arrangement for an engagement of Sanitary Inspector. From Department of Roads, declaring road in Mangaweka Township South, a county road. From Minister of Lands, declining Council’s suggestion as to provisions of funds for the construction of Utiku-Lowor Moawhaugo tram and also those in reference to cutting up Awarua Block for settlement. From Telegraph-Department, account for £l6 Hs lOd deficit on working of the Pukeokahu telephone.— The chairman to refer matter to Department.—Gr. Fraser objected io

the principle of guaranteeing The deficit should he borne by settlers interested as was usual in most cases. From same, requiring guarantee of £3 10s for five years for proposed Kaweka road telephone.—The chairman to enquire into on his visit to Wellington. From M. Morrison, objecting to his ‘ property being included in Special rating district for loan of £-1200 for Pukeokahu road. A number of other objections were received. 0 From Kiwitca County Council, thanking Council for allowing Mr Jtair to report on the Loudon’s ford IjtidgQ, j'fjproih Joiiq Stevens, M.H.R', suggesting that’ Council have a clause drafted for insertion in proposed Native L(inda Bill so as to enable Joans to ho raised on security of native lands—Clerk to reply pointing out that amendment. is retired in j “Tim todies Loans Act” j

From Martou Borough Council, asking that A. Signal, of Groatford, be appointed a ranger for the County £oadk—To' bo dealt with wiien application is made by A,. Signal. ■' From’ R. Ashford, application for rangership over roads in. lower portion of county.—Received’. 1 Proih J. Paulin,' protesting against proposed "widening of Parewauui toad as any interference with the gaudy ground w l ill cause the. gaud to spread over the road.—Left with Injector' Thoms giid pr. Fraser to |iaye road ■'yideued at dangerous p‘cints. *' Prom W, B. Glieseu, asking that poad to his place he repaired.—Referred to Martou Borough Connell. Prom Jas. Dillon, objecting to the inclusion of his farm in the proposed Ngaruru road special rating area. Prom T. Bushhy, application for

rangership. —Granted. Prom Jas. Oarmody. application for the £SO bonus on Tntnpapa road contracts. —Resolved that 'Mr Mair La authorised' to' pass' the £SO pro. yidod work is dope to b,js satisfaction and no further claim is made, 'prom R. E, Gifford, forwarding petition for the Improvement of Gower's and Turaklua hills. —jJ'oved by Or, seconded by Cr. A. G. Simpson, that the application he refused. —An amendment by Cr. Duncan, seconded by Cr. Eraser, Uthat Mr Lethbridge’s offer to hear half cost of fencing Turaklua Hill lie accepted, was carried. Prom Jas. McDonald, agreeing to loan proposal for Makohau, Tnrakiua Valley and Tanrimn roads.—Re. ceived.

Mr Mair reported The weather during Juno was very wet, two severe storms passing over the county. A good deal of damage was caused to roads and bridges, confined mostly to Rata-Silverhope roads and Maugahoe and Tnrakiua river roads. Several slips were rqpprtod ‘from Pohonvd ahcl To Kapua but it, was found the damage had been more gevefo over a zone of which Hnnteryille is the centre than the extreme aortJi of the county. A special feature of the June floods was the number of culverts and bridge approaches washed out or undermined, these being chiefly on the older roads, The remaining contracts in hand were progressing satisfactorily, Mr P. Kennedy, the contractor for forming"Hangitnne 'toad, Eawhatau, had ! jnst finished, when his work was again severely damaged by slips. It seemed hopeless to try and finish this road till spring. Sawmill traffic was causing a deal of damage to grqyelr ling on Utiku-Taihapo main road. He was taking action against those Carters overloading. ' Mr Thoms reported : —During the inontlrwediad two very heavy downfalls of rain, hut fortunately they caused just in time to prevent a very sierious flood. A good many slips came flown on the Rgarurn, Tanrimn and Turakina Valley roads, also on York Farm and Onepnhi cuttings, most of which are now removed. In a great many cases the culverts would not carry the water and it overflowed tire road' and in places scoured off the metal. The flood did considerable damage at the site of the bridge that had just been started to he erected over the Kahauraponga drain. Tim water overflowed the bank of the creek and washed out the dam in the drain, and scoured out the drain at the bridge site from 24 feet to 40 feet wide. The construction of a concrete pier bridge had just been commenced and 16 yards of concrete had been .placed in position.This -was partly destroyed. The flood having scoured out the drain so much wider a much more expensive bridge than the one which was in course of erection would be required if erected in “concrete. I suggested to the Chairman that Mr Mair should inspect it and recommend what class of bridge should he erected. The chairman, Or. Lethbridge, Mr Mair and myself met at the site, and it tVas'agreed to erect a pile bridge. I have prepared plans for the bridge | and tenders can be called next week. Notices to motorists have been placed Son the Bulls-. Scott’s road us directed lat last meeting. The floods in the Kangitikei fiver have done no damage to our protective works, hut I have been informed it lias scoured away a groat deal of the protective works erected by Government to protect their property, which lies a little below the Bulls bridge. I would recommend that about 200 more macrocarpa trees bo planted at the Bulls protective works, and that more willows be planted in the spring. Messrs Adam Bros, who have the contract for regrading the putting at Greatfor-d, have about seven days’ work to complete the forming of the cutting, and then have to metal about eight chains. The motor waggon was not able to do much ■work this mouth owing to the wet weather. It was only able to work seven days and t.ook out 178 yards. The total cost of hauling the 178 yards was £2O 4s and the cost to have hauled it with drays would have been £2O 14s, thus showing a saving of £0 10s. It was decided to carry out Mr Thoms’ recommendations for improvement to Bulls protective works. It was resolved, Crs. McGregor — Duucau, that the chairman be authorised to sign the plan of Burnside estate when he is satisfied that the provisions of the Act have been complied with. That, Ors. McGregor—Duncan, the chairman flo appointed to represent the Council at' the Counties Conference. The clerk was appointed at last meeting but'preferred the chairman to represent the Council as the question had arisen as to the propriety of appointing the clerk and not the chairman.

That, Chairman—Cr, McGregor, Mr Thoms’ report ou the road referred to by Mr J. Kesbefc, who waited on the Council with a' view to having the £lO expended if practicable. That, Crs. Canton—McGregor, application bo made to the Laud Board for thirds for sections 5, 4 and 39, Block XVI, Ohinewairua S.D., for expenditure ou the Moawhango Valley road south and that. the special rate be collected this year to meet the interest on the loan of £SOO for phis road. ‘ That, , Chairman— Qr. Fraser, • application bo made to the Treasury, la its turn, for a loan of £7OO for trimming and metalling the Pnhirua South road, 41 years at 4 per cent. That, Crs. Canton—A. *G. ' Simpson, application be made to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to vest in the Council all reserves intended for use by the lopar body' ' 1 Mr W. T. Qalpjn waited on Conn0U and protested against section 128, P ar£ J ,B haretn Special Bating Area, for the loan of £IOOO for the bfgarnm Chairman intimated that ms property had been included and that the loan would ho submitted for approval of ratepayers,

T Or. McGregor] reported that Midas. McGregor agreed to sell metal pit near Taurimufroad, one acre, for £2O, conditionally if taken in corner of paddock but if in any other position, £3O, also pit on Makohau road at the rate of £3O per acre.—Resolved, Chairman—Or. Lethbridge, that pits in both localities be purchased from Mr J. McGregor at the prices mentioned and Mr Sicely be employed to make the survey. Or. Canton brought“up the matter of thirds whore owners refused to give consent to their expenditure. —Resolved, Crs. Canton—A. G. Simpson,, that application be made to the Land Board for the thirds where the occupiers refuse to give consent to expenditure and where the Council considers the thirds nevertheless should bo expended. Accounts amounting to £1475 13s 8d were passed for payment.