RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 4 November 1907, Page 3

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

.'.fh'o' rmmfhly meeting was hold at jfartdii da Saturday.- Present Ors. R. K. Simpsod (cWa’ifmauß Mu*. Gregor, A. G. Simpikiii/ K. T/ Hatley, Duncan, Frasor, and Leave of absence was granted Oi. Morrison. . CORRESPONDENCE. ~ :

From Be turning Officer, announcing the election of Mr K. T. Batley for tlid Awartta Biding. From Receiver of Land Revenue, advising payment of thirds ox h 7 19s 10d. From Premier, stating that the" matter of increasing the Council'* Vprfowing powers will receive cousiaeidtictol! From ComnfisSionet' of Crown Lauds, stating that the granting. Of road through section G, lilocn XII., Mangawhoro, will be recommended wiien the Council is prepared to go on with the work.

From same, advising that TailiapeOtadrei road thirds will be available for Upper Waugaehu Road Board to hand over to this Council. From Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, asking Oothi--cil to nominate a representative in place of Mr James Georgotti, resigned.—Received. From Hawke’s Bay County Couufll, stating that matter of laying off foad applied for by Mr Boyd is under consideration.

From Upper Waugaolnl Bond Board, agreeing to hand over Tin-" hapo-Otuaroi road thirds (£2l KJs Oil) when received from Laud Board. —Received.

From J. P. Junes, asking for payment of £2 for metal pit on property of J. P. Hammond’s estate, Bulls.— Resolved that Or. Fraser and Mr Thoms moot present owners of the laud with a view to coming to an amicable settlement. From T. W. L. Powell and others asking that a loan of £2OO ho raised to metal worst portions of the Murimotn road from Poukioro point to Mason’s. —Resolved that the application be placed on the list of loans to bo applied for in turn. From J. B. R. Bailey and L. M. Hill, asking that a loan he'raiscd to metal about 30 chains of the Waterfall road.—Referred to Mr Mair to report on.

From T. 0. Revcll, asking attention to tho Mataroa-Koeko road.— Reply to bo sent tliat Mr Mair is giviug the matter his attention. From T, Bnshby, resigning posL tiou of ranger. —Accepted. From John Waller and V 7. R. Campbell,- proposals for expenditure 0/ thirds on tho Maugamahoo road. —Resolved, that application bo made to tho Land Board for thirds as applied for by Messrs Walter and Campbell for this work.

From S. Skorgold, asking that payment of balance for metal pit on Ins property at Taihapo.—Received. From T. Potaka, asking Council to do 27 chains of forming and me tailing on the Hou Hon road.—Reply to bo sent that no funds are available for this work. , ,

From R. A. Wilson, asking Cotffi j cil to agree to exchange of roads iii tho racecourse property at Bulls.— Resolved, that Cr. Fraser, and Mr Thoms bo authorised to inquire into and report upon the matter of the exchange of roads asked for. From Gregor McGrog a - and others, asking that enigneer make an estimate and fbpof't on cost, etc., of a road and bridge over Raitgitikei river from Gardiner’s mill, Taofo;i, leading up to Mokau, Patea.—lt i§ tho intention of settlers to raise a special loan to complete this work. Mr Mair, engineer, reported as follows :—Tlio wet weather which predominated throughout September continued till the middle of October and much aggravated tho disasters to tho County roads. Although about 50 moil wore put on I found it almost impossible to keep the roads open while' the bad weather lasted, so that much inconvenience' was occasioned to the travelling public. Casual labour is now very indifferent and difficult to get out to any remote part, but since the tvOaßier took up good progress has been made aiid I anticipate in about two weeks all tho roads will again, be restored to wheeled traffic. It is very difficult to estimate the amount required to make good tho damage during tho last two mouths, but in tho beginning of September all roads were in remarkabley good order, and now every roadman has from one to three mouths dead work to pull-nip to reach their old standard. The ' immediate extra expenditure I estimate will amount to about £550. As instructed I inspected the drain

ift Maugaweka complained about by Mr J. Johnston. The several owners interested have agreed to contribute equally to put in a proper pipe drain to efficiently remove all surface water. I have previously reported to Council that sawmillers conducting traffic upon Torero road bad done and were still doing enormous damage to the gravelling. One firm had been warned, but no notice had been taken. However, I have now inspected the road and estimated the repairs necessary as the result of this traffic and would suggest that the inillers bo called upon for the estimated repairs, cither in actual work Of cash, and failing a response, the Claim be pressed under ‘‘The Public Works Act” as before.- A member Of One firm concerned lias interviewed me and acknowledged his re-

sponsibility !aud asked that the Council be represented at a meeting of his firm in Huntorvillo on sth November, to review the situation. Sufficient signatures of ratepayers have been obtained to carry the rcgraveiling loan of £3500 on Ongo road. Daring the mouth the Works Committee accepted the tender of Mr Win. Moore for Wlmreroa. road. Tenders had boon called for live contracts, embracing formation and gravel!iug works in dilfereut parts of tlie County, the total estimated value of the works being £lo.Oh'.. Mr G. Wheeler lias abandoned Ms contracts on Pokalra road and Hoawhaugo Valley mad, neither being completed. I would suggest that Mr B. Hackott bo appointed foreman of road works ami that he ho stationed at Pnkcroa. —It was resolved : That Mr Mair with Mr Moldrnm as_ legal advisor, represent the Council at a meeting of those concerned re Wakoliu and JHadlcy to ho held at Huntorvillo. —That (Crs. Bailey— Duncan) Mr Muir’s action in connection with the drain complained of by Mr Johnston at Maugawekabe confirmed and that ho ho authorised to put tho Yt'ork.s in hand. — That the matter of bridge on Puke road bo referred to Mr Heaney.— i That the appointment of a suit-aide ■ foreman he loft in tho 1 lands of Mr ’ Muir.—That notices be sent to the ■ persons whoso properties it is pro- ! posed to include in tho special rating | aera for loan of £IOOO for Mangahoe road, if found necessary.—Mr Thoms reported :—Just after your last meeting there was a very heavy rainfall in the Makohau, Turakiua, and Mauugarara Valleys, which caused some large land slips to come down on the Makohau, Turakiua Valley, and Ngaruru roads, completely blocking them for traffic. I had great difficulty in getting men to go out to clear the slips: hut after a fortnight I got 5 or C men and they have the Makohau and Ngaruru roads partly cleared so that vehicles can get along, and they should have had the Turakiua Valley road open so that vehicles could just get along yesterday. In Mr McLcay’s property a slip from 8 to 10 acres in extent came down into a gully just above our road and ran down tho gully breaking and burying about a 13 feet span bridge and then continued its course on down the gully, a distance of 5 or C churns into the Turakiua river. A temporary roau has been put over this slip until I see whether it is going to come down again or not. I have had the road widened out considerably at PaiUiu’s. The river has altered its course at this point, and I do not think it will do any more damage there at present. At tho Bulls bridge practically the whole of the river has come back on to this sit-e again and is striking hard on to the protective works; but so far has done very little damage. It require careful watching as tho willows arc hardly old enough yet to protect the bank properly. There has been a groat alteration iu the river ■ bed at Onepuhi and practically the whole of the river is now coming through near where tho Council made a cutting some years ago. It is now 7 running down beside the bank on this 1 side and on under tho bridge ; but there is a danger of it breaking ] through on to tho other side again about 30 chains above tho bridge. Should the weather continue to ho flue I purpose starting metalling with tho motor waggon .'next week. The erection of tho Kahauraupouga bridge has been completed at last. The cost of completing was £«!) Bs Oil The estimate of cost of forming and metalling Sncligrovc’s Lane is £l»j 5 12S. rni a. il It was resolved : That a telegram b ■ sent to the Premier pointing out the urgency of an extonisou ot borrowing power under ll* o Beaus to Local Bodies Act” to this Council and ask that provision bo mode m

tile Bill now before Parliament" as this) Council is practically at a start® still ictf want of funds. • • ' A petition as received from roadmen in’the Northern Biding of the Comity asking for sm increase in Wages" to 9s a day.— l Uhi<£matter was f-Vielly discussed and it was resolved that cbVteideration of the matter be held ovef tfirti-1 host meeting. • A petition ifrfc# 1 .received iron* T* H. Bredin and ottefsv asking Connell to .raise loan for forming and metalling road from end of High street to Martou Railway Station.— Resolved (Crs. McGregor—A, Simpson) that a copy of Mr Thome feport he sent to' petitioners and that they he notified that the application will tm placed on the schedule of loans to ho applied for as sooo as the Council's borrowing powers; are sufficiently increased, by fresh legislation or through the effluxion of fi me, , i i It was decided to send a deputation to Wellington, consisting of tne chairman, Ors. Batley and Canton, to M'ait on the Premier to urge tnac provision bo made giving JRangitikoi, Council increased borrowing powers. ] Tenders were ccalt with as followsßesolved—That A. Livingstone's fender for contract No. 250, Pukeokahu tott&f he accepted-—-that Robert (RichardsdiP? tender P° accepted for contract No. 2-57 for me lulling Ougo Road. —That the fender ot aA. K. McGregor for the sfippsF, L of dog collars bo accepted. Accounts amounting to £llß3 5s word,passed for payment.