POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9096, 16 March 1908, Page 5

POHANGINA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Ors. R. W. Brown (chairman), C. H. Handley, H. Burne, D. Howie, H. W. Oliver, G. P. Smith, and H. L. Jackson. The correspondence was dealt with as follows From James Knox, for permission to erect a fence along edge of Umutoi-Piripiri road. —Granted. From Wanganui Education Board, asking the Council to provide culverts to frontage of Apiti school.— Refused. From River Conference Committee, notifying meeting to be held on I9th March and stating intention to apply for Royal Commission. The Chairman said he approved of the proposal to have an inquiry by a commission but not that the watersheds should bo rated, and Mr J. Wilson and himself had withdrawn from the conference on the latterground, and Mr S. J. Carman had approved of their action. From A. McMurtrie, asking to be allowed to put a fence along side of creamery on Hill road, Table Flat.— Granted.

From D. A. Sinclair, Pohangina, for permission to dig a drain on the lower side of Kiwi and Huia streets.—Granted,

From Department of Lands and Survey, in reply to question as to whether properties along side the Pohangina river extended to mid stream, stating that as it was a legal question the Council should ask its legal advisers. By inspection of the map of the County the Council would see that most of the sections on the eastern bank of the Pohaugina river were bounded by a mad reserve, except the State Forest Reserve which has a frontage on the river bank. On the western bank of the Pohangina, the bulk of the sections on the lower portion of the river, front on the ri\er bank, but many of the sections on the upper portion of the river have frontages on the river bank reserve on each side of the river.

From Jolm Graham, solicitor, asking on behalf of William Warren for a copy of the latter’s Apiti contract.—Referred to the County solicitor.

From R. K. Simpson and J. G. Wilson, chairmen of the Rangitikei and Manawatu County Councils respectively, inviting the Council to send one or more delegates to a conference to be held at Marton on Monday next, in the [matter of the demands of the Wellington Industrial Union. —The chairman was appointed to represent the Council. From P. Siucliar, asking that a ranger be appointed for Pohangina township.—To be considered at the next meeting or when rangers are appointed. Fiom Guy & Purnell, sawmillers, offering to contribute £35 towards the cost of metalling Baker’s road if the work was commenced at once. — The Engineer stated the work would cost £l3O and there was no money available the whole of the Government grant having been expended.— Applicants to be informed to this effect.

From H. W. Bennett, saking that approach to Apiti Presbyterian Church be metalled. —Left to Or. Burne and the Engineer. REPORTS. The Treasurer reported the general fund : dr. £313 4s 7d, and loan account cr. £llßs Bs 6d. The balances of the riding accounts were as follows :—Awahou cr. £l3B los 9d, Coal Creek dr. £62 9s 7d, Mangaono cr. £167 9s lid, Mangapikopiko dr. £IOB 13s lid, Pohangina dr. £153 9s Id, Taraaki dr. £348 Is 4d, Umutoi dr, £754 7s 9d. The accounts submitted for payment amount to £913 13s 3d, being from general fund £551 8s lOd and £363 3s 5d from loan account. Out of a total of £6148 7s 5d struck for 1907-8, there is but £45 14s 2d outstanding. During the month £4OO had been received on account of Apiti township loan, £475 6s 3d advance on Government subsidy, and £lO4 16s 5d hypothecated thirds. The Chairman and Or. Howie remarked on the satisfactory manner in which the clerk, Mr Coyle, had got in the rates. The Engineer reported that ho had been unable to procure timber for the redecking of the several bridges in the Awahou riding. The approaches to Palmer’s bridge had been fenced. Through the shortage of water it was found necessary to remove the Council’s teams from Finnis’ road to the PohanginaAshhnrst road. Mr Wylde, surveyor, had defined the centre line of Finnis’ track. In order to protect the Apiti footpaths he recommended that a ranger be appointed for the town. In the Tamaki Riding the Opawe bridge had been completed and the filling in of the approach would be commenced in a few days. He had been unable to obtain timber for redecking bridges. Cheyne & Grammar would complete their contracts in the Umutoi Riding in about a week, when they would make a start to metal the Makiekie road.

The Engineer reported that at Apiti one settler had about 16 horses straying on the streets, and another 15, and there were about 50 head of cattle, with the result that the newly-made footpaths each morning were covered with dung. He advised the appointment of a ranger. It was decided to consider the matter at the next meeting.

At a special meeting the Council confirmed the special order striking a special order of 3-64 of a penny in he pound on the Awahou and Tamaki Ridings as security for the loan of £BOO raised for reconstruction of Pohangina bridge. TBftß POHANGINA BRIDGE.

On considering the tenders for the reconstruction of the Pohangina bridge. Cr. Jackson said that since the last meeting of the Council settlers had noticed a subsidence in the slip, and there was a growing feeling" that it would be better to defer the repair of the bridge for the winter to see what change, if any, will take place. Mr Harland, County Enigneer, said the slip had moved a foot or 15 inches for about two chains along the face. If the work was gone on with the face of the papa should be protected, in order to enable it to sustain the terrace upon it. As the foot of the cliff wore away the top would gradually wear back to its original angle. The whole thing was a slip some tyears ago. There had been 40 feet of the toe taken away. At the top of the papa ledge there was about two feet of pug clay op which the superincumbent mass appeared to move. Since the bridge had been first erected 7 to 9 feet of the cliff bad broken. It would cost about £3OO to erect, the protective wall he had suggested. Mr Rounthwaite, who was present, said the weight of the

superincumbent mass on the papa should be lessened, bnt he had not considered a danger existed such as had been outlined by Mr Harland. In reply to Mr Rounthwaite, Mr

Harland stated that he did not intend the wall to bear any pressure, but simply to prevent the cliff face breaking away. Crs. Jackson and Handley spoke in favour of acceptance of a tender and the erection of a wall as proposed by Mr Harland. It was Jresolved on the motion of Cr. Jackson, seconded by Cr. Handley, That the Engineer (Mr Harland) strongly holding the opinion that if a concrete wall be erected to face the papa, !the papa foundation upon which the loose soil is at present resting, will prevent further flaking off of the base and so hold the weight above; and the longer tins said surface is exposed to the weather i the greater the probability of further disaster occurring. It is decided after full consideration to give - effect to this proposal and to proceed with this work withj the object of giving the requisite security to the approach to the Pohafigina bridge on the eastern side.

It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Handley, seconded by Cr. Jackson, That Mr John O’Donnell’s tender of £984 Is 8d for the repair of the Pohangina bridge be accepted, and Mr Rounthwaite be authorised to extend the time limit so to allow the timber to be procured from Australia if necessary. LONDON FORD BRIDGE. The Chairman reported to the Council the result of the Conference with the Engineer and members™ of the Kiwitea County Council, in regard to this bridge. He pointed cut that the estimate for the bridge of two spans as originally planned bad been;*£l7so. The estimate for a bridge of four spans embodying the alterations proposed by the Kiwitea County was £3270, a sum quite beyond what it bad been proposed to spend on the work. Probably a bridge of another design winch might be approved by the Kiwitea County Council could be erected for a lower sum.—The chairman was authorised to confer with the chairman of the Kiwitea County Council on the matter. MISCELLANEOUS.

It was resolved that a watering trough be placed on the hill above Mr Smart’s house in the Umutoi Riding.

Cr. Howie said he and other settlers desired to know whether cattle could be impounded off the Coal Creek. At present Mr Johnston was making use of this*creek as a grazing ground and other people’s ( fences. Ho and his neighbours were willing for a ranger to visit that locality on go or twice a week and impound all straying stock.—The Clerk was instructed to inquire. It was resolved—

That tenders be called for quarrying and breaking 500 yards of metal at Apiti, tenders to be opened and dealt with by Cr. Burne and the Engineer. The Engineer was directed to grade Finnis’ track and invite tenders for the formation by the May meeting. That steps be taken to procure a title to the Nikau creamery road under the Public Works Act.