RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9142, 11 May 1908, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was hold at Marton on Saturday. Present —Crs. R. K. Simpson. (Chairman), D. Fraser, A. G. Simpson. B P. Lethbridge, O. Canton, M. Morrison, T. Duncan, R. T. Batley and A. McGregor. Tho Council considered the estimates for the current year aud it was resolved (Chairman—Or. McGregor) That the Council adopt the estimates as prepared aud the system of differential rating—Ors. Duncan, Morrison, Canton aud Batley voted against the 'principal of differential rating. Cr. Canton then moved seconded by Cr. Batley, That certain roads bo declared main reads. —The motion was lost, being only supported by the mover and seconder. —The motion was moved with the idea of maintenance being made a charge on the general account. CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, Advising payment of £IOOO final instalment ou loan of £3500 for the Ougo read. •From Agricultural Department, acknowledging receipt of application for slaughtering license from H. F. Butler, also forwarding license for Messrs Collis. From Health Officer, asking that contribution to salary of Health Officer be paid half-yearly.—Agreed to.

From Department of Roads, declaring the following roads to be County roads —Karafcu, Makohine Valley, Mangaweka -Ta Eapua, Quarry, Mataiapcnga aud "MatarcaMaugaweka.

From Wanganui Education Board, convening Conference at Marton in connection withjteclinical education, and asking Council to be represented. —.The Chairman was appointed to represent tho Council. From Kiv/itea County Council, asking if Rangitikei Council will divide license fees received from carriers carting in both Counties.— Matter left in the hands of the Chairman aud Engineer.

From F. R. H. Brice, asking the Council’s Engineer to undertake tlie v.’crk of forming a road in ids property on Fnkepapa line, and offering to defray cost.—Agreed to. From G. Y. Lethbridge, agreeing to accept £3O for severed piece of land, on Ongo road, provided there is not more than Old acres, also claiming the old road line.-—Left in the hands of Or. Duncan to deal with. From E, K. - Bradbury, asking whether the road to the Rangitikei river below Carl's bridge ires been closed.—Clerk to reply that the road is not officially closed. From J. O’Keefe and T). Kennedy, asking payment for n-yalty on firewood, lot; cords at Is dd. —Left in hands of Mr Mair. Mr O. Rowling waited on Oonneil and asked for a more suitable lease ot Reserve;;, section id, block VII, Tirirankawa —Itv;-as resolved (Cliair■ man—Cr Canton) That the Council grant a loose for T years at ;R lis.l jeer aero, and that it bo a recoinmendation of tins Conuoil that fir Rowling bo allowed a renewal of lease for a further term of 7 years at fs dd per acre. la the event of Council resuming possession at the expiry of the first 7 years, compensation not to exceed £'■> per aero .be paid by Council for improvements. Lease may be terminated at ;a\,v time before the expiry of the first 7 s oars by Council naying the full compensation. Ho valuable, timber on tire section to be removed Or. BatJcy brought up the matter of alteration of the County boundaries between Wanganui and Rangitikei.—Held over for Ors. Batley, Canton and Morrison to see the ratepavers.

A"; petition was received ' from settlers interested in the erection of a. bridge over Rrngitikoi river at Taoroa, that Council apply to Government for a £1 for £1 subsidy, and that Council apply for a loan for the balance of the cost. Ro.solvod (Chairman —Cr. Batley) That application be mado to Government for a subsidy of £ for £ for the bridge and approaches, and that the application for loan be scheduled.. Mr Mair’s report was read as follows :—The intermittent showers during the mouth have somewhat delayed gravelling, but on tho whole fair pi ogress has been made. The gravelling of Ongo road as far as Braemore lias been completed 'and stones brokemlown. The balance of loan, is being spent continuing gravelling on towards Pohonui. It is now about completed up to Con- . Crete Ford bridge, and enough money is in hand to carry gravelling up to Wright’s gate. Messrs Shapleski and Richardson have not made any attempt to commence their contract for gravel repairs on Rata-Silverhope roads. I have notified them some time ago, that unless work was commenced immediately their interest would be determined. I hear casually that they do not intend starting. I am afraid it is now too late to do the work. During the mouth I arranged to let contract No. 268 gravelling on Pukeuaua, Mataroa and Jacobsen’s road to Mr John Peters, at 5s per yard. Mr Peters has now nearly completed rhe work. Mr Pnlford took up contract No. 265 gravelling Kakariki street, and has now completed the work, I have arranged with Mr Jas. McCallam to build roadman’s hut on Torero road for £lO, Council supplying material. I have also let roadmen’s huts at Pukookaha and Pangataua to Mr J. J, Ross at £7 each for labour only, Council supply iug material. I have accepted Mr H. 6. Callaghan’s cottage at £43, being £6 under the price he first wanted, ami have let tho removal and re-erecting upon Pohonui Roadman’s Reserve to Mr Jas. MeGallam at £25. Road grader has finished tip on Turakiua river and Vt'hareroa roads, having made a satisfactory job of forming the flats. It. has now made a start at Pr.uklore. Motor waggon lias done about £52 worth of work during tho month, chiefly in hauling gravel for repairs. As the weather seems now broken I propose to have motor thoroughly overhauled'and housed at Marton till spring. The driver will be employed at bridge work, etc., in tito meantime ana reduced wane. I have discussed the proposed liangitikoi bridge at Taorna with the 'settlers interested and Mr Remjugtnn. M. P., tho latter considers he has every prospect of-obi aiding a £ for £ Government subsidy it Use application is mule, with full iiavtienlars, in time for presentation to Minister when main estimates urn being framed. Tho settlers imvij to-day presented a petition to Council asking that tho work lie proceeded with. Mr A. Livingstone has made livdlo progiosn with his contract Fnkeokr.iiu road. Ho far he has pot had to cart over the gravelled roaa. I have interviewed Mr Join.) Hammond at Rata and lie has offered the Council a free right to open up gravel pit vvhereover required upon his property at any time. Should the Council to-day adopt the

Estimates submitted, I would ask that the work of renewing culverts iu reinforced concrete at Bilverhope and Ht. Curl be proceeded with as soon as possible* as, a number of them arc. clangorous. In an interview I had with Hr 1). Gardner, of Taoroa, lie agreed to spend to my satisfaction the sum of £IOO on Torero read re-pairing-gravel. if the Council would simultaneously spend £'->OO. There has Beau a large sum collected on this road for licenses and very little has been expended lately. Resolved—

(Ors A. G. Simpson—Duncan) That the iid crests of Messrs Shapleski and Richard.sou in contract for metalling cn Rata-Silverhcpe roads, bo cancelled, and deposit forfeited. That- (Chairman —Or. Canton) the Council endorse the action of the Engineer in lotting contracts refer red. to in his report. That (OhFfirmaiif—O.v. A. G. Simpson) Mr Mair have the culverts at Siivorhope and Mt. Curl renewed. Mr Thoms’ report was read as follows :—The weather during the month was fairly good, aud allowed most of the metalling contractors to complete their contracts. The following contractors have completed their contracts Mesfts Goile Bros, for delivering gravel on the BullsSootis road. Mr S. Signal for doliverihg gravel on OIiXT roads, etc. Mr Richards for gravelling Brandon Kali read. Mr McDermott for gravelling Tenneut’s road, and Mr

Groan for metalling ' Knatangata road. There arc two metalling contracts not vot completed. Mr Craig has about 100 yards to put out to complete his contract for delivering metal on the Makirikiri roads, ore., and Mr J. Smith lias about 35 chains to do to complete, his contract for metalling the Turakiua Valley and Makohau roads. During the month the grader has beau working on tho Bulls-Scctt’s road and Brandon Hall road, and is now completing tho formation of Lake Alice road. Hr Black has asked to have the cutting at the junction of Whale’s and Pukepapa roads improved. It is a very steep grade and there is not room when turning for leading horses to work. I estimate the cost of tho work asked for at £*■). Mr Black is willing to pay half cost cf doing the work. The two now concrete bridges cu the Upper Tntaouui road are console ted, and two new large concrete pipe culverts have boon put in on the lialmriki road. The erection of tho footbridge over tho Tataeuui stream for Mr Tricker is completed. During the month I compiled a return of all bridges over (i feet spans. giving approximately tho time each

will last, and che estimated cost ox roue.wing ouch with concrete piers, iron bark caps, corbels, and stringers, and tctfira decking and handrails. This information has been seat to Mr ivlair who is going to report on a proposal to renew bridges by loans under the 4 ‘Loan.'? ro Local Bodies Act. ’’ The metalling of Craig’s road will have to bo held over until next season, as the road to the pit has got too wet to cart. over. It was resolved—- ■ That (Chairman —Cr. Fraser 5 Mr Black’s oiler to provide half cost up to S'.) for formation on south end of Whale's .Lino, be accepted. That the action of the o< airman in declaring the roads in Otairi, Te Kapua, Awarua, and Frewhon Hid ins.'s closed to heavy traffic, was COU finned. Tiiat (Chairman —Cr. McGregor) the mutter of claim against Messrs Wakclin and Hadley bo left to the clerk and Engineer to deal with. That (Ors.. C sin ton —McGregor) permission be given Messrs Whittou and Howling to place a gate on their road us asked. That;’(Chairman —Cr. Canton) ' the Council agree to the issue of a slaughtering license to J. B. Signal subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture. That (Crs. McGregor—Canton) the Turakiua bridge loan being the only large bridge loan now iu existence within the County it seems to the contributors that they arc placed in an unfair position as compared with other ratepayers, therefore the Council considers the time opportune to approach the Government with a view to taking legislative action to rectify the above anomalous position on this particular bridge. That (Chairman —Cr. McGregor) a hearty vote of thanks be passed to Mr 3. Hammond for his offer of metal from off his property at Kata, free of cost.

That (Cry. Batley—Morrison ) the offer of Sir Gardiner to pay £IOO towards repairs to the Torero road be accepted. . That (Chairman —Or. Duncan) Or. McGregor with Mr Mair meet Ms Jas. Campion and endeavour to arrange with him in the matter of constructing the Chirac road deviation on tho. conditions that the Council grant £3OO towards the work as already arranged. That (Or. Morrison—Chairman) the Engineer be authorised to call for tenders for the formation of Potaka road.

That (Grs. Bafcley--Ohairman) Mr Mair be instructed |to proceed with tho work of continuing the Maugaio road to connect with the ITiwera road, including the bridge over tho Otnareiawa. stream by removal of present suspension bridge from Moawhango and placing same over the Otnareiawa stream.