RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9389, 8 March 1909, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting was held at Marton on Saturday. Present: Ors. R. K. Simpson (chairman), D. Fraser, McGregor, Thos. Fitzpatrick, A. G. Simpson, B. P. Lethbridge, J. Smith and Duncan. All j applications for change of names on rate roll were granted. CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, advising payment of £IOO loan for Labe Alice Road. From Railway Department, declining to make railway crossing applied for by natives near Rata.—Copy of letter to be sent to Natives. From Department of Labour, stating that Mangaweka, not being a legal subdivision of the County, the petition for early closing there cannot he agreed to. From District Health Officer, asking Council to give notice to have nuisance in bed of Tutaenui stream near dairy factory, abated. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking permission to fence Silverhope scenic reserve close np to the road formation.—Application agreed to subject to approval of Engineer, From Roads Department, declaring following roads to be county roads : Parc Mangamahoe (68 chains),. Ohaka (Imile 37 chains), and Huia Road (1 miio 44 chains).— Referred to Engineer. From Valuer-General, account for £134 6s 7d for revising i values of County. From Auckland City Council, against the provisions of Section 25 of “The Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment 1908,” regarding the appointment of the Public Trustee as sole Sinking Fund Commissioner for loans raised by local bodies on debentures. Resolved,—That the opinion of the Auckland Council be endorsed and this Council is prepared to cooperate in petitioning Government in the matter. , From Hunterville Town Board, asking permission to lay water mains along the County road.— Granted, subject to approval of Engineer and road to be afterwards put in good repair. Prom Edward Newman, declining appointment to Technical School Committee.— Cr. Lethbridge was appointed. From F. Stewart, suggesting that Awarna Riding be made a separate district for early closing and forwarding an amended petition.--Petitioners to be asked to forward declaration verifying signatures and showing that they are a majority of shopkeepers in Awarna Riding. From J. H. Signal, offering to control traffic over Onepuhi bridge upon payment of a sum equal to his rates.—Offer accepted during pleasure of Council.

From Finlay McLean, withdrawing his jjname from application for loan x to' gravel the Mangatiponga Road.

From Commissioner of Crown Lands, advising that Hammond’s road through racecourse property at Bulls has been declared closed, and asking in whom the title shall vest. From Wanganui Education Board, asking if Council will construct a drain to carry off surface water from Utiku School site. —Council does not recognise any liability in the matter. _ f From District Road Engineer, asking Council’s consent to a deviation of the Turakina Valley Road* The Chairman was authorised to sign plan forwarded by the/Engineer. From T. P. Finn,' applying on behalf of T. Dennis for a meat hawker’s license. Council has no by-laws dealing with the matter. From R. Guthrie, again applying to have approach made to her section, Koeke. Loft to Mr Mair to deal with. PETITIONS. From property owners in Main Street, Mar ton Extension, for the raising of loan to connect road with east end of High Street, Marton, with Main Street, Marton Extension. Resolved, That petitioners be informed that as soon as all, parties interested ate prepared to dedicate the laud for the proposed road free of cost. Council will take into consideration their application.

From settlers interested in raising a loan of £BOO to continue gravelling on Moawhango Valley Road, To be placed on the list of loans to be applied for in tarn. From eight ratepayers, requesting Council to take steps to raise a loan of £3500 over a special rating area to acquire and form a road and construct abridge overßangitikei rivet near Taoroa, where the cage at present >is situated. Application to be placed on schedule of loans to be applied for. REPORTS. The Engineer, Mr Mair, reported as follows : The month of February has been one of the finest on record, only a quarter of an inch of rain being recorded at Hnnterville. Needless to say it has been a splendid month for the various road works in hand and all have been pushed satisfactorily. Mr Livingstone has completed laying the gravel on his contract of tpn miles at Pukeokahu, and is now completing the trimming. Moore and Beban have made good progress on Pokaka Road and Hiwera Road, and should have both completed their work by next meeting. As instructed at last meeting I arranged with Pulford and, Peters to complete the gap in gravelling on Moawhango Valley Road South, at 50a per chain, and the work has been completed ..satisfactorily. Mr Brady has completed his gravelling of 85 chains on Potaka and Kawhatau North roads, Kawhatau. Good progress has been made with burning papa on Mataroa Road South, & very good i sampe being turned out The formation of 40 chains of Makohine Valley Road has beer let to Mr Jas. McKeown at the satisfactory figure of £123 ss. However, so far, I have been unable to get a tender within the estimate for Karetu South and Kanaekoke roads. About 800 yards of papa has been burnt on Watershed Road to repair parts already done, the cost being 7s lOd per cubic yard spread upon the road. The men . burning have now moved to the Mangamahoe Road, Pohonui, and commenced burning at Wiiliamson’s bend after which they will move to Koeke and do Lewis’ bend. About 80 chains of Mangamahoe Road has been gravelled from the pits on the lower end of the road, and a fine face of boulders is now being worked in Mataiponga creek. Messrs Titter ana Leuz and McDouagh are making;good progress with their road formation contracts in Pohonui. Mr Thoa. James has completed Jhis contract on Mataroa Road North and Mr Robt.j Blair has

his work well in hand. The road grader is now out on the Moawhango to Brewhou road and is doing very satisfactory w,ork. With Mr MacGregor 1 met Messrs Sutherland and Cameron on Mangahoe Road and discussed the handing of the old portion of the Mangahoe Road, when deviated to the College Governors. However, a satisfactory solution of the trouble was not arrived at, therefore,\the Council are not in a position to accede to the College Governors’ request. The District Engineer of Railways at Ohakune has forwarded the plan of the proposed road deviation at the Vinegar Hill creasing for the approval of the Council. Dealing with the Engineer’s report it was resolved, That his action be confirmed in letting contract for gravelling on the Moawhango Road at 50s per chain to Messrs Pulford and Peters and for the formation of Makohine Valley road to Mr MoKeowu for £122 ss.

The |Road Inspector, Mr Thoms, reported:—The dry weather and sheep traffic combined has been very severe on the metalled roads, causing them to break up badly. A good rain would improve them very much. The season is favourable for metalling and good progress has been made with the contracts on hand, Mr Craig has completed his contract for delivering metal on the Marton Station roads, etc. Mr Green has practically completed his contract for delivering gravel on the Tnrakina Valley roads, etc. Mr Cave has finished metalling on the Ngaruru Road, and will start delivering metal on. the Cliff roads, Messrs Thompson and Hirst delivering metal on the Bnlls-Soott’s roads, etc., and Mr Perry delivering metal on the Turakina-Wangaehn roads, are all making £fair progress with their respective , contracts. The small bridge over the creek near Col. Gorton’s gate is rotten. I propose to renew it with,two feet concrete pipes. Two small bridges have been repaired during the month, one near Mr G. Whales, Greafcford, and the o.ther on Williamson’s Line near the old creamery. Mr , Sicely has completed the fifld work of the survey of the road from the Wangaehu Station down to the sea beach, and is now working on the field survey of the road from Scott’s Ferry to the sea beach. During the month specifications have been drawn and tenders should be before you to-day for metalling 158 chains on the Brandon Hall Road. 'At the request of Or. McGregor, I inspected the narrow places on the Tnrakina Valley Road between tho Maungarara stream and Mr MoLeay’s. This road is narrow in many places, but two places require widening more than the others. The worst place is at the gully a little past the boundary between Mr McPherson and Mr MoLeay. This is rather a dangerous place and wants widening from One to three feat for a distance of about 4% chains. The necessary to widen it is rather,* heavy. I estimate the cost to widen this niece at £3l. The second place is in'Mr McGregor’s property r abont 8 chains from Mr McPherson’s boundary. This wants widening for a distance of about 1 chain and should not cost more than £3 10s. The following are the approximate lengths of the three proposed road lines from the end of the present road through the Ruatangata block up to cliff a little past Mr Cameron’s homestead : -No. 1 line as shown on rough,plan attached is 357 chains np to Mr Baldwin’s boundary, and 1,23 chains up to the cliff, or a total of 380 chains. No. 2 line is 239 chains up to Mr Baldwin’s and 109 chains up to cliff, or a total of 346 chains. No. 3 line is 339 chains up to Mr Baldwin’s and 124 chains up to cliff, or a total of 361 chains. No. ; 1 line is only 34 chains longer than No. 3 line. I estimate the cost of forming No. 1 line so that vehicles can get up to Mr Baldwin’s woolshed at £SO. I estimate the cost of forming, oniverting and metalling swamp on No. 2 line so that vehicles could get to Mr Baldwin’s woolshed at £296. The cost of forming, oulverting, and metaUing swamp on No. 3. line would be the same as No. 2 line. Should the road be taken by No. 1 line Mr Baldwin will do all in his power to prevent it, but if taken along No. 2 line he wants bompensation at the rate of £35 an' acre for the flat land and £6 an acre for the hill; also fencing on both sides of the road when called upon to do so. The following is my estimate of the cost of acquiring the land and fencing No. 2 and No. 3 lines:—No. 2 line : To 5 acres of flat land, at £25 an acre, £125; to 6% acres of hilly land at £6 per acre, £4O; to fencing 218 chains at 20a per chain, £2lB. Total £383. No. 3 line: To acres at £6 per acre, £75; to fencing 248 chains at 20a per chain, £248, Total £323. Dealing with Mr Thoms’ report it was resolved, That Mr Sicely be instructed to survey No. 2 road through Ruatangata as shown on plan by Mr Tnoms,—That the narrow places on the Tnrakina Valley Road between the Maungarara stream and Mr McLeay’s be widened at a cost not exceeding £2l. OTHER MATTERS. It was resolved to send a reply to Mes/irs Ohapman and Tripe (solioi--tors) that the Oouboil cannot see L its way to accept of the dedication of the Ngaruru road until such time as it is sufficiently formed for dray traffic. If required the Oounoll’s engineer will furnish an estimate of necessary work. The Engineer was instructed to inquire ?into a complaint made by Or. Fi>zpatrick regarding the metalling now being done on Taihape-Mataroa road, and report at next Council meeting. The Engineer and Inspector were authorised to sign and ;issne notices to have all gorse grubbed on County roads. The Olerk was authorised to sue for all outstanding rates. FINANCE. The Treasurer reported receipts during the mouth: —Rates £6297 fls, and miscellaneous £229 3s 6d. This brought a credit balance at the bank on the general account of £4892 12s 10d. After payments amounting to £32641 Is Bci, the credit balance would stand at £1628 Is 2d. TENDERS. Contract No. 291, delivery of 700 yards of gravel for repairs on RataSilverhope roads, C. H. Geanges (accepted). .. Contract No. 124, metalling 158 chains on Brandon Hall road, near Bulls.—Left with chairman to deal with.