OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9464, 5 June 1909, Page 4

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held * yesterday. Present: Ora. G. Wheeler (chairmanJ' v W. .G. Pearce, H, Rowling. J. H. Vincent, W. Reid, and H. Redmayue. CORRESPONDENCE. From P. O. Hanley, offering to supply string band at the Gorge Bridge ceremony. From J. R. Allerby,' - asking to be allowed to erect fence three feet on to Grove Road.—Refused. From R. Lloyd, asking the Engineer to meet Mr Armstrong! for the purpose of adjusting extra charges in connection with .his Grove Road contract. From D. H. Guthrie, M.P., stating that he was unable to promise to support an amendment to the Publio Works Act, giving Local Bodies power to take timber from. private property to burn papa. From the same, asking what assistance the Council required from Government for\publio works in the district.—lt was decided to reply that the Council needed Government assistance to re-erect Meuzies* bridge. From the Treasury, notifying that loans of £250 for Makino Road, and £250 for Road improvement works were available ; and stating the request for Joan of £545, being 10 per cent, on the £5450 loan in the Hiwinui and Otangaki Ridings had been approved. From Feilding Borough Council, consenting to contribute £250 towards coat of erection of Menzies’ bridge. From G. Luke and Son, offering to supply water ballast road roller 2 tons empty, and three fall, at £7O. From W. A. McLaren ,aud Go., offering to supply engine and roller at £BIO. From T. E. Martin, advising that it would be illegal to collect rates on old valuation. Prom Clifton County Council, re proposed proportionate rating.—Not approved. Prom Counties Association, re proposed local authorities superannuation fond. —More information asked for on the matter, | From John Aitken, offering to take over and demolish the punt at the Gorge if given the woodwork.— Agreed to. From John Piercy, offering’to give* a rental of 5s per week for thecottage now used by the Engineerat the Gorge if removed to the bridge.—Held over. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Rangitawa Riding.—The work of" erecting the bridge over the Mangaone stream on the Feilding-Haloombe Road is proceeding satisfactorily. The concrete abutments have bean completed and the ' old bridge dismantled. I have had a temporary bridge constructed about » chain lower down the stream. $ Ranmanga Riding.—l have had about 60 yards of gravel put on the Makino Road from Stanway towards Tokorangi. This piece of road willrequire re-metalling next year, and I.wonld suggest that it bo dealt with in the same manner as the lowerpart of Makino Road. Makino Riding.—All gravelling contracts let in this' 2 Riding havebeen completed. The work of improving the lower part of Kimbolton Road is proceeding satisfactorily, and as the loan money is now available I would suggest that tenders be called for gravelling this part of Kimbolton Road and for widening the formation and gravelling the lower part of Makino Road. I have ordered the timber and girders for the small bridge at Makiuo and will proceed with the construction of same as tne bridge on the FeildingHaloombe Road is completed. Last Monday I met Mr Palmer with a view to making the ford on Forlong’s Road accessible, and after again inspecting the site, I am of the opinion that if the approach to th* ford on the western side Is shifted about half a chain above the road line and a small.;groyne put in tris ford "would not cause any further trouble. To shift the approach as suggested would mean encroaching upon Mr Short’s property to the extent of not more than one-eighth of an acre and would keep quite clear of all standing bush. Grove Road Contract.—Yesterday I met Mr Armstrong who was appointed by Mr Lloyd to arbitrate In connection with moneys withheld from payments on this contract, and after thoroughly investigating the matter, I think that Mr Armstrong is of the opinion that my action was only just and reasonable. Otangaki Riding.-The contracts for gravelling Ulysses, Pohangina, Harrison’s and the Palmerston Roads have been completed, there now remains only the Ashhnrst streets to be gravelled and then ’the whole of the contracts let within the County will have been completed. The report was adoptde. The Treasurer reported Riding accounts debtor as follows:—Rangitawa Riding £lB 9s 9d, Makino £353 8s sd, Taonui £684 15a 9d. Raumanga £loll7s 2d, Hiwinui £B7l 19a lid, Mangaoue £3B 17s Bd, Otangaki £390 18s. Amount of general rates levied £4419 Is Bd, collected £4360 19s. Bank balances; Dr general account £357 16a Id, interest account £267 18a 3d, Gorge bridge £5466 0s Bd, No. 31 loan £303 18s Bd.

On the motion of Or. Pearce, seconded by the ‘chairman, it was resolved that the clerk be instructed to write to Mr Guthrie, M.P., and ask him to support the application for £1 for £1 subsidy on estimated cost of Menzies 1 bridge, and to point out to him that this is the first and only application for a grant for purely eonnty work, other grants havinc been for works in which other local bodies were interested.