KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9477, 21 June 1909, Page 5

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Ors. F. F. Hockly (chairman), D. H. Guthrie, H. Fowler, W. Morton, J, Bruce, Ohas. Mclntyre, W. H, Grice, and J. McNeil. CORRESPONDENCE. From Department of Public Health, with report of Health Officer on the County for the past year. He stated that there were 25 cases of scarlet fever, three of diphtheria, one of enteric, and one of consumption. He advised that a rubbish depot be provided for Kimbolton. —The Chairman said this report sent in response to the Council refusing to contribute to the salary of the Inspector failing regular reports from him. In regard to the need of a rubbish depot the application for a suitable section for the purpose had been made to the Lands Department and that body having failed to deal with the matter the execution of the project hadjbeen delayed. From August Gerke, Kimbolton, asking that culvert be put in at entrance of hia residence.—Council does not make approaches to sections.

From Works Department, stating that if the Council was not prepared to erect the Mangawharariki bridge the Department wonld do so on the Council paying its contribution of the cost, namely, £6OO to the public account.

From A. W. Dwyer, stating that a meeting of settlers interested desired the course as above be adopted.

It was pointed ont that the plans submitted by the Department were not approved by the Council’s engineer, and as the expense of keeping the bridge in repair would fail on the Council it was deemed expedient to rely on its own Engineer’s opinion as to the class of bridge that should be erected.

It was resolved on the motion of Or. Guthrie, seconded by Or. McNeil, that the Under-Secretary be informed that the Council is proceeding with the work and plans for the bridge will be submitted to the Department during the coming week. The Engineer was also directed to proceed and explain his plans to the Department. From nine residents of Waitnna West, protesting against a slaughtering license being granted for a yard proposed to be,-erected in the township.— Referred to Chief Inspector of Stock. From Frank Townsend, for renewal of slaughtering license at Kimbolton. —Approved. From H. Leat, for permission to erect a fence on edge of formation of Mnangamako Road.—Granted on usual terms.

From T. G. Jenkiu, on behalf of Kimbolton School Committee, for 30s promised towards cost of metalling approach to State school.— Amount to be paid. From J. R. Johnston, asking permission to erect fence on edge of Kiwitea cross road, in front of bis section.—Granted. From R. Beadnell, asking for renewal of lease of Cheltenham pound.—Granted from Ist April, 1909, to Ist April, 1910. From W. Sheffield, Waitnna West, asking for permission to rail off a short track leading from his residence to the store.—Engineer to report. From Mackenzie County Council, asking for co-operation in having “fourths” of rents of pastoral runs paid over to the local bodies for the construction and maintenance of roads giving access thereto,—lt was resolved to urge members of Parliament to support an amendment to the Laud Act to above effect; and “that the time has arrived , when small grazing runs should bo subject to the same Rating Act as freehold and leasehold lands.”

Four applications were received for the position of solicitor to the Council.—Mr John Graham, at a salary of £35 per year, was appointed. From R. Taylor, Cunningham’s, requesting that culvert on KiwiteaTapuaue Road which was leading water from road on to his land be removed. —Roadman to assist to remove the culvert.

From Rangitikei County Council, stating that it was proposed to add two additional 40 foot spans to the contract for the Kawhatau bridge which would make the total cost £3600.

From David Meads, drawing attention to the dangerous state of the Mangaweka Road on the Mangaweka side-of Fraser’s bridge —The Engineer was instructed to widen and fence this road at the dangerous part. REPORTS. The Treasurer reported having received since the last meeting:— Rates £336 9s 3d. Amounts to be submitted for payment were: County fund scoonnt £605 18s 4d. loans account £176 Os 9d, land fund account £4l 18s 6d, Waituna Cemetery £1 10s; total £798 7s 7d. Dr. balance at tbe bank £2633 11s lid.

A report of the Overseer on straying stock was received and it was resolved that Wade-Cooper be prosecuted for trespass of stock on the road; f The Engineer reported I beg to submit the following report:—The weather has been fairly favourable for work during the month, bnt tbe occasional heavy showera of rain brought down a good many slips, particularly up the Kawhatau Valley where the road was blocked for some days. The re-torming and metalling on the Upper Kawbatau and Maugakokiki Roads has been proceeding very satisfactorily, but the last rain has made tbe formation so soft that the work will have to be abandoned till the spring. Mr Carey’s metalling contract on Mangahnia Road East has been completed, with the exception of stone breaking. Nothing however, has been done on [the contract let at last meeting, and I am afraid the season is now to far advanced to make a start. The widening of the points on Kimbolton Road is in progress; also the cleariug of logs between Kimbolton and Cheltenham. I have had the metal carted for the cemetery footpath at Waituna, and on arrival of the cement work will be commenced without delay. As Mr Oorpe agreed to the Council’s terms regarding the closing of Oroua Road, I instructed jjhe surveyor to proceed with the neoessarv survey and plans, and have the portion of road closed transferred to Mr Oorpe. As requested I met Councillor Guthrie and the settlers interested in tbe proposed bridge at Karewarewa. I explained why I in favour of a pile bridge in preference to a suspension one, and after a long discussion thqy agreed to abide by my recommendation, the cost not to exceed that of the fusi pension bridge. I have now cue

plans well forward and will submit them to the Roads Department next week for approval. I made a list of grants required for roads and together with a tracing of the County showing the position of the roads they were forwarded to Councillor Guthrie on the 3rd mat. Unfortunately they had not reached him up to Thursday last, as he wired from Wellington on that day making inanities, The road machine after working through the Sandon Block and Pakihikura Roads is now on the Kiwitea-Tapaao Road. The clay roads are now getting too wet for rounding up and little more than opening the water tables can be done. Application has been made for the balance of grant for Marton Block bridge; also for the Pohangina Council’s portion of cost. The piece of road mentioned in Mr Mead’s letter is no doubt a dangerous place, although not so narrow as other portions farther on. I have written the roadman that if any slips have taken place lately to have the road widened at onco. I would also recommend that it be fenced on the outside. Tenders will be opened today for fencing the Kawhatau Cliff Road. OTHER BUSINESS. The Chairman said he had noticed by a Press report that a tender had been accepted for the erection of the London’s Ford bridge and Mr Sinclair had been appointed inspector at a salary of £4 4s per week, commencing from March Ist. The Council had received no notice of this. When the Apiti Main South Road bridge was being erected Mr Burue had overseen the work and only a charge of 2 per cent, had been made for engineering. The action taken by the Pohangina Council would make the engineering charge out of all proportion to the cost of the work. There was nothing to prevent Mr Harland and Mr Burue undertaking the duty.

The Oierk was requested to write to the Pohangina Council as above.

It was resolved—

That (Ora. Hocbly—Guthrie) the attention of the District Health Officer be drawn to the necessity of stronger and more satisfactory measures being adopted by the local inspector to insure isolation than he used in a recent case of scarlet fever in Kimbolton township, namely, communication by telephone. That (Ors. Guthrie—Short) re 'the proposed validation legislation, the action of the chairman be endorsed and that he be authorised to proceed with the preparation of the Bill. This refers to the expenditure of “thirds. ”

That (Ors. Guthrie—McNeil) the Engineer be empowered to arrange with Mr Hewitt for the extension of metalling on the Upper Kawhatau Road.

That (Ors. Guthrie—McNeil) Messrs Wallace and Flemming’s tender at £1 13s 4d per chain for fencing Kawhatau Cliff Road be accepted. That (Ors. Short--Fowler) the engineer be instructed to have the large culvert repaired opposite Mr Daniel’s property on the Cheltenham Cross Road.

Mr Phyn, of Beaconsfield, attended and produced a letter from the Under-Secretary which stated that Mackay’s Line had been declared a main road in 1883.

The Chairman informed Mr Phyn that should the proposal to put all the main roads under Government control become an accomplished fact, the Council would endeavour to get as many as possible, including Maokay’s Line, declared to be arterial main roads

Or. Fowler proposed that a committee be appointed to obtain all infoimation as to the desirability of purchasing a road roller.—Ors. Fowler and Short and the Engineer were requested to report on the matter.

The Clerk was directed to write to the Treasury and point out that urgent works wore delayed owing to the delay in obtaining loan money.