RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 158, 9 March 1915, Page 3

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. B. P. Leth bridge (chairman), A. G. Simpson, W. Doole, F. Brice, K. W. Dalrymple, J. Brice, K. O'Callaghan, T. A. Duncan and T. A. Eandolph. CORRESPONDENCE. Applications for change of names on roll were agreed to. Prom Treasury, advising payments of grants to Mataroa-Mangaweka £IOO, Mangaweka-Te Kapua 250.

From Commissioner of Crown Lands, re road through Scenery Reserve into secton 38, Block VI., Ongo, and stating that applications for widening same to a chain should be reviewed when the present lease expires. From Whakatanc County Council, resolution re amendment of the law to allow rebate on rates paid within a certain time.—Council could not see its way to support the Whakatane Council's resolution.

The Fire Underwriters' Association suggested the enactment of by-laws re storage of dangerous goods.—A copy of the by-laws is to be supplied to each councillor.

A petition was received from drovers, asking to have approaches to various bridges improved. —Left in hands of engineer and overseer to attend to.

ENGINEER \S REPORT. Mr. S. A. R. Mair reported as fol

lows: —

Rangitira Riding.—Repair gravel is being delivered on roads where necessary. Otairi Riding. —Roads generally are in good order. Roadmen are widenng points and repairing gravel. Far progress has been made with contract forming Kaipahore Road. Te Kapua Riding.—Roads are in good order in thi riding. The culvert, on Mangamahoe Road has been renewed, and the filling is being repaired. Good progress s being made with burnt papa contract on MangawekaTe Kapua Road. I would suggest that a roadman's hut be built on the County reserve near Rongoiti School, as the roadman is unable to secure suitable accommodation close to his work. Awarua Riding. —I have let contract No.' 444 for repars to Kawhatau Bridge to Mr. W. Woolff for £B2 6/-, the contractor to find everything. The price is high, but as the river is now very low it was imperative the work should be put in hand at once to make the bridge safe before winter floods. Fair progress has been made with forming Poroa Road deviation and Tuhoe extension road. I received the approval of the Railway Department, and have completed the reinforced concrete retaining wall on Poroa Road deviation, and the embankment is now n course of construction. I have succeeded in obtaining from Mr. Bilderbeck a satisfactory tender, for contract No. 442, forming 270 chains Toe Toe Road, and recommend it be accepted; also the tenders of Mr. J. O 'Connor for gravel repairs on Torere Road and Gorge and' Puke Road. Fair progress is being made ■ with gravelling contracts on Makopua and Omatane North Roads.

Erewhon Riding.—Roads generally are in good order. Grader has during the month trimmed up all the surface roads. I have offered Messrs. Smith and Welsh the contract for forming and gravelling Erewhon Road deviation, and anticipate their acceptance when they have found satisfactory shell rock for gravelling. I have to recommend that two rooms be added to roadman's hut at Pukeokahu to make it fit for a married man.

The County lease of siding into Ohingati pit has expired and the Railway Department have submitted a new lease for Council's approval. Owing to the Government having ceased work in their pit adjoining and the installation of electric tablet at the siding, the lease will now be more expensive to the Counci) t

OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr. A. Thomas reported as follows: —Good progress has been made with the metalling contracts on hand and several have praptically completed their work. Owing to the dry weather the newly laid metal has been very troublesome to deal with. In many places watpr eanot be obtained tp put on the road when rolling. In fact, contractors have had great difficulty in obtaining water for their teams. However, the reeont vain will Improve the metalled roads very much, and assist in the work of rolling the newly laid metal. During the month timber came to hand for repairing the decking on a number of bridges that required attention. The necessary steps are in progress to raise a loan of £570 for forming and metalling the Ruatangata Road. The settlers interested have advanced about £IOO, so that the formation work may be proceeded with in the meantime. The grader is now employed forming the road, RESOLUTIONS. It was decided that the roadman's hut at Pukeokahu be enlarged by two rooms. The engineer's action in letting contracts was confirmed. It was resolved—(Cr. Dalrymple—J. Brice), That the opinion of Mr. Martin, solicitor to the New Zealand Counties' Association, be obtained on the following point: "Has a Council power to take a metal pit under the Public Works Act and sell the metal therefrom."

(Chairman— Cr. Doolo), That in. u ference to the District Railway Engii: eer's letter re siding into the met:: pit at Ohingaiti, the Council stTongl; protests against the proposed eharg< of £(10 for tablet locking on the mail line but; flgress to the other charge. (Cr. Duncan —Chairman), Thai the staff report on tlic question of amending the County by-laws in order to meet the question of motor transport.

(Chairman—Cr. o'Callaghan), That a roadman's cottage be built at the reerve at junction of Rongoiti Road and Murray's Track.

(Crs. Duncan —O'Callaghan), That Mr. T. R, Willis be paid £SO in full payment of all claims for the deviation of the Ongo Road through hrs land and for the purchase of the several areas of land (part secton 90), Council to also retain the old line cf road. v

Crs. O'Callaghan—F. Brice); That a deputation of the Chairman, Cr. O 'Callaghan, and representatives of the Upper Wangaehu Road Board, interview the Minister in regard to n grant for metalling the Mataroa-Tai-hape Road, and that Mr. R. W. Smith, M.P., be asked to accompany the deputation.

(Cr. O'Callaghan—Duncan), Thai the matter of the sawmill traffic on Murray's Track and Rongoiti Road be left in the hands of the engineer to deal with. FINANCE The Treasurer reported: —Cr. balance £234 7/1, receipts for month £3,652 16/9, cr. balance .£3,857 3/10. The rates for the month collected were £2,523 10/11.