RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 207, 12 May 1915, Page 3

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the above was. held no Saturday, Present: Crs. B. P. Lethbridge (chairman), K. W. Dalrymple, F. R. H. Brice, John Brice, A. G. Simpson, T. A. Duncan, A. A. Randolph, W. Doole, and H. o’Callaghan. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows: From the State Advances to Settler* Department, notifying payment of £SOO to credit of Council in respect to Mangaweka-Te Kapua road loan.From Department of Internal Affairs, notifynig that hares were protected game in the Wellington Districts. From Public Works Department, asking for particulars of Government grants required for the County.—Refererd to the engineer to fill up the required forms. From the same, stating that Hunia Street, Utiku, is a County road and the Department will take no action re sawdust thereon.—The clerk stated that legal opinion asked for from the Counties Association on the matter had nov been received.

From Public Works Department, approving plans and specifications of the Omatane road.

From Railway Departmetn, re conditions of access by means of a railway siding. From same, it -was intended to erect notice boards at a distance of 150 to 200 yards from level railway crossings.

From N.Z. Counties Association, staving that legal opinion will be obtained on the question of imposing heavy fees for traffic licenses on heavy motors and exempting others. From Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, accepting the Council’s offer of £SO per annum for service o? a second Health Inspector. From the same, advising that the Hospital and Charitable Aid levy on the County for the 3'oar wa £2,706 2/9.

The chairman said the Board was erecting new buildings and there was a large overdraft, of which it was proposed to pay off a large proportion this year. This was one cause of the Increased levy. Cr. F. Brice said the levy was constantly on the increase.

Cr. O’Callaghan said the Rangitiker district should be separated from that of Wanganui; it w r as large enough to form a separate district of its own.

Cr. Doole referred to the small amount collected from patients.

The chairman said it was the least of any hospital in New Zealand. He also referred to the haste in which the estimates were rushed through at the Board meeting. They were broughr down at half-past eleven.

The clerk was directed to obtain the balance-sheets of some other Hospital Board for comparison. From Southland County Council, proposing a tax on motor-car tyres. —The chairman said that was a reasonable form of taxation, the Government To collect and apportion to the local bodies.—The proposal was approved.

From Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce, advocating completion of national highway between Wellington and Auckland.^—lt wa resolved that the Council approve the construction of such a road. From Messrs. R. W. Smith and E. Newman, M.’.P., consenting to arrange for a deputation to met 4 the Minister fer Public Works re application, tan grants for the Mr *** roa-Taih ape road, and the Onepuhi bridge. From Arrowsmith ‘and I.oughnan, consenting on behalf of Mr. Broderick to accept £4, in addition to legal costs, in satisfaction of his claim. —The amount was passed for payment.

From Arrowsmith and .i.oughnan. claiming £6B 3/- on behalf of A. F. Gibbs for alleged loss of stock, etc., through fences having been opened during road-making operations.—-It was resolved not to acknowledge the claim. From Hussey and Ongley, claiming compensation for F, Walsh on account of injury to an eye while working for the Council. —Legal opinion to bo sought in the matter. From Otaihape Farmers’ Meat and Produce Co., asking permission to place 4-inch water main under the road near Winiata. —Granted subject to approval of engineer. From A. F. Gibbs and Co., stating that decking would bo placed on the Hautapu bridge as required by the Council.

From R. F. Batley, stating- that he would have the posts put on the ground for protective fencing on the I‘okaka road, and arrange for drays for the metalling. From F. T. Nolan, asking for extra 5/- per day for team with road grader, and from P. Dewar asking for increased price for tgam. —The engineer said he was now paying £2 a day for fourhorses and a spare one.—On the motion of Cr. J. Brice, the extra 5/- per day was granted from the Ist of this month.

From Commisionor of Crown Lauds, complaining that the Council had opened a metal pit «n Crown land at Hautapu.—Formal application to be made for permission to take metal from two acres.* ■ ■"; From Geo. Forster, asking permission'to„ collect seeds of native trees lir•twoeii 'Ortfutford and Fdkanki. • Rcf*rivm tv.-'/.’r. T*. i.i. . u •••?.!

ENGINEER’S REPORT. ! The weather during the month has been splendid and good progress has been made finishing up road works in hand.. Te Kapua Riding.—The roads are all in good order. One hundred and twenty chains burnt papa have been spread on Mangaweka-Te Kapua road, and the work is now shut down till next summer to enable more firewood to be obtained. Awarua Riding.—The fencing contract on Tuhoe Road Extension has been finally let to Messrs. J. T. Matthews and Co. Mr. J. Murphy has completed his formation contract on this road, and Mr. Wileocks will be finished in about two weeks.

Repair gravel is being delivered on Gorge and Puke roads. Horton Bros, have made good progress with gravelling on Omatane road north. I have obtained the Government authority for an unexpected grant of £225 for this work. Formation contract on Toetoe road is progressing satisfactorily. As the tenders received for removal of sawdust on Toetoe road were not satisfactory I have had the work done by men. Erewhon Riding.—A good start has been made gravelling Pokaka road, Mr. Batley finding the teams. I have made careful inspection of the Hautapu boundary bridge at Taihape and find it is in a very delapidated condition and unless the new concrete bridge is put in hand extensive and costly repairs to the old and e stly bridge must be shortly undertaken.

Complaint is made about the gates across the main Moawhango-Erewhon road through Oruamatua Station. These gates have been in existence for many years and I would recommend the owners be given three months’ notice to remove them. So far I have not succeeded in letting the formation and gravelling of Erewhon Road Deviation.

General Matters.—Herewith I Beg to submit a brief summary of County Works and Expenditure undertaken in the Upper Ridings during the financial year just closed. The funds for expenditure have been derived as follows: —State guaranteed loans, £4,151, approximately; Government grants and subsidies, £3,071; thirds, £993, County funds, £12,018. Total, £20,233. Contracts completed 38, as follows: -—Ten contracts dray formation embracing 6.52 miles, costing £1440; 1 contract bridle formation embracing 2.4 miles, £380; 10 contracts new metalling embracing 16.42 miles, £46,178; 4 contracts repair metalling embracing 2511 yards, £557; 7 contracts wood and concrete bridges, £2,700; 6 micellancous contracts, £ll3. Total, £9,807. Total contract expenditure, £9,807: wages, works, maintainance, plant, and materials, £10,426; making total expenditure for .1914-15, £22,330. The two road graders have regraded and trimmed approximately as follows: —Roads trimmed with grader 245 miles costing £9lB, or 11.2 pence per chain. The road roller has reformed 143 miles of metalled road, the roughest and hardest in the County, cost as follows: —Scarfing, stonebreaking, watering, blinding and rolling, Rangitiri Riding, approximately 400 chains £157 15/-, cr 7/7 per chain; A warn a Riding, approximately 690 chains, £538 10/- or 15/7 per chain; To Kapua Riding, a: proximately 90 chains, £92 15/-, or 2/7 per chain. The expenditure in maintenance and general road improvement during the last year has been heavy and a higher standard now obtains than ever before in the history of the County. The damage caused by the severe weather of theh sr-ring of 191! has all boon rest;

ed, and given a moderate winter I look forward with eo nil donee to a general decrease in maintenance expenditure during the current year. However, it must not be forgotten that usually good and bad weather comes in cycles, so we must be prepared for wet after the unusually dry summer just experienced, and it is wise to provide accordingly, and, should good weather prevail, surplus funds can be carried forward. Again our yearly road mileage to maintain is rapidly increasing, also a higher standard of roads is demanded by the road users, each necessitating increased expenditure. With few exceptions throughout this large and scattered district the County employees . are working well and honestly and to them and the flue weather we owe the present satisfactory state of the roads. In conclusion, I cannot acclaim too highly the result of both graders and road roller on our roads, but until we •can establish a satisfactory system of crushing our road metal instead of laboriously hand breaking we will not obtain the full benefits of our road plant. The establishment of a central pit at Greatford will overcome the difficulty along the railway line but a small portable crushing plant is needed for local use in insolated districts. REPORT OE ROAD INSPECTOR. The weather has been all that could be desired for metalling and roads works generally; but has been fajp too dry, for. 'roller work. The road'"generally is in good condition, excepting where new metal has been laid. Tb© work of rolling down the new metal row; is vory /low and imsatis-

factory owing to the dry state of the roads, and the long distances tjhe water has to be To keep the roller going properly we would require three water carta and it is almost useless rolling without plenty of water. All metalling contracts have been completed with the exception of Mr Petersen and Mr McDermott who are bothh making good progress.

During the month I have gone carefully into the estimates for the ensuing year. I have kept them as low as possible consistent with keeping the roads in fair order, and have provided nothing for extra cost of labour nad material. Should Councillors desire any improvements made in the roads it will be necessary to increase the estimates T made a saving of nearly £SOO on the General Account Estimates for last year, and my estimates for the ensuing year on the General Account is nearly £IOOO less than last year On the Ridings Account there is a small increase in the estimates for Porewa and Otakapu Ridings, which is wholly accounted for by providing for new work.

I Return of work done by the road roller and road grader in the lower I ridings during the year ending 31st March, 1915: The roller scarified up about 520 chains of old road and 8013 cubic yards of new metal was laid down and rolled. It also scarified up and rolled down again about 340 chains of old road at a cost of about 4s per chain, or a total of £6B. The above includes the cost of th e water cart and all extra labour required for the work. The road machine has cleaned out water tables and rounded up about 8820 chains of road at a cost of 8d per chain, or a total of £292 6/8, If this work had been done by ordinary labour it would have cost 2/ per chain, or a total of £BB2. It also mad e about three miles of new formation at a cost of £l2l 10/, this was paid out of loan money < 1 j The Council decided to make applications for grants as follows: J Taijhape-Mataroa, Ohinewairua IX, Waimarino and Rangitikei, £750 and i £75P| to .fcomplef'e gravelling main road. j Mataroa Road, South Hautapu VI, 1 £4OO and £4OO balance of grant £SOO, £1 for £l. j Qnjepulß Bridge jWangaiahu XV!| Rangitikei and Oroua, £3,500 dnd 1 £5060 balance of grant £6500, £1 for £l, £IOO granted 1914-15.

| Kaka Road, Ohinewairua XIII. Waimarino, £l5O and £l5O, gravelling from Taihape Borough road. Pukenaua Road, Ohinewairua XIII, Wlaimarino, £l5O and £l5O, gravelling continuation. j Hautapu Bridge, Taihape, Ohinewai. rua XIV, Waimarino and Oroua, £1250 and £1250; £SOO £1 for £1 granted 1914-15. Balamce asked for. j Naumunui Road, Ohinewairua XIII, Waimarino, £250 and £250; balance now asked for. ' £250 granted 1914-15, £1 for £l. ! inland Road, Hautapu IV, Oroua. £250, £1 for £1 granted 1914-15, £SOO and £SOO, gravelling. | iTurakjna River Road;, .Wangaehu HI, Rangitikei, £250 and £250; £25/ ;£1 or £1 granted 1914-15 Balance ’ now asked for. I Total new grants 1915-16 require: j £9,200. j Oneouhi Bridge, Wangaehy XVI, Rangitikei and. Orruu ‘£l-00 am' £1000; balance full grant. Naumunui Road, Ohinewairua XIII, Waimarino, £250 and £250; balance full grant. | Karetu Read, Tirivaukawa V, iWaimarino, £l5O and £150: plans in band Hautapu Bridge, Taihape, Ohinewairua XIII, Waimarino and Oroua, £SOO and £500; balance full grant. OTHER BUSINESS. Messrs Clarke Bros, and Moore,with [Mr Wiilis, waited on the Council to , inquire if a sawmill were started on the latter’s laud whether the Council Iwoulld allow th e timber to be carted over the Ongo road.

The Engineer said tjhe metal put on this road cost 20s a yard. It was his experience that much damage was done to roads by sawmillers Cr T, Duncan, representative for the riding' concerned in the applicar tion, said the Council in case of consent, should insist on a substantial guarantee for repair costs. Mr Willis said he would not be a party to a guarantee. It was resolved that the applicants be required to enter into, with two other approved securities, a bond of £SOO, before they can be permitted to cart on the county roads from the proposed 'sawmill on Mr WilltsTs property, Hun terv i! le. It was resolved; That Messrs John Condor and W. Dickson be appointed rapgcrs under the Act. On the motion of Cr P. R. H. Brice, it Avas resolved; That the Government be requested to amend the Public Works Act providing that all fences shall bound on any road upon which there shall be a level railway crossing, shall, for a distance of 4 chains on both sides of the .lino of rails at such, crossing and on each sdic- of theroad, be constructed with picket or otherlopen fencing material, mb more than 3 feet 9. inches in height, and .that close boarded cifhn "'fence shall be allowed -fry- perI 'tV " : r: :-h- That .aV'uy;

this resolution be forwarded to t&S Counties' Asociation with a request!! that the Association support the samr. and a recommendation that copies G it ho distributed among county coui> cils throughout the Dominion.

Cr. Duncan, noting the future tense of the motion, remarked that the saoi3 regulation should have force in respect to existing crossings. Cr O’Callaghan said it was only fi matter of time before level crossings would have to be done away with. , Cr F. Brice mentioned the desirability of purchasing a motor bicycle for Foreman Monaghan, The Council decided instead to offer to give jhirtJ! £2O additional annually, if he will purchase a bicycle and use it in repair.

It wa,s decided to give an advance of £l2 annually in the salary of F„ L, Nicol. That Crs Doole, Randolph an>:l O’Callaghan, with the engineer, meet! the representatives of the Taihape Borough Council, and the Wan ga eh 12 Road Board, re the. Taihape Bridge, and report at the next meeting. While the Council was considering the estimate s on Saturday, the cler'ii! pointed out that whatever was the amount of the rate struck tjhe Council could not receive more than £2,500, as that was the maximum amount pay. able to any county. The Council resolved to ask Government to allocate) the subsidy on rates on a more equitable basis. After some discussion, in which it was considered inevitable to increase the rates —owing to increase of wages and material it was decided to strike rates as follows: —In the Ratigitoto, Otakapu and Porewa ridings each in the £1; Wangaehu, 11-6 d; Rangitita, 5-8 d; Otairi, 3d; Te Kapua. 1 3-8 d; Awarau, 1 3-8 d; Ercwjhon Id,