WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 209, 15 May 1915, Page 2

WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Present: Councillors P. Brass, chairman (Huikumu), C. L. Pemberton (Ohakune), T. McArthufr (Parapara), C. G. Powell (Ruapehu), H. H. Harris (Manganui), T. Epps (Ruatiti), and J. Kennedy (Karioi). CORRESPONDENCE. Waitieke Bridge.—Tjhe Minister of Public Works, through Mr R. W. Smith, promised consideration of Council's representations. Canceled Grant.—M(r R. W. Smith wrote in connection with arrangements for interviewing the Minister Road Votes.—The Under-Secrotary, P.W. Dept., advised that the amount of £465 for Karioi-Rangiwaea road was offered to Council in the correct amount being £lB 8/3; the resident engineer approved plans and specifications of Ohura Road Bridge; the P.W. Dept. remitted £6BO expended by Council on Mason's-Raetihi Road.

Horopito Improvements. Horopito Progresive Association intimated its agreement with Council's suggestions with r egard to expenditure of money available for township streets, and asked that the work be proceeded with. Parapara Loan. —State Advances Office advised that £2OOO loan for Wanganui - Parapara - Ractihi road had been remitted to Council's credit. Rangataua.—The Rangataua Town Boa,rd applied for 12 yards of crushed metal. —The plant has been removed from Rangataua. Motor Tax. —Southland County Council submitted for endorsement a proposal to levy a tax on motor vehicles, the tax to be collected by the Government, and distributed among local bodies. —Endorsed. WANGANUI PROPOSAL DISCUSSED Wanganui Chamber of Commerce invited Council to submit a schedule of public works most urgently required with a view to securing the best results by way cf Government assistance through unanimous representation. Crs Kennedy and Powell moved that the chairman and engineer draw up a list of urgent works requiring Government assistance, the report to be submitted at next ordinary meeting. —Carried. COUNTY EXTENSION. Cr Kennedy drew attention to a movement to merge part of Wanganui County into Rangitikei County. The area in question formed part of the the outlet for settlement affected Upper Wangaehu Road District, and was through Waimarino roads. The position was that Wanganui "(received th e rates and Waimarino received the traffic. The time was, therefore, opportune for this County to make a bid for the country proposed to be merged.—The 'Council and the clerk was instructed accordingly. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr R. R. Dawson) reported for tihe month of April, as follows: Road Metalling} ißangatauaJ.—The metalling of th e Ratamaire, Mangitei Lei and Ohakune-Waiouru roads has been completed and the stone crushing plant is at present in Raetihi in readiness for shifting to the Parapara road directly the roads ajre in favourable condition for metaling there. Manganui-o-te-ao Road. Repairs are still being effected on the above road generally; in the course of a few day s I hope to ,ik ave tbe h°rs"e work completd and watertables will then be made where necessary. The approach to th e bridge has been fenced, which will obviate continual (repairs and assist greatly the drivers of stock Mangoihe Road.—This road is also being repaired throughout by tjhe use of a horse scoop and hand labour, the completion of which will take about three weeks.

Stone-breaking.—The stone breaking j contract on the Valley road is pro-j gressing favourably and the carting of the broken metal will bp commenced i at an early date. Matahiwi Track.—The repair work is still in operation on road and will probably be 'competed jnjthin three weeks. I proposed to prepare plans for the formaton of tbjree miles of this road, tenders for which may be invited at an early date. Mangaeturoa Road.—Owing to the delay in obtaining totara timber the work of substituting the bridged on the above road has not been commenced. However, the timber is now to hand, and tjh e work will be commenced as soon as V' ; Horse Teams.*-The greater part of horse work will be completed in about a fortnight "and it is my intention to turn the most of the horses out for the winter as soon as possible. GENERAL. A complaint regarding culverts and watertables at. Parapara Junction was 'received from Mr O'Neill and referred to the Engineer. The Public Works Department's invitation to name roads urgently requir. ing assistance was retf!en*ed'' to the chairman and engineer for repqrt at next meeting.. It was decided to take steps towards acquiring under the Publir Works Act a metal deposit on Mr Sollit's property, Parapara Road. ,