RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3506, 8 June 1920, Page 6

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the .Ra.ugi-=‘ tikei County Council was held on Sat] urday. There were present Mr B. P. Lethbridge (chairman), and Crs. A. G. Simpson, W. Doole, F. H. R. Brice, J. Brown, J_ Brice, A. Gibbs, and G. E. Anderson

A NEW’ COUNCILLOR. [ The returning oflicer (Mr A. V. Brown) wrote ,announcing that Mr ’Gustave Emil *\ndel-son had been elected unopposed to the office of Icouncillor at the election on 20th May for Te Kapua riding, in succession to Cr. Orcallaghun, who had resigned in order to take a trip Home. Cr. Anderson, in taking his seat, said that he had not come on to the Council to raise any trobfidle. VVhen asked asked to stand for the riding, he had‘ told ‘those who first approached him‘ that he knew very little about county management. “Oh, that will be a.II right,” they replied, “Mr Ma_i;' Will soon put you right..’{‘ (Laughter).

The chairman Welcomed Cr. Ander’son to the Council table, remarking ’ that the engineer and the county clerk would give him all the assistance he desired. CORRESPONDENCE. The District Engineer of the Railway Department Wrote, stating that the right for the Rangitikei County Council private siding at Ohangaiti expires on 30th June_ If desired renewal would be granted for a further period of three years at £SO per annum. The estimated cost of putting the siding in order would be payable by the Council.

The matter was left in the bands of. the engineer to inquire into-.

l The Minister of Lands (Hon. D_ H. Guthrie) wrote, stating that he had approved of section 5, Block V., Chinewairua S.D., being reserved as a site for a roadman’s cottage, and the section ~being vested in the Council. The Otaihape Farmers’ Meat and Produce Co., Ltd.,‘ wrote, apiilying for a renewal of a slaughterhouse license for their freezing works at Winia.ta.—The application was granted. I The Valuer-General wrote, forwarding revised valuation roll for Otairi riding. , Mr F. F. Martin, counsel for the NZ. Counties,’ Association, forwarded a legal opinion that, a County Council had no power to contribute from the county funds towards the expenses of a public pound established wtihin a borough and controlled by the Borough Council, except out of unauth.or~ ised expenditure. A I 1: was decided to forwarxt a copy of the opinion to the Taihape Borough Council. The Torere Domain Bolard fol'\\':rl'(l--ed a statement of cost of fence erected between Taihape Dairy Co.;’s property and County reserve, and Torere Domain, and asked the Council to forward its share, £9 13/. The rnatter was referred to the engineer. The Public \\'orks l)epul'tment no1:i~ fied that the Otaihape Valley Road deviation had been gazetted. Messrs Longhnan and Jiacobs wrote, asking, on behalf of Mr. James MeGill, that gates should be removed from the Samlridge Road and that the road should be t'eneed. ' The matter was ‘:'el'erl'ed to the road overseer. EI‘€GINICIiR’S REPORT. The enginf-l‘l' {llla .s‘ydne_v A. R. Mair) submitted the following report:—— ' Wangaehu Ri«ling.—-(?r:1<le1' has been put over Okirae RO-.'lTl, and repairs to gl':tv({‘-lling are in hand. ’lTc-rkapua. l~liding.——Several slips have oc('.ul'red on Pohonui roads, but sur‘fa'<:emen liave the w'orl< in hand. A 'start"li‘as been made gr-avelling Man~ ’§,*iloli{§i"Fd{llls,l 'l’l(-li’a‘p{ia,"::b'i1‘l‘ o\\"ih;j' ‘ to -ma <<-{*t“l'm- tvorig? Ilntv-mitt-*+'6 I3é‘?cl'os'ccl ’tl'<l"w‘xi7"'till"’fhle. 1%-i:i=,_,l{lo'» ?i’in'6""éha"i‘if’§ "liii9E) ‘l’)%l£Ti tltililfaiht en:‘.~l7(r.s rl’{we'l'»"irt€p‘an-2% inaeekiaeeri '::e«‘-5 1-the one 5-arlß.drr’gn‘rhi= {ma sMiLri'a.Ws Fllranli rtxads::rrne_ai‘r::Ma'tar«a’a*. ’A“ti‘t7l?em'equ'es-1 nf .'ls‘U'l”'l’ld')"S‘a"fJ'll 'N'lnnun~i,

Kaweka. and Mataroa. Ridge roads, I ztttended :1. meeting in 'l‘-.lih'.lpe and furnished estimates, etc., for proposed nietalling ~.vol'ks. It was resolved to ask the Council to raise a loan of £IO,OOO to complete metalling on Nurnunui Road, and metal K:lwek-n Road to Webb’s gate, and Matarou. Ridge Road to Bunning’s gate, also to apply to the Goveriiment for £3 for £ subsidy on the proposed expenditure. Ruzumi Ridi.ng.———All loan works have been closed down till spring, except delivering‘ ballast for TurzmgarereOpaea Road. The ballast train is now delivering 80 cubic yards daily. Ohin-‘ gaiti ballast has been delivered nti Hihitahi for repairs to main Hihitahi Road. Culvert repairs and renewals in conujnction with Waininrino County are being carried out on lHihitalli-W.ai-ouru Road. This road. is a boundary road between the two counties, and expenditure is to be borne equally. Repair gravelling in Matal'oa_ township has been completed, and new metalling on M.atal'oa-Runnui Road is abandoned till the spring. ' ~ Erewhon Ridin,g.——Sixteen chains have been gravelled on north end of Pokaka, Road_ With the county clerk I recently visted Napier, and completed adjustment with °Hawke’s Body County for the area recently merged into Erewhon Riding. I returned by motor. through this -area to Taihape. The Council have now taken charge, and surface-men are attending 515 required. . i

I Awaruu Riding.—Forma.tiou of ‘G2 chains of Kotukuraeroa Road has been completed satisfzictoi-ily. The contractors for balance of this road are making good progress with their work. A bad Slip has taken place On the cliff at Waterfall, Pokaka Road, breakin«g away the outside edge. Men are engaged widening the heavy pupa batter to make the road safe. Points and narrow eiittiiigs are being widened on Mangawelia-Utiku Road. I have inspected Weston Road Extension and estimated the cost of formation as requested by Mr. A. E. Russell. The works required are forming and (.1111-‘ Vertiug 56 chains at an estimated cost of £532. A copy of the stimate has been furnished to Mr. Russell. GENERAL.

Authority was given to the engineer to raise of loan of £IO,OOO to complete mc-tailing on Namunui, Koweku, and Maturoa ridge roads.

It was resolved: “That; Mr Lem.-rs be called upon to provide a surety of £2OO ag'ai‘nst damage caused to Murray’s Track by heavy tx':lflic.” “Thuf motor lorry drivers be Warned that they .TVill be sued if fravolling after dark without head and ‘rail lights.” “That Clminxum Cr. Simpson, Cr. Doole and 'the <rngil'mor be appointed delegates I'o Ivlim'stm: of Public Works re Emwhon riding roads and bridges.”

“That. (Brice-Doole) the rangol"s atton.ti(m be drawn to amount of stock straying on roads. ’l‘ha,t he be insstructcd to press for heavy penalties in czlscs whore stock are found on roads at .night.” Cl‘. F. R. H. Brice pl'oposor,l, and (Jr. A. G. .§\.‘i.nlp;<on seconded, “tllat the Rangitileei County Council recommends that any legislation proviiling for the issuing ot’~coz‘ti~ ficutcs of conlpotoncy to drivers ot' motor vehicles. should further provide, (3) That where any accident occurs it be coml'>ul'sory fox: the driver or drivers to report .<zlmo to the nearest police constable within .12 hours of the occul'l'enco of the zlccl'dcnt., similar to the law now in force in U..“<..-\. as the Count.-,il con.<idcl'.€ that ;<u(zll :1 provision would :I.<.s:i;<t in tlotmmining who was at fault; (b) 'l‘hnt in all cases where an accident. has om-11r:'od and :1 driver has been shown to be at fault, lli.<:’(-01'-fificato be either c-r.lxl<-elllml or ondorsod. ” l