COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Wairarapa Age, 9 March 1927, Page 7

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION. Councillor W. I. Armstrong (chairman) presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council yesterday. There were also present Councillors F. Dorset, J. W. A. Falloon, G. Moore, J. Macgillicuddy, J. Judd and H. H. Mawley. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £8624 16s. 9d. Receipts since last meeting totalled £4ll 17s. Bd., including rates £203 2s. 7d., auctioneers’ licenses £4O, contractors’ deposits £55 ss.

Riding balances were reported as follows: Opaki (credit) £360 Bs. Id.; Rangitamau (credit) £253 10s. 5d.; Upper Taueru (debit) £565 13s. 9d.; Te TVliiti (credit) £1558 13s. 3d.; Uriti (credit) £636 3s. 10d.; Wainuioru (credit) £5Bl ss. 43. Resolutions were passed regarding the Stronvar Ngajiape Special Rating District Loan of £l5OO, striking a special rate, authorising the signing of debentures and coupons, providing fdr sinking fund, and sinking fund deed. A letter from the State Forest Service asking for the council’s requirements in connection with, tree-planting for the coming season was .received. The Railways Department advised that the cross-arm warning boards at the Manaia Road crossing required repainting. The matter is being attended to.

A letter was received from a member of Canterbury College asking for information of any natural gas emissions in the district, as investigations were being carried out to ascertain the h claim content. It was decided to refer the matter to Messrs. H. Morrison (Blairlogie) and J. P. Perry (Sulphur Wells) on whose property there were gas emissions.

The heavy traffic inspector reported oi» breaches of the regulations dealt with during the month. The request of a ratepayer that the grader be allowed to grade his road, when the machine was working in his district, was granted. The Hutt County Council wrote accepting the terms under which the Hecla disc crusher was t obe transferred, and the Main Highways Board agreed to the transfer under the conditions set out. The clerk’s action in the matter was confirmed. The New Zealand Counties’ Association advised the council regarding the dispute with the Dqminion Federated Drivers’ Union, stating that county councils were not now parties. The matter of attending to the Rorokoko cottage was left in the hands of the clerk.

A ratepayer wrote confirming his agreement to pay towards the cost of me Lalling Robieson’s road. An application for a motor license to be endorsed to authorise the carriage of passengers was approved by the police. The ranger reported having dealt with twelve horses and six cattle during the month. The tender of Messrs. Truscott and Devenport at £ll3 for painting the Ruamahanga suspension bridge at Mt. Bruce was accepted, and that of K. Butler for carting 250 cubic yards of metal at 4s. per cubic yard.

Councillor Moore asked for an assurance regarding the Rorokoko deviation work, stating that he was of the opinion that the work would not bo completed before the end of the winter, whereas it had been hUped to complete it before the winter. Mr. Pavitt stated that it was expected that traffic would be allowed to cross the new culvert in about a fortnight. The contractor would not be allowed to close the metalled road if the new road was not fit for traffic. It was decided to ask residents in Kibblewhite road to cut back a hawthorn hedge, within a certain time, otherwise the work would be done by the council at their expense.

ENGINEERS’ REPORT. The engineers, Messrs. Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt, reported as follows: Ngahape Road.—Maintenance on both contracts having expired a final certificate has been issued.

Waingawa Highway.—The sealing of about 11 chains of last year’s work has been completed. Rorokoko culvert and 'deviation.— Work has been continued, but progress has not, keen fast. The contractor expects to be able to divert traffic over the culvert within a fortnight. Drawings for improving a sharp bend in the vicinity of the deviation are in hand, and will be submitted to the Highway Board for approval. Bideford bridges.—Nine mile bridge: Portion of the material is on the site, and the contractor expects to commence operations this week. Fourteen »ule bridge: The steel for this bridge is due- to arrive in Wellington early next week, which will enable a start to be made with this work. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer, Mr. F. Excll, reported as fellows:

Opaki Riding.—The Railway, Westbush and Mhtahiwi roads have been graded. Patch metalling is being done on the Miki Miki road. Metal is being carted from the Ruamahanga river and dumped on the WellingtonNapier Highway for repairs. Metal is being crushed at Upper Plain for the various roads in the Opaki riding. Rangitamau Riding.—Repairs are completed and four culverts have been put in on Dorset’s road. A culvert has been replaced with 12-inch pipes on the Waingawa to Camp road. The approach to Dorset’s Bridge is completed. Upper Taueru Riding.—Mr. Harding and myself inspected the metal on Waircre road. We think there is every possibility of getting a pit on Mr. Daniell’s property, in the. Mauriceville County. Mr. Harding thinks it advisable to open it up and ascertain if it i.s any good.

Te Whiti Riding.—The Manaia-Glad-stone road and the Masterton-Martin-borough Highway has been graded. The contractor is making good progress with metalling on Robieson’s road.

Uriti Riding.—Metalling on the Mas-terton-Tinui Highway is completed. This road has been graded from the .Devil’s Elbow to the Junction Hotel. A 12-inch pipe culvert has been put in at mile peg 14, and a 15-inch pipe culvert at Awatoitoi, Blairlogie-East Coast road. Two pipe culverts have been put in on Te Parae road. Wainuioru Riding.—Eight culverts have been replaced with concrete pipes on the Stronvar road, and four on the To Parae road. Metalling is completed on the Westmere road.

General.—l would suggest that the Fordson tractor be fitted with extension wheels.