COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1938, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES The chairman, Mr Gordon Lee, presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council, held yesterday. Others present were Councillors H. H. Mawley, W. I. Armstrong, P. R. Welch, J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald and G. Moore. A resolution was passed making application to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the borrowing of a loan of £14,500 for the purpose of rebuilding eleven bridges in the county. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded a .copy of the Public Works estimates for 1938-39. The following new items were included: Homewood Road bridge No. 3, at 41 miles, £BlO (£1 for £1); Miller’s Road bridge, £250 (£1 for £l, on account); Waingawa Camp Road bridge, £5OO (£1 for £1 on account); Waipoua River flood control, £l2O (£1 for £1). The District Engineer also advised that the Main Highways Board had given approval to the proposal to prime and seal the short stretch of road giving access to the properties on the western side of the railway line at Opaki. The work would be put in hand as soon as seasonal conditions would allow. Mr B. Roberts, M.P., wrote stating that he had interviewed the Minister of Public Works in the matter of obtaining a special flood damage subsidy towards the cost of reconstructing the Ka.iwhata stream bridge at Ngahape, and that he was now awaiting Cabinet’s decision. He anticipated that an official statement would be made any day. A letter was received from the Public Works Department advising that owing to the money available being required for more urgent works, no provision was made on the Public Works estimates for Fenemor’s road access at Kopuaranga. The county engineers stated that a preliminary estimate of the cost of forming, metalling, fencing and legalising the road, was £4OB. It was decided to hold the matter over in the meantime. The ranger reported having dealt with 37 head of cattle and 7 horses during the month, fees collected amounting to £2 18s. Total fees to date amounted to £ll. It was decided to call tenders for the construction of a culvert on the Masterton-Weber Main Highway as soon as the proposals were approved by the Main Highways Board. The engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladdon and Pavitt, reported that the field work in connection with the legalisation of the Stronvar-Ngahape road had not been commenced, and suggesting that, owing to the weather conditions prevailing, and the extra cost involved if the survey were done now, the work be started when the weather conditions were more settled. The suggestion was agreed to.