COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL APPLICATION FOR BRIDGES LOAN. MAIN HIGHWAY GRANTS. The chairman, Mr R. 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.

The Local Government Loans Board acknowledged receipt of the council’s application to raise a special loan of £14,500 for the purpose of rebuilding eleven bridges within the county and stating that the application was being investigated. When investigations were completed the matter would be submitted to the first meeting of the board for consideration.

Three lending institutions advised the council that they were unable to afford any assistance in the raising of the bridges loan as their funds were fully committed for some time ahead. The Clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, said it looked as though they would have to turn to the State Advances Corporation for a short term loan on a 25 years table with the right of renewal at the end of that period. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded details of the Main Highways Annual Estimates for the year 1938-39 concerning Main Highways controlled by the council and asking that the proposals for all new items covered by the estimates be forwarded for approval as urgently as possible so that the carrying out of the work would not be unduly delayed. The sum of £60,518 was applied for and £36,005 was granted. The amount was made up as follows: Subsidy, £27,004; revenue, £7,652; loan, £1,349; total, £ 36,005.

Referring to the difference between, the applications, and the amounts granted, Mr Mackley said that all the works set out by the council had been authorised, except the Te Ore OreBideford Main Highway, which had been cut out at the request of the council. In a number of cases only a certain amount had been granted on account so that the works could be put in hand. Any balance required would be voted next financial year. It was reported that application had been made through Mr J. Robertson, M.P., for a £1 for £1 subsidy in respect of the following bridges: Te Ore Ore Settlement Road Bridge; Kiriwhakapapa Road Bridge; Jackson’s Road Bridge. The action of the Clerk was endorsed. Mr B. Roberts, M.P., wrote stating that the Minister of Public Works had advised him that Cabinet had approved of a grant of £875, £1 for £l, towards the cost of constructing the Kawhata Stream Bridge at Ngahape, which was destroyed by flood in February of this year. It was decided to call tenders for the work as soon as the plans were completed and approved.

A letter was received from Mr J. Robertson, M.P., stating that he had made further representations to the Minister of Public Works in regard to Fenemor’s access road and was hoping for a good result. The District Engineer advised, in reply to the council’s enquiry, that application for additional Main Highways would be considered by the Main Highways Board at its September meeting.

Mr J. Cooper wrote stating that he was in urgent need of a bridge over the Taueru River giving access to his property. While he would do what he could to assist, the outlook at the moment for the coming -season was very uncertain and he would like the matter deferred until December or January next when he would have a better idea of what the season was likely to be. In the meantime, he would like to solicit the support of the council in the matter of obtaining a more generous grant than £ 1 for £ 1 as he had noticed that neighbouring districts had received higher subsidies. “It is a sensible letter,” remarked Councillor Mawley and it was decided to make representations to the Government for a £3 to £1 subsidy. The Town Clerk, Masterton Borough Council, wrote stating that it was the intention of the Mayor of Masterton to call a conference of district local bodies concerning Wellington Centennial Memorials at an early date. A letter was received from Mr F. Brady stating that he had given further consideration to the matter of access to his property at Mt Brfuce and had come to the conclusion that a suitable road could only be constructed under a fairly heavy expense owing to the hard rocky nature of that particular locality. In spite of that, he would endeavour to construct the road and keep it in. repair providing the council subsidised the work to the extent of £25.

Opinions were divided on the matter and it was decided, on the motion of Councillor Colquhoun, that Mr Brady be advised that the council was unable to agree to his request. Mr D. A. Thompson, on behalf of the owners of Glencrieff Station, wrote asking the council to give consideration to forming up a short length of the Mangaparuparu Road from the end of the present formation to enable them to form a new access to the property. The matter was left in Councillor Donald’s hands to attend to. The Finance Committee’s report was adopted and accounts amounting to £2571 2s 7d were passed. The ranger reported having dealt with 10 head of cattle and 2 horses during the month. Total fees for the month amounted to £1 ss, making the total collected to date, £l2 ss.