COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL. REBUILDING OF BRIDGES. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yester-i day. the chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, being in the chair. There were also present Councillors H. H. Mawley, P. R. Welch, W. I. Armstrong, J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald and G. Moore. The Local Government Loans Board advised that the council’s application for sanction to raise a bridges loan of £14,500 for the reouilding of eleven bridges had been dealt with by the board and the proposal, sanctioned subject to certain conditions, including stipulations that the term of the loan be 25 years and the rate of interest not to exceed £3 10s per centum per annum. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that on account of heavy commitments this financial year, the Main Highways Board was unable to, approve any general increase in the present main highway mileage and the board could not take any action concerning, applications made by the council for the declaration of certain roads as additional main highways. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote requesting that detailed proposals for all construction works should be lodged for approval as early as possible. Similar details were required in respect to road works on which subsidies were payable. Th§ council decided to have proposals prepared for the Fenemor Road access job, with a reservation concerning the fencing. The County Clerk (Mr J. C. D. Mackley) was authorised to invite tenders fpr the Jackson’s Road bridge, Kiriwhakapapa Road bridge No. 1 and the Te Ore Ore Settlement Road bridge. The secretary of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition wrote asking for full particularse of historical events and scenic attractions and of industrial and primary activities of the district.

The council agreed to the request of the Wairarapa Automobile Association asking for the erection of a danger sign visible at night in cases where road improvement works were being carried cut. It was decided to put the Glencrieff i ccess road in order, the proprietors undertaking to pay the full cost and accepting responsibility for future maintenance.

The suggestion of the Medical Officer of Health that the county be added to the fourth schedule of the regulations of the Plumbers’ Registration Act, this meaning that no sanitary plumbing could be done in the county except by a registered plumber, was approved. The ranger reported having dealt with one head of cattle, the fees for the month amounting to 4s, making the total to date £l3 Bs. ENGINEERS’ REPORT. The engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt reported, inter alia, as follow: — No. 64 Masterton-Castlepoint -Main Highway: Goodlands Bridge to Bennett's Hill Section: Reconstruction and sealing: Realignment and regrading of the portion between “Otahoua” homestead and the foot of Bennett’s Hill is nearly completed. It is expected that priming can be done by the end of this month. No. 65 Masterton-Stronvar Main Highway: Weraiti Corner to Lee’s Road section: Reconstruction and sealing om. to Im. 13chs. —Approximately one mile of this section is readj’ for priming which will be done as soon as weather conditions permit, the remaining portion, some 13 chains at 2 curves, requires further consolidation by traffic before priming is done. No. 65 Masterton-Stronvar Main. Highway: Weraiti Hill Road improvement: Steady progress is being maintained, the mechanical excavator is working on the section between lm. 13chs., and the top of the hill at om. 77chs., excavating spoil for the big fill at lm. 38chs. near McKenzie’s. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer, Mr B. L. Larson, reported, inter alia, as follows: — Upper Taueru Riding.—Mangarei Road: The work of reshaping this road with a heavy power grader is in hand and good progress has been made with the work. Mangaparuparu Road: All slips have been - removed and washouts filled in on this road and the surface is in good order. Te Whiti Riding: Masterton-Stron-var Main Highway: Sealing preparation. —Traffic consolidation has been carried out on this work and the surface is now in good order. MastertonCastlepoint Main Highway: The alterations to the curves and grade at “Otahuao” have been completed and the final shaping and surfacing work is now being carried out. Uriti Riding: Lett’s Road, contract No. 172, metalling.—This contract has been completed in a satisfactory manner.