MASTERTON COUNTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 7

MASTERTON COUNTY

SUPPORT FOR MAURICEVILLE REMIT DECLARATION OF HIGHWAYS. a SURVEY FOR NEW BRIDGE AT TE WHITE “That where the average traffic tally on country roads exceeded 100 vehicles per clay, such roads should automatically become main highways,” was a remit from the Mauriceville County Council received at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council. The Mauriceville County propose to bring the above remit before the forthcoming Counties' Conference and it requested the Masterton County Council to support it. On the recommendation of Councillor J. W. Colquhoun it was decided to support the remit. The present were the chairman Mr R. E. Gordon Lee and Councillors J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald. P. R. Welch, G. Moore and H. H. Mawley. The County Clerk, Wairarapa South County Council, wrote advising that it was prepared to bear half the cost with the council of a survey for a new bridge at' a point above the present Taueru River Bridge On the Masterton • Martinborough Main Highway. The council agreed to the suggestion but were of the opinion that-the old original road line should be the one to be surveyed. The clerk was instructed to advise the Wairarapa South County Council accordingly. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the matter of an additional subsidy had been epnsidered by the Minister of Public Works, towards the cost of protecting the Ngaumu Road Bridge, and he had agreed to make.an additional grant of £75, £1 for £l, but it would be necessary ' for the council to allow as a rebate on the current year’s estimates, all expenditure which came to charge after March 31, 1939.

The Commissioner of Transport advised that the toll of deaths on the road had recently shown a serious increase, and asked for the council’s cooperation in an endeavour to reduce the tragic loss of life, by distributing leaflets during the re-issue of drivers' licences, appealing for greater care on the road. The clerk stated that arrangements had been made for the distribution, as suggested. The Town Clerk, Masterton Borough Council, advised that his council quite approved of the steps proposed to be taken to improve the access to the Masterton Public Hospital, and also to improve the visibility by the removal or trimming of trees at the junction of Totara Street and the No 63 Main Highway, and. that the Borough Engineer would take the requisite action to have this matter attended to. The letter was received and the work approved. It was decided to .rescind all resolutions passed appointing ratepayers to have the management of the Upper Plain Water Races prior to the appointment of certain ratepayers who shall have) and may exercise all the powers of management possessed by the council. Permission was granted the clerk to attend the general conference of county clerks to be held at Wellington on July 25. The overseer, Mr B. L. Larsen, re-ported-inter alia, as follows:— Weraiti Hill Improvement: All the earthwork has been completed on this job including additional widening work between “Puke Te” and the Parawhaiti Bridge., All fencing has been completed on the eastern side of hill. Homewood Road: The work of erecting a temporary bridge at the 41 miles has been completed in a satisfactory manner. Masterton-Cas-tlepoint Highway, sealing preparation No. 2: The earthwork has been commenced on Bennett’s Hill and good progress is being made. ManaiaGladstone Road: Reconstruction work on one mile of this road has been commenced. '