MASTERTON COUNTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1941, Page 7

MASTERTON COUNTY

BUSINESS AT MONTHLY MEETING , ROAD AND BRIDGE WORKS. PENALTY ON OVERDUE RATES. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held last night the chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, presiding. There were also present Councillors George Moore, J. Donald-, J. W. Colquhoun, P. R. Welch and W. I. Armstrong. Mr G. H. Oliver advised that he.was not .satisfied with the proposed payment and severance fees for land taken for the Taueru Road deviation, Masterton-Castlepoint Main Highway, and he was unable to accept the council’s offer. It was decided to ask Mr Oliver what he wanted as tion/The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the Main Highways Board had approved the council’s recommendation to accept the tender of Messrs Solon and McLean for the construction of the Wangaehu Stream Bridge, with approaches, at 8,75 miles on the Master ton-Weber Main Highway, and that of Messrs Wairarapa Transport Ltd. for Wilson’s Bridge replacement at 17.6 miles on the Masterton-Stronvar Main Highway. The engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt advised that a preliminary engineering survey had been made of the Kahumingi to Blairlogie section of the Masterton-Castlepoint Main Highway with a view to reconstruction and also of a deviation just beyond the Rorokoko Culvert To the Roadman’s cottage. The estimated cost of improving the existing road in the latter case was £3705 and for a deviation over the same length £9,099. The estimates were for construction only. The increased cost of the deviation scheme was owing to earthwork and a box culvert in a big filling. As the greater part of the cost was in connection with the big filling, a modified scheme for deviating a shorter length was estimated to cost about ,£1,700 more than the cost of widening the existing road. Consideration of the plans was deferred until a later meeting. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that approval had been obtained for a sum of £2,050, £1 for £1 in respect of the Government subsidy for the renewal of the Taueru River Bridge (Deans), Letts Road, on the understanding that the Department would pay no more than £5OO £1 for £1 during the present financial year. The action of the County Clerk (Mr J. C. D. Mackley) was approved. The council agreed to improve the curve at the Masterton end of the •bridge, by increasing it from to 21 chains, the additional cost being £7B. The engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt, advised that the Public Works Department had approved proposals for the reconstruction of the Te Parae Road Bridge No. 1. The District Engineer pointed out that the current year’s estimates, a subsidy of £3OO, £1 for £1 had been voted for this structure.

The County Clerk was authorised x to call for tenders early in the New Year. The New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association approached the council with a view to securing the fullest cooperation possible, both monetary and otherwise. The letter was received. At the request of the Uppei' Plain Water Supply Committee notices had been served advising that action would be taken against any person who permitted ducks to use the water’ races in the Upper Plain Water Supply District-. The Clerk’s action was endorsed. A resolution was passed fixing the fees for the registration of any dog in the county for the year 1942 at 2s 6d.‘ plus an additional charge of Is per dog to cover the cost of the supply of the approved remedy for the cure of hydatid, making the total registration fee 3s 6d per dog. It was reported that the estimated cost of a road deviation at Awatoitoi would be £8,528. Councillor Moore agreed to look over the plans and report back to a later meeting. It was decided to add 10 per cent penalty on all rates remaining unpaid after Friday, January 23, 1942. ( The ranger reported having impounded two head of cattle during the month. The fees collected for the month totalled 18s, making the total to date this year £l4 16s. The engineers, Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt reported that Kummer's Bridge, Waipoua River and approaches had been completed. The construction of the approaches to the Waihora Stream Bridge, Homewood Road, was well in hand. Good progress had been made with the construction of the Taueru River Bridge at Deans and with the Ruamahanga River Bridge at Te Whiti.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the finance committee of the council it was reported that no tenders had been received for the construction of the Wainuiomapu Road Bridge, at 19 miles, and it was decided that the'Clerk investigate the possibilities of carrying out the work by day labour. The Clerk reported on the result of his representations to the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Audit office concerning the provision of legislation authorising the council to expend money on the purchase of land for afforestation and making provision also for the council to be reimbursed from the income of the estate of Dr. M. Trimble under the terms of his will, when that income became available. The council made a donation of £2 2s to the Masterton A. and P. Association, towards the prize fund. It was agreed to make a contribution towards the expenses incurred by the Masterton Borough Council in regard to E.P.S. and Home Guard. The annual holidays for the office staff were fixed as follows: —From Monday, December 22 to Tuesday, January 13, both days inclusive. It was decided not to hold a meeting of the council in January.