MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 64, 6 April 1880, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

+~ — ■• — . A Monday, April 5, 1880. }' The Counoil met at 3 p.m. Present — Messrs Maoarthur (Chairman), M'Both, Loudon, Sunson, Gower, Rockstrow, Linton, and Kebbell. The minutes wore read and confirmed. FOXTON FOUND. Letter read from P. Neylon to Mr Rook■trow, applying to the Counoil for £5 damages he had placed upon a dark bay entire horse sold by the poundkeeper for os. Mr Rockstrow said in the former return the poundkeeper stated the hone was sold on the Ist of January, but now in an amended return he stated it was sold on the 12th of January. The Poundkeeper said the horse was sold on the 1 2th of January. Mr Rockstrow said it the horse was sold without duo notice, Neylon had a claim against the Council, as the employers of Howe. The Poundkeeper said the horse In question was a valueless one, and he gave due notice to the owner, who wai present when the sale took plaoe. The Chairman said Mr Neylon must take his remedy against Hogan, who was reported in the return as the owner of the horse. He could obtain tresspass rates, aa per the Act, but must sue the owner for any damages aaid to hare been sustained. GOBBBBPONDENOR BEAD. Letter read from the Hon. John John, ston to Mr Rookstrow, stating that upon receipt of a plan of the land needed, and

upon the Council giving an undertaking to fence the line 911 both sides, be would be willing to state the amount he required for his land, for the Foxton-Otaki toad. Received. The Returning officers appointed at la^j. meeting, with the exception of Mr Knocks, signified their acceptance of the appoint' ment. Mr Kebbell stated that Mr Knoekw had verbally signified his aooeptance of the appointment. Letter read from the Treasury, seating that £73 had been paid into the credit of the Foxton-Otaki road fund. Received. Letter read from Mr Blake, offering to accept the appointment of Ranger for Awahou Riding, under the Game Laws Act.— The Chairman said the matter was one for the Acclimatisation Society to deal with. Received. Letter read from Treasury, stating thai £1308 12s 2d had been paid into the County fund, as subsidy for half year. Received. . Leiter read from F. F. Fraser, asking for refund of £1 10s, County rates ppid in error by him, whereas Mr Leithbridge was owner of the property, and paid £2 2s for it an rates. The Council determined to refund the money. Letter read from Local Industries Com* mission, asking information re local industries or manufactures in the district, together with any suggestions regarding new industries. Received. Letter read from Public Works Depart, ment, acknowledging receipt of letter re the Foxton deviation, and stating that the same " shall have bis consideration." (Laughter.) Received. Letter read from Air Halcombe, tendering his resignation. Received. Letter read from Crown Lands Office, agreeing to subsidize the work proposed on Kimbolton road, to the extent of £600, conditionally on the Council expending £1 for each £) provided by Government. Latter read from Government, promising if it is possible to legislate on the pound question, to bear in mind the suggestion that cattle on roads should be impounded. Received. : Letter read from J. Harmes, lessee of Gorge ferry, asking for consideration, on account of the ferry wire having been carried away before his term began. The Council resolved to consider the matter when the time during which the ferry is closed is definitely known, when it is probable the rent for the time the ferry was closed will be returned. Letter read from Clerk to Rangitikei County Council, stating that that body had, determined to have the gravel removed from the bridge. — Mr Gower said Mr Stevens, cattle drover, had informed him that since the gravel was taken off, the cattle trotted over the bridge, the shaking from which was likely to injure it more than the weight of the gravel — Mr Kebbell said an engineer in Wellington told him two or three coats of tar and sand would answer as well as gravel, to give animals hold on the bridge. The letter was received. THE BCBSIDIES. Letter read from the Treasury, forwarding form for return ox rates received as basis for subsidy, and calling a*teution to the fact that Parliament had approved of the Government proposal to discontinue subsidies at expiration of the then financial period. The. form, although Bent, was not therefore to be taken as an indication that provision will be made during the approaching session. FOXTON PEIIRT. Letter read from lessees of Foxton ferry, asking to be supplied with a suitable boat. Engineer ordered to get two suitable boats. The Council granted £5 compensation for loss occasioned to them by the late flood. The letter also stated that Mr J. Guerin would be surety in place of J. M'Pherßon. Request granted. Letter read from T. Bowe, asking for compensation owing to loss sustained through the late flood. The Council voted £10. Letter read from the Hntt Council apply ing for £6 10s, half cost of Waikanae ferry for quarter ending January 28. Received, and ordered to be paid. PALMEHSTON LAND SALES. Letter read from the Treasury, stating that 20 per cent, of land sales in Borough of Palmers to 11 had erroneously been paid into credit of County fund. Mr Linton— That affects me satioac torily ! The Chairman— No, you wont get ifc. Boroughs do not get the 20 per cent, of land fund. I suppose they will keep it themselves. I'm sorry we made any enquiries about it. (Laughter.) The land sales in Palmerston amounted to £287 10s, and the 20 per cent, therefore to £57 10s. [Left sitting.! engineer's beport. Gbntlembn. -I beg to submit the following report for your consideration and approval. Since last meeting there have been unusually high freshes in the Oroua, Pohangina, and Manawatu Rivers, which havedone a considerable amount of damage both to roads, bridges, and ferries. GItOVA Kll/ING. The roads throughout this Riding are in good repair. The Manawatu Highways Board are having tho metalling on Penny's Line carried through, said metalling will be completed in about ton days. KAWA. KAWA BIDING. The road and sand-outtings are in very good repair. The first contraot under Manawatu Highways Board on Whale Line is finished. I have certified for payment of theXraount of first contract. ,■/ AWAHOU BIDING. I have prepared a plan of the proposed road line through the Hon. John Johnston's land at Foxton. The contractors for formation on the Foxton-Otaki road, north side of river, have completed their contract. Said work was done in a satisfactory manner. MIDGES AND FERRIES. Iho bridges and ferries have suffered considerable damage during the late fresh. Foxton Ferry — The wire (nearly new) was carried away by a house fouling same, the post on the southern side of River was also hauled from upright. Immediately ordered a new wire and h&vinir tame fixed. The lead from cattle yard at Foxton is carried away. I will witU your consent erect posts only with irons on outside for movable rails to be fitted into ; by shifting the rails the great presure of water will be done away with, and when cattle are" being oroseed the said rails can be slipped in thefc places. " Only for the exertions of the Europeans and Maoris at Awahuri at least one of tho spans would have been carried away, a d most probable the whole structure would have gone as there was a; complete block of timber against the bridge. „