Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 13 June 1891, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

«. The following further business was transacted at the usual monthly meeting of the above Council on Wednesday : — THE ESTIMATES. The Chairman drew the Councillors attention fo the estimates of the receipts and expenditure of the present year, which he had had forwarded with the notices of the meeting. The following is a copy of the ESTIMATED RECEIPTS. £. s. d. Balance in hand ... 222 2 10 General rates 91-92 .. 1630 0 0 Arrears .. ... 150 0 0 Licenses — Publicans ... ... 60 0 0 Slaughtering ... 10 0 0 Dog Tax 15 0 0 Shannon ferry, & share 85 0 0 Tram receipts ... ... 150 0 0 Rent of unused rooms 5 0 0 Govt. Subsidy ... 500 0 0 Refunds — Share of working expenses from Riding accounts ... ... 183 0 0 Expenses on loan of £1750 ... ... 18 0 0 Total, ... .... 2928 210 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE. County Clerk's salary 135 0 0 Office expenses ... 35 0 0 Oflice rent 2 12 0 Office insurance ... 815 0 Office painting ... 20 0 0 Law costs ... ... 50 . 0 0 Advertising and printing 80 0 0 Bank exchange . . 5 0 0 Travelling expenses Chairman ... 85 0 0 Do. Councillors . . 40 0 o Audit Inspectors . . 15 0 0 Balance due on Council Chambers 112 10 0 Interest on Govt. Loans 181 2 0 Hospital rate ... ... 46 7 0 Charitable Aid rate ..... 66 4 8 Purchase of gravel pit 187 10 0 Wash out for engines 75 0 0 Maintenance Scott's Ferry, £ share ... 15 0 0 Do. bridges 200 0 0 Do. Bulls - Awahuri Road, 12 miles ... 120 0 0 Do. Awahuri - Feilding Road, 4 miles . . 40 0 0 Do. Sandon - Foxton Road, 20 miles ... 200 0 0 Do. Oroua Bridge Road, 8 miles . . . . 80 0 0 Do. Campbell townLongburn Road 6 miles 60 0 0 Road construction ... 680 0 0 (as added) „ . . 193 2 7 Grant to Riding a/cs. 250 0 0 Total ... 2928 2 10 ! The following proposals, as j amended, for the expenditure of the

£883 2s 7d for road construction were agreed to : — Oroua Bridge Boad ... 80 0 0 Foxton- Sandon Boad — (a) continuation of metalling Sandon end 250 0 0 (b) commencing at * Scott's ferry and working towards Foxton 100 0 0 (c)commencing at south- - crn boundary of ! County and working towards Sanson as 1 required .. . . 250 00 < Additional amount added 193 2 7 Total £873 2 7 The Chairman showed that after , making provisions for necessary-pay-ments, a sum of £1150 was left for road maintenance. In the suggested expenditure he had thought it best to propose as heavy an amount as could be awarded on one particular line, so that some real work might be shown, as it was well known that by that means work was done better and cheaper. Cr Sanson thought that the item £10 a mile for County roads was too little. That piece from Awahuri to Feilding was still full of hdles and', there was very heavy traffic on it. Cr Masters said that -Speedy's line was a County road and had apparently been omitted. Cr McKenzie thought estimates showed care,, but he would like to have seen more money set apart for road construction. He believed the £10 per was ample .for main? tenance. Ths Main rdd4' running through Carnarvon had been shown 1 on plans 20 years ago, but it was not yet made. It had always been the intention of Councillors to form the whole of the County roads directly funds came in ; .Until the-; County, roads were completed no money/ should be divided amongst the ridings. He believed there was no district that had been so long settled, was; so badly off for roads as the district between; Sanson and Foxton. He Relieved" that Councillors would ; agree with him in desiring an increase in this direction. He thought a wooden tram could be put into the metal pit for £200 which, on 4000 yards of gravel would only mean Is per. yard. Now if they could spent more money they could get 8000 yards which would thus mean mak- 1 ing the cost not more than sixpence a yard for the tram. He objected to the amount of £293 for contigencies as being too large. If j there was any need for suoh a sum, it was possible to get it hy overdraft, seeing the Council's account was now in credit, he thought that these roads should receive attention now they had funds. Cr Saxon pointed out that the bridges must be kept in view. His riding and Cr Masters was bearing the whole of the traffic. The Council then went into Committee to consider the items. The Chairman said that as regards the subsidies half of them should be spent in the Hidings. He thought . the extra money to be spent in road construction should be taken from contingencies and not from the subsides to the Bidings. Cr McKenzie moved that the item of road construction be increased by £200. Cr Masters said he thought £10 a;, mile for road maintenance was sufficient if there was a little nipre allotted for the bridges. Cr Robinson thought a larger sum should be put, for the bridges. Cr Saxon moved and Cr Masters seconded, That £200 be placed' on ; the estimates for bridges instead of £100 for bridges on the County roads and £193 be added to road • construction. — Agreed to. ''.'■■ ' or Mitchell directed attention to the salary paid to their clerk and he intended to propose that it he increased by £25. He received now £185 and other fees and the addition he proposed would bring his salary to £200 being equal to that paid to other similar officers. Cr McKenzie said that he thought they should make some increase in their clerk's salary. He had in many cases made a great saving to the Council. From the start of his management with the tram he assisted to make both ends meet. It had been said that flax had made the increased revenue but the Dlerk had done so in the worst times of the year, when the flax trade had not begun. It was here suggested that a lesser sum would be unanimously agreed to. Cr Mitchell proposed and Cr Eobinson seconded, That the Clerk's salary be raised to £150 a year commencing from Ist June, 1861. — agreed to. On the Council going out of Committee, the last two resolutions passed in Committee were confirmed. Cr McKenzie proposed and Cr Bansom seconded, That the estimates of receipt and expenditure ior the year 81st March, 1892, as amended, be adopted.— -Carried. The overseer's report was read. It was resolved that the punt timber tender be accepted, subject to Mr Nye approving of it. ! The usual batch of accounts were passed for payment, and then the 1 Council adjourned.