Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 15 March 1894, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

i The usual monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Sanson yesterday at 11 a.m. Present— The . Chairman (V. C. Eansom), Crs Taylor, Robinson, and Strang, Cra ! Masters and Hammond attended : after lunch. The minutes of the previous meet- ' ings were read and confirmed. i The following correspondence was [ read : — i CORRESPONDENCE. From Manchester Road Board, drawing attention to that portion of 1 the Halcoinbe-Feilding road in your district and to ask your Council to have it cleared and formed, as it would be a great benefit to the settlers and public generally. ; Peter Regan, stating he would be ■ unable to complete the delivery of metal on the trucks. Stevens and Woods applying for a tram along road side of the mill. Sluggish River Drainage Board, asking for a meeting, and also requestiug that the large number of 1 cattle and horses running loose on the Main Drain road and contiguous road be impounded by the Ranger. C. Grace, asking about the alter* ation to bridge and culvert. Treasury, advising payment of £375 to County Account. John Whittle, objecting to school committee having use of road. Executors of the late T. Scott, expressing surprise at being asked for £10 for rent of ferry reserve. H. 0. Bofctcher, asking that sections 364 to 869 Carnpbelltown be transferred to A. J. Butcher. J. G. Wilson, asking for leave of absence. C. Pyke, directing attention to impassable state of road to hi 3 place. R. MacMillan drawing attention to deplorable state of the lower end of Taikorea road and Mather's line. PETITION. A petition was read from the settlers at Taikorea a3 follows : — The settlers of Taikorea and Carnarvon do beg to bring to the notice of the above Council the bad state the roads have been of late years in the winter months, that is to say, Taikorea road and Mathers' Line. The first named road last winter w*as impassable for any one to go up the road to the Tram on foot on account of so much water as the road for a mile and a quarter it was under water, owing to proper watercourses having been ploughed in on Mr Scott's property, which was the cause of it being forced on to the road : and the outlet is a drain on Mr McLennan's property is completely filled up and the bulk of the water was thrown on to the road in front of the school which has lately been put up and if there is not some* thing done to get the water off before the winter comes on the children will not be able to get to the school. And for the last named road, that is Mathers' line, in the winter months it is a sea of water and mud and a little expense would prevent this as there is three sand hills on the I'oad. At the present time it is very heavy to get over them with a vehicle of any kind and by carting the sand out oi the cutting into the low places, and clay or soil, which ever is the cheapest, as we do not want 'the Council to go to no unnecessary expense, only we should like for our children to be. able to get to the school and if there is nothing done to Mathers', Line there is Mr Sextoii's and Mr Holland's aud Mr Maihers' children will not be able to attend school and these three settles number about 12 or 15 chil.'rou. Hoping this petition will meet wirh the gentlemen's approval at an early date. Signed by Richard Goggin, R. Bredow, Ralph Boswell, R. H. Mao Milan, M. Holland, M. H. Mathers, Fred O. G. Couper, Amon Bros., P. 0 Grady. Treasurer's Repoet. The Treasurer reported that the General Accouut was overdrawn £461 7s 7d The following resolutions were passed : — Proposed by „0p Taylor, seconded by Cr Robinson, That leave of absence be granted Or J. G. Wilson from this meeting of the Council. Proposed by Cr Taylor, seconded by Cr Ransom, That the request that sections Nos. 864 to 869 situated in Severn -street, Campbelltown be transferred from H. E. Bottcher to Arthur John Butcher in the rate ( 1 book be granted. '

After lunch Mr Rowe waited upon the Council. Mr Rowe said ho waited upon tbe Council about tho metalling on his road. Hg desired to know if it had been decided to have the work done beiore the wet season commenced. The Chairman said the Council knew the road required metalling. The road was in the Waitohi Riding and at present the account stood £100 overdrawn. Mr Roe said he thought he had reasonable grounds for making his present application from the letters received. (One letter he produced dated 1889 stated there were no hmfa at present available for tho work.) Mr Rowe wanted to know if there had not been other amounts since then. The Chairman said that all the rates had been absorbed in forming that road. Mr Rowe said if it was a question of fnnds his firm would lend the money to the Council till the next rates were due, at 5 per cent. The Chairman said he did not think the Council could accept private funds. The road would be metalled as soon as it was possible. The Council had had an estimate made, but owing to the Overseer's statement of the heavy traffic over it it was found it would tft'fe 18 yards of metal to the chain, or else the crust would soon be broken through. It was also desired to keep rates down. Mr Rowe regretted to find that the rates had been lowered before this road had been metalled. Other settlers had had roads metalled who had not been so long in the district as he had been. The Chairman said there was no doubt, the Council would do all that could be done. Mr Rowe said if the road was only metalled to their mill it would be something, and would not cost so much, as it was only some 65 chains. The Chairman regretted that at present nothing could be done. Mr Rowe then thanked the Council and retired. Proposed by Cr Rarnsom, seconded by Cr Taylor, That the request of Messrs Stevens and Wood to place ! tramway on 20 chains of TaipoAwahuri road be agreed to on condition that it only remain at the pleasure of the Ceuncil and they be responsible for all damage and that all traffic or drainage be not obstructed. Proposed by Cr Taylor, seconded by Cr Hummond, That the arrangement made by the Chairman with C, Lumsden re the delivery of 1800 yards of metal on trucks bu approved of. Proposed by Cr Robinson, seconded by <Jr Hammond, That the action of Cr Masters with regard to his action with J. Thompson for gravel in Sanson and that the action of Cr Masters in calling tenders for metalling Wilson's Line be agreed to. Proposed by Cr Robinson, seconded by Cr Strang, That the Overseer report on the cost of the repairs proposed by the settlers on the Taikorea and Mathers' Lines and to report at next meeting. Proposed by Cr Robinson, seconded by Cr Taylor, That the Overseer report on the road complained of by Mr Pyke and report at next meeting and make an estimate of a light formation. Proposed by Cc Masters, seconded by Cr Robinson, That the Clerk write to Ihe Manchester Road Board informing them that the Overseer and Cr Wilson have agreed to look at the road referred to in their letter and report at next meeting. Tenders were opened for trimming and metalling Wilson's Line :— > F. Birhead, 24s per chain ; A. Managb, 25s 8d ; F. Rink, 88s 6d ; J. Thompson, 255 ; P. Regan, 283 ; M. Boyle, 24s Gd ; 6. Merrett, 22s 3d , J. Goodwin, 28s 4d. Proposed by Cr Masters, seconded by Cr Robinson, That the tender of G. Merrett for ra .'tailing on Wilson's Line at 22s 8d par chain be accepted. Proposed by Cr Ransom, seconded by Cr Hammond, That £150 be transferred from the General Account to Separate Account. Proposed by Gr Robinson, seconded by Cr Masters, That Crs Ransom and Hammond be a com raittee to deal with accounts on March 80th. " j Proposed by Cr Robinson, se- j conded by Cr Masters, That the notice of motiou standing in the name of Cr Strang be adjourned to next meeting. The usual accounts were passed.