Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 17 June 1899, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting *of the Council was h<eld 3ft Wednesday. Present— Crs J. G, Wilson (chairman), T. Clark, F. Robinson, 1 J. R. McLennan, T. Masters and H. Hammond. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : — From G. Merritt, applying for extension of time to complete his contract. From the Rongotea Co-operative Dairy Company, asking that the Council's overseer be allowed to inspect the company's dairy and the dairies of the milk suppliers.— The Council decided that the overseer had no time to spare from his ordinary, duties to undertake such inspection. From the Rangitikei County Council with copy of agreement made with the Government for the erection of the Bulls bridge, containing the amendments inserted by the ivish of the Council's. These were— (i) That the compensation and "all attendant expenses in taking the road through Mr James Bull's land, on the ea»t or left bank of the river, as shown on plan accompanying Commissioner's report, and the effecting of road connection on the said or east bank of the river, be included in the work. (2) That copies of the said plans and specifications shall be forwarded to the said local bodies. (3) The said local bodies shall be empowered bv the Government of the colony of New Zealand to raise by way of loans under the Government Loans to Looal Bodies Act, 1886, their respective shares of the cost, without taking a poll of the ratepayers. From McElroy and Managh, promising to deliver timber required within "*" ten days. From S. Knight, stating that since he had befen informed by Cr Clark that the valuation of section 3^ and part 4. block 3, Te Kawa, isga y ißp had been increased by about 33 per cent he had been in constant communication with the Valuer-General on the matter, with the result that the r valuation had been adjusted as follows : — Capital value £2898, unimproved value £1920, improvements £978. Alteration cannot be made on rate roll as suggested by Mr Knight, until Council notified by ValuerGeneral. The rate roll showed that another section belonging to Mr Knight had also a considerable increased valuation. From W. Anderson, notifying that one of his workmen, McQuin, was an applicant tor payment from the accident fund through having been kicked by a horse. From the Sluggish River Drainage Board, giving the Council permission to remove spoil banks onahei-higher portions of the main drain. - ~\ From H. Hinks, poundkeeper, Sanson, stating that the takings on the stock impounded during the last two years had been £17 us, or an, average of 3s 4d a week, which was insufficient to pay rent of pound. If the Council proposed to make any change he would offer £6 per year on all stock impounded. — The Council decided to make no change. It was: resolved that Thomas Verry be re-appointed ranger. From W. Richmond, asking terms for the carriage of goods by the tram. The manager recommeisWMhat M r Richmond open a deposit;; account with the Council. — Left with the manager to arrange as he suggested. From the Treasury, notifyma that £250 had been paid to the Council for metalling Jones' line, and for metalling Sanson's line. *^ r From C. P. Nelson, asking payment *« in full on his contract just completed. From the Wirokino. Road. Board, I asking the Council t6 >: hold back part of Nelson's money until he had made good the damage he had done on the Shannon ferry road. Mr Nelson attended and said the road was now in a betteiLstate that when he commenced his metalling contract. — The Council decided to retain 25 per cent for 30 days as provided by the Act. The Clerk reported the balance of the various accounts as follows: — General account, credit £403 3s, debit £13 10s; Waitohi riding account, debit £58 gs 8d ; and the rest of the ridings in credit £437 4s, making a total credit of £768 7s iod. The Council discussed at length the finances in connection with the working of the tram. It was decided to make no change, .in. tiie^sjy^lng at . present. Resolved, That the following"^Jter* tions be made in the, rate roll :-r--Chas-Hopping in place oET.\V. Kokecstein for section 17, block 8, Te Kawa; Catherine Hunter in place of Adam L. Linton for section 90, block 1, Kairanga ; W. J. Tucker in place of VV. Taylor for section 364, 164a or iop, block 2, Te Kawa ; M. E. Taylor in place of W. Taylor for section 36 *. 335a 3r 3op, block 2, Te Kawa ; John Bishop in place of W. Kerbs for section 197 Rongotea and part section 19, block 3, Te Kawa ; J. M. A'Court in place of W. Brookie, jun., for section 14 and part section 37, block 15, Ran* gitoto. It was decidad to apply to the Government for permission to apply the

£200 borrowed to repair the old Bulls bridge to meeting expenditure incurred on the ferry. Mr Masters drew attention to thealmost useless condition of the Bulls ferry. It was decided in view of the unsatisfactory working of the ferry, that j the Chairman communicate with the Chairman of the Rangitikei C.C. and suggest that the punt be removed to the old bridge site. A discussion took place in regard to Scott's ferry, and the opinion was generally expressed that owing to the very little use made of it, even by the settlers in the immediate vicinity, that it should be discontinued after the present mail contract expires. It was decided to strike a general rate of three-eights of a penny in the £, and separate rates of a halfpenny in the £in the Awahou and Waitoki, 7-i6ths of a penny in the £ in the Sandon, £d in Campbell, and £d in Stewart, Carnarvon and Kawa Kawa ridings. It was resolved— That in future coal be carried between Carnarvon and Sanson by Tram at 4s per ton on a minimum of four tons. To raise a loan 1 of £850 under the Loans to Local Bodies Act in order to pay the Council's share of the cost of the Wirokino bridge and impose a special rate" over the whole of the country of 1.76th of a penny in the £ to pay the interest. That the tender of C. Lumsden be accepted at £1 is 3d for work on river bank line. The road overseer was instructed to give notice to landowners from whose hedges gorse has spread on to the roads to have such gorse grubbed up at once. Cr C.lark drew attention to the omission of the Horse Shoe Drainage Board to officially notify the Council that the Board would pay £$ towards the cost of bridging across the Campbelltown drain. If this had been done the work would have been done. He also mentioned that he had been informed that Mr Greenaway intended to prevent sand going on the main drain road. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr Hocken that as soon as this was done, the Council would make the road passable for traffic. The Council then considered the advisability of drawing up bye-laws for the regulation of traffic on the , roads of the County. Cr McLennan was requested to draught the regulations suitable to roads in the western part of the County by next meeting. The Council then adjourned.— Advocate.