Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 15 July 1899, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday. Present — Crs J. G. Wilson (chairman), F. Robinson, T. Masters, J. P. Clark, and J. McLennan. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : — From Austin Bros., offering as per

ton for all green flax on the road at Moutoa, opposite the Moutoa schoolhouse. The overseer reported that the flax on the Foxton- Shannon road should not be touched as it was acting as a protection to the road. — Offer consequently refused. From Joe Tos, Foxton, offering £5 for the flax opposite Mr F. Carter's residence. Tender accepted, the right to cut tq cease on the 31st December, and the flax to be transported to mill by the river. From the District Railway Enneer, stating he would do his best to supply extra metal ; also reporting on repairs required to the tram line. The monthly report of the Tramway Manager was read. He stated that £30 had been offered for the old engine Wallaby. He asked for an extra man to do repairs for the line, and advised that the engine Weka be repaired. The following quantities of goods had been carried during the month : — 101 tons of grain, 231 tons of mineral, 60 tons of merchandise, 21 tons of hemp, 3 bales of wool, 21 trucks firewood, 8633 feet of timber, and £7 10s 6d had been paid by passengers. Mr George had not done anything to the Sandon goods shed. The Council decided that Mr Wrigley employ an extra man ; that he accept offer of £30 for engine Wallaby ; and employ some one else to repair the goods shed. From the Treasury, declining to approve of any portion of £700 loan for repair of Bull* bridge being diverted to payment of Council's portion of expenses in connection with the establishment of a ferry. From the Rangitikei County Council, with copy of Engineer's report on Bulls Ferry; also on plans of Bulls bridge. The Chairman said on June 23 he instructed the Clerk to write to the Department of Lands to inquire whether the Engineer-in-Chief had approved of the plans of the Bulls bridge, as provided in clause 2 of the agreement with Local Bodies. No reply being received, on the 4th July a telegram was sent asking for a reply by wire, but no answer was returned to this either. On Tuesday he sent a telegram to Mr Barron asking if any tenders had been received, and he received a reply stating that four had been received and were being examined. The lowest would probably be a few hundred pounds above the estimate. The chairman, continuing, said it appeared from the tact of no answer having been returned in regard to the examination of the plans by the Chic Engineer that this had not been done, yet it was the only safeguard of the local bodies. They knew the Government Engineers, but not Mr Fulton in the matter. The Rangitikei County Engineer's comments on the plans were gone over carefully and the Advocote report of the discussion on the subject by the Rangitikei County Council was read, and it was resolved — That this Council endorse the action of the Rangitikei County Council in requiring that plans and specifications of the proposed Bulls bridge be approved by the Engineer-in-Chief, as provided in the condition of agreements made with the local bodies ; and also regrets to find that the designs will not permit of the bridge carrying a tramway in the event of the latter being extended. From John Mudford, F. G. G. Couper and 12 other ratepayers, requesting that a loan of £3000 be raised to metal Main Drain and Couper roads. The chairman suggested to Cr. McLennan that the loan be raised for £3500 and if the whole of the money was not required the balance could be returned and no interest paid in respect to it. By this means there would be no danger of leaving part of the work undone. On the motion of Cr McLennas, it was resolved That steps be taken to raise a loan for the pupose of metalling the Main Drain and Couper roads in compliance with petition of ratepayers. From William Brookie, pointing out that the water-table at the end of Hammonds's line could not carry the water from the road. — Drain to be thoroughly cleaned out. From Charles Watkin, Carnarvon, offering £1 for the timber of the old shed on Whale line. — Referred to Tramway Manager. From W. Macmillan, drawing attention to a culvert Under the tram line near Whale line, as not being low enough to allow the water to flow from his section. The overseer pointed out that it could not be lowered unless Mr Clark gave, consent as he owned the land at the outlet of the culvert. Mr Clark gave his consent, and on Mr Macmillan promising to send a man to help lower the culvert, the overseer was directed to do the work. The Clark reported a debit balance of £70^143 4d on general account, also general expenses of £20 xos, debit balances amounting to £242 12s 8d on the Sandon, Waitohi, Campbell and Awahou ridings, a credit balance of £109 18s id on Mt Stewart, Carnarvon and Kawa Kawa riding accounts, and a credit of £3 18s on special loan, making a net credit balance of £0,4356 d. It was directed that the names of a number of purchasers of land of Messrs Lethbridge and Son be placed on the rate roll as requested by Mr Sandilands; and Wm. Davis in place of Wm. Penny for section 223, block 3, Te Kawau. A resolution was past striking a general rate of three-eighths of a penny in the £, a separate rate of £d in the £ in the Waitohi and Awahou ridings, 7-i6d in the Sandon riding, fd in the Campbell, Jd in the Mount Stewart, Carnarvon aud Kawa Ridings. BYE-LAWS. The Council considered the proposed bye-laws for the regulation of heavy traffic, and resolved that they be referred to Messrs Martin and Richmond for their opinion, and that a special meeting be held on August 9, at 2,10 p.m., to adopt them. The object of passing the bye-laws is to deal with heavy traffic in connection with the carriage of flax and timber by which so much damage is done, particularly to the unformed roads. They will provide that not more that i\ tons shall be carried on one pair of wheels. An annual license of £25 will be charge on a four-wheel vehicle, and £12 on a two, used for the carriage of flax or timber, but if the tires of such

vehicles are not less than nine inches wide the owners will be exempted from the tax. TRAMWAY EXTENSION. Some discussion took place on a suggestion that the tramway should be extended as far as the bank of the Rangitikei river with the view of obtaining a cheaper metal from the roads, particularly in the southern parts of the' county, where a great quantity will be required shortly to complete the roads At present the metal for this part is all brought from Palmerston and costs the Council 4s 6d a yard. It was said that if the tramline was carried to the bank of the river metal could be taken from the cliff and put into the trucks at a cheap rate. The chairman was requested to obtain an estimate from Mr Fulton of the cost of the work. Cr Clark gave notice of motionThat this Council at its next meeting consider the advisability of extending the tramway in the direction of the Rangtikeii river for the purpose of obtaining metal — Advocate.