Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1900, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

The monthly meeting of the above was held on Wednesday. Present : — Crs. J. G. Wilson (chairman) Hammonn, Clark, Robinson, Strang, J. R. McLennan, and T. Masters. CORRESPONDENCE. From Foxton Borough Council, jjotifying that in addition to the sum certified by Mr Fulton, Engineer, to be spent in connection with the Wirokino Bridge works, a further amount of £268 1583 d had also been expended, and asking the Council to pay its share. Held over. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted : — Contract 89, 218 yds metal, FoxtonShannon Road, M. Boyle, 7s ad per yard; contract gi, 225 yds metal. Banks- Waitahi Road M. Boyle, 4s sd per yard ; contract 92, 114 chains, Steward's Line, T. Young, £z gs 6d per chain ; contract 93, formation of Wanga's line, G. Richardson, 10s per chain. Resolved that- the chairman be empowered to purchase from Mr Ihle, a iscwt monkey and derrick at £20. The chairman was authorised to sign the balance-sheet. 1 TRAM EXTENSION. With regard to the suggestion received from the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, the chairman ■said the Council had no power to construct a tramway, except on their own roads. Such a line, as suggested, would also be a very expensive matter, especially when they had a very'much cheaper way of procuring metal. If has been suggested to him that the line betaken to Kakariki, where an unlimited supply of metal could he procured, but he did not think this would suit the country. With regard to taking the line to Palmerston, that would be almost impossible. The cost would amount to about £21,00 and the country could not borrow more than £6,000 per annum. It would therefore be four years before they could raise money to do it. He. however, would reply to the letter received, pointing ont the position of affairs.

With regard to the extension of the tram line to the Rangitikei river, the Chairman said there seemed to be an impression among some of the ratepayers that only three ridings would benefit by it. This was not so. The yearly saving in metal id the three ridings— Waitohi, Campbell and Kawa'nwa would be £157, and on the general maintenance £235, making a total saving, in maintenance of £392 per annum. With regard to the new works to be carried out, £600 would be saved in the Campbell riding, and in the Kawakawa £713 17s 6d, making a. total of £1313 173 6d. These ridings, however, would not be the cr.ly oner; 'jenef: Ceil. There would be 1 saving of £56 5s more to the general rate than the riding rates. The Sandon riding would be benefited also, as the metal would be taken along and emptied from the trucks as wanted. Since test meeting he bad found that a gravel pit near the river, on Mr Bull's property, could be lsed. Another consideration was. that the whole of the districts' good? and merchandise wonld be carried by the tramway, which would practically cover the cost of the line. It was im nortaut to note that the cost of the loan of £6000 would be 3^ per cent psr annum for 41 years. The annual pay ■nent on that would be £210, wh ; c v >vould be taken out of the general rale. Although in compliance with the Ac a special rate would have to be struck, he did not for a moment think the county would be called upon to pay it. As a ratepayer he would certainly vote in favour of the extension, and, as chairman of the Council he was quite prepared to place the matter before ; he ratepayers. The majority of the Councillors exoressed approval of the scheme, and the following resolution was then carried : — " That it is desirable that this Council extends the. present tramway to the Rangitikei river, and proceed to take the necessary steps to accomplish this object." Resolved, " That all ratepayers who nave become liable for the ten pc; cent additional ra^es. and who have not paid, be sued for same."

A number of accounts were passed \»r payment, and the meeting theD tdjourned. — Times.