Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 14 February 1903, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

■ r e The monthly meeting of th Manawatu County Council was held on Wednesday. Present—Crs Wilson (chairman), McLennan, Masters, Clark, Robinson, Hammond and Carter.

From the Treasury, provisionally approving of loan of £4OO for the construction of the Kari Kari drain road; and also of the £450 loan for the Ngawhakarau road. From G. C. Perry, stating the settlers interested in a siding at Hlmitangi were not prepared to pay the cost, and therefore nothing further would be done in the matter. GRAKABY, The Clerk in his first yearly report of the Cou’ncil’s granary at Sanson, stated the total amount it had earned was £27 0s Bd, while the total expenditure was £6 6s, leaving a net credit balance of £2O 14s Bd. Owing to the good prices ruling last year farmers did not feel disposed to store large quantities, otherwise the returns would have been higher, but the Councillors could rest assured the granary would always result in a profit to the Council. As for the building it was absolutely vermin proof. Several improvements in regard to loading arrangements, insurance, etc., were suggested, and the clerk was instructed to have a loading platform erected at once, A bonus of £2 2s was also granted to clerk# THE TRAMWAY. The Tramway Inspector submitted his monthly summary as follows Receipts £2OO 10a 5d and expenditure £129 14s lid, leaving a credit balance of £9O 15s 6d on the months’ working. During that period 9 tons of grain, 46 tons of minerals, 102 tons of merchandise, 9 tons of manure, 53 tons of hemp, 294 bales of wool, 21,776 feet of timber, and several other goods were carried, the total fares amounting to £43 13s lOd.—lt was resolved that a shed be erected for the engines at the new pit, • KGAWHAKAHAU. The chairman drew attention to the fact that the Council would shortly have to make provision for the payment of £450 in connection with the Ngawhakarau road. He had made inquiries as to when the road would be completed and the date given was May next. He believed to make a success of the road that it would cost more than the estimated amount. Metal was now being hauled by Measfa Milverton and Son and was being spread at a cost of 5s 2d a yard. He considered that the cost of the road should be borne by a special district comprising those settlers who obtain the chief benefit from its construction. After farther discussion, it was resolved “That a special district be determined over which the rate be struck to pay interest on the £450 loan necessary to pay the Kairanga County Council for the Ngawhakarau road,” An amennment by Cr McLennan, to make the interest payable by the whole county, was lost.

A committee consisting of Crs McLennan, Robinson, F. Carter, and the chairman was appointed to define a special rating district. Meeting at the conclusion of the council’s business they passed the following resolution :—“ The special district to rate will be as follows: Te Kawa Block, sections 319, 320, 337, 119, 118, 117, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 77, 76, 75, 74, 84, 85. 66, 87, 88, 89,90, 60, 70, 71, 72. 73, 339, 338, 386; Rangitikei-Manawatu Block, 334; Mount Robinson, 335, 386 ; Himitangi, section 1. The chairman was authorised to have a strong room built for the storage of office papers. MISCELLANEOUS. Resolved that tenders be called for trimming and metalling Gust’s line, tenders to be in by next meeting of the council, TENDERS. The tender of J. Jones of £52 was accepted for the collection of the dog tax. Stewart and Sons’ tender for metalling at 4s 6d a yard was accepted for contract No. 141. DOG TAX. It was resolved that the dog tax be 2s 6d for sheep, cattle and rabbit dogs, and 5s for all others. NOXIOUS WEED TROUBLES. Cr McLennan drew attention to the spread of gorse in parts of the county. He said that on the Taikorea road in particular the growth was every excessive and traffic in a year’s time would be impossible. At the Chairman’s request, it was left with him to see the Government Inspector about the complaint and to ask him to draw the attention of the settlers responsible to the matter.

SPECIAL RATE. It was decided to levy a special

rate of one twenty-ninth of a pennyin the £on all rateable property in the Sandoa district, for the purpose of paying interest on the loan of £6OO raised for the construction of Kakariki and Just’s lines. A special meeting will be held on March 18th to confirm the resolution. . ESTIMATES. Estimates for metalling on various ? roads in the County were submitted, which amounted to, £607 10a on the main roads, and £698 5s in the ridings, or a total of £1295 15s -It was resolved to call tenders for the work, same to be in by the next meeting of the Council. The clerk was instructed to obtain particulars of a new engine of a similar design to the “ Fox.” The usual monthly accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned —M. Times.