Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, 25 April 1903, Page 2

Manawatu County Council.

The monthly meeting'of the above was hold at Samion on Wednesday. Present: t Ts J, G. Wilson (chairman), Thos Clark, P. Eobinson, T Masters and G. Kendall. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows : From Under Secretary with copy of Inspecting Engineer’s certificate, declaring the tramway extension fit for traffic. From secretary to Treasury enclosing a copy of a petition from 27 ratepayers grolesti.Bg against the levying

on them of a special rate as security for loan of £450 for Ngawhakarau road construction.—The Council’s reply was to the effect that according to the evidence of several of the said ratepayers and the finding of the Commissioner, the work would specially benefit the portion of the county rated for it, namely 10,200 acres on which the special rate was l-15th of a penny in the £. It had been the custom in the Council to specially rate districts for work that would specially benefit such districts. It was pointed out that ten of the petitioners were not on, the rate roll and two ratepayers who' signed 1 were not included in the special rating •district The Council also questioned whether it was advisable for the Colonial Secretary to ' interfere in County administration. ' From C. F 0. Roe, asking for payment for timber provided" for a culvert entrance to his place.— Owner usually provided timber for such culverts. , From Treasury, stating .that a fresh special rate must,be levied before an additional loan of £350, being 10-per cent on £3500, could be granted —Treasury to be requested to accept security already given. From Thos King, chairman of Bulla Bridge Opening Celebration’ Committee, stating that there was a small surplus which it was proposed to give ( lifton Band and asking olinoil to make donation.—“ The re* quest was refused. From H Claris, asking whether Council will sell the land, four acres on Elkin’s Moutuiti road, that he had previously enquired, about.— Plans not accepted by SurveyorGeneral, nothing can J be done in meantime. From Rangitikei County clerk drawing attention to difficulty of getting stock on to Bulls bridge, Manawatu side. From James T. Whyte, Foxton, drawing attention to bad state of road leading to his property.— Boundary road under control of Foxton Borough Council. ■ From Dr Watson-notifying existence of scarlet fever at Sandon. •- From Rongotea Hall Committee, asking' Council to advance the amount of subsidy, and if necessary committee would give security. From Colonial Secretary, stating that it was proposed to pay subsidy on the amount actually expended, ; —Council has claimed an expenditure of £IOO. From H. ,B Thompson, asking Council to stop £l from money due to J. Cotterill to pay for carting. From Walker and Nolan, stating they are prepared to start contract on. Gust’s line.

From District Manager of Railways, Wanganui, stating Department could not refuse to accept delivery of goods from steamer at Foxton because of their bad condition or shortage; all it could do was to give a receipt accordingly making steamer company liable for shortage Foxton waamot the only place where there, was trouble about sugar He would give instructions for great care to be taken in future.

From Gerald Tolhurst, for Sluggish River Drainage Board, drawing attention to damage done to Main Drain by Council’s workmen. From Hospital and Charitable Aid Board stating that levy on Council was £257 18s 6d.

From Stewart and Co., reporting on repairs needed to locomotive Weka. The clerk reported the various accounts as under General account, or, £7O 3s 3d ; loan account, £784 4s Id. Riding accounts —Mr Stewart (cr) £54 4s 4d, Waitohi £ll4 15s Id, Rongotea £284 8s 4d, Kawa Kawa £167, Awabou£l32 5s 7d; Sandon (dr) £59 12s 7d, Carnarvon £44 Is 3d. The clerk reported amount of rates collectable during the year was £3670 12s 9d, £3586 13s 2d had been collected, arrears to March 31st were, £B3 19s 7d, amount collected since April Ist £B3 19s 7d, leaving arrears outstanding amounting to £59 8s sd. The tramway manager reported that receipts last month were £202 7s, and expenditure £lO2 13s Id. The traffic hardly warranted the institution of a daily service. He submitted a draft of proposed new time table. In reply to Rongotea Coronation Hall Committee, Council decided to .pay the promised subsidy (£80) at once. . In the matter of the claim of £25 compensation made by Mr Sandilands on behalf of Mr Gould, on account of injury to a horse which it was asserted had placed its foot through a rotten culvert on Swainson’s line, the overseer'reported the culvert had been crushed in on the wheel track, but no hole had been made, nor had the surface of the covering metal been broken. There was no* indication of a horse putting its foot through it, and the timber was sound. —On this statement Council resolved to deny liability for the accident.

The overseer was directed to have spoil removed from the main drain Mr Tolhurst had written about.

The special orders passed at the previous meeting in respect to -the Ngawbakarau and Pukipuhia road loans were confirmed.

The resignation of the Sanson poundkeeper was received, and the question of appointing another ranger was eon*

sidered more in relation to, Rongotea than elsewhere. At, Rongotea it was stated cattle were in the habit of using verandahs for shelter during wet and cold nights.—The matter of appointing a ranger for Rongotea was deferred .until, next meeting., and Mr W. Gifford was appointed pounder in place of Mr J. Harris. The tramway manager reported on improvements required to the line at the ballast pit, and it was decided that his recommendations be carried out. The resignation of Mr Wrigley, the Tramway manager, was received.— The chairman said he had no knowledge why the resignation had been made, and the Council would, be sorry to lose his services.—Gr Clarke said Mt ■'Wrigley .jifciacl. always''been a reliable man, in which the other members concurred. The overseer reported that the Kawa Kawa road, on late Turner’s property was not in a fit condition to be taken over, ■: . It was decided to invite fresh tenders for forming and metalling Milner’s line. The clerk was instructed to demand 10 per cent on overdue rates. Mr R. Whisker applied for exten--ston of time to complete his metalling contract on Cooper’s line, which was granted.—Advocate.