Manawatu County Council.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3687, 16 June 1906, Page 3

Manawatu County Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting >f the Manawatu County Council was held on Wednesday. Present —Crs Wilson (chairman), Hammond, Dalton, Barber, Masters, McKenzie, and Kendall. CORRESPONDENCE. From T. Nye, Foxton, drawing attention to the state of No. 2 line nving to offensive drainage, and isking that same should be attended to.—Referred to Cr Barber and the overseer. From W. R. Anderson, stating he was not aware when carting timber on the main drain road that narrow tyres were prohibited. — The main drain road to be closed for heavy traffic from June :sth to Sept 15th. From F. Yanho, applying for a lease of a section of land on the Palmerston Foxton road. —Request refused. From Ellen Burr, drawing attention to the bad state of the road near her’ property. From J. Duthie and Co., Etd., stating that steel rails ordered by the Council were due about June | 19th. REPORTS. The Tramway Manager reported that the debit balance for the past month’s working of the tram was £,12 12s. The total receipts for the month were 18s 2d. Owing to the continuous wet weather business had been very slack and the. receipts the smallest on record since October, 1901. The merchandise carried included 51 tons of grain, general merchandise 41 trucks, and timber 7500 feet. The award of the Arbitration Court now to hand will not affect the wages now paid by the Council. Overtime is to be paid it more than 48 hours are worked per week and this will only effect employees on very busy days. It was recommended that as the Council was paying roadmen 7s per day that linemen’s wages be increased to that amount. The Engineer reported upon usual maintenance and repairs effected in the County during the past month. A contract had been let for carting 250 yards of sand on the Kari-Kari road to J. Andrew at is 3d per yard. The engineer suggested the time had arrived for the Council to build roadmen’s cottages in central positions in the county. If this was done men would be able to get to work at a proper time, whereas now they sometimes had to ride 8 or 9 miles to work. With the cottages a good class of men could be obtained. At present the Council had often to take the man nearest the work, very often to the disadvantage of the County. A formal resolution was passed striking the following rate :—Construction of roads, bridges, and drains in the Wirokino subdivision, separate rate of one farthing in the £ on that portion of the Awahou riding formerl} r in the borough of Foxton. This rate will be confirmed at the July meeting of the Council. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting adjourned.