MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 386, 16 May 1908, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the above was held at Sanson on Wednesday. Present —Messrs J. G. Wilson (chairman), and Crs R. B. McKenzie, T. Masters, G. Kendall, J. Henson, J. Dalton, and W. E. Barber.

Correspondence was read from C. Pigott, complaining of footpassengers being allowed to cross the Shannon bridge, and slating that if this continued he would not work the ferry.—Decided to advertise that passengers crossing the river or the bridge are notified that they are legally liable for the toll.

From McWilliams and Andrews, contractors for the Shannon bridge, offering to work the ferry,—Application refused. From McElroy and Boddy, offering to supply lotara. —Left in the hands of the overseer.

From S. Fcek, Foxton, -Offering to lease icclioa 269. Ferry reserve, 30 acres —Clerk to enquire in whom the reserve has b,en vested. From G. 'l'. Woodvoofe, Foxton, and Frank Williamson, Oroua Bridge, applying for slaughter licenses. —A pproved. Accounts as follows were passed for payment; —Geneial account, £1272 8s 8d ; loan account, -£279 iSs.

The tramway manager reported that the debit balance for the month was 9s. Extra items, totalling £42 1 os, had been included in the expenditure. The volume of traffic, both in goods and passengers, had been very satisfactory, the principal items as follows:—Grain 91 tons, general merchandise 89 tons, limber 20,030 feet, metal 260 yards. The fares for the month were £7 16s Bd. The estimates for repairs and alterations to the goods shed will be procured during the month. The summary of receipts for the month of April is as follows: — Wharfage £l4 :4s 4c!, steamer ns rod, rail £ls 233 d, tram totalled ,£l6B 19s Bd, leaving a debit balance of ,£26 9s. The report was adopted. The overseer reported as follows: —Carnarvon Riding. The usual repairs have been completed on River Bank line, such as trimming in ruts and spreading clay. Mr R. Sexton has completed his contract for constructing 23 chains of drain at the Kaikokopu lakes in a satisfactory manner. The drain line through the swamp has also been cleared. As instructed by Chairman I accepted R. Sexton’s contract for a 10ft drain through the swamp for a distance of 60 chains, more or less, for the sum of 25s per chain. I also let a contract to R. Sexton to deepen the Main Drain 18 inches at 5s per chain, and the cleaning out of the 23 chains which were just completed for the sum of 4s per chain, this having fallen in owing to water washing under the sides. I have let the Taikorea road drain to M. Boyle for the sum of 4s 6d per chain. C. Martin is progressing favourably with his contract of forming and metalling on the Whale Line. Mr Lumsdeu suggests that the Council should form up the uu metalled portion of Whale Line with the road grader.

Awahou Riding.—The usual repairs’ have been effected on the Shannon, Foxton and Flkin’s Motuiti roads in the shape of spreading metal and breaking stones. Mr C. Petersen has com - pleted his contract for supplying and delivering metal on the Foxton, Shannon and Elkin’s Motuiti roads. Sand has been carted and the weak places patched up and bridges put in order on the Kari .Kari road.

Whirokino Sub - Division,— T. Cordive has completed the cleaning out of the Government drain along the Whirokino road. The drain has also been cleaned out along No. 2 Dine. ■ Fifty-eight yards of metal have been put on the Whirokino road to repair the weak places and put the road in order. It would be advisable to trim up this road with the road grader. I have engaged Mr W. P. Webster to survey the diversion of Dean’s road through the Kopape. The Treasurer reported that the estimates had again been based to allow a reduction of off the overdraft, the actual estimated reduction being from ,£317 17s yd to ,£xo 16s 9d, equal to .£307 10s. The Council had again attained their aim of wiping off the overdraft, and were in a sound financial condition. The separate rate has been dropped in the ridings of Rongotea, Kawa Kawa, and Awahou. The Council had now the power to make differential rates, thus doing away with the necessity for striking separate rates lor the current year :—The estimated receipts for the year total 10s 2d, of which 3s id is expected from general rates and £2BOO receipts from the tramway. The estimated expenditure for the year is iqs 2d, including bank overdraft on April Ist, 1908, of 17s yd. The principal items in this are ; —Hospital and Charitable Aid 13s qd, County road maintenance and bridges and protective works, including Shannon ferry account, 10, administration miscellaneous ,£l6O, tramway working expenses and repairs ,£3OOO, interest on loans paid out of the general fund 9s rod. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Kendall, it was decided that the Council hold a special meeting on Tuesday, June 9th, to make and levy general rates on the rateable value of property in the following ridings;— Sandon in the £, Mt. Stewart %d, Waitohi Rongotea id, Carnarvon Kawakawa, id, Awohou 24 d, also to strike a separate rates as follows: —Sandon j 4 d

in the £, Mt. Stewail }4il, Waitohi 3-i6d, Carnarvon 1 3rd. On the motion of Cr Barber, seconded by Cr Wilson, it was decided to make and levy a separate rate of a farthing in the £ upon the rateable portion of the property in that portion of the Awahou riding, Manawatu County, which was formerly within the borough of Foxton, such rate to be for a period of one year, ending March 31st, 1909. It was decided that this Council petition Parliament this session to extend the scope of existing legislation to enable County Councils to borrow under the “Government Loans to Local Bodies Act,” for the construction and renewal of tramways, and to borrow for the purchase of locomotives and rolling stock required for the efficient running of such railways or tramways; such legislation to generally facilitate the construction and working of railways and tramways by County Councils, and that a copy of the resolution be sent to the member for Manawatu and Otaki, requesting their support. —(Crs McKenzie —Masters.) That the ranger be instructed to impound all stock straying on the County roads after dark.—(Crs Masters —Dalton.) That the next ordinary meeting of tiie Council be held on Tuesday, June the 9th. —(Crs Henson— Masters.)