MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 411, 16 July 1908, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Sanson on Tuesday. Present Crs J. G. Wilson (chairman), McKenzie, Masters, Henson, and Barber,

A letter was read from the Treasury, enclosing ,£2l 13s gd paid-ons on tramway. From the General Manager of Railways, stating delays occurred with wagons on tramway, sometimes from (our to eight days. If not stopped, demurrage would be charged. Some discussion took place in reference to the letter. It was pointed out that delays occurred through trucks being re-loaded before being sent off the tramline again. The Chairman and Cr McKenzie were appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister.

Mr John Stevens, M.P., wrotein reference to extending borrowing powers of local bodies, stating he had written to the Prime Minister on the matter, and enclosing the Prime Minister’s reply, which appeared to indicate that the Government would favourably consider the Council’s requests. Sir Joseph Ward stated the matter would received consideration when the Local Government Bill was introduced. —Letters were received from the Feilding and Foxton Borough Councils, Rongotea and Bulls Town Boards expressing sympathy with the Council’s proposal to enlarge their borrowing powers for tramway extension purposes. From Foxton Borough Council, asking Council to pay cost of lighting lamp at corner of Purcell and Patrick Streets.—Cr Barber’s action in agreeing with the Foxton Borough Council to pay half cost of lighting the lamp, was endorsed.

The Tramway Manager reported : The following receipts are to hand for last mouth : Wharfage 2S Bd, steamer 6s jod, railway 17s ad, tramway and Son £1 12s 3d, ironwork £7 9s, insurance £3 7s 4d, augers £1 4s, hire tools ,£24 15s Bd, tarpaulins /xi os 3d ; debit balance /10 9s 2d. The debit on last month’s working is mainly due to the extra wages paid and the extra cost of tarpaulins. The traffic on goods dropped slightly, although the passenger traffic was satisfactory. The repairs to the steam engine, Weka, will be completed in a fortnight. Most of the old tarpaulins are in a bad state of repair. Cr McKenzie referred to the heavy charges made by the Government for the haulage on the railway line of goods going from the tram hue. He said that the charges were excessive, and in some cases the Council actually lost money by having to pay more for haulage on the railway line than the total charges came to. It was decided to make representations on the matter to the Minister, for Railways.

A discussion took place on the matter of the suggested diversion of the line at Greatford and Levin. The Chairman said he had seen the Premier and invited him to visit the district to see the country along the route, and the latter had promised to do so if possible. The Chairman also referred to a statement which appeared in a Palmerston paper which had stated that he would be one of the principal gainers by the deviation, but it would not affect him at all. The Bulls Town Board thanked the Council for their prompt action in taking steps to extend the tram line to Bulls, and offered to pay half cost of engineer’s fee for reporting on proposal. A letter was read from Mr Fulton, C.E., re tramway extension to Bulls, stating he could not make a report on the matter for the price named. He could turn up the length of the bridge and the road deviation in his own office, and if they measured the distance from the north end of the bridge to Bulls, they would have enough information for an estimate of cost. Mr Fulton stated that the grade from the bridge over the Rangitikei was rather steep, but it could be reduced by a cutting alongside the road. He was prepared to visit the spot and make an estimate if required. It was decided that the Council supply data and get an estimate of the cost of extending the tramway to Bulls, the route to go over the Bulls traffic bridge. The Levin to Greatford railway deviation was introduced into the discussion, and the opinion was expressed, it may be some time before that deviation would be made. It was agreed to get an estimate of the cost of extending the tram-line from near Sandon to Bulls, the route to go over the Bulls traffic bridge. Councillors were unanimous that the tram connection from Foxtou to Bulls, was a most important undertaking and the Council should see it through. It was decided to accept the tender of E. Pigott of £5 for the Shannon ferry boat, etc-, and Cr Barber was empowered, to deal with the disposal of the punt. For County roadmen, the following were appointed: Mt. Stewart riding, Mr W. Walbutton ; Sandon, Mr G. Leat; Rongotea, Mr A. Cave ; Kawakawa, Messrs R. Daly and G. Hill; Carnarvon, Mr F. L. Wildbore ; Awahou, Mr W. Gifkin ; Himatangi, Mr H. Halcrow.

Treasurer’s Report.—Bank balances: General account, dr., ,£2192 os sd; loan account, cr., 4s 2d; net debit balance, for expenditure to 31st March 1909: Sandon is Sd, Mt[

Stewart 9s yd, Waitobi sd, Carnarvon 2s yd, Kawakawa ,£4x3 6s xod, Awahou ,£152 ys id, Wbirokino xys 6d. The accounts passed for payment amounted to ,£1677 4s 6d. The overseer reported as follows : Awahou Riding. The usual repairs have been effected in this riding, such as trimming in ruts on the Foxtou-Shaunon road and Elkin’s Motuiti road. Metal has also been carted and the holes filled in on Beach road. The road machine has done good work on the Karikari road and the Lady’s Mile.

Wbirokino Subdivision. —I have done nothing in the matter of the proposed extension of bridge over the Government Drain by the Mouloa Drainage Board. The present bridge over the drain is about 25 feet long, but as the drain is only about 14 feet wide it has a good grip of the banks and will carry a heavier load than the bridge suggested by the Drainage Board. I understand that when the improvements are complete by the Drainage Boaid the span will be greatly increased, and therefore it will be necessary to increase the carrying capacity by putting in stouter stringers. The stringers should be seven in number, 16ft x 6ft, totara, jarrah, or iron bark timber, and must rest on the bank at least 3ft at each end and supported in the centre with a trestle of 5 piles driven into the ground at least 10 feet below the bottom of the drain, all plates and piles to bejheart of totara or iron bark, and the stringers should be braced together with diagonal braces, not less than Bft x 3ft with a side-lap splice of 18 inches on the centre cap and bolted together. Estimated value of punt and fixings at Shannon Ferry, ; boat £3. After discussing the report, it was decided to instruct the engineer to clean out the water tables on the Feildiug road opposite Mr J. Darragh’s property. The engineer was instructed to have the metal for the SandouAwahuri road screened. Mr P. W. Brown, Foxton, wrote stating a drain he cleaned out cost 2s 6d a chain. He was willing to take 2s a chain, and thought theCouncil and settlers should pay half each. —Agreed to pay half as asked for.

The Department of Lands wrote stating that the land known as Taupunga ferry reserve (section 69, Block VII., Mt. Robinson) was native land. —Received. A letter was read from B. G. Gower and others, agreeing to pay half the ‘cost of clearing out the drain near Foxton, known as the Government drain, if the Council would proceed with the work, —: Agreed to. From Eastou and Co., Foxton, asking the Council to renew the slaughtering license to C. T. Easton. —Application to be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture.