MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 987, 4 May 1911, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday. Present: Councillors J. G. Wilson (chairman), T. Masters, H. H. Hunt, Kendall, J. Henson, W. Barber, and R. B. McKenzie. Letters were received from — Superintendent of N.Z. StateGuaranteed Advances Board, approving of loan of £1250, for construction of the Beach road. The Valuer-General, in reference to the revision of Valuations in Saudon, Awahou and Mt. Stewart ridings, stating that the field had been completed, and valuation notices issued to the owners and occupiers in Sandon and Awahou ridings, Mt. Stewart Riding notices to follow in a week or two. It would not be possible to supply new rolls for those ridings before the end of May. In the event of the Council deciding to rate on the old values it would be necessary to correct the existing rolls, entailing a considerable amount of clerical work. He was personally of opinion that it would be much more satisfactory for the Council to use the new rolls for this year’s rating. The Railway Department, offering to sell the qolb rails in use on the Toko branch railway. The Chief Surveyor, forwarding tracing showing roads and reserves at Moutoa. The estimates were considered and adopted. The financial position of the Council showed a balance of £BO7 5s 2d to the credit of the general account. Last year £7l 2s was paid as interest on overdraft, as against £133 for the previous year. The proposed rates show a decrease of £54 x6s id on last year, the decrease being accounted for by the inclusion in Oroua County of portion of Mount Stewart riding. The estimated subsidy is ,£124.7. The tramway expenditure is estimated at £4600, including ,£llOO for rails, repairs to engine, etc. The tramway receipts are estimated at ,£4OOO. The rates proposed to be struck are as follows : Sandon. general Y d, special Jsd ; Mount Stewart, general Y d, special )4d ; Waitohi, general %cl. special >§d ; Rougotea, general, id ; Carnarvon, general 3£cl, special 1-20 ; Kawakawa, general 1 j£d, special i-cod ; Awahou, general, )£d; Whirokiuo, general Y d, special Kd. Mr Hickford (overseer) reported upon the work in progress and works completed on the roads throughout the county for the month of April.

His attention has been drawn to the dangerous sharp points along the Palmerston-Foxton road ; there are several sharp points which require cutting off to straighten the road and make it safe, and a sum ot money should be placed on the estimates to improve the road a little every year. Some time back the lineman at Bainesse riding requested permission to fence in the waste ground along the road-side at Bainesse, The Council could give permission, provided the fence is erected 20 feet clear of the road formation.

Awahou Riding.—Nothing beyond the usual repairs of carting metal and filling in holes on the Foxton-Shannon road, and carting sand on the Karikari road have been effected in this riding during the mouth. The Moutoa Drainage Board has constructed a substantial stop bank along the Mauawatu river at the head of Burr’s road, which will protect the Fox-ton-Shannon road from floods at

that point and save a good deal of road maintenance. The treasurer, Mr Drew, reported that the bank balances were : General account, credit 16s yd. The position of the various riding accounts is: Saudon, debit ,£73 1.)- qd ; Mt. Stewart credit 3 s 4d ; Waitohi, credit ,£95 10s nd; Rongotea, debit ,£230 8s 3d ; Carnarvon, debit ,£sl os 5d , Kawa Kawa, debit ,£152 7s id ; Awahou, debit ,£207 18s ; Whirokiuo, debit ,£lO3 3s. The usual resolutions in regard to levying of special rates for loans (including the loan of ,£1250 for Foxton Beach road) were passed.

In connection with the reserve at Moutoa, it was decided to provide for a road extending through the reserve.

It was decided to have a trial of Mr Bastiu’s road raking machine, on one of the county roads.