MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1986, 5 June 1919, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held at Sanson on Monday, the chairman (Sir James Wilson) presiding. Other members present were Crs H. H. Hunt, W. E. Barber, W. H. Phillips, James Boyce and W. S. Penny. An apology Tor non-attendance was received from Cr. Hammond.

Correspondence was dealt with as follows: —

From Railway Department, forwarding paid-in charges on account of the Sandou tramway, amounting to £B2 18s !)d. —Received.

From the Department of Internal Affairs, intimating that the county’s adoption of rating on unimproved value had been gazetted.—Received.

From the Palmerston North Borough Council, suggesting the holding of a conference of local bodies interested to consider the purchaseof a steamer to carry coal to Foxton. —No action taken, the chairman pointing out that the invitation had been received too late to enable the Council to be represented. From the Foxton Borough Council requesting the Council to appoint representatives to meet in confer-' once regarding the purchase of the Round Bush as a sonic reserve. — Crs, Barber and Hammond were delegated to attend the conference when called and watch the proceedings on the Council’s behalf. From the Rongotea Town Board, applying for a grant of £25 towards the local peace celebrations. — Granted. From the secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association, asking the Council to appoint delegates to the forthcoming conference of that body. —Sir James Wilson was appointed to represent the Council.

From Mr W. Ross, of Foxton, drawing attention to the necessity for the construction of a drain on Banks road, near the ferry. —It was decided to supply the necessary pipes required for the work and lay the 'same, Mr Ross to construct the Hood gate. From Mr K. Newman, M.P., advising that the Post and Telegraph Department eould not; allow its expert to represent local bodies in connection with the purchase of motor lorries, and suggesting ■ that the Government be asked to reconsider this decision, or that local bodies should combine and send Home On expert to report; as to the possible supply of waggons. —Received.

TRAMWAYS REPORT

In his report on the working of Die tramway for the month of May, tfie tramway manager stated Dial the chief items of Ira flic were: — Merchandise 87:, tons, minerals 1()1| tons, cheese 51)A tons, sheep 70 trucks, timber 12,400 s.ft., metal 300 cubic yards. Faros amounted to £3 10s Id. A debit of £lOl 5s 4d was showing for the month's working, Iml included in (he expenditure were items totalling £l3l 2s 7d for sleepers, rails, fastenings, etc. On the 2nd ultimo two cases of benzine were stolen out of a (ruck at Mimic line. As word had not been received from Messrs Cable and Co., about Die boiler of locomotive “Mauawatu,” he had wired them and received word that the date of completion of work was uncertain, as the tubes were held up at Melbourne owing to the shipping strike. Driver Currie, who had been away on .active service for over four years, had returned and resumed dutv. ENGINEER'S REPORT. In his report for Die month of 'May, which was adopted, the engineer (Mr G. Hickford) staled as follows; — Awahou Riding. —Mr L. W. Gibbs has completed his contract for supplying and delivering 3191 yards of metal on the Foxton-Shannon road, between Wilson's road and the Shannon bridge. I also arranged with Mr Gibbs to cart 50 yards on Die Foxton end of Die same road for the sum of 20s per yard, and also arranged with this contractor to cart metal from Nye’s pit for the Whirokino road for the sum of 8s per yard, and this work is now he-’ iug proceeded with. The fence along the side of the Government drain on the Whirokino road needs repairing, and the Drainage Board should be instructed to keep the cleanings from Die drain off the fence.

Stone Crusher. —With reference to replacing the broken jaw, I have obtained an estimate from Messrs Booth, Macdonald and Co. for a hew jaw, the price being £2B 10s. This does not include the freight and other charges in connection with the lilting up of the new jaw.

Tramway.—We have now completed the relaying of the 451 b. rails, and the surfacemen are now employed straightening and packing up this portion of the line. As requested, I made an inspection of the culvert under the tram line at the Rosina siding. The present culvert is a 12-inch pipe, and was never targe enough to take off heavy storm water. The culvert is 42 feet long, and it will be necessary to replace it with a 30-ineh concrete pipe, and this will cost approximately £29.