MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2013, 9 August 1919, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held on Tuesday. There were present, the chairman (Sir James Wilson), and Councillors J. Boyce, W. E. Barber, W. S. Penny, H. H. Hunt, H. G. Hammond. Leave of absence was granted Cr, W. J. Phillips on account of illness. Correspondence was read as follows; From the District Engineer New Zealand Railways, reporting on the tram line, and suggesting certain repairs.—lt was decided to reply pointing out that rails ordered from Australia were hung up owing toi the shipping strike, and as soon as they were (o hand repairs would be effected.

From the Acting-Minister of Finance, acknowledging receipt of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Council to the effect that many ratepayers in the county had had to pay land tax upon the hew valuations for the year just ended, while others who had objected to such valuations Avere having a refund made to them. The Minister pointed out that since the Valuation of Land Act had been in operation it had been the practice to assess for local rating and for land tax in accordance with the revised values of district set out in the annual Or-der-in-Cnuneil, even although the formalities in connection with such revaluation had not been completed on or before 31st March. In consequence Avhere no objection had been made to an assessment the tax was legally payable, and the Commissioner could not very A\ r ell revise the assessments noAv in the Mannwatu County, where no objection had been lodged, as to do so would necessitate the revision of the Avholc of the land lax assessments of the Dominion for the last four years with a tremendous loss of revenue by avuv of refund of overpaid tax. —The letter was received, it being pointed out that the council could do nothing to remedy matters, it being a matter for individual action on the part of the ratepayers affected. From W. J. Shailer, Oroua Downs, complaining of (he bad stale of Taikorea road. —It was decided to reply, stating that there was no revenue available for the work, and that it could only bo carried out by raising a loan. From D. Hogg, Taikovca, intimating that he intended to plant some 2,000 trees on his property leading from Taikorea to Glen Oroua, and asking the Council to plant marram grass in that locality to prevent sand-drift. —The •matter Avas left hr the hands of the engineer, Avith power to act. •The engineer reported as folloAvs: A Aval ion Hiding.—-The usual road maintenance Avork has been done in this riding on (ho Whirokino road; metal has also been carted and holes filled in' along the FoxtonShannon road. Tramway. — The linemen have completed the siding at the Kongolea. siding station, and everything is in order, and the site pegged,out for the section for the Rongotea Co-operative store. We have completed (he concrete culvert under the train line along the Pukenui section Avith the exception of packing up the line Avith a small quantity of ballast. The 401 b. rails which Avere ordered several months ago have not yet come to hand, and in order to repair the 401 b. track these rails are urgently required. In his report for the month of July the tramways manager stated that owing to the restriction of railAvay traffic and the Avant of a steamer for the Foxton trade, the receipts have dropped by over 100 per cent., and the accounts shoAV a debit balance of £IGG 19s lOd for the month’s Avorking. While the “G” class locomotive was under repairs the main steam pipe of locomotive “Rangitikei” broke, and all traffic Avas suspended for about a Aveek. Repairs have been effected. The axle boxes of the “G” class engine have been lined up and refitted. The engine shed has been re-roofed with malthoid, arid the guard’s van lihs 'been re-floored and overhauled. During the time that the traffic was suspended six cases of benzine disappeared from the trucks.