MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2260, 7 April 1921, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of ta); Manawatu County Council was held on Tuesday. Present: Crs. Sir Jas. Wilson (chairman), 11. 11. Hunt, W. E. Barber, H. J. Fagan, W. S Penny, and,H. G. Hammond. CORRESPONDENCE. The Minister of Internal Muirs forwarded a circular stating that the next triennial election of es* uncillors would be held in May, 1923.' Foxton Harbour Board sent a circular urging the Council to encourage traffic through the port.— The Chairman said the trouble was there was no boat. A further letter from the Board stated a conference would he held shortly with a view to increasing the trade*of the port,—Cr. Barber to represent the Council. The following tenders were accepted: Contract 27, W..T. Hill, 6s 8d yard; 275, do., 6s 9d yard. " TRAMWAY MANAGER’S REPORT. The chief items of traffic were: Minerals and manure 169 A tons, cheese and butter 71 tons, sheep 58 trucks, merchandise 48 tons, timber 33,600 feet. The fares amounted to £4 13s 4d.

Locomotives—The repairs to the G class loeowotivo were completed early in the month, and the engine is at present in work. Attached is a report on the condition of the locomotive Manawatu, enumerating the Repairs necessary to be effected. Rails—Under instructions from the Chairman, I went to Auckland, on 15th ultimo., and examined the 401 b, rails under offer to the Council. I succeeded in purchasing 21 ions 9cwt. lqr. at £24 per ton, and 10 tons 9cwt. lqur. at 22 per ton, f.o.r. Auckland. The rails have since come to,hand. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Awaliou Riding.—Mr 11. Coley has completed his contract for delivering metal on the Whirokino road, and Mr C. Petersen will have the specified quantity of metal delivered on the Foxton-Shannon road in a few days’ time.

Tramway. —Two truck loads of 401 b. rails have come to hand, and the platelayers are now removing the section of the 281 b. track and putting down the 401 b. rails, which are a good second-class lot. It is absolutely essential to have a good supply of water tit Oroua Downs siding for the use of the locomotives on the tramway. A considerable amount of time is wasted pumping water by hand when we are running the ballast tram, and I would recommend the Council to put down a well and erect a windmill pump, as a good deal of inconvenience and time would be saved. General. —The earthwork at the new tram siding has been completed, and we are ready to lay the rails down to the stone crusher hopper, and connect the siding to the maintram line. The completion of the* hopper has been delayed on account of the foreman being sick. Work is now being proceeded with, and we hope to have the hopper completed before the stone crusher and elevators come to hand. Road Graders. —I have made enquiries with reference to road scrapers and graders. The little scrapers we use behind the dray are not made by any manufacturing firm, and will have to be made locally, but under these circumstance- 1 think the Carlyle Junior road grader would meet requirements. It is a two-horse grader, with a 0foot blade, and can easily be worked bv one man.