MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2326, 8 September 1921, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held on Tuesday, the following being present : Crs. Sir James Wilson (chairman), W. E. Barber, W. S. Penny, 11. H. Hunt, J. Boyce and H. J. Fagan.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Railway Department, forwarding paid-on charges amounting to £B9 13s. —Received. From the Eketahuna County Council, asking for an opinion as to the collection of rates from assisted soldier settlers should they not he able to pay their dues. —To be discussed at Counties’ Conference. From John Duthie and Co., stilting that the council’s order of 300 tons of rails had been shipped from London or; August 17. —Received. From C. A. Spring, asking that Spring’s road he metalled. —Left in hands of clerk and engineer. From W. F. Hogg, stating that a considerable amount of damage had been done by wandering stock on Taikorea Road. —Cr. Barber said it was not fair to allow cattle to graze along the roadside as stated in Mr Hogg’s letter. —Decided to ask Air Hogg if he would be prepared to be a witness in a case if the council conducted a prosecution against the owners of the cattle. —The mailer of instituting legal proceedings was left in the hands of the clerk. TRAMWAY ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The tramway manager reported as follows: —The chief items of traffic last month were: Minerals, 129 Ions; merchandise, 102 tons; limber, 44,400 ft.; sheep, 33 trucks; fares amounted to £3 8s (id. The accounts show a debit balance of £43 5s sd. The new brasses for locomotive “Mnnawatn“ have been completed, and the engine should he ready for use at an early date. Repairs have been effected to the roadside van, hut it requires painting before being used. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer reported as follows: —Awahou riding: Since the flood water has subsided we have trimmed up the Whirokino road, which is now in fair order. Repair metal has been carted, and the surface of Shannon road dressed up where required. Kawa Ivawa and Awahou riding: My estimate for raising Palmerston North-Foxton road in front of the Rangiotu railway station to the height of 3ft. and 24ft. wide, and metalled bin. deep 20ft. wide, is approximately .6(100 for a distance of 14 chains. If 18in. of filling would meet the requirements of ratepayers, the work could probably he done for the sum of £4OO. Tramway; "We have now extended the 4011). track well down below Boyle’s grade, and for the time being the work will he at: a standstill unless sleepers are available within Ihe next week or two. I have made enquiries for hardwood sleepers, and the lowest quotation is 7s (id on rail at Wellington for second class and 10s fid for first class. I have made up an estimate for replacing the tram bridge in front of Mr Harris’ in concrete. The foundations of the present bridge are unsound, and the Iressles are not well supported, and portions of the end span are a good deal decayed. I propose building a concrete culvert, and making up an embankment to meet the present grade. My estimate for this work according to flic plan attached is approximately £lO3 10s. Stone crusher: The tramline is not yet sufficiently completed to allow us to run I lie crusher, but we expect to he ready in a few days. We had a trial run of tlie crusher yesterday, and everything went well, with I lie exception of the chute under the jaws, which requires adjusting. Tenders should now lie called for crushing the quantity of metal required for the county. Oroua river protective works: We have commenced this work in the Kopane settlement, and during last month I met the chairman of Ijie Kairnnga County Council in reference to extending the groyne and planting willows at Awahuri bridge. Several ratepayers from the Kairnnga county were present, and in the absence of the engineer il was decided to proceed with the work straight away.