MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2415, 8 April 1922, Page 4

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of ilio Mann watu County Council was held at Sanson on Tuesday. Present : Sir James Wilson (chairman), Councillors H. 11. Hunt, J. Boyce, W. E. Barber, W. S. Penny and IT. J. Pagan.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Lands and Snryey Department forwarded a grant of £525, cost of construction of the road through the Fairfield soldiers’ seltloment. —Received. The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of lhe Local Bodies'Finance Act, and drew attention to the provisions for overdrafts on the revenue account. —Received. Mr L. Burks, chief electrical engineer, wrote informing the council that his department intended to distribute part of the poles along the road for the main transmission lines from Mangakao. The plans showing the roads were open for inspection, and the Council was invited to inform the officers of any points they desired to mention with reference to the laying of I he lines. —Received.

The Railway Department informed the Council of the equipment required for running the tramways. — Received.

The Department of Industries and Commerce wrote referring to the need for giving business to local manufacturers, to relieve unemployment in the Dominion, and asking the Council to kindly say where they had placed their orders for iron work. —Received.

The Horowhenuo County Council wrote to the effect that it could not; agree to the Manawatu Council’s suggestion of 'the division of the cost of rebuilding the stop-bank on the Manawatu river near the Shannon bridge, and the deviation of the road. The Foxton Borough Council forwarded a letter reading in similar terms to that of the Horowhenua Council. —Received.

The Shannon Borough Council wrote that it had passed a resolution that the engineers of' the interested districts regarding he Shannon bridge be asked lo appoint a date on which to nicer the Shannon borough engineer at ihe bridge.— Referred lo the Horowhenua County Council.

The Foxton Chamber of Commerce wrote suggesting that the Council should ask tin* Foxton Borough Council to contribute towards the cost of the maintenance of Beach road. Decided to reply that the upkeep of Ihe road should be contributed to by the Borough Council, which had paid for half .'the construction of it.

Crs. Fagan and Penny, who were previously appointed a sub-commit-tee to inquire into the running of the Council’s tramways, reported on their investigations, and recommended a new schedule on economical lines, llie Committee’s report was adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to them.—lt. was decoded to ask the permission of the Government to raise a loan of £(1,300 to repay the antecedent liability, and the chairman was empowered to supply the necessary information required in connection with the antecedent liability as provided for in the Local Bodies Act, 1921-22. It was agreed that Crs. Penny and I'kipran arrange for a demonstration of hauling the road grader by a motor tractor.

The overseer was instructed to go into the matter of supplying a

i lnu for the use of the road gang aj long the tramline, j ENGINEER’S REPORT, j Awahou Riding. —The contractor | lms completed the Whirokin'o road, supplying and delivering 300 cubic yards of metal. The contractor for supplying metal along the FoxtonShannon road has commenced 'work, and is making good headway with his contract. Tramway. —The three miles of 2SU). track has been greatly improved during the last month. There are no sleepers available for the 4011). rails, and the men are now employed packing, cleaning and repairing the lino between the Rongotea and Sandon sidings. The two sets of points and crossings for the Taikorea siding will come to hand during the present week, but we have about eight chains to relay before these can he placed in position. Stone Crusher. —The present contract for crushing 5,000 yards of metal will lie completed about the middle of the present month. As this quantity of metal will no', meet the requirements of the lower end of the county, including the Palmers-toii-Foxton road", it will he necessary to make arrangements for a further supply of metal to put the above roads in order. TRAMWAY REPORT. The manager of the tramway reported as follows for the month of March: —“The accounts show a credit balance of £llO. The chief items of traffic were: Grain, 1501 tons; minerals, 1571 tons; merchandise 811 tons; cheese and butter, 182 tons; stock, 75 trucks; timber 24,200 feet; metal, 990 cubic yards. Fares amounted to £1 17s 7d. Both engines have received their quarterly inspection from the N.Z. Railways locomotive foreman, and passed as in good order. The ear and wagon inspector has also inspected the rolling stock. The track has also received its quarterly inspection. The inspector of permanent way reported that tlip Oroua Downs Dairy Co. had erected a wall of their new factory ton near to the line in the private siding, not giving the necessary clearance for working. lie stated that the line would either have to be moved or the trucks moved by hand in the vieinitv of the building. TREA SUE E R ’S REPORT. The Treasurer’s report showed that there was a credit balance of £7,779 (is Id. On the general account there was a debit balance of £9353 12s, and on the loan account there was a credit balance of £14,132 18s Id. The debit balances of the various ridings were as follows :—Sandon, £29 10s 2d; Mt. Kawa, £277 2s 3d; Awahou, £331 Stewart, £224 3s 2d; Waitohi, £l3 Is £252 2s 7d; Kawa 19s- (id.