MANAWATU COUNTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2575, 3 May 1923, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The following members were pre-' .-ent at Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council: Crs Sir Jas. Wilson (chairman), W. E. Barber, H. J. Fagan, W. S. Penny, H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce. CORRESPONDENCE. The Inspector of Health reported that lie had inspected the fowlhouses in Sanson against which complaint had been made, and he found them in excellent condition. The whole cause of the complaint, the noise, did not come within the scope of the Health Act.

Mi* G. R. Crowley, Forest Ranger, reported on the tramway construction contract at the State Forest and found that a start had been made.'

The Palmerston North Hospital Board applied for £842 10s lOd, instalment of levy.

Stratford Borough Council forwarded copy of letter sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs protesting against the practice of motorists endeavouring to establish speed records on the road. Mr E. A. Peek, Rongotea, offered to lease a piece of road on Leen’s line. GENERAL BUSINESS. The matter of accepting tender for contract 290 (Saunders’ road) was left in the hands of the Engineer and Cr. Boyce.

A deputation consisting of Messrs Bailey, Viles and McKenzie, waited on the Council and asked that trucking yards be erected by I lie tram line at Ohaken. Mr Bailey made the request, and said if the yards were erected, he thought more -lieep would he trucked there. Now that the Kakariki roads had been closed more fat lambs from the other side of the river would he put on the train.

Mr Viles emphasised the point that it was well to avoid droving lambs on the roads as much as possible, owing to the traffic.

Sir Jas. Wilson asked for an estimate of number of additional sheep the Council would he likely to receive for conveyance by train, and Mr Viles mentioned about 4,000.

The chairman said the carriage of sheep on the train did not pay the Council, and on this extra 50 trucks the revenue received would lie only £42. The Council would consider the matter. The deputation then withdrew. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Awaliou Riding.—Mr K. Easton is making good progress with his contract for constructing stop and road near the Shannon Mr Walker has also commenced his contract for supplying and delivering metal on this road. Tramway.—Since my last report we have relaid 20 chains of 401 b. rails at the Himatangi end and the length of 281 b. track is now reduced to one mile, which could easily be linked up in a short time providing sleepers were available for the work. -Stone Crusher.—Very little progress lias been made during the last three weeks with the erection of the necessary machinery which is being supplied by Messrs Collett and Son. When steam was turned on the winch it was discovered that the winch was not suitable for our work in its present form, as the two drums were running at different speeds. The winch has now been taken down and a new drum is being east and the two drums will be geared to run at one speed. Alterations are also being made to the driving sprocket wheels on the elevators.

TRAMWAY MANAGER’S REPORT

The chief items of traffic were: Merchandise 1344 tons, minerals and manure 233£ tons, cheese and butter 96 tons, stock 57 trucks. Fares amounted to £1 5s 9d. The accounts show a credit balance of £23 2s 4d for the month’s

working. The bogie wheels of the “G” class engine were turned up during the month. This was effected by forwarding the wheels to the Eastown workshops by lorry and getting them back the same day. Traffic on the line was not interrupted.