MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2629, 6 September 1923, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Manawatu County Council met on Tuesday, those present being Sir James Wilson (chairman), and Crs. J. McKelvie, H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce, W. E. Barber, H. J. Fagan and J. S. Penny. WHIROKINO ROAD. The condition of the Whirokino Road was discussed at length and correspondence in reference to application for Government assistance read from Mi’ J. Linklater, M.P. In the discussion on the matter, it was emphasised that the road being a main traffic route must be kept open and the Council decided again to approach the Government for a grant for either reconstructing the road or building a new one on the route of the proposed deviation. This road is at present reported to bo in a fair condition, having been filled with sand. WATER. GAUGES ON BRIDGES. A letter was received from the Manawatu-Oroua River Board recommending the erection of water guages on bridges in order to indicate the height of rivers and suggesting the erection of one on the bridge over the Oroua River on the Rongotea Road. The Board asked that the Council arrange for the erection of the gauge and debit it with the cost. —It was decided to do the work. COUNTY AND HIGHWAYS GROUPING.

In regard to the question of grouping counties for the purposes of the Wellington West Highway District and the objection by the Council (o the inclusion of the Hutt and Makara Counties, a communication was received from the Main Highways Board stating the Board had decided not to make any alteration in regard to the two counties under review. The Board considered that as these Counties lay quite as much with the West Coast group as with the East Coast group, and as the East Coast Counties had agreed to the grouping, it was not deemed necessary to make any al - teration. The following Counties formed (lie Wellington West Highways District: —Kiwitea, Pohangina, Oroua, Kairnnga, Manawatu, Horowhenun, Ilutt and Makara. — Received.

The Main Highways Board also, wrote asking for a return showing the equipment at present possessed by the County and its suitability in assisting in the operation of the Act,—Received. SICK PAYMENT. It was decided to pay all Council employees who were away from work on’account of-Ihe ’flu, half wages. V ’ ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County engineer’s report on the work for the month was read and adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer’s report showed a net credit balance of £3,669 0s 2d, and the amounts available for expenditure on behalf of the different ridings were shown as: —Sandon, £699 12/6; Mt. Stewart, £291 7/2: Waitohi, £997 11/10; Rongotea, £1,355 19/7; Carnarvon, £867 0/4; Kawa Ivawa, £BSO 15/7; Awahou £1,457 8/3. HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC. . Letters were received from motor lorry owners pointing out the hardship involved on account of the heavy traffic by-laws enforced by the County. The whole subject was discussed at length in committee. On resuming it was announced that the council could not grant the requests in face of the by-law now in operation prohibiting such traffic.