MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2819, 4 December 1924, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was .held at Sandon on Tuesday, Sir James Wilson presiding. Others present were Crs. W. E. Barber, H. H. Hunt, W. S. Penny, H. J. Fagan and J. MeKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE was read and dealt with as follows: From the Minister of Finance in reference to the council’s applica- _ tion for permission to rase a loan of £70,000 and stating that the matter would, receive early consideration. —Received. It was resolved to interview the .member of Parliament for the district on the matter. From the Railway Department, stating that the private siding right at Himatangi had expired on September 30th, and offering the council a renewal for five years at a rental of £25 per annum and £5 per annum for land occupied by the siding. —lt was decided to object to the charge as the tramway is a large feeder to the railway. From the Manawatu Rabbit Board drawing attention to the alarming increase of lupins which, doubtless, harboured rabbits and asking that steps be taken to deal with the pest.—lt was decided to have lupins cut wherever possible. From the Foxton Borough Council, stating that several motor accidents had occurred at the railway crossing near the racecourse at Foxton, and asking that the council cooperate with District Highways Council in taking steps to prevent such accidents. —It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the Main Highways Council.^ ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr G. Hickford) reported as follows: — Awahou Riding.—We have completed the grading find trimming on Foxton Beach lid., the HimatangiFbxfon section and the RangiotuHimatangi section of the main highway. Cr. Barber and myself made an inspection of the Manawatu river above and below the proposed new site for the Shannon bridge. During the recent flood erosion of a serious nature has taken place along the eastern bank —about 20 chains up the river from the proposed site —but at the site the banks are standing firm and it seems to me that the Tokomaru stream has a tendency to protect the bank below as no erosion has taken place at the suggested bridge site. Rangitikei river protective works: First-class progress has been made with this work during the fine weather, and we hope to secure the bank against any further erosion. A spit of gravel is being formed in the centre of the stream which is assisting the work to a great extent. Shannon Bridge: During the month past I met Messrs Murray and Anderson at the Shannon bridge for the purpose of inspecting the damage done to the bridge and seeing what temporary communication could be established for the time being, but no decision was arrived at in my presence.—The report was adopted. TRAMWAY MANAGER’S REPORT The tramway manager (Mr A. K. Drew) reported as follows: —The volume of traffic last month was very, light, the chief items being:— Merchandise 71f tons, minerals 152 f tons, manure 954 tons, timber 34,600 super, feet; fares amounted to £2 11/3. the accounts show a debit balance of £2B 11/4.for the month’s working. The fat stock traffic will be commencing in a few days, and after consulting with the buyers, and also the tramway committee, I would make the following recommendations: (l)'That the present all-day service run to Foxton on Mondays ; be discontinued and that a service to Himatangi as at present run on Wednesday be substituted; (2) that the service to Foxton be run on a Friday, arriving at Fpxton at 2 p.m. and leaving again at 3.15 p.m. I would point out that the passenger traffic is extremely small and that no hardship will be caused by cutting out the Foxton service on a Monday. On 14th October last I wrote the general manager of . railways with reference to remitting truck hire on butter, clipese and stock trucks. No reply has been received, but I am of opinion that' every effort should he made to get this reduction. —The report was adopted. GENERAL. It . was decided to have lights installed at the Manawatu Heads (1) Sanson township (3) Awahuri (1) and where necessary to light the main bridges. The following alterations in the rate roll were agreed to: —M. A. Fisher to H. G. Stewart; F. E. Gibbs to J. C. N. Lyon, B. H. Just to Eliza Castleton, Donaldson Bros, to Andrew Buchanan. It was resolved that the council prohibit drink on any county work, or during working hours, and that anv employee found breaking the rule, or drinking to excess, be liable to in- • stanfc .dismissal. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Boyce. Accounts amounting to £1967 . were" passed for payment.