MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2869, 9 April 1925, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

■MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting’ ' of the Manawatu County Council was hold at Sandon on Tuesday, presided over by Sir James Wilson (chairman). There was also present :—Councillors Hunt, Boyce, -Barbei-, Fagan, Penny, and MoKdvie. CORRESPONDENCE. iA letter was received from the Postmaster-General intimating that the Department was unable to aceede to the'request of the Council for a post office at Tangimoana. The limited business anticipated did not warrant the expenditure involved, it being estimated that a loss of £59 would be made. The Department considered that there were insufficient residents to justify the opening of an office at present. The Council received the letter and it is understood that efforts will again be made to have an office opened at the riverside township. In regard to the Council siding at Himatangi a letter was received from the Railway Board intimating that a reduction in the rental charged the Council could not be sanctioned.—The Council decided to renew its agreement at the current rental. A notification was received from the Manawatu Rabbit Board regarding gorse on the roadways and suggesting that steps be taken to have it removed. —It was resolved to refer the matter to the Government stock inspector.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT. -•*!- The traffic inspector (Mr. W. Berry) reported that he had issued 019 driver’s licenses and that there were only a few remaining to be issued. Motorists were recognising the need to slow down when passing through Sanson, for only one driver exceeded the limit during the Bulls race meeting. A careful watch was being maintained with respect to possible breaches of the heavy traffic by-laws. ALTERATION TO RATE ROLL. The following transfers were approved: —A. E. Jeffries to G. F. Beck; W. 0. Hughes to A. H. Rogers; Est. M. Leaky to P. A. Pearson; W. Darragh to H. M. White; S. F. J. Cowen to G. N. Cowen; W. C. Clark to Emily E. Neame; W. Moffatt to J. F. and W. S. Moffatt; F. A. Wesche to R, V. Manson; F. S. Easton to Luke Fletcher; A. J. Bowater to J. L. Bowater; Miss H. Croucher to L. H. S. Bowater; Manawatu County Council to J. H. S. Perett; H. E. Diffey to T. A. Adams. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The following report of the engineer was adopted: — Kawa Kawa.—Two small bridges on Pyke’s road had been replaced with concrete pipes. A quantity of metal'had been carted by the dump truck along the Main Drain road and about 200 yards was still required to put this in order for the coming wet season. An old wooden bridge on Main Drain and another on Cooper’s road that caused a good deal of trouble would have to be replaced in concrete in the near future. Awahou. —Messrs. Drinkwater and Candy had completed their contract for carting and spreading metal on the Shannon Punt road. Messrs J. and G. Coley had also completed their contract for supplying and delivering metal on the Whirokino road. The contractors were to stack 100 yards of metal along this roadside for repair' work at the contract price. Two 18-ioeh pipe culverts were required. This road was now in good order and could be kept in fair- order during the winter season with a little attention, providing ,the flax traffic was not allowed to carry heavy loads during the wet season. A tracing of the proposed road deviation of the*Whirokino Main Highway- to be considered and decided upon before a final survey is made, had- been received. Alterations to the stone-crushing plant were in progress. The road leading up to the platform had been widened and the tram-line removed. It would be necessary to metal the new length of roadway in order to carry the heavy cartage. Mr. A. Claasen was to construct the egress roadway for £2B 10/-. After making a further inspection of the platform it was found necessary to strengthen the structure with two or three extra beams before commencing crushing operations. Tramway. —The whole of the main line was now laid down with 401 b. rails, and with regard to the 7 0 tons of new 401 b. rails on hand, it was recommended that these be cleaned and painted as they would not be required for some time. Sleepers were not coming to hand very freely, and it appeared as though the bush would be cut out before the number of slgepers required for the tramway, were obtained, as a large number are still required to replace interior sleepers that were put down six or seven years ago. As soon as sleepers were available, it would be advisable, to replace the light track into the stone-crusher siding with 401 b. rails, as a number of light rails were constantly giving away. Improvements had been effected to Rongotea and Fenny’s siding and a number of decayed sleepers had been replaced in various places along the line. In inafiy places along the line the spikes had almost rusted away, aud these were being renewed as circumstances permitted. The tramway manager reported

that for the monih’s working" the accounts showed a. credit balance of £25 10/6. The efnef items of traffic were:—"Minerals and manure, 2302 tons; general merchandise, 501 tons; stock, 94 trucks; metal, 515 cubic yards; fares am-on-nied to £2 14/5.