MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2892, 4 June 1925, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatn County Council was held at Sanson on Tuesday, when there were present: Crs. Sir James Wilson, H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce, W. C. Barker, W. S. Penny and H. .J. Fagan. An apology for absence was received from Cr. F. J. Mclvelvie. CORRESPONDENCE. From Ihe Public Works Department requesting that, in the event of the Council applying for provision to be made on the Public Works estimates this year for either road or bridge construction works, such applicatioin to be made not later than June 15. —Received. From the Valuation Department advising that, as it would be necessary to set up an assessmet court to determine the values made under section 36 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1008, the Council would require to appoint a. representative to act on its behalf as a member of the court.—-Mr. T. Masters, of Feilding, is to be invited to act. From the Public Works Department requesting that a list of the portions of file main highways in the county, but controlled by boroughs, be furnished to the department. —The clerk was instructed to supply the details. From the Public Works Department acknowledging a claim by the council for £l7 9s Id against the Foxton-Sanson section of No. 1 Wellington-Auckland via Taranaki highway.—Received. From (lie Public Korks Department requesting that proposals for construction and maintenance work he submitted in quadruplicate in Ibe case of the former, one copy to be retained by 1 he* Main Highways Board, one by the district office, Public Works, one by the Public Work's overseer and an approved copy to be returned to the local bodv concerned. —Received.

From the Public Works Department forwarding highway map. showing highways in No. 9 district, those in the county being underlined. —Received.

From Iho Sluggish River Board inviting the co-orperation of the council in offering a reward of' £5 for information leading to the conviction of any person proved to have deposited benzine tins in the Board's drains or on the county roads.—lt was decided to reply stating that the. council was itself faking steps in the matter, its inspector having been instructed to prosecute in all cases. Front the Dairy Farmers’ Union, Rangiotu branch, forwarding copy of resolution which read: “We arc requested by the settlers on the Main Drain road and Taikorea to impress on you the great need of a water table at the lower end of the road up to No. 1 dredge.”—Left in the hands of Cr. Boyce and the engineer. From the Kniranga County Council advising that a meeting of representatives of the various local bodies in No. !) Highways Group would be held to-morrow for the purpose of considering the following matters: —(1) the raising of the necessary funds for Main Highways purposes; (2.) to consider what joint action should be taken in respect, to licensing motor lorries; (3) to discuss the advisability of forming a district counties association. —Left in the hands of Cr Fagan, who will represent the council at the meeting to bring down a report.

From the Public Trust Office allvising that the office investment board had resolved to grant the council the loan of £SOO applied for, with interest at 0 per cent, per annum, plus a sinking fund of 2 per cent, per annum, for a term of 20 years. —The chairman remarked that it was not yet certain whether the full amount, or only £250 would be required and it was decided to advise the Public Trustee of the possibility of the Highways Board contributing a subsidy of £1 for £1 on the work for which the loan was required. If the Public Trustee would agree to the council repaying the £250 if not required, it was prepared to accept the offer. From the Bank of New Zealand, Bulls, relative to the council’s proposed loan of £OO,OOO and stating that it could place the first inslament of £12,000 of the loan on the following basis: —Term, 36i years, rate of interest 6 per cent., sinking fund 1 per cent.. — The oiler was accepted. From the Runanga Borough Council urging that tlffi Government provide pensions to the victims of infantile paralj'sis. —No action taken.

The following alterations were authorised to be made in the rate rollH. Heath to E. A. Corlett, M. A. Fowler to E. Goodbehere, James Evans to Henry Hill. On the motion of Cr. Hunt, seconded by Cr. Boyce, it was decided that, in connection with the construction of the main highways, the work be carried out in the following order: —(1) Whirokino road deviation; (2) Foxton-Himatangi section; (3) Bulls Sandon section. Cr. Boyce and the engineer were authorised to attend to the matter of having Hart’s cutting and Hehir’s corner on Taikorea road attended to as requested by the ratepayers of that area. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr G. Hickford) presented the following report on the work carried out during the month: —Awaliou; Repair has been carried out on road and also on Hirnat-ungi-Poxton road. A culvert which

was being lowered on ShnnnonFoxton road had to he renewed with concrete pipes. An old wooden enlvert on Himatangi-Fnxton road also had to he replaced with concrete pipes, and this length of road has also been trimmed up with the grader. Tramway: Repair work has been carried out along the tram-line between Sanson and Rongotea riding, and some decayed sleepers have been replaced and slack places packed up between Sanson and Ohakea siding. With reference to building a washhouse at the Rosina cottage, no decision has been given by the council whether to proceed with the work or not. Tractor: The tractor is under repair, and will not be ready for grading purposes till the end of the present week.—Adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT, The treasurer (Mr A. K. Drew) submitted the following report for the year ended March 31, 1925, and estimates for the year ending March 31, 1926: —For (lie year just ended the general and riding accounts show a credit balance of £340 11s sd. The system of charging the cost of ttie main highways lo 1 lie general account has necessarily increased the proportion of general expenditure charged to the riding accounts, hut the decreased amount required for riding expenditure counter-balances this item. Hospital levy: Owing to the increased amount, required for hospital capital levy for the current year it will he necessary to slightly increase the hospital rate Lor (he current year. A rate of Is 5d in the £1 will he required. Main Highways: It is estimated that £4651 will he required for maintenance of the main highways for the current year, a third of which will lie refunded hv the Main Highways Board. The amount expended on main roads last year was £5046 12s, and of lhis £987 9s was refunded for the period from 9th June, 1924. General rates: The amount of general rates struck last year was sufficient to meet demands, but, if (lie engineer's programme of work is to lie adhered to. if. will he necessary to make a small increase in Sandon riding for the current year. It is also possible to make a small reduction in Alt. Stewart riding. The proposed rates are as follow, with the amount estimated to be forthcoming:— Sandon Ijd, £1616 ISs Id Mount Stewart l id, £1258 19s sd; Waifolii lid, £1516 11s Hid; Rongotea 1 1-1 (id, £1892 3s (id; Carnal von 1 3-1 fid, £IB6O 7s; Kawa

Kawa, 1 3-1 (id, £2238 15s 3d: Awaliou 12d, £2487 His Bd. Increases of £162 and £lO4 were revealed in the estimates of Sandon and Carnarvon, wbiie Ml. Stewart disclosed a decrease of £O3. Tramway: The receipts were £3862 19s Id, and payments £4052 0s 9d, showing a debit balance of £lB9 Is 8d for the year's operations. It was estimated last year that the accounts would show a debit of £250. Tf there was a regular steamer service (o Foxton the volume of traffic over the tramway would tic greatly increased. Stone crusher: For the period to the 31s( March the crushing plant dealt with 4885 cubic yards of metal at a total cost of £lsOl His (id or (is I.Bd per yard, Silver pine operations: The total receipts were £2696 7s 3d and paymints £2586 16s 2d, showing a profi! of £163 11s Id for seven months’ operations. General: The estimated amount of general expenditure for the current year to he provided out of rates and subsidy, is £12,695, which is debited to the ridings according to valuation at £5 per £I6OO. —Adopted, the drainage rate lining fixed at 11-l Cid.

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT. . The traffic manager (Mr Berry) reported: Since the last meeting of the council my time has been taken up with patrolling the roads and collecting the dog tax. One offender, for allowing his stock lo wander, was before the Court and convicted and ordered to pay costs. Other offenders will be dealt with at the next sitting of the Court at Bulls. 1 have had two horses impounded. One was sold as no owner could be found, and the other was claimed. The adjourned case against S. Wright and Co. for breach of heavy traffic license, was dealt with at the S.M. Court at Bulls, and the Magistrate treated defendant the same as in the other cases heard at Feilding, and indicted a line of £5 and costs. Regarding- the trees at the corner of .Jones’s line and Tomplcin’s road, Raima tarau, Mr Goodwin promised lie wouuld have them cut down so as to give an open view at the corner. Notices have been posted to a number of ratepayers regarding’ gorse and lupins growing on the county roads adjoining their properties, and I notice a number of them have already made a start to clear same. —Adopted.