MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2919, 6 August 1925, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

' MONTHLY MEETING,

The Mannwatu County Council met at- Sanson oh Tuesday, Sir James Wilson, presiding. There were also present. Crs. Hunt, Boyee, Barber, McKelvie, Fagan and Penny. CORRESPONDENCE. In regard to road making machinery, a letter was received from the Public Works Department, stating that the Main Highways Board was unable, as a matter of policy to recommend to local authorities the purchase of any particular class of road machinery. The Board, however, was prepared to give its advice on any particular class of machinery. In connection with the purchase of plant for local authorities which the Board is doing in a number of cases and selling to the local authorities on the hire-pur-chase system, the jrrocednre adopted was that the Board called tenders which were submitted to local authorities with a reeommendnlion as to the most, suitable tender. Apart from this, the Board was unable to go any further. —Received. From the District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, pointing out matters requiring attention in connection with the Council’s tramway. —Referred to engineer for action. The New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote regarding a deputation of local body representatives which waited on the Railway Board on the question of the increased freights on road metal, expressing the opinion that the reply of the chairman of the Board, that, the Board was unable to comply with the request for a reduction, was far from satisfactory. The Association recommended local bodies to approach their Parliamentary representatives (o use their endeavours to keep freight on road metal at the lowest possible charge. The

Tunpekn County Council wrote on • the same question, it was resolved to support the request. The New Zealand. Counties’ Association wrote, enclosing a reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs in respect to making provision whereby separate riding accounts should not he deemed to be separate accounts for the purpose of the Local Bodies’ Finance Act. The Minister stated that he had carefully considered the matter and' whilst he was not prepared to recommend an amendment of the Local Bodies’ Finance Act. he was prepared to consider an amendment of the Counties’ Act. It had been suggested that sub-section 3 of see- ’ tion 131 of the Counties’ Act, might be repealed and such a step would get over the difficulty. The Minister was not in a positioin to say whether anything could be done during the present session.—Reeeivcd. The Kniranga County Council forwarded copy of mimiles of a conference of local body representatives on heavy traffic license fees. —The Council endorsed the action of its representatives in connection with the allocation of heavy traffic license fees and consented to the proposal carried at the conference.

In regard to the stop bank at the Shannon Bridge, the engineer and Cr. Barber were apopinted to interview of the engineer of the Mana-watu-Oroua River Board. ALTERATIONS TO RATE ROLL. The following alterations to the rate roll were approved: W. J. Smith, Lot 11, D.P. 4642 to A. E. Brown, Tucker Trustees, Section 11, Blk. 1, Douglas Block to W. G. Gloyn; T. Wall, Pt. 4, 111, Te Kawau to L. M. Wall; E. W. Botteher, See. 05, Blk. 11, Douglas Block to E. A. and A. C. Bennett; Estate of J. Satherley, Section 4, Blk.. 1, Douglas Block to N. H. Knight; G. T. Woodroffe, Himitangi, Maori lease N. 13.214 to W. H. Smith; Estate of E. W. Clarke, to A. M. Clarke; S. and A. J. McNcilly, Reserve See., 250, Carnavon Township, to A. J. Taylor; James Kilgour, Pt. See. 149, Sandon Township to Feiiding Jockey Club. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The County Engineer reported as follows on the works in the County:—

iKawa Kawa. —Arrangements were now being made to obtain metal by rail to Rangiotu, for repairing Mangawhata Road. A further supply of metal was required at Couper’s Road. The engineer had interviewed Mr Cornfoot- with reference to straightening the Taikorea Road by purchasing half an acre of his laud, but so far no definite information had been received on the subject. Awahou. —The road grader had been employed on No. 1 Line, Foxton Beach Road, YVhirokino main highway, Foxton-Shannon main highway and . the Himatangi Road. Tramway. —The usual repairs were being carried out on various sections of the tram line between Sanson and Oroua Downs Siding. The birch sleepers placed in the line near Himatangi about 12 years ago were completely decayed and were now being replaced with sil-

ver pine. General. —The whole of the stone-crushing machinery had been overhauled and crushing operations had commenced again. Electric mb tors had been installed and after several days running they were now working smoothly and satisfactorily, and were apparently capable of turning out an equal quantity of crushed stone as compared with the steam engine. The dust might become a serious matter to the life of the motors and it might be necessary to protect these machines from it. The river protective works had

been retarded In some exltni owing to the wet weather and (lie flooded state of the river, hut it was hoped to make better progress now that the most important and serious point had been passed, as (he grates would not, he placed so close further down the. stream. Wire netting was being- attached to the sides of the Rongotea-Longhurn bridge and the fences along the approaches were being repaired and put in order.

TRAMWAY MANAGER’S REPORT.

The tramway manager reported that the chief items of traffic during ihe past month were: —General merchandise 721 tons, timber 22,180 super feet and cheese and butter 30 tons. The accounts show a debit of £9-1 12s Gd for the month. He recommended that the tramway committee he authorised to go into Ihe question of he rebuilding of the goods shed and submit a report to next meeting.—-Adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The County inspector reported that there had been a good number of stock on roads during the pas! month, thirteen offenders were dealt with by Ihe Courts and fines ranging fro 10/- to 20/- have been inflicted. One Syrian hawker, for hawking without a license in the County, was fined £4 and 15s costs, it being his second offence. Five other offenders for allowing stock to he. at large would be prosecuted during the present, .month. During last week two Wanganui drovers were herding about. 254 head of cattle, on the County roads, and informations had' been laid against them for each day they were in the County. They passed on into the ICairanga County, where they wore served with summonses for being in Manawatu County. The inspector drew attention to (he dangerous bends in tile road at Kopane, where a number of motorists had had to he pulled out of the mud. Tie suggested that danger hoards he erected at the approach jo each corner. Fair progress had been made with the cutting of gorse encroaching on the roads by some ot the persons who had been notified to clear same. Others were making no attempt to do so. The engineer recommended that something should be done to bring all settlers into line. Fines inflicted during ihe month for breaches of the by-laws amounted to £l2 10s, and heavy traffic license fees collected to date amounted to £l4O. — Adopted.