MANAWATU COUNTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2994, 4 February 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY.

The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held at Sandon on Tuesday when there were present: Crs. Sir James Wilson (in the chair), Fagan, Penny, Barber, Boyce and Hunt. An apology for absence was received from Cr. McKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Railway Department advising that engine R 211, now standing at Wanganui, was available for sale. —The clerk was authorised to institute enquiries when in Wellington. From the Moutoa Drainage Board requesting the council to grant a subsidy towards the cost of the replacement of the stop-bank on Mr W. 11. Smith’s property at Moutoa. The amount paid had ben approximately £loo.—Cr. Barber stated that the council had previously subsidised work at the point and, as the bank was performing excellent service, he suggested that the sum of £ls be granted.—The chairman demurred against the county subsidising the Avork, but asked whether Cr. Barber was prepared to pay the amount out of the riding account. Such action Cr. Barber agreed to, explaining that if the river came over at the point referred to, it would require a considerable sum to repair the damage. RATE COLLECTIONS.

The rate collector (Mr A. Anderson) presented the following statement of the general rates for the current year as at date: Sandon, collected £1042 19/4, outstanding £543 14s 6d; Mt. Stewart, £968 4s 8d and £265 13s respectively; Maitohi, £928 19s lOd and £559 14s lOd; Rongotea, £llsß 11s 2d and £707 9s lOd; Carnarvon, £1220 9s 9d and £597 6s 7d; Kawa Kawa, £llß3 14s and £9lO 7s 7d; Awahou, £2051 7s 9.d and £417 0s 8d; total amount paid, £8554 6s 6d; outstanding, £4OOI 7s. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The' engineer presented his report on the works carried out during the past month: —Awahou. 1 have made arrangements to cart metal on Foxton-Shannon road for the sum of 9/- per yard. The work is now being proceeded with and a fail length of road has been put in order. Repairs have also been carried out along Whirokino road in the shape of trimming up and gradin". It would be advisable to call tenders at once for 600 yards of metal to put Whirokino road in order during the dry weather. Shannon Punt.—'With reference to working the Shannon punt with an oil engine, from what information I can gather it is proposed to place the engine on the opposite side of the river to the winches, as at, present the punt in drawing more water on the working side, and it is suggested to install the engine on the opposite side to evenly balance Ithe punt. This will necessitate a long intermediate shaft to span across the punt to the winches, and this alone will increase the cost to a large extent. I think that the estimate supplied to the council is a reasonable estimate of the cost for installing an engine and placing it in working order. Whirokino bridge: We are now replacing the running planks on this bridge and hope to have the work completed in a week or two, with a passing plaae for cars only in the centre of the bridge, while two other passing places are provided for chrs on each side of. the centre. When estimates are being made up for next year it would be advisable to place a sum of money for widening out the two approaches to (his bridge and also a sum for repairing the fence along the Government drain. TRAMWAYS. The tramway manager reported: The volume of traffic during the month was poor, the chief items being : Minerals and manure 128 tons, merchandise 50£ tons, stock of trucks, wool 103 bales; fares amounted to £2 4s 9d. The accounts show a debit of £l6O 5s for the month’s working.—Adopted. TRAFFIC. The traffic inspector reported: Two informations have been laid against owners of wandering stock, ond four informations for breaches of the motor regulations.