MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3041, 27 May 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held at Sanson yesterday. There were present: Crs H.| J. Fagan, W. E. Pearce, H. 11. Hunt, J. F. McKelvie, J. Boyce, D. \Y. Reid and W. E. Barber. ■Mr. 11. H. Hunt was unanimously elected chairman and briefly thanked councillors for the honour conferred.

Correspondence was received from the New Zealand Railways regardingjthe proposal to erect a siding near Himatangi.—Left in the hands of the engineer and clerk. From the Main Highways Board, asking for the nomination of a representative of the District Highways Council. —Cr, Barber appointed.

From the Moutoa Drainage Board, regarding the state of the fence at the south side of the main drain at Whirokino. —Left in tho hands of Mr. Hick ford. The New Zealand Counties Association asked the Council to tippoint a delegate for its conference. —Cr. Hunt was appointed.

It was resolved that the Council purchase a Westford grader and tractor; that the engineer prepare specifications and conditions for quotation from the various firms for the supply of 150 lons of bitumen.

The inspector „was authorised to take legal proceedings against persons not complying with notice to clear lupins on the roads in front of their properties and that written notice he served on persons to cut trees hack at dangerous corners, also that the engineer report on road fences at Whirokino and Rangiotu. The Ilorowhenua County Council is to be written to, suggesting a conference of representatives of both Councils at an early date regarding the working of the Shannon punt. Notice is to he given of the intention of the Council, to strike rates as followsSandon riding, lid in £; Mt. 'Stewart riding, Hd in £; Waitohi riding, ljd in £; Rongotea riding, 1-3/lGd in £; Kawa Kawa riding, l-3/16d in £; Awahou riding, lid in £. The hospital rate over the whole County will be 7/32d in £ and the Oroua Downs Drainage rate, 11/16d in £. The following alterations to the rate roll were authorised: Estate Ereni Te Awe Awe to H. 0. Barber, Puketotara 28. 2B1; C. P. Good to Evelyn M. Jenkins, section 206 Sanson; Edward Gardner to C. Kendall, section 2 block 111. Te Kawau; H. D. Gray to J. L. Harvey, pt. sec. 210 and 312 Carnarvon; J. L. Harvey to W,in. Moffatt, pt. sec. 310 and 312 Carnarvon; C. H. Mitchell to J. H. and M. S. May, pt. sec. 202 Sanson. The engineer reported as follows on the Awahoun riding:—During the last three months, 600 yards of crushed metal for repair work had been placed on the Foxton-Shan-non road, and in addition to the above quantity 200 yards of metal had been delivered by private contract. The flaxmill owners should contribute towards the cost of repairing and keeping the road in order.

The stone-crusliing machinery has been undergoing repairs during the last two or three weeks. Tramway. —Repairs had been carried out along the tram lines at various places, and about 6 chains of damaged rails had been replaced -with 401 h. rails. It would be necessary to replace another length of line near Makowhai as the crown of the present rails were completely crushed and damaged to such an extent that the line was almost unsafe for traffic. It was some time now since the Council had received any sleepers from the silver pine bush, and if none were available, it; would have to make a purchase of sleepers from other quarters, as a considerable number would lie required to replace decayed sleepers along the line. The traffic inspector reported that a fair amount of stock was to be found at large. Twenty-one heavy traffic licenses had been issued’to date, the fees amounting to £441 15s, and 361 drivers’ licenses had been issued and fees amounting to £2OO 5s collected. It would be necessary for the Council to decide what weights it was going to allow lorries to carry in the winter months.—Received.