MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3538, 16 September 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

The Manawatu County Council met at Sanson yesterday,, when the following Councillors were present: Crs. H. H. Hunt (chairman), J. Me Kelvie, H. J. Pagan, W. Pearce, W. E. Barber, J. IBoyce and D. Reid. CORRESPONDENCE. In connection with the flood damage to the Foxton-Shannon road, a letter was received from the Public Works Department granting permission to cai'ry out the necessary repairs at an estimate cost of £405. The Department would subsidise the work on a £1 for £1 basis, and this payment would be additional to the ordinary maintenance provided for this length of Highway.—'Received. From the Foxton Borough Council withdrawing its offer to purchase the County’s horse road-grader.— Received.

The Public Works Department wrote regarding the proposal that the Manawatu County Council should assume control of the Manawatu river punt, and forwarding a copy of a resolution on the subject from the Horowhenua County Council.—Received.

The question of repairs to the bridge on Kuri Kuri, Foxton, brought to the notice of the Council by F. S. Easton, was referred to the engineer for action. Mr. R. Rangiheuea, of Foxton, was authorised to collect the rate's on native land on a commission basis. F. Woods, of Foxton, complained that the\ willows which had been cut on the Whirokino Road, had been washed on to his property during the recent flood, and asked the Council to pay compensation for the nuisance created thereby.—Decided to notify Mr. Woods that the Council regretted the occurrence, but could not accept liability. TRAMWAY MANAGER'S REPORT. The manager of the Sanson Tramway reported as follows: — The chief items .of traffic for the month were: Minerals and manure 2464 tons, merchandise 72ij tons, grain 10 tons, metal 125 trucks, eggs 92 c.rates, timber 26,500 sup. feet; fares amounted to 19/11. The accounts show a debit balance of £62/0/2 for the month’s working.— ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr. E. Hickford) reported as follows: — Awahou Riding:—A portion of the Whirokino road had been trimmed up by the grader, and the fence along the main drain was being repaired. The dump truck had been employed carting metal along the Foxton-Shannon road for the past two or three weeks, and had carted approximately 100 yards of metal for repairing flood damage. Main Highways.—During the past month, an inspection was made of the Himatangi-Rangiotu and Himatangi-Foxton Main Highways, when the matter of re-construction of these main highways was discussed. The main material for the formation portion of the work consists of light sand and the matter of preventing the sand< from drifting is a difficult problem to deal with as the blinding material required will have to be supplied by rail. Several thousand yards of clay will be required and a property owner was approached with a view to' purchasing two acres of clay land for that purpose but without any good results. The engineer recommended the Council to take a section of land suitable under the Public Works Act, unless one could be purchased under favourable conditions.

The Tramway:—Repair work had been carried out along the line between Makowhai and Rongotea sidings. Drains had been opened up and a number of decayed sleepers had been replaced with first class sleepers, and a few damaged rails in the line to the stone crusher have been removed. The newly-appoint-ed foreman commenced his duties on Sept. 6. —Received.