MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3943, 16 May 1929, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Manawatu County Council met at Sanson on Tuesday, Cr. W. E. Barber (Chairman) presiding. There were also present Councillors J. F. McKelvie, H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce, D. Reid, J. H. Perrett and W. E. Pearce. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Public Works Department calling for applications for grants for road works. —Referred to the engineer. Frolm the Public YVprks Department advising that the Main Highway Board bad decided to subsidise the Shannon bridge approach .road in the 'county on the basis of £1 ,10s for the £1. —Received. ’The department asked for the county engineer’s estimate of the cost of (.improvements proposed on the Himatangi-Sanson highway, for which the county had requested a subsidy of £3 for £l.—The engineer reported that the construction would sost about £37,500 on the basis of £2500' per mile. These figures are to be supplied to the Highways Board. From the Main Highways Board, advising that it would in future subsidise local bodies’ accident insurance premiums for policies covering workmen and other risks ronneeted with main highways work.— Received. From the Commissioner of Transport calling for statistics of heavy traffic fees collected since the inception of the tax in 1925. — Referred to county clerk. From British Pavements, Ltd., requesting a reduction of the retention money from 30 per cent, to 10 per cent, in connection" with its contract for sealing the highways in the county. —.Left n the hands of the chairman and engineer.

From Mr. V. A. Christensen, of Palmerston North, offering to undertake the loading of trucks with metal at the Terrace End railway pit under contract. —The engineer reported that the council could do the work and it was decided to infoiim Mr. Christensen accordingly.

TRAMWAY MANAGER'S REPORT

The tramway manager reported as follows: —The chief items of traffic fur the month were: Grain 1\ tons, minerals and manure 237'i tons, general merchandise 36£ tons, stock 66 trucks, eggs, 83 crates, logs 13 trucks, metal (from Terrace End) 3856 cubic yards, (from crusher) 620 cubic yards. The accounts showed a credit balance of £355 12s Id for the month’s working.—Received.

RATE ROLL ALTERATIONS,

The following alterations were made on the rate roll: —J. 11. Pooley to Mrs. A. Donovan, section 190 Eongotea; J. W. Robinson to E. M. Wyllie, see. 326 block XIH. Te Hawaii; M. Slack to W. R. Jay, pt. section 11 Manawatu Heads; M. Arnott to W. J. Mogridge, section 84 Tangimoana extension; 11. J. Ransom to W. -G. Bond, sjection 43 block II Douglas block; Noti te Kurd to Motuiti Flax Coy., 4d 3b No. 1 Himatangi; N. A. and C. J. Ross to W. H. Gimblett pt. sec. 311 and 312 Carnarvon. H. H. Hunt to M. E. Hunt, lot 14 pt. secs. 113, 120 and 121 Carnarvon; JohnlCordue to T. D. Patton, section 3 Tangimoana extension; Robt. Brown to A. Reid, lot 10 section 149 block XIV Oroua. HOSPITAL LEVY.

The county’s contributions were stated as follows: —Maintenance levy £2497 9s 7d, an increase of £36 9s 7d compared with last year; capital levy £431 7s 9d, a decrease of £3 9s 8d on last year’s contribution. The report and estimates were received without comment. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (M|r. H. V. Bond) subjmitted the following report on the highways in The county:— iFoxton-Himatangi road: The formation and metalling of this section is progressing quite satisfactorily, a distance of four miles 30 chains is now complete, leaving only 51 chains of work to he done. On the completion of the metalling to Sorenson’s store, the water tables and drains Will receive attention and the whole work wall be trimmed up. Riverbed metal will be spread on this road and rolling will be continued throughout the winter. This road gang will continue work on the Rangiotu road. Himatang'i-Rangiotu road: This work is of a heavy nature, hut is progressing Satisfactorily. A total length of 75 chains has been forhied and metalled on the Himatangi end and 70 chains on the Rangiotu end, making a total of 1 mile 65 chains to date. The Bainesse deviation formation is almost complete and formation work at other bad bends is in progress. The 8ton roller' has been transferred to. this length. This/ road gang is now concentrating on the Rangiotu end and will work continuously towards Himatangi until it meets the Poxton road gang working towards Rangiotu. A good supply of metal is now being received from the Terrace End pit. Concrete culverts are being laid where necessary as the work proceeds.

Terrace End 'Pit: More metal trucks are now available enabling 200 cubic yards of metal to he load - ed every day. This supply is being maintained almost throughout, only one day being lost during the past month. Sanson-Awahuxi road: Rolling and grading is still being carried out on this section. The paving contractors are erecting a mixing plant which should be working within two or three days. A total distance of If miles of road has been paved, leaving 2i miles to complete.

Main Highways Maintenance: General grading lias been carried out on most highways. Culverts and drains are being cleaned out and metalling has been carried- out on Kimatangi-Longburn road and Campion’s line. The haiid rails on Leaf’s bridge on the Sanson-Bulls load, which were broken by a motorist, have'been repaired. Shannon Punt: Tenders have been invited for the purchase of the punt, but so far none has been received. The steel work from the old Shannon bridge is being removed to Sanson. The crushing plant is working satisfactorily.—Received. MOTOR SPEEDING. The Sanson School Committee wrote calling the Council’s attention to the dangerous speed of motorists through the township and requesting it to permit its inspector to address the school on the dangers of the road. '.The council agreed to allow Mr. Berry to address the children and also to go into the matter of drafting a by-law restricting the speed of motor vehicles through the township. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The traffic inspector (Mr. W. Beifry) reported as ‘follows: —Notice boards been erected at the cross roads at Rongoteai siding, also at Himatangi. Other boards are beinf made and will be erected at all dangerous corners. A fair amount of stock has been found wandering during the month and owners have had informations laid against them. Fines ranging from 10/- to £2 have been collected for these offences.

One lorry driver was fined £2 and costs for driving at excessive speed, and another was fined £5 on each of two charges, one for carrying a greater weight than that allowed by the class under which he was registered and also for carrying over ten tons. One person was charged ivith crossing the intersection of the crossroads in Sanson at a speed which might have been dangerous to the public and was fined £2 and costs. The hand rails of a bridge on the read between Sanson and Bulls was smashed off by a motor truck and • damage amounting to £4 Is 4d was done. The owner left word that lie would call and pay 'the damage •hut so far' has not clone His lorry was.so badly damaged that it had to be towed into Sanson and still remains on the roadside opposite the county office. Two more lorry drivers will be charged next 'Court day with carrying loads in excess of that allowed under the class in which they are registered. Three cases of allowing stock to wander will be dealt .with at the Foxton Court on May 16. Applications for building permits amounting to £1406 have been granted and fees amounting to £3 10/- collected. Fines for breaches of by-la'ws and motor regulations amounted to £2O 10/- at the last sitting of the Bulls Court. —Received.