MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4438, 10 April 1930, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. ■The Manawatu iGounty Council met at Sanson on Tuesday, Cr. W. E. Barber (chairman) presiding. There were also present Crs. H. ET. Hunt, J. Boyce, D. W. Reid, W. E. Pearce, J. H. Perrett and J. F. MeKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE. The following' correspondence was dealt with: — The Public WpUks Department approved of a subsidy of £3 for £1 for the sealing of the highway between Foxton and Himatangi; also recommending intensive, maintenance to bring the road into a condition to receive the permanent surface.—The engineer reported that the specifications had been approved and tenders would shortly be called for the work. The Public Works Department urged attention of wooden bridges on main highways. —Referred to the engineer, with a direction that provision be' made for the installation of fire fighting equipment on the Whirokino bridge over the Manawatu River at Foxton. ‘A detailed statement of the cost of the erection of the Shannon bridge o,ver the Manawatu river was forwarded by the department, which requested the payment of £4,405 3/9, being the council’s share. —Payment authorised. The N.Z. Railways reported on the bridges on the Sanson-Hima-tangi tramway and recommended repairs.—Referred to the engineer. The N.Z. Railways, asked whether the council would accept dedication of a half chain strip of land in connection with the road through the reserve at Rangiotu.— Referred to the engineer for report. The Feilding Chamber of Commerce recommended the sealing of the Awahnri road to Feilding and Stewart’s line, leading from Mt. Stewart to the Feilding-Awahuri road. —It was decided to reply that the work would be done as soon as the main arterial road (SansonFoxton) had been completed. Dr. E. M. Wyllic, Foxton, asked for the bridging of certain drains on the unformed portion of Koputaru road adjacent to his property. —Referred to *ol’. McKelvie and the engineer, with power to act. Mr. J. Powell, Carnarvon, complained about damage by fire sustained by a plantation on bis property, allegedly due to neglect on the part of the council’s employees and asking for the replacement of the trees. —The engineer stated that the facts were as related and it was agreed to replace the trees numbering 26. The Foxton Borough Council recommended that the Round Bush i esei've on the Foxton-Himatangi road be vested in a hoard of control, comprising representatives of the Palmerston North, Feilding, ;ind Foxton boroughs and the Manawatu and Kairanga counties, for preservation. —Decision was held over, pending receipt of a report from the chairman and Mr. J. K. llornblow.

Afr. H. J. Harris, R.D., Foxton, complained of damage done to the fences on his property through a lire caused by spanks from the county engine igniting dry grabbed gorse and blackberry. He requested the council to replace 60 posts and 300 battens.—‘The county clerk reported that the enginedrivers took every precaution and he did not know what else could be done to prevent parched grass lands catching fire from sparks from a railway engine. The council could not accept liability. The county inspector said that the gorse and blackberry had been stacked alongside the line, which was a risky thing to do. It was decided that the council could not accept any liability.

TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer reported as follows: —Bounty fund account cdt., £330 44/6; Main Highways loan a/c, cdt., £2379 19/8; loan a/c edt., £3275 5/9; total edt. balance £5985 19/11. .The amounts available for expenditure in the different ridings were stated to be as follows.: — Sandon, £25 19/2; Mt. Stewart, £39 19/3; Waitohi, £74 14/7; Rongotea, £2 7/7; Cavharvon, £l5B 10/5; Avvahou, £45 IG/4; over expended Kawa Kawa, £225 17/9. —Received. TRAMWAY MANAGER’S ® REPORT'.

The chief items of traffic for the month of March were: —Grain, 9£ tons; minerals and manure, 340 tons; merchandise, 21 tons; cheese, 104" crates; eggs, 101 crates; cream, 82 cans; sheep, 129 trucks; pigs, 2 trucks; metal, 126 trucks, timber, 2674 s.ft.; wool, 62 bales; flax fibre, tons. The accounts showed a debit balance of £1 3/3. ; RATE POSITION. General rates struck for the year amounted to £13,319 10/11; collected, £12,793 18/4; rebates claimed, £l7l 5/8; leaving approximately £354 6/11 outstanding. Hospital rates struck amounted to £2,963 16/1; collected, £2908 12/9; outstanding, £55 3/4. Special rates sLruck amounted to £1436 9/2; collected, £1417 14/11; outstanding, £lB 14/3. These totals showed a small reduction as compared with the amounts outstanding as at March 31, 1929! COUNTY RATE ROLL. The following alterations were made on the rate roll: —N.■ A. and C. J. H. Ross, to J. A. Mitchell, lot •° 3 of secs. 310/2 Carnarvon; N. A. and C. J. H. Ross to H. T. Oliver, lots 1 and 4, secs. 310/2 (Carnarvon; N. A. and C. J. H. Ross to W. H. Gimblett, lot 2, pt. secs. 310/2 Carnarvon; - W. H. Stevenson to A. (j E Mudford, section 18, Tangimoana ext.; Sir J. G- Wilson Estate to Q. 0. Wilson, lot 1, pt. secs. 101/2, 104/6, Sandon township;

Sir J. G. Wilson Est. to G. H. 0 Wilson, pt. soo. 00, sees. 07/0, mu lot 2, sees. 108 and pt. sees. 104/1 Sandon township; Sir J. G. Wilsoi Est. In G. H. Wilson, sec. 05, pt sees. 00, sees. 90, 98 and pt. 97 see. 103 and closed road throned 90 and 97, Sandon; Dalrymple am Wilson to R. A. Wilson, lots 2 and 4 Sandon township; Dalrymple ant Wilson to K. W. Wilson, lots 1 anti 3 Sandon township; Est. J. A. Bailey to Mrs. C. B. Tostevin, section 280, township of Sanson; Eottell’s Trustees to Mrs. 0. Marston, sec. 400, Carnarvon; E. Robinson to W. J. Shailer, see. 163, Carnarvon. TRAEFIiC INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The County traffic inspector (Mr. W. Berry) reported as follows: — Several persons were before the Bulls Court on March 22 and fined for breaches of the Motor Regulations, the fines ranging from £1 to £2. One lorry driver was fined for driving at a speed in excess of that allowed by the regulations, £3 and costs being inflicted. A lorry, owner for using his vehicle without having it licensed was before the Feihling Court on Monday and fined £4 and costs. Regarding the signboard for use when (the Whir old no road is blocked by flood, Mr. Bond is having a plan of the proposed board taken out for the council’s discussion and approval. It will be for the council to decide on the form the light will take. The Foxton borough inspector is willing to operate the board and light at flood time. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr. IT. Y. Bond) reported as follows: — Main Highways: All unsealed main highways have been graded and surface metal spread where required. Corse and lupin have been grubbed on road frontages to council properties. The grader with i akc attached lias been working quite satisfactorily and lias been doing very useful work. Side banking is being carried out on the Whiroikino road and the Manawatu liver bridge deck has been repaired. Shoulders have been built up on the Foxton-Himatangi and HimatangiRaugiotu roads, and fascining has been repaired. The specifications for the paving of the HimatangiFoxton highway have been approved by the Main Highways Board and tenders are being called immediately for this work.