MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4530, 13 November 1930, Page 4

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of the Manawatu Council Council was held at Sanson on Tuesday, Cr. W. E. Barber presiding. CORRESPONDENCE.

'From the Transport Department, forwarding regulations relating to the issue of new motor driving’ licenses. —“I think we should all protest,” said the chairman, after a portion of the regulations had been read. “In America they are cutting all. this sort iof thing out and yet we are being loaded up with more,” the speaker added. The county inspector (Mr. W. Berry) suggested calling a conference of local bodies to protest a- • gainst, the regulations. The chairman thought perhaps the Kairanga IC'oiinty Council might arrange this and, following telephone communication with the latter council it was reported that the conference had been left in the hands of Mr. Menzics, engineer to the Kairanga County Council to arrange. From the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, asking’ the council’s support of a motion that the. railways be placed outside’ the sphere of political control. —“I think it is a move, in the right direction, and T move that we support it,” stated Cr. Perrctt. The chairman also considered that the council could do no harm in adopting the resolution which was seconded by Cr. Hunt and carried. TREASURER’S REPORT.

The county- treasurer reported as follows on the council’s finances ■to the end of October: —'County fund account (dr.) £12,700 Hi/-; loan account (cr.) £842 8/3; Main Highways loan, account (cr.) £B5l 16/3; net debit balance.. £11,060 11/6.

The amounts shown as available for expenditure iu the various ridings were as under: —fSandon, £216 17/9; Mt. Stewart, £94 16/9; Waitohi, £225 10/2; Rongotea, £75 8/11; Carnarvon, £B7 8/10; Kawa Kawa, £139 13/5; Awaliou, £lls 19/3.

The council discussed the report in committee during which the treasurer reported that the large overdraft would he substantially reduced when the annual subsidy on rates was received and transfers, etc., and other revenue producing work put through. Tt was also reported that ’oyer £7OOO was outstanding in rates a.t present. ENGINEER’S REPORT. . Mr H. V. Bond, county engineer, submitted the following 1 x’cport: — “Main Highways.—All main highways have been graded. A new stringer has been - put into Leafs Bridge on the Sanson-Bulls Road. A 1 concrete pipe culvert has been laid on 'Stewart’s Line. Maintenance metal has been spread on the. Himatangi-Sanson, HimataugiRangiofu and Ufonatangi-Foxton Roads. The contra'etors for the paving of the Himatangi-Foxton road are erecting their plant at Himatangi, and they expect to be ready to start paving towards the end of this month. The bunkhouse portion of the Bainesse hut has been .dismantled and brought to Sanson. The new decking for the Whirolkiino Bridge will be to hand in . the course of a day or two when this work will be undertaken. The one coat of cold emulsified (bitumen put on Mt. Stewart lias Hold very well throughout the winter, but the surface is now getting, rather rough, and the permanent surfacing will have to be undertaken as soon as the weather is suitable.

“Ridings.— Awahou: General maintenance work has been carried put on (Spring’s, Bowc’s and Poplar Roads. The roughest portions of Motuiti Road have been formed, and a little metal spread in the wheel tracks. The Main Drain Road has been graded. “Tramways.—The crossing at Pukenui has been ibitumenised. All tramway bridges have been repaired and steel work painted. The guard’s van is now .being remodelled.” —Adopted.

RATE ROLL. The folio whig rate roll alterations ' were authorised: —S. YV. R. Evans to IT. 13. Richards, - lot 15, section 2(18, block I, Moutere S.D., E. Back to J. A. Coghill, lot 24 and part 25, section 3.15, township of Carnarvon; J. G. Elliott to A. C. Potts and R. p. Harris, part sections 575)-'B2 'Carnarvon, and part section 1, Rangitikci district;. D. S. Coulter to L. T. McLean, lot 10, section 384, Carnarvon. LmPECITOR’S , REPORT. Tbo county inspector, Mi-. iVV. Burry, presented his seventh annual report to the council as under:—“Prosecutions during the year have been instituted for various offences coming under the motor regulations, and the heavy traffic regulations as to the use of motor lorries, viz., speeding over intersections, dangerous driving, cutting corners, 1 ' overloading, failing to have loads weighed, no heavy traffic licenses, .having expired discs on lorries, and for driving loitries at a greater speed ■than that allowed (by the regulations. A number of persons were prosecuted under the by-laws for allowing stock to wander, etc. A number of sign boards have been erected during the year at crossroads and dangerous placets, and trees and hedges • have been trimmed back. During the past two months spraying has been carried out on the roadside for the purpose of ascertaining the values of the sprays for the destruction of gorse, blackberry and lupins. So far the tests seem to point to the

•sprays being effective, and at a later date it is hoped to he able to recommend to farmers the most effective spray for the destruction of gorso and blackberry. The following amounts have been collected: Drivers’ licenses, £273 5/-; lines under by-laws and motor regulations, £97 10/- ; eating houses, £2 2/-; halls registration, £4; offensive trades, £6 0/-; dog tax, £9O 5/-; building permits, £33 5/-; registration sale yards, £2 2/-; heavy traffic licenses, £450 12/11; grass seed off roads, £3 3/-; total, £968 10/11.”— Adopted.