MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9145, 14 May 1908, Page 5

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present: Ors. J. G. Wilson (chairman), J. Dalton, R. B. McKenzie, Barber, G. Kendall, Thos. Masters, J. Hensen. CORRESPONDENCE. From G. T. Woodroofe, Sanson, for renewal of sluaghtering license.—Approved. From S. Weep, Foxton, asking for lease of section 269, Ferry Reserve.— Clerk to ascertain in whom the reserve is vested. From a number of ratepayers, asking the Council to replace the swing bridge over the Makino stream, Wells street, Foildiug.— Agreed to. From McWilliams & Andrews, complaining of Mr Pigott, ferryman at Shannon, and offering to work the ferry to the interest of the j3ublic. Prom E. Pigott, stating that the contractors for the bridge were allowing passengers to cross over the bridge. If this was continued he would prefer to resign charge of the Ferry.—lt was decided to notify the public by advertisement that those crossing within half a mile of the Ferry must pay the Ferry fees. From Joseph Darragh, complaining that water from Awahuri road had been turned on to bis section. He would contribute towards the cost of taking the water down the other side of the road.—Overseer to arrange with .ar Darragh. Prom Tom McKenzie, asking that his road from river hank to his house bo regraded with road grader.— The dwelling house being a Post Office, it was decided to give the use of the grader and a man, Mr McKenzie to .provide horses for one day.

From Tom McKenzie, asking Council to pay him trespass and driving fees on impounded horse the pouudkeeper had released without charging.—Clerk to make inquiries into the matter. From Bulls Town Board, offering their earnest support to a proposal to extend the tramway to Bulls. —It was Mr 0.E., be requested to make a rough estimate of the cost. From the Horowhenna County Council, stating that'the only benefit to be derived by the Horowhenna from the proposed River Board Commission would be the construction of works, whereby the flood water may he enabled to reach the ocean by a shorter course than at present existing, and asking what position the Mauawatu Council would take up.—■ Or. Barber advocated adopting the same position as the Horowhenna, but the chairman pointed out that there were ratepayers in the Manawatu County interested in the work referred to, also bank protection and drainage.—lt was decided to reply in this non-commital manner.

From Treasury, stating that £2OO had been paid „to the Council’s credit on account of drainage works on the Oroua Downs and £SOO on account of Shannon bridge loan. The Treasurer reported that the estimates had again been drawn so as to allow a reduction of £3OO off the overdraft, the actual estimated reduction being from £317 17s 7d to £lO 16s 9d, equal to £307 0s lOd. The Council had now attained its aim of wiping off the overdraft and was in a sound financial position. The separate rate had been dropped in the Ridings of Rongotea, Kawakawa, and Awahou. The Council had now power to make differential rates, thus doing away with the necessity of striking separate rates for general purposes.

The estimates showed the anticipated receipts to amount to “£9978 10s 3d. The anticipated receipts from rates were £5370 3s Id, from the Tramway £2BOO, and £1246 in subsidy, and arrears of rates,* with smaller items of receipts making up the total. It was proposed to expend £4IOO in road maintenance, bridges, £3OOO on the tramway, £lOls 9s lOd in interest on loans, and £543 in administration.

The estimates were adopted, and'it was resolved to strike general rates of %d in the £in the Saudou, Mt. Stewart, Waitohi, Carnarvon, and Awahou Ridings, and a general rate of Id in the Rongotea and Kawakawa Ridings, and separate rates of in the £ in the Sandon and Mt. Stewart Ridings, 3-16 din the Waitohi, and l-30d in the Carnarvon Riding.

It was also resolved that for the purpose of providing a portion of the cost of construction andjmaintenance of bridges, and drains in the Whirikino sub-division of the Awahou Riding a rate of %d * n ie £ f> e levied.| ENGINEER’S REPORT. Sandon Riding.—The usual repairs have been effected in this riding in the shape of breaking stones on Speedy’s line and metalling the approach to crossing on Ohakea road. Fagan and A’Court have completed the metalling of A’Oourt’s street in the Sanson Township and are now progressing with the metalling on the Sandon-Awahuri road. The bystreets and main street in the Township of Sanson require about 100 yards of metal to patch up the weak places. Arrangements could be made with the present contractors to supply the metal. Mt. Stewart Riding.—Repairs have been completed on the Feilding -Awahuri road, such as breaking stones, filling in ruts, and repairing culverts. E. G. Knight has not yet completed his contract for supplying and delivering metal on the Pakehou road. The concrete pipes have come to hand for the culvert on Lee’s Line, and will be put in immediately. From 40 to 50 yards of metal are required to repair weak places on the Ranfurly road. A large culvert, which has given way several times recently on the Feilding-Awa-huri road, should be re-decked with substantial timber. I have not yet made an estimate of re-grading two cuttings and making a side-track on the Feilding-Halcombe road, but will do so during the present month.

Waitohi Riding.—Messrs Stewart: and Sou have completed their contract for supplying aud delivering screened metal on the Taipo-Awa-huri road. I have taken the levels of Mr Brisco’s suggested drain at Awahnri, aud find that the water will not go into the creek as desired by Mr Brisco. Rongote'a Riding.—Mr 0. H. Peterson has completed his contract for delivering metal on Sanson’s, Jones’ and Bank’s Lines. Good substantial work lias been done on the above roads in the shape of spreading metal and breaking stones. I have taken the levels and drawn up plans and specifications for the diversion of drain through Mr Hopping’s property, and do away with two culverts on Sanson’s Line. The Council agrees to pay up to $5, provided the work is completed by the Drainage

Board in unsatisfactory manner. As instructed by Cr. Dalton, I let the carting of extra metal on the top end of Jones’ Line to Mr O H. Petersen, at 2s 9d a yard. Kawa Kawa Rid nig.—The usual repairs have been effected in this riding during the mouth, such as filling in ruts on Couper’s, Kellow’s, Kakariki, and Main "Drain roads. Mr T. H. Simpson is progressing favourably with his metalling contract on the Main Drain road and will in all probability complete the work next week. Or. Kendall and I accepted the tender of T. H. Simpson for delivery of metal on the Main Drain road for the sum of 4s lOd per yard. The Main Drain road between Glen Orona and Taikorea road is completely worn out in places and will require about 350 yards of metal on it to put it in order. Carnarvon Riding.—The usual repairs have been completed on Riverbank line, such as tripuning in ruts and spreading the clay. Mr R. Sexton has completed his contract for constructing 33 chains of drain at the Kaikokopu lakes, in a satisfactory manner. The drain line from the swamp has also been cleaned out. As instructed by the Chairman I accepted R. Sexton’s contract for 10ft drain through "the swamp for a distance of 60 chains, more or less, for the sum of 25s per chain. I also let the contract to R. Sexton to deepen the main drain 18 inches at 5s per chain, and the cleaning out of 33 chains which were just completed, for 5s per chain. The latter drain had fallen in owing to water washing in the sides. I have let the Taikorea road drain to M. Boyle for the sum of 4s 6d per chain. O. Martin is progressing favourably with his contract of forming and metalling on the Whale line. Mr Lumsden suggests that the Council should form up the unmetalled portion of the Whale line with the road grader. Awahon Riding.—The usual repairs have been effected on the ShannonFoxtou, Elkin’s - Motuiti roads in the shape of spreading metal and breaking stones. O. Peterson has completed his contract for the supply and delivery of metal on the Foxton - Shannon and Elking’s-Motuiti roads. Sand has been carted, and the weak places touched up and bridges put in order on the Karekare road.

Whirokiuo Subdivision.—T. Cordive has completed the cleaning out of the Government drain along the Whirokino road. The drain has also been cleaned out' along No. 3 line. 58 yards of metal have been put on the Whirokino road, to repair the weak places and put the road in order. It would be advisible to put the road in order with the road grader. I have engaged W. P. Webster to survey the diversion on Lean’s road to the Kopuae. TRAMWAY REPORT. The tramway report read ; The plate-laying was delayed for a considerable time ow r ing to not having sufficient spikes to proceed witli the work. We have since obtainned a supply of spikes from the Railway Department, and the plate-lay-ing has been completed to the top ,of the incline. Other work has been done to the incline in the way of packing and binding the sand and fixing up weak places towards Himatangi. Old rails could now be gathered up, and the best put in to replace a number of bad rails between Carnarvon schoolhouse and Himataugi. The wooden culvert on Makowhai is falling in, and should be replaced as soon as possible with a three-foot concrete pipe. The Tramway Manager reported that there had been carried during the past month 91 tons ofjgrain, tons general merchandise, 20,030 feet of timber, and 260 yards of metal. The fares for the month amounted to £7 16s Bd, the total receipts £143 10s, and expenditure £l6B 19s.

An estimate of the cost of repairing the Weka locomotive was put in by the manager and the Council decided to have the work done. RATE ROLL.

The following transfers were agreed to: Mrs Betham to Rowe Bros., lot 122, part sections 120-121, Rongotea; James Tennant to J. H. Simmons, allotment 86, rural section 384, Carnarvon ; W. Davis to H. G. Hammond, sections 307, etc., Carnarvon ;W. A. Sorby to J. 'H, Hurdle, part section 1, section 58, Sandon do. to O. S.’ Bush, part 1, section 58, Sandon, ; Geo. Allman to T. Rickland, part section 131, Sandon; J. M. A’Oourt to John McDonald, section 14, block XV., Rangitoto. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr. McKenzie moved, and Cr. Masters seconded, That this Council petition Parliament [during this session to extend the scope of existing legislation to enable Oonnty Councils to borrow under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act for the construction'and renewal of railways or tramways and to borrow for the purchase of [locomotives and rolling stock required for the efficient running of such railways or tramways. Such legislation to generally facilitate the construtcion and working of railways and tramways by County Councils. Cr McKenzie pointed out in support of his motion that the Council that day had authorised a large expenditure for the repair of an engine, but that probably it would be more economical to pnrchasega new one. In addition, for the more efficient working of the Council ought at thejpresent moment to have the authority to borrow £2OOO in order to re-lay the line 1 ) with heavier rails. The small profit now accruing from the tramway would pay interest on a loan of say £3OOO, but was insufficient to enable the Council to make the necessary additions to rolling stock, etc. The motion was adopted and it was decided to send copies to members for Manawatu and Otaki. It was resolved that the Council agree to pay one-fourth, not to exceed £6, of the cost of the 'drain through Mr fAnderson’s property, from the tramline to Harper’s drain, the cosc'to come out of the Rongotea and Carnarvon Ridings in equal proportions, the work to he done under the supervision of .the Horseshoe Drainage Board.

It was resolved to hold the next general meeting on Tuesday, June 9th.

The ranger is to be instructed to impound all stock straying on roads in the County after this date. He went to the butcher; also the baker; Ho went to the grocer and cabinetmaker ; He even inquired of the new undertaker, And asked the distiller and brewer! , And all of them said That for colds in the head, And the best for. the chest as proven , by test • Was Woods’Great Peppermint Pure. As&i *is 1 . vfi" iK, : --a C-'.- I *