MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9170, 13 June 1908, Page 8

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho monthly meeting was held yesterday. Prose ur.: .G. Wilson (chairman), Tims. Masters. 11, B. McKenzie, J. Dalton, G. Kcudall, W. E. Barber, and J. Honscu. CORRESPONDENCE. Prom Horowhenka County Council, asking whether the Manawatu County Council would bear a portion of the'cost of the opening ceremony of the Shannon bridge.—Agreed to. Prom Horowlienua County Council, Stating that it was prepared to road approaches to ijydnrmn.v . '' - and charge ■ Poxton-Sliftnnon brlagw ... -• cost to bridge construction. • 9 Prom John Stevens, M.T., stating that lie had placed tbb resolution o_ the Council, re the desirability or extending the borrowing powers of local bodies under the Loans to Local Bodies Act for construction tramways and rolling stock before the Prime Minister and enclosing a copy of his letter. 'This was approved by the Council. ■ - Mr Field, M.F., "also promised to support the proposal. From W. McKenzie, on behalf ot burgesses of Palmerston Forth, invitiug members of the Mariawntu County Council to take part m the reception of the Governor on tho 18th.—No action taken. From W. G. Tozer, offering a rental of £8 a year for lease of the Foston Ferry reserve, for a period, of 31 years. The area is 44 acres.—' It was decided to first offer the reserve to the adjoining owners, Or. Barber to see these, and Council to deal with the matter at the next

meeting. , . .. From A. H. Briscoe, asking the Council to prevent water from roads at Avrah'uri running on to his land.—Overseer to take levels and ■ give a sketch plan of how host the water can be carried away. i'roia Mr Pigotfc, of the Shannon. * Ferry, asking to be allowed to close the Ferry as the bridge was open for traffic.' —It was decided to give permission to close the Ferry. 'From P. W. Brown, Motoa, asking onncil to pay him half cost of (.leaning a drain adjoining his property.—To ho asked what amount he requires and the request will then he considered. _ * From J. E. Fulton, C.E., stating that he would give an estimate of extending the tramway to Bulls for - £5 55.-r-Accepted. From R. Ross, Glen Oroua, drawing atteution to bad state of water channel in front of his shop. Re . ferred to Overseer. From Hamish Wilson, desiring to know who was the contractor that took metal from his laud and the v'-ntity and stating that it was n'one without permissiou and stating ’ that his charge was 4d per yard.—lt was stated hy clerk that contractu had consented to pay. - From W. W. poundhaeper, asking for instructions in jregard to dishonoured cheque.-—The Clerk stated that lie had informed Mr Good that he accepted on his own responsibility. From F. C. Raikes, Himatangi, stating that he had taken loads of clay from Council’s pit to make a cricket pitch for the boys.— Overseer stated that clay was scarce in that locality.—Permission given on this occasion, but wish expressed no one else would take clay from . that place. From the River Conference Committee. The chairman said he had ■« been nnable to attend the last meeting, a report of which was read to the Council.—A good deal of discussion took place as to the advisability of accepting a commission on the terms offered by the Government. Or. Hensen was opposed to it. He contended that there was absolutely no claim on the settlers on the high lauds to pay part of the cost of draining the low lands, for lands had been paid for when in a state of nature according to their values. The Chairman said his proposal had been to classify land according, to the classification of the Lands Drainage Act, 1904, according to sections from 31 to 37. In the Manawatu County there were only about one-third of the ratepayers interested. He did nob think that the House would sanction an- Act, even on the recommendation Of a Commission, that would he manifestly unfair to land owners not requiring drainage. It was decided not to take any action at present, hut to protest if it was found the interest of any portion of the ratepayers was in danger. REPORTS. The Treasurer reported: General account dr. £1916 13s lOd, loan account cr. £1073 12s 2d, riding account available for expenditure: . Sandon £377, Mt. Stewart £lB6 18s Bd. .Waitohi £277 16s 6d, Rongotea £285 14s 3d. Carnarvon £260 7s 4d, Kawa Kawa £463 9s 4d, Awahou £l6B 18s Id, Wirokino division £7O 10s lOd. TRAMWAY REPORT.

The Tramway Manager reported a credit balance of £l3 10s 2d on the working of the tramway during Mar. The principal items of traffic ; were: Grain 59J£ tons, general merchandise tons, chaff 24 trucks, timber 16,000 feet, metal and clay 203 yards. The fares tor the mouth were £ss 2s 5d and the total - receipts £136 13s Id. The Chairman said the engine , Weka was being repaired and painted at Eeilding at a cost of £94. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

r'i / The Overseer reported, among other things, that he had inter- ... viewed Mr J. Goodwin in reference to a drain leading from Tompkins’ line 'which the Drainage Board agreed to clean out providing Council paid one-third of cost and .Mr Goodwin one-third. As the cost would not be heavy and the drain / would benefit the road he would

' recommend the work to be done, - - About 100 chains of the Taikorea 'road, between Mr France’s and Mr Dock’s, was completely worn down ~aud should be metalled at a cost of ■'£2oo. \ Mr Boyle having declined to proceed with the Taikorea drain he f had le| it, to John Hehir at 4s Od per chain. Sexton and Holmes had . completed widening the main drain at Kaibobopu Lakes. He had ar- ' ranged with them to keep the r drains clear at.£2s 6d per chain. -/■ About six trucks of clay and metal ’were required for the tram crossing ■Vtnd sand holes near the Oroua Downs School. Ho recommended ‘ the.planting of willows should be 1 1 nuitaVtakeu at once iu the places iu- - ■ by flood at tho Rang!tikei r protective" works. —Report was adopted. ■/ ■ The ’ Overseer, of the Tramway /. stated that the repairs,of the Carnarvon incline were npw completed '■ -i*ij6 three lengths of rails at tire i'U, • •

siding. The section laid down last year was now being packed up and part of the line between Himataugi and Rosina siding was being repaired. FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.. The Chairman reported on his attendance at a meeting of delegates at Poston re formation of a Harbour Board. He said it was a matter of great moment to tho Manawatu County. The wharf at Foxton had been erected by Government'at a cost of £IO,OOO, and as £23,000 had been received in dues apparently: the cost had been repaid. Or. Henseu said he and his neighbours had been endeavouring to get a ship load of posts in-'the Foxton port,'but bad not succeeded, y Cr. Barber said the Department of Marine did nothing to keep the river open. Only on one occasion had "the river been dredged and then the gravel Was sold to the Borough Council. , ~ , ~ : o*. McKenzie proposed that the action of the chairman in attending the meeting called by the Foxton Chamber of to urge the Minister of Railways to hand over the receipts of the Foxton wharf to the proposed Harbour Board be endorsed and that the chairman be appointed to the deputation at helloing on Monday, 15th June, to meet Sir Joseph Ward to urge this on Ins notice. , . lt ~ Cr. Kendall seconded the motion, which was adopted. , OTHER BUSINESS.

It was resolved, on the motion of Crs -Wilson—Barber, That Messrs McWilliams and Andrews’ tender for repairs tefthe Wirokino bridge of £589 13s 4d be accepted, the necessary acceptances and sureties to be arranged for. . _ r The applications, ot Messrs W. Howan, C. Reay, and O. Blake, for slaughtering licenses, were directed to be forwarded to Agricultural Department. It was resolved — Crs. McKenzie —Dalton— That this Council appoint a deputation to wait on theFrime Minister in tho early part of the session, for the purpose of urging on the Goverumeufc that the scope of the i-iccal Bodies Loans Act should be extended to enable local bodies to borrow for the construction and renewal of tramways, the purchase of stock, and machinery, such as stone crushers, steam rollers, etc., [and that the local bodies on this coast be asked to send representatives, the representatives of.this Council to consist of t l e chairman and the mover.

Crs. McKenzie—Wilson — That applications be invited for a roadman, to he in by next meeting.;: Ors. Wilson—Barber — That the following alterations he made in the rate roll: A. M. -Banks to O. M. Soneuson for lots 33 and 43, section 351, Carnarvon'; *L. E. Bayliss to H. B. Bayliss, for lots 16; part 75, section 384, Carnarvon ; G. W. Ingram to O. |H. Shailer, for part section 61, block 2, Tekawa ; D.Patton to R. H. W. Oliver,'; part section 4, v hLdck 3, Tekawa; A. Scott to A. G. Robertson, part bit 136. setcion 384, Carnarvon'; A. M.. McOardle to E. Brigbtwell, section-: 319, Carnarvon; A. Gregory to C. H. ‘ Shailer, part section 61, Carnarvon; A. Gregory to C. ■■ H. Shailer, sections 60 and 65, Carnarvon. . Ors. Barber—Hensen — That the next .meeting of the. Council he held on the l4tb July, ’ owing to the 86h being the date of the British—Manawatn football match. BATES. A special meeting was held and, rates struck as follows :—A general rate of %d.in the £ in the- Sandon, Mt. Stewart. Waitohi, Carnarvon and Awahou Ridings, Id in £ in the Rongotea and Kawakawb and separate rates as follow: In-tbs Sandon and Mt. Stewart' Ridings in the £, in the Waitohi 3-16 d, and 1-Sod in the £ in the Carnarvon, and a special rate of in the Wirokino division. The tender of C. Biaiklie for Rose Line at 2s 6d per chain, and E. G. Knight’s at 5s 3d per chain for Main Drain road, were accepted.