MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9419, 15 April 1909, Page 5

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present: Ors. /J. G. Wilson (chairman). R. B. McKenzie, W. E, Barber, T. Masters, Q. Kendall, J. Dalton, and J. Henson. CORRESPONDENCE, From Treasury, approving of application of loan of £4OO for metalling Tirorca Road. From Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, notifying levy of 6s 6d on the £IOOO, aud 10 per cent, of that amount, the Manawatu contributions being £532 13s 6d and £27 18s 9d respectively.—ln reply to a remark from Or. McKenzie, the Chairman said the larger proportion of oases in the hospital were from Palmerston, but the people of the town were liberal to the institution.'

Prom Feildiug Chamber of Commerce, asking for the co-operation of the Council in inducing Government to reserve Gieson’s hush. —It was resolved that' the Council would gladly co-operate. From Pinnoa Laud Syndicate, asking that plan of roads be signed and offering to give a bond for the completion of the road work. —To be signed when roads are laid off in accordance with agreement with the chairman.

Prom Whirokino ratepayers, 16, asking that the big bill on Moutoa Road be widened as it is at present unsafe for traffic.—Work to be done. REPORTS.

The Treasurer reported General account dr. £609 3s 9d, loan account cr. £947 9s 3d. Riding .accounts, amounts available for expenditure Saodou Riding £B7 12a 9d, Carnarvon £2u 18a 2d, Avyahon .£24 15s 9d. Over expended : *Mt Stewart Riding £lO7, Waitohi £36 5s \9d, Rongotea £lB3 5s 9d, Rongotea £IBB 3s 3d, Kawa Kawa £326 8j 3d, Whirokino Division £37 ss.

The Overseer reported as follows : Sanaou Biding.—The weather during the past month has been exceedingly fine and favourable for the 'metalling contractors. Mr E. G. [McDermott has completed his contract on Ohakea, McDouell’s and Sneedy’s Lines. Messrs Fagan and A’Court have also completed their contract for supplying and delivering 465 yards of metal on the BullsSandon Road and Kakariki Road. The roadmen are now employed breaking down the large stones which will be completed In a few days. About 60 yards of metal is required to patch up the weak places on Ohabea-Terrace Road. Mt. [Stewart Riding.—We have not. ybt commenced metalling in this Biding, but expect to make a start on the Rakebou Road about Friday next. I have engaged Mr Gillett to survey Boness Road, but owing to the weathe*r being very rough on (he day appointed I have hot been able to get the work done. Messrs “Petersen and Jensen have not yet commenced their metalling contract on the Halcombe-Mt.-Stewart Road.

Waitohi Riding.—Mr O. Martin has just about completed his contract for supply and delivery of 125 yards of metal on Penny’s Lino, the metal being of first-class quality. The stones have been broken down on the Raipo-Awahnri Road and the road is now in fair order.

Rongotea Riding.—The whole of the metalling in this Riding is now completed, Messrs Yalender and Blackler have just delivered 298 yards of metal on Sanson’s and Jones’ Lines, and Messrs T. Stuart and Sons have completed tlwir contract for supply apd delivery of 325 yards of metal (screened) on the Rocgotea-Longburn Roadi A very old culvert on Jones’ Line, broken in by a traction engine, is now being taken out and replaced. Kawa Kawa Riding.—The usual repairs have been completed- in the shape of cleaning out the drain from ’the Palmeraton-Foxton Road and trimming and filling in [ruts on the Mangawhata and Taikorea Roads. Mr Oooksley has now commenced his contract of delivering metal on Oouper’s Line. I inspected the bridges on the Main Drain Road with a view to replace them in concrete in conjunction with the Sluggish River Drainage Board. There are five bridges which require improving. We have taken out one just recently and put in a 15-inoh pipe culvert 30 feet long. There are two others which could be replaced with concrete pipes for the sum of £4O ; the other three bridges would be very costly. and most likely run into £250;0r more. “*I should like' to see Mr Armstrong, the Engineer for the Drainage Board, and ascertain from him what is required before I can give any, definite information -to the Council as regards the cost of the above bridges. Councilor Kendall and I inspected the protective works odl the banks of the Oroua River now being carried out by the Drainage Board. This is a very important work and urgently required to protect the Main Drain Road and drain. I would suggest that another groin be put in a few yards above the present one, to turn the face of the water on to the sandy point on the opposite side of the river. The stop bank should also be raised about two feet higher for a few chains along the front of protective works. More attention should be paid to the planting of Willows along the banks at this point, and willows should also be made up in the groins and bolsters that are laid underneath the bank. ,

Carnarvon Riding.—The usual repairs have been done on River Bank Line in the shape of filling in ruts and repairing culverts. Mr E. G. McDermott has commenced his metalling contract on River Bank Line. The metal cow being put on this road is not up to the usual standard, but is the. beat obtainable. Mr W. Murray haa-completed Iris contract for delivering metal and breaking stones on Taylor’s Line in a satisfactory manner. Mr R. Sexton is .progressing satisfactorily with the widening of the main outfall drain at the Kaikobopu Lake, and will have Jtne drain completed between the two lakes in a few days. Awahou Riding.—Mr O. Petersen is pushing on with his contract of supplying and delivering metal on the Foxton-Shanuon Road. The usual repairs have been effected in the Karikari’and Elkins’-Motuiti in the shape of filling in holes and ruts. Whirokino Division.—Mr O. Petersen has completed his contract of supplying and delivering metal on No. 1 and No. 2 Lines and the Whirokino Road, tin stones .have been broken down and the Dhakea tram metal has settled down remarkably well. I would recommend the Council to procure some concrete pipes of the larger sizes to replace the old wooden culverts when they collapse, 2ft. culverts 30ft;. Jong £lO, 2ft. G.n. £l4, 311. £lB. If these

pipes were kept in stook. we should not be compelled to pat in wood. The roads throughout the County are in good order with the exception of'the newly-metalled patches which are rongh in'places.—Adopted. . TRAMWAY REPORT. The linemen have been employed daring the month patting the 281 b track in order between Oroaa Downs and Resina Siding and cleaning oat drains at Makowhai. A new pile has been put in the bridge opposite Mr Grace’s property. Two men are now employed packing and fixing np slack places between Sanson and the gravel pit. In reference to providins a better crossing at the Oroaa Down Siding for the property owners on the west side of the line a crossing coaid be made at the Himatangi end for the sam Of £5. Should this not meet the requirements the only alternative would be to remove the siding about two chains towards Himatangi. I cannot recommend the Ooancil to do "this work until we relay the line with 401 b rails, then it would be advisable to remove the siding and platform and have only one stopping place for Oroaa Downs.-Adopted, except that the Overseer was directed to improve the Oroaa Downs Siding at a cost not to CTPaori J2f t CHANGES ON KATE ROLL.

The following applications .for change of name on the rate roll were approved P. B. Haines to E. R. Hutchins for sections 79, 83, 87, 90, Sanson; J. H. Simmons to H. H. O. Simmons for section 6, block 15, Te Kawa; Q, G. Kemp to A. Giles, for part lot 23) part sections 16 and 34, Carnarvon ; Webb Bros,, to A, S, Easton, for section 483; Poxton; J. MoDonell to W. Penney, for section 44, Sandon; W. J. Tacker to J. W. Watts, for section 88, Sandon; D. H. Campbell to Olelaad Bros., for part section 283, Poxton; Oieland Bros, to D. H, Campbell, for sections 5, .6, 2) and 32, Poxton; Oieland Bros, to Coker Bros., for .sections 83, 79, 47, 50, 77, 8, 25, and 6, Poxton; J. McLean to A. Stuart, for section 37, Awahou; M. E. Gray to J. Gifkins, for sections 808 and 13, Sanson ; J. Milne to P. Thompson for sections 300 to 304, Carnarvon ; Q. Cornfoot to W. A, Sandilands, for lots 4, 5 and part 3, sections 84 and 85, Sandon ; P. O, Koberstein to E. L. Holm wood, for lots 118 and 119, sections 384 and 330, Carnarvon.