MANAWATU COUNTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 12

MANAWATU COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL BUSINESS TRANSACTED (Own Correspondent). SANDON, Feb. 15. The chairman, Mr. W. E. Barber presided over the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council yesterday. Other Councillors present were: Messrs. R. A. Wilson, J. H. Perrett. Jas. Boyce, D. W. Reid and A. N. Morcom. Leave of absence was granted Cr. W. E. Pearce. Correspondence. The following ccresponder.ee was dealt with: From the Minister of Transport advising that the Ohakea aerodrome road had been reclassified into class 3. From the Commissioner of Transport directing attention to an accident which had occurred on the FeildingAwahuri highway at Beaman's bridge on January 8. It had been reported that a car driven at 25 rfl.p.h. had skidded in loose metal, crashed through the bridge railing and fallen into the stream. Form this report it would appear that the presence of loose metal may have contributed to some extent to the accident. He asked the council to consider whether some action was necessary in the intrests of road safety. The county engineer said the car had started Jo run off the road nowhere near the bridge. Even if the gravel did have something to do with the accident, the driver should have been more careful, as the road was under construction, with notices up. From the State Advances Corporation advising that it was not m a position to consider the council’s application relative to the construction of the Bainesse Road, until the consent of the Loans Board had been obtained to the proposal. It was suggested the council prosecute inquiries elsewhere for the amount required. The clerk, Mr. A. K. Drew said his application had been an inquiry if the corporation would consider (he proposal provided th? Lands Boar-J sanction was obtained. From the State Advances Corporation advising its readiness to offer £4OOO in respect’of the Main Highways Reconstruction Loan 1925, at 35 per cent, for 10 years, repayable on the basis of a 20 years amortisation table, with the balance outstanding at the end of the tenth year to be payable in one sum. From the Main Highways Board stressing the need for improvements to corners at intersections with main highways where visibility was restricted. The board was prepared to assist financially.—Referred to the engineer for a report. Big Loan Scheme. From the Rongotea Dairy Company with reference to the sealing of the Rongotea-Longburn highway and suggested that the sanction of the ratepayers to" the scheme be obtained. Cr. A. N. Morcom said he would rather see the council go for the £30,000 loan for a comprehensive pro-

gramme of sealing. The Feilding anti Foxton Roads were almost finished and the council had no preparatory work on other roads in hand. The chairman said he also favoured the comprehensive scheme and Cr. Wilson agreed that the gravel roads were deteriorating undr motor traffic. The clerk explained that the sanction of the Loans Board would have to be obtained as a first step. Last June the council had advertised its intention to approach the Loans Board for its approval of a £30,000 loan but the matter had not been proceeded with because the council had been informed there was no hope of getting the money.—The council decided to proceed with the raising of the 'loan. Petition For Drain. A number of ratepayers forwarded a petition asking the council to deal with overflow water from the drain commencing at Mr. C. E. Vile’s property and passing under the SansonBulls highway on to Mr. R. Anderson's property and leading down to the Makowhai settlement after crossing Frecklington’s line. Mr. K. C. Bailey waited on the council in reference to the same matter and said the extension of a drain for another 10 chains would obviate flooding. The matter was referred to the engineer and chairman to investigate certain legal and other aspects. From Mr. H. T. Oliver, Oroua Downs, complaining that the train had set fires alight on his property on three occasions during January. He had had about five chains of fencing burnt and asked the council to compensate him to the extent of 10 posts, Bcwt. of barbed wire and lewt. of plain wire. He also complained that nothing had been done to the road in front of Mrs. Oliver’s property on Puke Puke Road as promised.—lt was reported that the road had been done. The discussion on the fires was taken in committee. Sundry Correspondence. From Mr. D. C. Cook, Rangiotu, complaining about the state of the unmetalled portion of Pyke's Road and a wooden culvert over a drain. — Left with the engineer to report. From the Sluggish River Drainage Board asking for a contribution towards the cost of a floodgate al the mouth of the main dram. The board also pointed out that the main drain and road were in a much worse position than when the council and board members last inspected it. —Discussed in committee. From Mr. J. Fennell asking for metal on the Downs Road to Kellows Line and offered £4O towards the cost of the work. —Further information to be secured. From Mr. L. J. Carmine, Feilding, complaining about a portion of a road being fenced off for the purpose of running a horse and cow.—To be investigated. From Mr. L. Fletcher, Foxton, asking that gate and -fence obstructions be removed from Rare Rare Road. There were four gates and fences and Mr. F. S. Easton used the enclosure as holding yards for hundreds of dairy cattle. When the obstructions were removed the Shannon Dairy Company would consider collecting cream up the road.—The engineer reported that while the road was dedicated, it was unfenced.—Mr. Easton is to be requested to fence the road. The Marist Fathers are to be informed that rates struck on the High-

den estate are a liability on the property and must be paid. County Finances. The county treasurer reported as follows on the finances on the council: County fund account, debit, £9617 19s sd. Loan account, credit, £4298 15s Id. Since January rates amounting to £2430 Is lOd had been paid. License had produced £2l 18s and the miscellaneous receipts £1566 13s 7d. Tramway Report. The items of traffic for the month were as follow:—Metal, 1514 cubicyards; minerals, 82 tons; merchandise, 6 tons; manure, 8 tons; wool, 32 tons; firewood, 34 tons; general items, 1 ton. The earnings for the month were £477 19s 3d and the running expesses £379 15s 2d; showing a credit balance of £9B 4s Id.