MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 237, 11 April 1907, Page 4

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Following is the conclusion of tho business at yesterday's meeting: — TREASURER'S REPORT. Bank Balance — General account, dr., £722 0s lid; Loan account, cr., £1052 5s lOd. Riding Accounts. — Amounts available for expenditure to 31st March, 1907:— Waitohi Riding, £169 14s 7d; Carnarvon, £107 13s 7d. Amounts over expended. — Sandon, £60 lis; Mt. Stewart, £93 13s sd; Rongotea, £94 10s 10d; Eawakawa, £481 15s 8d ; Awahou, %46 5s 10s ; Whirokino Division, £63 2s lOd. • OVERSEER'S REPORT. 'Sandon Riding. — Messrs Thompson and Fagan are progressing satisfactorily with their metalling contract in this Riding, and in all probability they will have the work completed in a few days time. Mt. Stewart Riding. — The work in making up the approaches at the new bridge on the Feilding-Awahuri road has been abandoned owing to the excessive wet weather, which made the earth work so soft and boggy that it became impossible to go on with the work, and in consequence I have discharged the men. It is now doubtful whether the approaches will become solid enough for traffic during the coming winter, that being the state of circumstances it will not be advisable to pull down the old bridge. With the exception of metalling the approaches, which will require about 120 yards of metal, the bridge is completed. In reference to the second bridge 01: the Feilding-Awahuri road, there is no cement available yet, and no likelihood f>i any being obtained before the end of the present month ; that being the case it would seem advisable not to go on with this bridge. We should have to erect a temporary bridge for traffic, which would stand the risk of getting washed away before the approaches would be solid and ready for traffic. Mr Lobb has completed repairs to the cutting along the Mangaone road. The flax carts, carting flax along Lee's Line, have shown up the weak places along this road, which will require about 60 yards of metal to patch it up, between Mr Burrell's gate and Rakihou road. Waitohi Riding.— Mr H. A'Court is not progressing very fast with his metalling contract on the Taipo-Awa-huri road. Three trucks of metal are required to metal a cutting in front of Mr Knight's on Penny's Line. A small culvert has been put across the Taipo-Awahuri road. Rongotea Riding. — Mr W. R. Anderson will complete his contract for delivery of 320 yards of metal on the Rongotea-Longburn road to-day. I have put his account in for payment, subject to the work being completed according to the specifications. A three-foot culvert is breaking in with old age on Jones's Line, opposite the creamery, and requires replacing as soon as possible, cost .of new culvert about £16. It is also necessary to have about 50 yards of metal put on the weak places along Tomkin's Line, between the creamery and Mr D. Young's house. The work done in this Riding during the month consists chiefly of spreading metal and breaking stones. Kawa Kawa Riding.— The usual repairs have been completed during the month on Taikorea, Couper's, Pyke's, and Palmerston-Foxton, roads, in the shape of trimming in ruts, breaking stones aud cutting lupins. I have let the piece of unmetalled road on tho Palmerston Line to Mr T. H. Simpson for the sum of £10. The work is just about completed. Fifty yards of metal are required to patch up the weak places on the Taikorea road, between Couper's Line and Kellow's Line. The metal is all ready lying at the Taikorea siding, and there will only be the cost ot carting it. Gorse is spreading to a great extent on Kellow's Line, and in some places is right into the metal. There are also some large patches of lupins on this road. Are we responsible for the lupin? Carnarvon Riding. — Very little has been done in this Riding during the month beyond trimming in ruts 011 Campion's Line and Koputara road. Mr T. Cordue has commenced his contract for constructing drain at the Lakes. Mr J. Beran has completed his contract for widenin gthe formation on River Bank Line in a satisfactory manner. # Awahou Riding. — The late flood in the Manawatu river did considerable damage to theJToxton-Shaiinon road, more especially along the newly-form-ed portion which the contractor had completed. I arranged with the contractor and Councillor Barber s behalf to repair the damage for the sum of £12 10s. I think it would be advisable to fascine the side of the road with bundles of scrub at Burr's road 5 this would prevent the flood from scouring the road to a supply and delivery of metal on the Shannon road in a satisfactory manner. The work done in this Riding by surface men during the month consists chiefly of spreading metal and breaking stones. A small culvert has been put across the Beach road, and the road put in order. The roads throughout the County are in fair order. Our supply of timber is very low, and it is necessary to get in another stock of Jarrah or Totara, to be decided by the Council. I would like to know what arrangements the tram men are working under, as I notice they * leave off work at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Mr Boyle should be requested to clear the gorse in the front of his property along the line. Mr Bastin, Inspector to the Kairanga County Council, requested me to place before the Manawatu County the necessity of decking the Oroua Bridge at Oroua Bridge. He suggests using Jarrah timber, and informed me that the cost would, be about the same as heart of totara. If the decking is done with 3 inch planks, it will be necessary to strap the bridge with 3 inch timber, as the present decking is cross ways. Estimated cost of erecting bridge on Feilding-Awahuri road. — £161 ss.