MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 289, 12 June 1907, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of tho Manawatu County Council was held to-day. Present.— Crs. Wilson (Chairman), Hammond, McKenzie, Kendall, Masters and Dalton. The following business was before the meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. From Audit Department, returning balance-sheet of the County, and asking for a copy to be forwarded as soon as printed, for hling in the office. From Treasury, informing Council that £76 5s 4d, paid for charges on the tramline had been remitted to the credit of the Council. From Treasury, enclosing copy o I declaration to be signed by the Chairman in applying for an additional loan of £50 for the JeildingAwahuri road bridges, and asking for particulars of the expenditure of the previous loan. . From Roads Department, in reference to drainage of the Kaikokopu lake, stating it would be necessary for the Council to take the land under section 2 of " The Public Works Act." From Roads Department, informing the Council that the matter of making provision for a grant for the Beach road at Foxton would receive careful consideration when framing tho estimates for the current year. From John Stephens, M.H.R., stating he had written to the Minister for Public Works, asking for favourable consideration for th« Council's application for a grant o"i a £2000 loan for keeping back flood waters on land on Main Drain road at Oroua bridge. From same, enclosing letter from the Minister re above request. The letter was as follows: — In reply to your request for loan of £2000, I have to inform you that as it has to do with the Lands Department, I have referred it to the Minister for Lands. From John Stephens, M.H.It. , stating he had made urgent application to the Minister of Lands for the amount of money required to complete the Ohakea protective works, viz., £100, and as soon as his reply was received it would be communicated to the Council. From same, asking if the Council were willing to make a proportionate contribution towards Ohakea protective works, From Department of Roads, reqquesting that its instructions issued by circular some time ago relating to opening and closing or roads under section 13 of the Land Act, 1892, be strictly adhered to. In (iuture, no plan on which the consent* were written would be accepted. The consents must appear on the tracings only. From Railway Department, stating that an officer of the Department had met Cr. Barber and agreed with" him as to the site of, the proposed cottage on tramway reserve at Bainesse. This would be erected on south side of railway. From Southland County Council, forwarding resolution passed by it expressing approval of model by-laws submitted by the Minister of Public Works, with the exception of that clause relating to affixing notices on bridges- The Southland County preferred that such notices bo inserted in newspapers circulated in the County. From Clutha Council,' forwarding resolution passed by it favoring the valuations being made by the County. From J. McCulloch, Clerk Horowhenua County Council, stating that it was the desire of his Council that the. Mauawa'tu Council should proceed with repairs to the Whirokino Bridge as recommended by Mr Fulton. The Horowhenua Council were agreeable to pay its share of the cost. From James Fulton, Engineer, who pointed out that it would be better, in view of the fact that the Whirokino Bridge was seven years old, to give it a thorough overhaul. He proposed todrive 20 piles in the river piers and to adjust the span, repaint the wh£le bridge, and add some galvanised iron flashings to cover the exposed parts of trusses. From Secretary New Zealand Counties Association, asking the Council to appoint a representative to attend the Cpnfereace in July. ' From W. W. Johnston, stating the survey of Leen's road was sent to head office to commute the areas of the proposed subdivision. From John Graham, solicitor, of Feilding, stating that whatever the position was relative to the boundary fence at Mrs Whisker's, Awahuri road property, the fact remained that rubbish deposited in the creek had been the means of carrying noxious weeds on to her land. He asked the Council to see to this matter at once. From Roderick Ross, Glen Oroua, claiming compensation for accident to his brake through the failure of Council's employees to put the bridge and approaches on Main Drain road at Oroua Bridge in a safe condition. The amount claimed was £3 10s. From T. Nye, Foxton, complaining of the unsafe condition of the Whirokino road. He suggested the removal of the bridge to a site further up, and he was willing to assist with the work, which would not take longer than a few days. # From Gammon and Co., offering to supply sleepers required. From H. Halarowe, offering 12s per acre per annum for reserve at Hima- ' From Lowe Bros, and Newill, asking what was being done re petition for a loan of £500 to metal Koputaru road. From D. H. Campbell, asking Council to cut a drain through the swamp on Campbell's road. From George Kew, drawing attention to state of Sandon-Feildmg road, which, in his opinion, was unfit for traffic. „ ... From J. B. Mclntyre, asking Council to continue to employ him as driver until end of present year, and then give him the right to retire. From C. H. Hopping, Taikorea, applying for position of stoker on tramway. TRAMWAY MANAGER'S REPORT. The Tramway Manager reported: — I have the honour to present my report upon the working of the tramway for the month of May. The credit balance is £39 19s lOd. This amount includes £30 for the sale of old rails. The amount of traffic and passengers carried has been gatufac* tory. Two specials had been run during the month, and the fares for the month amounted to £10 7s 6d. During the month 450 yards o£ metal had been supplied at different placos along the line. At present a large quantity of flax was being piled along the line, and it was estimated there would be 14 trucks a week carried for the next six weeks. I propose to use the new trucks for this traffic as soon as they are available. The following are the receipts for the month : — Wages, £69 18s ;tram manager's proportion of sale, £10; printing consignment forms, £3; Mr Bilderbeck, 14s 2d; Westport Coal Co., £19 16s Id ; insurance goods shed, £1 7s 6d ; truck and sheet hire, £38 7s lOd ; ; tctal. £183 3s sd. The following merchandise was carried on^ the line during the month: — Grain, .116$ tons; minerals, 7 tons; manure, 1 ton ; merchandise, 79| tons ; pigs, 7 trucks ; chaff, 1 6trucks ; posts, 5 trucks ; flax, 24 trucks; timber, 8600 feet: metal, 91 trucks. Fares, £10 7s Gd. TREASURER'S REPORT. The treasurer reported the Bank balances as follows: — General account, dr., £1661 5s 3d; loan account, cr., £44 15s Id; net debit balance, £816 10s 2d. Ridings accounts. — The following amounts are available for expenditure for the year: — Sandon Riding, £270 4s sd; Mt. Stewart, £366 10s 8d; Waitohi* £171 3s lOd; Rongotea, £395 9s Id; Carnarvon, £386 14a 4d; Kawa Kawa, £254 15s 6d; Awahou, £95 7s 6d; Whirokino division, £136 9s 9d. Ohakea protective works. — Statement of position as at 12th June: Available for expenditure. — Amount raised by loan £100, draft £60; donation from Mr F. Simpson £10. Expenditure.— Amount expended on works to 31st March, 1907, £83 3s 4d provided by local bodies, and £166 6s 6d by Government: Total, £249 9s lOd. Expended since Ist April, 1907, £8 Is I lOd. Available for expenditure, £112 !8s 4d. I Amount to be passed for paymentGeneral account £897 6s 2d, Loan account £134 12s 8d: Total £1031 18s 10d.

OVERSSER'S REPORT. Sandon Riding.— -The Ohakea protective works have been completed along the ban kof the Rangitikei river, as far down the bank as it is possible to do any good. The recent I flood in thti river scoured out to a considerable depth underneath the work done last year, which caused a break in the work, and in order to prevent further erosion and damage to the work, it was found necessary to repair this gap immediately by putting in 10 extra stone crates. Ihe cost of this extra work, with the wor kauthorised. have exceeded the amount of money available, and it would be advisable to apply for another £15 Oto complete planting ot willows and erecting fence. Mt. Stewart Riding.— Very little has been done in this riding during the month, beyond patching up a few weak places on the Feildmg-Awanuri road. I have let a contract to Stuart and Son to metal the approaches to bridge on Feilding-Awa-huri road for 2s per yard. Rakehou road is cut up, and in very bad order. I have let Stuart and Son contract to deliver 60yds metal at 4s 6d per yard at the Feilding end, Mr A. R. McNae, 25 yards at 5s per yard on that portion opposite Mr Beazer s sawmill, also 35 yards on Lee s Line to A. R. McNae at 5s per yard ; total cost of work £2S 16s. I also inspected the drain in Carr street, complained of by Mr Goodbehere, and found the drain almost completely clogged with weeds and slime. If the Council decide to clean out the drain I certainly consider the Jockey Club should pay half the cost. Waitohi Riding. — Five trucks of metal are required on Hammond s line, between Mr Buchanan's house and Rowe's line. A 9-inch pipe culvert is urgently needed at the corner opposite Mr R. Hammond's. The culvert should be set back a half chain from the corner and to allow water-table to be rounded off. On the junction of Penny's Line and Mt. Stewart, which is quite a mud-hole in wet weather, is very uneven with the other roads. To make it up would cost about £3. Rongotea Riding. — The usual repairs have been completed during the month. Mr W. R. Anderson is progressing favourably with his metalling contract on Jones' and Sanson's line, and should have the work completed in about 5 days. Kawa Kawa Riding. — General repairs have been completed, and Main Drain road has been put in order since the last flood, but the river is still giving us trouble in McLennan's line at a small bridge, by scouring undreneath the sills. To prevent the erosion we have fascined the bottom of the bridge with Manuka scrub. Carnaryan Riding. — Thompson and Fagan will have their contract completed in a day or two, of delivering metal on the bank of the river at Rosina line. Mr Duke is progressing favourably with the erection of Wadmer's cottages at Himatangi. As instructed Cr. McKenzie and I interviewed Mr W. R. Anderson on the matter of turning the water off bis property on the Foxtou road and down the side of the tramline. After a lot of discussion on the matter, we came to the decision that it would not bo advisable to allow the water to come from the. cutting first, as there would be the danger of scouring underneath the tramline; second, tho danger of silting up private fences, and thirdly, the danger of turning the water from its original course.