MANAWATU COUNTY

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4761, 6 December 1922, Page 4

MANAWATU COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETNG YESTERDAY. Tho monthly meeting of the Mnnawatu County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Crs. Sir Jas. Wilson (Chairman), Jas. McKelvie, H. J. Fagan, J. S. Penny, V . E. Barber, J. Boyce, and H. H. Hunt.

CORRESPONDENCE.

N.Z. Railways, forwarding £ls 17s (kl paid-on charge*,. Department of Agriculture calling attention to tho spread of goat’s rue and blackberry in flax areas and along the banks of tho Mannwatu river, find asking that goat’s ruo bo doclarod a noxious weed.—When Council is assured that local bodies higher up the Manawatu river are taking steps to copo with the nuisanco, this Council will also take steps. N.Z. Society of Civil Engineers stating the annual conference would bo bold in Auckland in February next, and asking that th c County Engineer should attend. —Agreed to. Mr R. A. Port, Leo’s Line asking permission to plough up a piece of the roadway adjoining his property.—Referred to Engineer with, power to act. Tho A .M.P. Society forwarded statement that the antecedent liability loan of £6300 would bo available. The rate of interest would be 5) per con t.—The dinirmah’s action in accepting the loan was confirmed. TRANSFERS.

The following alterations were mado to the rate-roll: J. W. Dowis to J. B. Westlake, Puketotara; D. Ivernohaii to F C. Sexton, Carnarvon; Lillian Adams to J. A. McGregor, Sandon ; W. J. Honore to Rongotca Co-op. Dairy Co., Rongotca; C. N. Baldwin to N. W. Cooner, Himitangi; P. E. Baldwin to N. W. Cooper, Himitangi ; M A. and E. Iv. Ransom to R. West, Rougotea; H. G. Stringer to J. .J. Bain, Tangimoana. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

Sandon Riding.—During last month we graded and trimmed up Fagan s road, arid during the grading a large quantity of rough stone was unearthed and graded into the centre of the road. Theso stones have now been broken clown and rolled in with the steam roller. AYo also completed the grading and rolling on tho Cemetery road. I have not had the opportunity of taking tho levels and making an estimate of the proposed drain at O’Brion’s corner, as I lent my levelling instruments to tho State Forestry Department to lay off the tram at Pokako. Repair metal has been carted and weak places patched along McDonoll’s road, and it may be advisable to blind some of the roughest patches of metal a little later on. Waitohi Riding.—W/b have! how completed the rolling on Penny’s road up to the end of tho Rairneld road. There are some rough patches of motal that roquiro blinding on Banks-Waitohi road which I hope to have done during the present month. Motal has been carted and repairs effected (along tho Taapo-Awahun road. . ~ Mt. Stewart Riding.—An old wooden culvert collapsed on Rakcbou road and is being replaced with 36-inch concrete pipes. A (smaller pipo culvert is also required to replace another old wooden culvert on the same road. Tho rough patches of metal on Stewart’s road have been clayed, tho road lias, also been trimmed up and the stones broken down. The approaches to tho concrete bridge on AVells street have been repaired and put in order. We also rolled a portion of Wells street, but owing to tho approaches being soft we could, not complete the rolling for the time being. Pot boles- have been taken out on tlio Feilding-Awahuri road. Rongotea Riding.—Tho usual road maintenance work lias been carried out in this riding. Motal was carted and weak places and holes repaired along the Kopano and Mill roads. The willows were cut and cleaned out of drain on Jones road.

Kawa IKawa Riding.—During the last month wo graded and trimmed up Pyke’s, Bainesse, and a portion of Kollow’s road with tho grader, also it— purutujr ur tiie road. Motal has been carted to repair weak places along tlio Main Drain, Couper’s and Taikorea, roads. I have arranged to have the cuttings widened on the lower end of Taikorea road and will commence this work during the present week. Carnarvon Riding.—Repairs have been effected by tho surfaco mail along the lower end of River Bank road. Tho grader has dono first class work on Lake road and is now om ployed trimming and crowning Puki Puki road. A portion of the Koputaru road will also bo treated and renovated with the grader. Awahou Riding.—The usual repairs have been effected in the shape oi trimming in ruts and holes on Kan Kari, Wilson’s, Bowe’s, and the Shannon roads. Cr. Barber and myselt mado an inspection of tho Whirokino road and found it in a very bad stato of repair. Four teams and a number of men wero employed by Mr Ross carting metal and other material to make tho road passable, ah kinds of veliiclos were being bogged. There is nothing moro than a floating surface and it is not capable of carrying heavy motor lorries or heavy traffic of any kind. On our visit of inspection wo looked over a suggested road diversion which would cut out about GO chains of tlio above swampy road. The suggested new road is on much drier country and not liable .to flood as tlio old road, and the cost ot maintenance when made would be considerably loss, but tho first cost ot acquiring tile land and constructing, tho road would cost approximately £2500.

Stone Crusher. —The concrete foundations for both crushers arc completed and the frames liavo been placed in position. The building of the engine shed will be put in hand as soon as tho cement comos to hand. Several of tho white metal bearings in the Anderson crusher will have to be renewed and other minor repairs are necessary before the crusher will be in working order. The lagging on the engine is now completed, but it will be necessary to give the engine a thorough overhaul before placing it hi commission. Now brass bearings are required for the crank shaft and the journals need turning up. Already a good deal of work lias been done under Mr Stewart’s supervision. Owing to the wet weather the contractor has been delayed with his work for constructing the embankment to the crushing platform, but now the weather has cleared ho hopes to complete this work by tho end of tho present month. Tramway.—Only ono truck of sleepors came to hand Inst month, and tho men wero employed packing the length already laid-and weeding a portion of Lhe old track. The men also gathered up old rails and sleepers along the line.’ We are now preparing to relay another length in the hope of receiving a further supply of sleepers, which have already been passed by the State Forest Ranger.

TRAMWAY MANAGER’S REPORT. Tho chief items of traffic for November were: General merchandise 61 tons, minerals and manure 385} tone, cheese find butter 168} tons, wool 236 bales, stock 2 2trucks, timber 13,000 sup. feet. Fares amounted to 2s lOd.

'fho accounts show a credit balance of £25 10s 4d for the month’s working. Owing to the exceptional heavy growth of grass along the tram lino and tho danger from firo later on, I would nugdest that tho Ranger’s duties be suspended on the roads along which the tram runs during the hours of 6 aim. to 6 p.m. for the next six weeks.