MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4419, 15 November 1934, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

AfONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Afanawatu County Council was held m Sandon on Tuesday, presided over by Air W. E. Barber (Chairman).

The Afinister of Internal Affairs advised that the Council’s request for a subsidy on current rates would be cai'efully considered in conjunction with other representations which had been made thereon.

The Engineer was instructed to prepare a list of those matters which the Council desired to place before the Alain Highways Board on the occasion of its visit to the County on December Ist. In reference to subsidy, the Alain Highways Board advised that items not subsidised by the Board included administration expenses, small or loose tools, engineering surveys, transport of workmen, etc. The Public Works engineer advised that the Highways Board had decided to regard the construction of the two bridges on the SansonBulls highway as special cases and had approved of a £3 for £l. subsidy. It was desired that urgent attention be given to the question of the replacement of the present structures. The new ones must be 24 feet wide.

The engineer said he had the plans ready for tracing with the width 20ft Avhen word of the Board’s requirements were received. iCri Boyce thought the extra 4ft. a waste of money. The 20ft. bridge had been quite satisfactory in the past. The Chairman considered nothing less than 24ft. should he constructed on arterial roads.

The engineer said that with the subsidy increased from £2 to £3 the Council would now have to find only £165 instead of £220 with the smaller subsidy and that with the bridges the extra, width.

The Public Works Department advised that the recent increase of 5 per cent, in rates of pay would apply as from April 1, 1934.

The Clerk said that as far as the Council was concerned the extra annual cost would be £3BO, of which amount the Highways Board would find £lB5 or £lO less than the Council.

Cv. Perrett moved that the restoration be granted all employees who received a cut as from October 1. This was carried. TRAFFIC CONTROL.

The traffic inspector (Air W. Berry) reported that he had co-operat-ed with other inspectors during the month in checking motor vehicle brakes and lights. Of the vehicles stopped by him 349 drivers produced certificates from recognised garages and were issued with stickers j 217 passed the checking point carrying stickers; 81 had no certificates (mostly from outside the district). Several breaches of the regulations were reported and the inspector notified his intention of prosecuting in these instances. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Air Bond) reported as follows: Alain Highways: The bituminous surfaces of the SandonBulls and Sandon-Awahuri roads have been patched and traffic lines and “school” signs repainted. Afetal patching was done on the Whirokino highway and the handrails of one small break on the Whirokino bridge repaired and painted. The approach fence to the Alanawatu river bridge at Whirokino is being repaired after damage by traffic. The contractors for the bitumeninous surfacing' of the HimatangiRangiotu main highway are now making steady progress and the mix-in-place course has been completed to three miles five chains from the Himatangi corner. With continued fine weather the contractors should make considerable progress during the next few weeks. All county roads have been surface graded in the order of urgency or as graders became available. The Rangitikei river crushing plant was working for part of the month and 500 e. yds. of metal was delivered.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Clerk reported a debit of £7,515 16/3 in the County Fund Ac. and a credit of £914 3/11 in the Loan Ac. and £lB 7/1 in the Imprest Ac. The net debit balance was therefore £6,583 5/3. During the month £147 5/8 in current and £24 3/4 arrears of rates were paid. TRAMWAY REPORT. The tramway manager reported that the chief items of traffic during the month were: Eggs 128 crates; minerals, 102£ tons; manure, 58 tons; merchandise, 8J tons; grain 11 tons; metal, 480 c. yards; posts, 1 track; sheep, 4 trucks; and timber 2,000 s ft. The account disclosed a debit balance of £2 7/9 f the month’s working.