MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9138, Issue 9138, 10 February 1910, Page 7

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly meeting of the above was held at „ Sandon yesterday. Present —Crs J. G. Wilson (chairman), Henson, Masters, Dalton, Kendall, R. B. McKenzie, and Barber. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were received from: — From Treasury, notifying payment_of subsidy £253 7s 4d, and paid out on tram £9 Is 6d. From C. Bfrown, Lands Office, re Taupunga Ferry Reserve, to which the County Clerk had replied to the effect that the Council had never waived their claim to the reserve. Front District Traffic Manager, undertaking to allow of tram being stopped near Foxton racecourse to discharge gravel. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, suggesting that it would be best to take proceedings under the Public Works Act to take a corner of Section 60, Ohakca, for a road. From Foxton Harbour Board, forwarding a resolution asking the Council to form n, new road to Foxton beach. From Wellington Prisoners' Aid Society, asking for donation. —Subscription list to be opened by the Clerk. From Messrs Fitzherbert and Mclntyre, applying for certificate that the new portion of Tirinoa road had been satisfactorily formed. —Agreed to supply document. From West Coast Steamship Co., quoting for Puponga screened coal at Foxton. —Trial being made. From Mr E. J. Riddiford in reply to the chairman, stating that clearing the Makino Creek as prtoposed into his Kawakawa property would do a great deal of harm, although bcneficial to other properties around Feilding, by flooding his land. He suggested that the Council should clean out the whole of the Marino stream, keep it in order, find put a stop-bank on the western side to prevent the water flooding his land. Unless this was done h& refused to join in tho proposed loan, and would do Jill he could to oppose N it. —Matter deferred. From Mr E. j. Webster (on. behalf of Mr E. J. Riddiford), asking the Council to have the road known as Lee's Line continuation to Halcombe road opened for traffic. —It was decided to make inquiries ijito the matter. From Mr W. A. Sandilands, forwarding agreement and petition re proposed alteration of county boundaries. —Seal to be affixed. From Messrs Richardson and Blair, stating that alterations required in make of engine would be attended to. From Mr E. Capel, stating he had not been able to carry out his duties iis ranger owing to an accident. From Mr W. H. Mathers, complaining of horses on Kellows' Line. . RATE ROLL. Transfers agreed to: —Jas. -Symone to F. S. Easton, sections 442-7 and 461-3,. part of 430, Foxton; J. Dixon's estate to W. 'Hoppath, to W. Hoppath, section 214,' Sanson. TRAMWAY REPORT. The Tram Manager (Mr A. K. Drew) stated that the credit balance was £130 9s 3d, and the expenditure included extra wages for men working at Himatangi curve. The goods traffic was satisfactory, and the > passenger traffic constitutes a record in fares, the amount taken being £80 16s 9d. All the specials for the races were well patronised. The principal items of traffic were:—Minerals 113 lons, merchandise 94 tons, timber 68,100 feet, grass seed 128 i tons,' wool 475-bales, horses 24. TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer reported:—Balances, general account, dr. £1576 lis 6d: loan account, cr, £795 2s 9d. Available for expenditure to March 31, 1910: Sandon Riding, £31 10s; Mt. Stewart, £22 10s lid; Waitohi, £48 15s lOd; Rongotea, £52 Is 8d; Awahou, £36 15s 3d; Whirokino subdivision, £100 16s 3d. Over-expended: Carnarvon, £52 lis lid; Kawakawa, £26 0s id. Accounts totalling £541 13s 4d were passed for payment. KAIKOKOPU LAKE. The minutes of a meeting of ratepayers concerned in the drainage of tho above lake, held on January 15th, and presided over by Cr McKenzie, were received. It was decided by the meeting to ask the Council to push on the work as quickly as possible. . It was decided to charge the overseer's time against this work. .. BUSINESS DONE. It was decided to empower the Chairman and Cr Masters to sign the necessary documents and affix the seal in connection with the alteration of county boundaries. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Barber, seconded by Cr Dalton, to cancel Messrs Mitchell and Laing Bros.' contract for construction of drain, in Block 1., Sandy survey district, and their deposit and money due be forfeited. The offer of Messrs Cordue and Co. to carry on Mitchell and Laing Bros.' contract at the amount of Cordue and Co.'s original tender, viz., £11 2s per chain, less amount paid to Mitchell and Laing Bros., £62 10s, was accepted, on the motion of Cr Barber, seconded by Cr Dalton. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr McKenzie, seconded by Cr Kendall, to call for tenders f6r comnlcting the drains in the Koputaroa drainage area, and the Chairman and Crs Masters. Henson, and the mover were appointed to accept tenders. THE TRAM AT RONGOTEA. Cr McKenzie. brought up the question of appointing. a man at Rongotea to look after goods deposited at tho station and attend generally to tramway work

there l , as complaints had been made by consignees of goods being stolen from the station. If the Rongotea consignees were willing to contribute towards the wages of-such official the Council would be acting wisely in appointing a man in Rongotea to protcct their interests. A terminal fee of Is per ton was suggested. The Chairman stated' the :inattor had been mentioned before, and the Council had in view the question of erecting a cottage at Rongotea and appointing one j of the roadmen to attend to the tramway and goods at Rongotea. However, this proposal had not been carried into effect, as there Was no money on the estimates to erect such a building. Nexf year the Council may do something in the matter, but at present things 'must remain as at present. A terminal fee of Is per ton would only produce about £24 a year. . OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr Hickford reported: — Sandon Riding.—Very little has been done in this riding during the month, beyond the usual road maintenance work. It. would be advisable to clean out the road drain on Spcedy's Line before the wet season sets in. Mt Stewart Riding.—The usual repairs have been effected in this riding. Mr F. Rink has almost completed the formation work of his Tiroroa contract, and expects to commence metalling this week. Rongotea Riding.—The ordinary road maintenance work has been carried out on Tomkins' and Jones' roads during the past month. A good deal of work has been done on Jones' Line in tho shape of battering down the sides of drain and planting it with willows. This work was necessary to prevent the flood water from scouring and undermining the road. It is now two years since the road drain on the Rong'otcaLongburn road was cleaned out, and I would recommend tlie Council to call tenders for cleaning out the drain, providing Mrs Johnston pays half the cost of the work. Kawakawa Riding.—The usual repairs have been effected in this riding during tho month. Mr I. S. Cookslcy has completed his contract of delivering clay on the Palmerston-Foxton road at the Himatangi end. This portion of the road has boon trimmed up, and is now in fair order.

Carnarvon Riding.—The usual repairs have been done in this riding on River Bank Line and Taylor's Line. Mr T. G'ordue has completed his drain contract in a very satisfactory manner. I also let the clcaning-out of the drain between the two lakes to the above contractor, which he has completed. I have also callcd tenders for a mile of drain from the small lake up to Cordue's drain. The work'of deepening this drain up to Mr Kilsby's property could be proceeded with at once, and also the drain from Simon's Lake to Mr Kilsby's. I understand that Mr O'Grady has commenced work at the main outfall drain. In reference to Messrs Mitchell and Laing Bros.' contract for constructing a drain on Sandy run, near Foxton, Mr Mitchell informed mo that he would not go back to the contract, and as far as He was concerned the Council could cancel the contract. In the face of that I would recommend the Council to cancel the contract and proceed with the work straight away. About 60 chains of the Koputaru road - has been formed up with the road grader.

Awahou Riding.—The usual repairs have been completed on the Karikari, •Elkin'e, Motuiti, and Shannon roads;, two small pipe culverts have been put in at the approaches to Mr Barber's and Pigott's roads. A portion of the Beach,road, from the end of the Ladies' mile to the sandhill, have been trimmed up with' the grader. Whirokino Division. —The road grader has now completed the formation, of 60 chains on No. 6 Line, and several small pipe culvcrts put in where the old wooden culvcrts have decayed away. Mr Behrent is making good progress with his contract for grading and claying the sandhill on No. 2 Line. I would suggest to the Council that, the sandhill near the creamery on No. 6 Line at the junction of No. 1 Line, opposito Mr Brown's, be graded and clayed. It is with great difficulty that settlors can. climb this hill with anything like a load. The cost would be approximately £40. Tramway.—The linesmen, with additional cjyaial labour, have bfcen employed durfltg the month taking up the 281b rails on the Himatangi curve, and laying down the 401b rails, which has been completed and connected *up to the track laid down last year, ffhero is yet a good deal of embankment work to be done to bring the line up to its proper level, and when this is completed it will be a great improvement on tne old track. There are several places along the 'old track between Oroua Downs and the Rosina Siding which require straightening up and packing, and some old sleepers to remove, and I think it would be advisable to proceed with this work with the additional men when we have completed the curve.