MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1926, Page 4

MANAWATU COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS. The monthly meeting of the Manawntu County Council was held at Sandon yesterday, when there were present: Sir James Wilson' (in the chair), Crs. H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce, W. E. Barber, W. S. Penny, H. J. Fagan and J. F. McKelvie. CORRESPONDENCE. The Public Works Department wrote advising having placed the sum of £530 4s to the credit of the county, being payment in respect to work done to roads in the Tangimoann township. —Received. From the. Minister of Internal Affairs rolativo to the amended motor regulations. A further circular directed attention to the necessity for owners of motor lorries furnishing the licensing authority, at such intervals as the licensing authority shall think fit, particulars as to the use of any lorry, including approximate distances traversed.—Received.

From the Chief Inspector of Explosives relative to the underground tank installation for petrol storage, which was considered the safest method possible.—Received.

From the New Zealand Counties’ Association notifying that a conference; of delegates representing counties affiliated with the association would be held in Wellington on July 20. — Received.

From the Foxton Borough Council advising that a loan for permanently surfacing many of the borough streets had been authorised, and it would like the Council to .undertake the surfacing of tho boundary roads when it was doing its own roads.—The clerk was instructed to reply stating that the matter would be considered when work on the county roads was entered upon. From the Manawatu-Oroua River Boarda dvising tiiat it was proposed to issue an order requiring that all willows (or where same are protecting the banks of the river to cut them three feet from the ground) and other vegetation growing on the banks of the Oroua river to bo removed.—The engineer mentioned that the council was affected to but a small extent. He was instructed to take the necessary action. The Oroua Drainage Board wrote requesting that the Department be paid the sum of £2O out of the funds collected by way of rate last year, being the board’s contribution towards the cost of the new outlet from Puki Puki lake. The department woidd, however, bear the cost of cleanin gand maintenance in future.— Agreed to, Cr. McKelvie mentioning that the outlet was now quite satisfactory.

From W. J. Young, Mt. Stewart, lodging a complaint against a neighbour for allowing stock to wander on' tho roads whereby his fences were suffering damage.—No action was taken.

From A. Griffiths, Taikorea, making application for the cleaning of _ about 10 chains of a drain fronting his property. If tho council so desired he would be prepared tit carry out the work at Is 6d per chain.—Tho clerk was instructed to advise the writer that tho council was hot prepared to undertake such work, except where the roading was affected. _ From P. Campbell, Kopane, requesting that Fairfield road be metalled. —It was tho opinion of the council that, in view of the fact that there was somo £7OO outstanding in rates by soldier settlers in the block, it had no available money to carry out the work.

From W. Parrott, Rangiotu, enquiring whether the council objected to his installing one “or more kerbside motor spirit pumps. Being on railway property; he purposed applying to tlie Railway Department for permission to install same. —Agreed to. From tho Kairanga County Council seeking support in declaring the Bunnythorpe-Kairanga road from Bunnythorpe to tho Kairanga School corner, and thence to tho Oroua bridge, a main highway.—The clerk reported that,'at a recent meeting of the District Highways Council, ho had pressed for the inclusion of that portion from the Kairanga School to Rongotea and the Foxton tramline. The District Council had considered the matter favourably and would refer it to the Main Highways Board. From tho Feilding and District Patriotic Society advising that tho annual general meeting of the society would be held in May next and it would be necessary to appoint a representative to replace Mr T. Masters, who automatically retired at the mooting.—Mr Masters was ro-appoint-ed to represent the council.

RATE ROLL. The following alterations to tho rato roll wero authorised: —A. H. Dusfresno to L. D. Simmonds, lot 18 subdivision section 268, block 1, Moutere S.D.; Schioler and Law to James Buglass, lot 230 subdivision section 268, block 1, Moutere S.D.; A. J. Thomas to Isabella Richmond, lot 82 subdivision of section 268, block 1, Moutere S.D.; Glen Oroua Co-op. D.F. Co., Ltd., to W. Farmer, part section 384, township of Carnarvon; F. C. Saxton to J. Ludemann, section 282, township of Carnarvon; S. Young to L. W. Cross, part section A Hutt Small Farm Block and 231 and 12 township of Carnarvon; T. E. Stringer to N E. Baigent, section 65 town of Tangimoana; A. E. Wilton to T. Fraser, part section 129 D.P. 160, township of Rongotea.

GENERAL. On tho motion of Cr. Penny, seconded by Cr. Fagan, it was decided that the land through sections 425 and 428, township of- Foxton, block V. Mt. Robinson, bo takon over for road purposes. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr Hickford) reported on the work carried out during the month as under:—Sandon riding: Two concrete culverts have been constructed across Bulls-Sanson main highway to take the place of the old culverts which wero crushed in by heavy traffic. At the present time we are providing an outlet under the tramline to link up with the concrete culvert across the roadway. The next concrete culverts to be constructed will be across tho end of Ohakea road and across Bulls-Sanson road on the west side of Kakariki road, and will be put in hand immediately the outlet is completed under the "tramline. Mt. Stewart: Screened metal is being carted into heaps on FeildingAwahuri road and it would be advisable to dump about 100 yards of metal on Kowhai road while tho team is available. A concrete pipe culvert was authorised on Rak’ehou road a few months back and I intend putting this in as soon as pipes arc available, and also metal the gully which was recent-

ly widened. Rongotea: The usual road maintenance work lias been carried out j on the various roads in this riding durI ing the past month, including the gradi ing of Rongotea-Longburn road. 1 apI preached Mr T. Leen with reference Ito purchasing about three-quarters of : an acre of land to improve the road at the boundary line between ltongotea and Waitohi ridings. Mr Leen is prepared to sell the road lino required-up to three-quarters of an acre for the sum of £IOO, providing the council fences the proposed road line and pays all legal expenses. —Tho offer was not accepted, the engineer being instructed to report on the site with a view to adopting a different scheme. Kawa Kawa : During tlic past month Taikorea and Mangawhata roads have lieen trimmed up witli the rod grader and at the present time are in good order. The contractors have now completed I their contract for trimming and metalling Saunders’ road. Cr Boyce and myself interviewed Mr Osborne with reference to widening the cutting on Milner’s road, and after some discussion it was decided to carry out the improvements on the understanding I that Mr Osborne provided a horse, cart j and driver. I made another inspection of Hehir’s corner on Taikorea road; I the land required to be purchased to i improve this corner will be approximately half an acre, and I understand that it can be purchased for the sum of £l2. Tho cost of fencing, forming and metalling the road would be approximately £llo.—lt was decided to purchase the land referred to. —Awahou: The lorry is now employed carting dumps of metal along Foxton-Shan-non road. The contractors are making good progress with their contract for supplying and delivering metal on Whirokino road, and I have made arrangements with them to supply an extra 100 yards on the Foxton end of the road for the sum of 8s per yard. I understand that tho Whirokino deviation is held up pending the decision of the Drainage Board Commission. Stone crusher: During last month we crushed 1370 cubit yards of metal which has been delivered at the various sidings and dumps along the tramline. Machinery: I have compiled a list of road-making machinery required for the reconstruction work -on the main highways, and it will he necessary for the council to make financial arrangements for tho purchase of tho most important units which are: Three-ton lorry, portable reservoir tank and pumping engiriG, electric motor for driving chip crusher and elevators, screens and shafting to drive same.—Referred to the local committee for final consideration, it being decided that the machinery for use on the main highways be purchased through the Highways Board. —Adopted.

TRAFFIC REPORT. Tho traffic inspector (Mr Berry) reported: “Since last council meeting my time has been taken up with patrolling tho county, issuing drivers’ licenses and collecting dog tax. Up to date 611 drivers’ licenses have been issued. There are still a number of persons who have not availed themselves of the opportunity when 1 was at tho different centres during tho past ten days, as the number for last year was 850. Last court day at Foxton four persons were fined 10s each for allowing stock to be at large, and two more are to bo proceeded against next court day. As the heavy traffic licenses for last year expired on March 31, it will bo necessary for all owners of heavy traffic lorries to renew same at once. A large volume of traffic passed through Sanson on Saturday and Monday last to tho Feilding races, but all passed through at a reasonable speed.” TRAMWAY. The tramway manager reported: “Tho accounts show a credit balance of £l9 6s 3d for the month’s working. The chief items of traffic were: Coal, etc., 148 J tons; manure, 158 J tons; general merchandise, 68 tons; stock, 103 trucks; metal, 1375 cubic yards. Fares amounted to £2 17s 4d.