MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 9

MANAWATU COUNTY

COUNCIL MEETING. The Manawatu County Council met at Sanson yesterday for its monthly meeting, Cr. W. E. Barber presiding. Also present were Crs. J. F. McKelvie, J. H. Perrett, W. E. Pearce, D. W. Reid and A. N. Morcom. An apology for absence was received from Cr. J. Boyce. CORRESPONDENCE.

From the Waiapu County Council asking the council to appoint a delegate to attend a conference at Rotorua on May 30, when the question of the collection of Native rates will be gone into. —Received, no action being taken.

From the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, congratulating the council on its decision to abolish the riding system of rating and expressing the opinion that the change would enable the council to deal in a more comprehensive manner with its roading problems.—Received. From the Oroua Downs Drainage Committee, advising that tenders amounting to £66 11s 8d for cleaning of drains had been accepted, and asking the council to arrange payment of the amount. —Agreed to pay the amount. & From Mr H. Seifert, enclosing cheque for £5 as a contribution towards the cost of putting a road into the Piaki swamp, and thanking the council for the work done.—Received. From Mr N. Batchelar, Taikorea, asking for repairs to be carried out to Taikorea Road.—Referred to Cr. McKelvie and the engineer. From Mr A. E. Clifford, Feilding, reminding the council of a promise made to construct a footpath in Haggitt Street, and requesting that the matter be given some attention. —Left in the hands of Cr. Reid and the engineer to attend to. TRAMWAY REPORT. The tramway manager reported for the month as follows: —The chief items of traffic were: —Metal, ■ 720 cub. yds.; minerals, 621 tons; manure, 48 tons, wool, 41 bales; timber, 30CG superficial feet; general merchandise and grain, 12f tons; sheep and posts, 23 trucks, and 76 crates eggs. The accounts show a credit balance of £7 6s 6d for the month’s working.— Adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Mr W. Berry, county inspector, presented the following report:—“During the month one lorry owner was caught using two lorries without having renewed his licenses and also with using expired discs. There has been a large amount of traffic on the roads, as there were races at Palmerston North and Feilding. The volume of Easter traffic has been the largest I think we have had for many years. A few minor accidents took place in the county, but not of a serious nature.”—Adopted. RATE ROLL. The following alterations to the county rate roll were authorised: Estate Andrew Pringle to Estate A. Pringle, lot 16, sec. 268 Moutere; Owen McElroy to Margaret M. McElroy, section 87, Tangimoana; estate G. S. Fulton to Amy Omundsen, part section 268 Moutere; Motuiti Flax Mill Coy. to Norman W. Cooper, sub-sections 4C4, 4C5, 4D2, 4D3A and part of subdivision 4C3 of Himatangi Block, together with right of way. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) reported on the month’s work as under:—“Main Highways: The spot painting of the Manawatu River bridge on the Foxton-Shannon Road has been completed. A trial sample of pit metal from Shannon has been spread on the Whirokino and Foxton beach roads. It appears to be quite satisfactory for patching or building up low places. Similar metal is being used for the repair of a section of the Himatangi-Foxton Road in the vicinity of the racecourse. Surface metal has been spread on HimatangiSanson and Hiniatangi-Rangiotu roads. The metal shoulders of the SansonBulls Road have been repaired. The decking of the Government drain bridge on the Whirokino Road has been completed. A further section of clay shoulder has been built on the Rongotea-Longburn _ Road, bringing the metal roadway into 18 feet. A small section of this work has been carried out on the Tangimoana Road. The usual drain cleaning and grading has been continued op all main highways. Metal is now being taken from the Oroua River at Ivopane and the Rongotea-Longburn Road is being repaired. A total of 28 curves have been super-elevated on the Hima-tangi-Rangiotu Road with pit metal. The shoulders have been built up with sand and covered with clay. This road is now in shape for the whole 6i miles to receive the bituminous surfacing. “Ridings.—The usual grading and maintenance work has been proceeded with as far as possible, but this work has been somewhat retarded owing to the fact that one grader lias been hired out to the contractors on the Himatangi-Rangiotu main highway and a second grader has been in the workshop for extensive repairs and renewal of the power unit. This work has now been completed and the grader is in work again. Two test piles have been driven for the Makowhai bridge and results show that 22 ft. piles will be sufficient. The old bridge will now remain open for traffic until the remainder of the piles arrive in ten days’ time. All other material is at hand and no time will be lost in the erection of the new structure. One bridge on BanksWaitohi Road has had several deck planks renewed. The north abutment of one small 'bridge on Kakariki Road has collapsed, and immediate repairs have had to l>e undertaken. The plans for the Boness Road bridge have been submitted to the Public Works Department for approval. “General. —The tram track has been maintained as usual. .Several rails, sleepers and fishplates have been renewed, and general packing up work has been undertaken. A total of 756 cub. yards of metal, etc., has been taken from the Rangitikei River plant, including 350 cub. yards of pit stripping which ha's been delivered to the Himatangi-Rangiotu Road for covering the banking around curves.” —Adopted.