MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 43, 18 January 1935, Page 10

MANAWATU COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held at Sandon yesterday, Cr. W. E. Barber presiding. Others present were Crs. J. Boyce, A. N. Morcom and J. H. Perrett. Leave of absence was granted Crs. J. McKelvie, W. E. Pearce and D. W. Reid. ENGINEER’S REPORT. “Maintenance patching has been undertaken with pit metal on Whiroll ino Road and the Manawatu River bridge approach, and grading has been carried out three times a week,” stated the county engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) in his monthly report. “Negotiations were made with the Manawatu Automobile Association regarding tho erection of traffic notices on the Whirokino bridge. This body has since carried cut the work. Tlie Foxton-Shannon Road has been kept in fairly good order by additional grading. The lujiins on the FoxtonShannon Beacli road have been cut back. Surface metal has been spread and grading has been undertaken three times a week. The bituminous surface of the Foxton-ITimatangi road is still in first class order. Clay or pit metal is being spread on the sand shoulders as opportunity occurs. Tlie Himatangi-Sanson road has been graded three times a week, but owing to the uneven shape of the surface and the extraordinary holiday traffic it has been impossible with the money available to improve this road. Temporary repairs have l>een made to the western approach of the Oroua River bridge at Kopane. The usual maintenance work and extra grading has been undertaken on the EongoteaLongburn road. “Willows have been cut, maintenance metal lias been spread and grading has been continued on the Rangi-otu-Rongotca Road.. The Tanginioana highway has been patched and extra grading carried out throughout the holiday period. The usual maintenance work lias been continued on the Feilding-Awahuri Road, including repairs to the bridge deck. The decks of two bridges on Fagan’s Line have been repaired. Metal has been spread on Woightman’s and River Roads. One bridge deck has been repaired on Banks-Waitohi Road. Surface metal lias been spread on Tompkin’s Line between Rowe’s Line and Eongotea Road. The cleaning of culverts, drains and water-tables on Rakehou and Halcombe Roads is now complete. Willows have been cut back and the deck and wheel guards of the Mangaone bridge on Te Rakehou Road have been repaired. Metal has been spread on Campion’s and Rosina Lines. Patching has been undertaken on Ocean Beach Road. Downs Road has been sliajied up with the grader and the surface has been spread. Seabury Avenue has been patched with metal and lupins have been cut. All metal roads have been graded in their order of urgency and extra grading has been undertaken on main traffic routes. As it lias been necessary to concentrate on surface work throughout the holiday period no new works have been undertaken. The crushing plant at the Rnngitikei River has been working for part of the month of December and 1037 cubic yards of metal have been delivered. Two cottages at Sandon have been repaired and repainted. The cottage at Marotiri. has..been vacated and is being redecorated in readiness for the new roadman. The mechanical staff have been employed on the repair of road and tramway machinery.”

The report was adopted. TREASURER’S REPORT. The treasurer (Mr A. K. Drew), reporting upon the financial position oi the council as at January 15, 1935, stated that the county fund account had a debit of £9301 11s. Credits were £22 12s 8d in tlie loan account and £lO 9s 2d in the imprest account, leaving a net debit balance of £9202 8s 9d. Rates receipts since tlie last meeting amounted to £5Ol 19s 4d. License lees had yielded £OO Is 3d, including £24 15s for dog registration. Miscellaneous receipts had brought the revenue to £2307 11s 7d. TRAMYv AYS OPERATIONS. Tlie tramways manager (Mr Drew) reported that tlie accounts showed a debit of £3l 15s Id for operations during December. The principal items of traffic were: Eggs, 65 crates; minerals, 50 tons; manure, 17 tons; merchandise, 5} tons; grain, II)} tons; metal, 440 cubic yds.; posts. 2 trucks; sheep, 10 trucks; and wool, 27 bales. —The report was adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. “Informations have been laid against five persons for allowing stock to wander on highways,” stated the traffic inspector (Mr W. Berry), in his report for the month. “On New Year’s Day 1 had a traffic tally taken of the motor vehicles passing over the cross roads at Sandon from 10.25 to 11.45. Four hundred and eighty vehicles pass-, ed in that time—a rate of six per minute. The first day of tlie Awapum races brought one of the biggest crowds seen there. At the conclusion of the meeting, through tho action of several motorists pulling out of tlie main line of cars and trying to cut in again, a jamb was caused at the junction of Maxwell’s Line and tlie main highway. Cars wishing to proceed down Maxwell’s Line were unable to move until after the traffic from the racecourse had stopped. 1 have taken the names of tlie offenders and informations will be laid charging them with driving their cars in a manner which might have been dangerous to the jmblic.” GENERAL. Advice was received from the Main Highways Board that in future any road to he recommended for declaration as a main highway must first he completely legalised as a public road. The hoard did not intend to consider any application for new highways unless tlie roads were legalised. Tlie county clerk (Mr Drew) reportedthat all tlie county’s roads concerned were legalised, though owing to a mistake by the Native Lands Board tlie title to part of the Main Drain Road had not been clarified until some years ago. Alterations to tlie valuation roll were approved as follow:—N. A. and J. H. Ross to Carl 'Wilhelm Pedersen; (lots 19 and 19A, Pts. Secs. 310 and 312, Blks. IX, Te Hawaii); E. H. de J. Clere to Eileen Margaret Devine, ‘(pt. sec. 368, 111 k. 1, Moutere); Arthur W. T. Brewer to Raljih Blackburn and Alfred Peter Webb Pullman, (sees. 25.128 and 30/34, Blk. VI, Mt. Robinson) ; A. Grubner to Samuel James Teaz; (pt. see. 14, Blk. VIII, Te Kawau); M. Kirkland to Campbell S. Penny, (pt. sec. 268, Blk. 1, Montene) ; District Public Trustee to John Waite, Rita Waite and Mary E. Rowe, (sec. 329, Blk. 111, Carnarvon) ; A. E. Blackbourn to Colin Campbell, (pt. sec. 268, Blk. I, Moutere).