MANAWATU COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 10 December 1936, Page 24

MANAWATU COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. PETITION BY SETTLERS. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council was held on Tuesday. Those present were Crs. W. E. Barber (chairman), R. A. Wilson, J. H. Perrett, D. W. Reid, A. N. Morcom and J. Boyce. An apology for absence was received from Or. W. E. Pearce. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded an explanation of legislation passed in the last session of Parliament affecting local bodies.—Received. Particulars were to hand of the State Advances Corporation’s housing scheme, from the corporation.—Received.

The Commissioner of Transport forwarded a. memorandum on speed limits.-The letter stated that the Minister wished to have the motor laws simplified and reduced to the more important requirements. —Received. The Public Works Department advised that the wages of clerks of works engaged in the construction of bridges which carried a subsidy would be subsidised in future. —Received.

The Department of Labour wrote setting out the amounts of assistance available for the extermination ol rabbits. The existing arrangement (under scheme No. 11) was terminated as from November 11 and assistance would now be granted on a general basis where fumigation or poisoning methods were adopted.—The letter was received, the chairman commenting that the subject was rather one for the Manawatu Rabbit Board. The Manawatu-Oroua River Board wrote stating that the board was having great trouble in keeping down goatsrue, and asked that it be declared a noxious weed, if that action had not already been taken.—The chairman said that the council had declared goatsrue a noxious weed last year. It was decided to inform the River Board of the council’s previous action. Mr R. Anderson (.Sanson) wrote claiming £1 11s 4d as compensation for the loss of a crate of eggs from a siding on the tramway.—lt was decided that the sum be pa.id.

Mr D. Beattie (Kopane) asked for the payment of £9 19s 3d as royalty due on metal. —The sum is to be paid. Six settlers at Makowhai forwarded a petitiou asking the council to take steps to control the flow of a creek by diverting it into the Rangitikei River instead of allowing it to go into the Makowhai Stream—Referred to the engineer and chairman for investigation. Correspondence was to-hand from the New Zealand Counties’ Association dealing with various industrial disputes. —Received. TRAMWAY REPORT.

The tramway manager (Mr A. K. Drew) reported as follows: lhe items of traffic for the month were: Eggs, 16 crates; metal, 297 cubic yards; merchandise, 14 tons; minerals, f,2 tons; posts and wood, 3 trucks; manure, 9 tons; wool, 47 bales; 1 mechanical navvy and 1 ton of general items. The earnings for tlie month were £76 17s 3d and the running expenses £122 2s Sd. In addition to the running expenses the sum of £ll9 -19 s 5d has been spent on repairs and renewals to the line, and £l3B Gs Gd on the purchase of sleepers.” Adopted. LAND TRANSFERS. The following land transfers were approved:—Poplar Flaxmilling Co., Ltd., to Max G. Voss, lot 22, part section 322, township of Carnarvon; Esther Fearnley to W. H. Boyce, lot 56, section 268, block 1, Moutore; Walter Howlett to Clarence G. Howlett, section, township of Tangimoana ; Est. E. A. Morris to Charles Hurdsfield, section No. 227, town of Campbell; J. M. Giles to Garlies Milligan, junr., section 158, block 1, Kairanga. S.D.; Est. Sophia Barnabv to Frederick J. Parkinson, lots 24 and 25, section 384, township of Carnarvon. CONTROL OF TRAFFIC. The report of the traffic inspector (Mr W. Berry) was adopted. It stated: “During the month my time has been taken up patrolling the counties coming under my jurisdiction and attending to various matters coming under my notice. Two lorry drivers were apprehended for exceeding the speed limit allowed by the regulations, one having been before the Court and convicted, and ordered to pay costs. 1 asked the Magistrate to adopt this course as ten minutes before lie had been fined £ls, and his license cancelled for 6 months, for being intoxicated while in charge of the same vehicle. One person was found to be operating a heavy motor lorry without the necessary heavy traffic, license. During the month the Feilding races were held

when I assisted in controlling the traffic.” GENERAL. The treasurer (Mr A. K. Drew) reported that the bank accounts held a credit of £BO9B 7s and the loan account a credit of £3066. The receipts since the last meeting had been £1707 14s lOd. The council decided not to hold a meeting in January, any urgent matters to be dealt with by the finance committee. On behalf of the staff and employees Mr Drew extended seasonal wishes to the chairman and councillors, and said that the men were very gratified at the action of the council as to the de cieions regarding changed working conditions. Replying, the chairman also expressed good wishes and said that the council had a good 6taff, and because of that had been free of trouble. He expressed thanks for Mr Drew’s remarks.