MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8865, 16 July 1907, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Dalton, Barber, \\ ilsou r ',g; cU zic, Kendall. Leave Masters, MoKeu d 0r Ham of absence uas s* °Tto !»''■»> ,KT*” "" I <le T? 1 nm lt AsriCT ltnrfll Department, I extract showing that C11(J ,-rnval and hemlock had been gazetted^noxious weeds within ManuMagistrate’s Court, Bulls, with attachment order on money due Martin Bildorbeck.—To be paid lU Frm™Public Health Inspector, ronortiug on four cases of scarlet fever, one of enteric, and one of consumption during June. Improved drainage at- Awaliuri Hotel had been carried nnt as recommended. From John Stevens, M.H.R., with MnY of letter from Minister of Public Works, in which it was stated that a report would ho obtained in regard to the application for £IOO towards cost of protective works at Ohakea. From Horowhonua County Council, with account for £OIO towards cost of Shannon bridge.—-Amount to be Director of Feilding Technical School, asking for donation towards building mud. £lO voted. _ , , From Feilding Jockey Club, con- | smiting to pay half cost of clearing out Carr street drain.—Work to be done. _ , , „ From South British Insurance Co., i notifying rate for renewal insurance premium for employees would be ~o» L cent, and for clerical staft 3s per cent, as against 9s per cent allround last year. Tho agent attended and stated tho rate was now tho same from all companies.—lnsurance to he renewed in respect to wages men ° n Fr'om Duthio and Co., re rails.— An order to be given at once to obtain reduction of 5s on the ton.. I From G. H. W. Hunt, Mrs Austin, j and others, asking Council to form I tho road which brandies off Cemeter y i road, near Foxton, to Mr Austin s place.— Overseer to have work done. I I From O. Brook, Himatangi, con;- . I plaining of bad drainage near his . f store.—To bo. cleared out when ( ! artesian water is obtained. , From E. Oapol, asking if Council ( would pay driving fees on stock , which did not pay expenses.—

Farther inquiries to he made. From an anonymous correspondent, alleging that the ranger was not doing his duty, ~ . The pounclkeeper wrote, stating he was losing money on his duties, Ss Cd on steers and £5 on horses, one having been sold for Is. From Roderick Boss, Glen Oroua, renewing his application for compensation.—No action taken. ' From James Jenkins, offering to do protective work at Wirokiuo bridge.—No action taken. From H. Brown, J. Berau, W. J. Loat, H. Halcrow, Geo. Lcat, E. Hopping, R. Daly. A. Reid A. Cave, D. Patten, and V.. J. Gifkms, applying for position as roadmen. — All the applicants except the first three named were appointed. From Department of Roads, stating 'with regard to laud the Council desired for drainage purposes that the Department was not yet aware if the land could ho taken under Part 4 of the Public Works Act, 1905. —The Chairman stated that it was intended to approach the Maori owners and point out tho advisability of their allowing tho laud to he taken Without legal opposition. REPORTS.

The Treasurer reported : —General account, Dr. £3323 7s 8d; loan account, Dr. '£7lo 2s sd. Riding accounts available for expenditure: Saudou £263 3s lid, Mount Stewart £325 19s 2d, Rongotea £315 6s lOd, Carnarvon £2291 Gs 4d, Kawa Kawa £2OB 12s 2d, Awahou £144 ISs 9d, Whirokiuo £lB4 8s 9d. The tramway manager reported a credit balance of £43 11s lOd for last mouth. The tramway overseer reported on the work completed and required, and estimated the cost of the stop bank near Shannon Ferry at £lO2. Cr. Masters reported as follows: —At a meeting held at Mr Nile’s on Thursday, Julv 4th, to consider the matter of further protecting the river bank at Ohakea, the following ratepayers wore promsent—Messrs G. Eight, H. Twist, 0. Goodrich, F. Simpson, and Nile. Messrs Eight, Goodrich and Twist stated that they wore not willing to give any further assistance in protecting the river hank, as they considered they were not directly interested. Messrs Simpson'and Nile said they would further consider the matter and reply to the next meeting of the Council. Messrs Simpson, who attended the meeting, said if the Government would assist they would be prepared to raise the loan of £IOO for protective work. It was decided by the Council to Imake another application to Government for £3 to £l, and to proceed at ouce. to raise a loan so us to make the necessary repairs to the protective works with the least possible delav.

I Tho Overseer reported that last {month tho roads in the lower part of the County were subject to continual floods, and hud caused a considerable amount of extra work aud expense for gravel. Ou the Foxtou-Shannon road deviation alone there had been put ou extra metal to the cost of £54 (is Od, besides repairing formation at a cost of £23 10s. A large expense would yet have to bo incurred to render the road passable. Considerable damage had hoou done to the Ohakoa protective works, seven chains of it having subsided to the bottom of the river, and unless attended to immediately would disappear. The river was scouring away tho lower flat just above the protective works. He had interviewed Mr White in reference to the suggested Loan's road through the Ebpahe, and had loft a sketcli with him showing where it was required Ito take tbe road . As Mr Johnston |was away at present Mr White was laot able to give definite information mn the subject. Tho floods had Shaken the bridge across the main Krain, Taikorca road. Tho bottom Sill had sunk 4 inches, aud tho whole abutment had a tendency to fall into plio stream. Tho bridge was too {short. Ho had taken means to steady [it at present. At Scott’s .Ferry he [had found the punt silted up ou the 1 river bed aud was unworkable. Tho river had cut away the road about a mile from tho ferry, and lie would recommend to close that portion just above the gate going to tho beach. Tho Foxtou ■ Shannon road had suffered considerable damage by the floods, the formation having in some cases been scoured out three foot. Or. Barber aud he had mot Mr Gower, Mayor of Foxtou, aud inspected the drains complained of m tho Whirokino sub-division. Mr Gower had stated that the Council bhould maintain “the drains and keep them in order, as {was done by the Foxtiou Borough Council, and in order to do the work strike a general [rate, if necessary, to cover the cost. |of maintenance. In regard to the I Government drain the understanding lis that settlers Interested pay half I cost of keeping tho drain in order.

GENERAL BUSINESS. It was decided, as recommended by the overseer, that'tenders be invited for leasing cottages at Scott’s Ferry. It was resolved that the overseer arrange for formation of Kopitara road," either by public Or' private tender and that Crs. Barker and McKenzie be a' committee to accept tenders ; the work to bo charged to loan for Kopitara road. ■ It was decided, to allow Mr Campbell £3 on account of road formation work to h’is owii land. It was decided to strike a, special rate of l-320d in the pound to pay interest on a loan of £SO, being 10 per cent on loan raised to erect two bridges on the AyrahurLFeilding road; ’ ’ ' It was resolved j That the road known as the Main Drain road be closed against all heavy traffic from July loth to. September 15th.

That overseer prepare specification and estimate for lowering cutting on Rivorbaiik road, near Makowbflti stream. ' That tender of C. Petersen at £lO4 for stop banlj at Shapupu Ferry be accepted.'...„ ’ Mr Shnltz waited on the Council and requested that culvert, placed by Council to entrance of his property, be repaired. He stated that the'creek had been diverted in. order. to place the culvert there. ." The applicant consented to give £1 towards the cost.

THE EATING QUESTION. The chairman gave a report on the work of the Counties’ Conference, mentioning that Government had been specially requested to make provision in the Act for differential rating with the least possible delay. It had been proposed that the roads in a county should be denominated main and county roads; main roads . to be maintained from the general ■ell:. . ;

rates and tho county roads from riding funds. Or. McKenzie ’asked whether the Council had come to any resolution in regard to the power to raise a loan for new machinery and new work on tramways. The chairman .said there was no power by the Loans- to Local Bodies Act to borrow for snob purposes aud ho agreed it was desirable there should be.

It was decided to request Mr Stevens, M.H.R., to endeavour to get an amendment to the Act in that direction.

Cr. Kendall said he thought the Main Drain road should bo a main road as it carried a considerable amount of county traffic.

Cr. Dalton said it was the same with tho Rongotea road. A great amount of traffic centred at Rougotea.

Cr. Masters and the chairman referred to roads in thoir ridings on which similar claims could he made, and after a general discussion it was conceded that only a main arterial road, passing through the county and carrying a large proportion of its traffic, could be properly termed a main road.

Or. Kendall stated that many of liis ratepayers had taken the view that the Council had acted illegally in striking a separate rate, expressing the’opiuiou that once a road was completed by loan it should be maintained from general rates, basing their conclusions on the recent decision in Hutt County - Council case.

The chairman said the Council, in striking separate rates, iiad relied on the following clauses in the Counties Act: —Clause o, section 1, stated “The Council may, from time to time, either in addition to, or in lien of any general rate, make or levy any rates, to be called separate rates, upon all rateable property within such portion of the county. And in section 2 “Every such separate rate shall bo subject to the deduction of so much thereof as is in tho opinion of tho Council necessary to defray the cost of making tire rate and of the supervision and clerical work necessary in connection thereof. ’’ And in clause 4 “The remainder of the rate shall he applied to the special purpose, if any, for which it was levied, and shall bo expended wholly within tho riding, or portion of the county within which it was levied,” As a matter of fact tho law on the question was very confused.