RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2034, 23 December 1907, Page 8

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was held at Mar ton on Saturday. Present: Crs, R. K. Simpson (chairman), D. Fraser, A. G. Simpson, O. J. Canton, T. Duncan, A. McGregor, and R. T. Batley. Leave of absence was granted Crs. Lethbridge and Morison. CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, advising that loan of £5500, Pukeokahu road, is ableFrom Valuer-General, stating he has passed voucher for payment of £1560, account subsidy on general rates. From Telegraph Department, cancelling bond for Lower Moawhango telephone as the line is now a payable ‘one. From Department of Labour, requiring Council to hold a special meeting in January to fix the weekly half-holiday.— Meeting to be held last week in January. From Department 0 f Roads, foe* Vvarduig authorities for following grants Jacobsen’s road (£, for jj£) £49 10s 6d; Mataroa-Mangawoba road £650; Makohine Valley road, £l5O. From Manawatu County Council, advising that the Lower Rangitikei Ferry Reserve is wholly within the Minawatu County and that it is not considered that the Rangitikei Council has any claim thereon. —Resolved (Or. Fraser—Chairman), that this Council is of opinion tiiat all receipts from the Ferry Reserve should be set aside for re-establishing] and future maintenance of the Ferry. From Markon Borough Council, appointing Crs. Sutcliffe aud Lyon to confer .in the matter #3f vehicle traffic licensing by-laws. From Puma Road Board, forwarding a copy of a letter from Mr A. Sutherland’s solicitors, to the effect that Mr Sutherland does not recognise any legal road throusrh his property to the Waugaehu river aud that lie intends erecting his house , upon a part of the-land claimed as a road. —Resolved (Crs. McGregor—Duncan), fehat Government be asked to appoint a Commission firstly to inquire iuto the legality or otherwise ■of the road through Oraiglea property ■connecting No. 2 Line with Wangaehu river aud in the event of there being no legal claim to take steps to compel the Wanganui County Council to acquire the road as it is an important through road. From S. Behan, accepting appointment as one of Council’s representatives upon Wanganui Hospital aud Charitable Aid Board. From C. Canton, advising that Council’s proposal in connection with expenditure of thirds will be accepted. From C. E. Laidley, forwarding copies of resolutions passed at meeting of settlers hold at Taihape to discuss the question of alterations of boundaries of the Wanganui aud Rangitikei Counties.— Resolved That a committee consisting of the Chairman, Crs. Batley, Canton, Duncan, Morison aud McGregor he appointed to go fully iuto the matter aud report. From W D. Bell aud A. Dahziell, objecting to any of their property being included in a special Rating District for the proposed loan for Murimotu aud Watershed roads. From R. G. Dalziell and Donald Stewart, asking attention to the Otairi road.—To be attended to. From Goodbshere and Bug, applying for permission to lay two crossings for tramways across the Mataroa road atMauui. —Request granted, subject to approval of Engineer. From T. W. Downes, forwarding tracing of proposed road exchanges on the Racing Club’s property at Bulls. From Treasury, forwarding account of £1206, half-year’s interest, due Ist February, 1908, also circular notifying reduction of interest to 3y per cent on all loans raised for a period for 41 years. From G. Gardner & Sons, agreeing to pay to Council claim for £279, provided whole of estimated amount to repair damages is expended this year. Resolved (Chairman Cr. Fraser), thac the matter be left in the hands of Mr Mair to interview Messrs Gardner and Sons, but failing a satisfactory settlement the Council take the only alternative ; left open in the matter aud enforce its legal claims. From D. Reichenbach, inquiring proceedings as to impounding of cattle. —Resolved, that Mr Reicheubach he referred to his solicitors in the matter. A petition was received from ratepayers interested in a loan for £I3OO ; for gravelling parts of Murimotu and Watershed roads.—Resolved (Chair- . man—Cr. Duncan), that the application be placed on the list of loans to be applied for in turn. .1 Mr Mair reported All the roads J are now opened out aud in good - order for wool-carting. Mr Living- i stone has made a fair start -on his contract for metalling Pukeokahu ; read. The gravel pit is turning put very satisfactory. He has now com- ‘ pie ted 20 chains at the far end of the : gravelling portion. I have engaged ; three teams to assist in hauling the gravel to Ougo road aud everything is now in readiness for a good start when the pit dries from the recent * rain. Mr Cocgau’s team has been ; engaged for the grader and I antici- ' pate an early start on Mangahoe ] road. All ocher contract -works in hand are progressing fairly welL . Mr Thoms reported that most of the roads are in very fair -order. < During the month the _ grader has . been at work rounding up Craig’s, Turakiua Beach, Bruce’s and Morgan’s roads and is now working on , the upper part of the Turakiua Valley road. Mr A. Slight, who lias ‘ been working the grader this season, 1 lias given me notice that he will be leaving at the end of this mouth. ] He has been appointed overseer by j ,the Kiwi tea County Council. Owing , to the High price of ■ teams aud the ’ground getting -hard I do not propose 1 doing very much more with the \ grader this"season. With the consent f of the chairman I let a contract to S. f Signal for delivering about 200 yards c of "gravel at 3s lid per yard on the j Bounv Glen road, where it was £ damaged by the motor waggon. ‘ t The work is now being done/; Dur- i mg the month specifications .have ' t been drawn and tenders called for „ rdne metalling contracts. t Mr John Baldwin waited on Conn- ~ cil in .connection with the road ' t through Mr Sutherland’s property connecting-the No. 2 Line with the Turakina river.—A resolution was passed uphicli appears in the report o * ll ;dr C " Trieker attended and asked « Council for the services of Mr Thoms in the erection of a foot- 11 bridge over the Tulaentn bridge. r< Request granted, , It was resolved— That Mr Withers be thanked for vIlls offer of metal free of cost. fcl

That (Crs. Canton McGregor) with reference to the last valuation made in certain northern Ridings of the County, itfbe pointed out to the Vainer-General that the values are altogether too low and that the list of certain sections he sent to the Valuer-General with a. request that the said Ridings he re-valued throughout. That the dog tax be fixed at 2s 6d per dog for all sheep, cattle and rabbit dogs aud 10s per dog for all other dogs. That the Council offices be closed from Bofh December to January 6tb inclusive. That tile salary of the assistant clerk be increased by £2 a month Horn the Ist January. That the tenders of Charles Hunt (Lower Ridings) and T. Thompson (No. 2 District) be accepted for the collection of dog tax. The tender of James Craig, Marton, was accepted for metalling 1000 yards on Upper Tutaenni road. The tenders for contracts Nos. 94, Upland 10? left with Mr Thoms to arrange; - _ , . The tenctei? of J. W. Adam, Greatford, Was accepted for metalling 900 yards on Makirikiri andMartonBulis roads.

Accounts amounting to £ll6B 18s 6d were passed for payment which will bring the debit balance on the general account to £4215 4s lOd.