MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXX, Issue 11189, 3 March 1915, Page 5

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary and special meeting was held yesterday. Present: Ors. G. Wilson (chairman), H. H. - Hunt, B. Gray, W. E. ,'Barber, 8’ Penny, W. J. Phillips and H. G. Hammond.. The inward correspondence was dealt with as follows;

Prom Wellington Harbour Board, notifying election of two members to take place on April 28th. From Donald Fraser, stating that as he was giving land for a drain and would have to sell an acre for what he conl l get iur it he was not in favour of also being specially rated for the proposed Ohakea drain. From P. Pedersen, stating that be was in favour of a loan for a drain at Ohakea —Meeting of those interested to be .convened.

From Robinson and Brown, pointing out a dangerous culvert on the Kopntara road, and a portion which badly needed metal.—There being £SJ of loan money remaining it was decided that Council agree to the. proposal of Robinson and Brown to shift the gate at present across the' Kopntara road to a position about tea chains further along the toad as agreed to at an interview with Cr. Hammond, and further that Messrs Robinson and Brown fence the road up to the gate and cover a sand drift on the uufenoed portion of the road. From M. O. Tremain, asking that stock be allowed to graze on the roads in the Sandon Riding.— Bangers’ duties to be suspended in the Ridings of Sandon and Mt. Stewart between the hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Philip McCabe, asking to he allowed to graze his. cow on the road.— In inspect to this and the previous Ora. Hunt, Penny and Gray were of the opinion that the majority of the ..ratepayers were adverse to allowing stock of any kind on the roads. OVERSEER’S REPORT.

Sandon Riding.—The surfacemen

have been employed in claying main roads and making up and metalling footpaths in Sandon townnsbip. The decking of bridge over the Pikatn, on the SandonBnlls road, is in bad order and requires renewing. Traqtion engines passing over it had broken a number of the planks which had to be replaced. When the bridge is under repairs two additional stringers should be put in where the wheel traffic strikes. ■

Mt. Stewart Riding.—Very little as been done in this Riding during

the month. The roadman has been employed filling in holes on Feed-ing-Awahuri road and also in cleaning out tbe watertables. The Mt. Stewart-Sandon road is breaking np badly owing to the, dry weather. Waitohi Riding.'—Nothing of iru--portauce has been done in this Riding. Hammond’s Line is very rough and requires trimming in and claying. Some willows growing on bank of creek hear Mr R. Cookbnrn’s, which-had been ont down and fallen into the creek and started growing. 1 have made arrangements to have same removed.

Rongotea Riding.—The man has been engaged in claying several of the roads and also in raking np loose stones. The southern approach to the Rongotea-Longbnrn bridge which had evidently been damaged by the last Hood has been, breaking away. The same has been made up and metalled. Carnarvon Riding.—Claying lias been done on Rosina and River. Bank Lines and also along portions of tbe Foxton Line. Loose stones have also been raked up. The condition of Taikoiea road recently metalled is badly id need of clay. The newly-metalled portion of Lake road has been trimmed in.

Eawa Eawa Riding.*— Mr Oopkslay is making good progress with his contract fur installing McLennan’s Line. The formation on , the lowlying portion of ‘the road has been made up' Mr Saunders assisting with the work. 'Mr Saunders has also promised a contribution towards-the work. The roadmen have! -been employed in filling in and raking np loose stones. Mudford’s drain, near Rangiotn, has also been cleaned out. The 300 yards of metal required for Main Drain Road has been ordered from the Railway Department.

Awahon Riding.— The roadman has been employed in idling in ruts on Bowes, Kan Kari and Whlrokipo roads, and also in opening watertables on Poxton-Shatfnon road. The road drains along-No. 6 and No. 2 Lines have also been cleaned out.

Carnarvon, Awahon and Eawa Eawa Ridings.—The PalmeratonFoxton road is being greatly damaged by motor lortieV- trading between Foxton and Palmerston. Heavy loads of merchandise are being taken inland and fibre is being carried on the retnrn N trip. Unless something is done to regulate the weight of loads a large expenditure will have to be faced to put the road in order. With reference to supply of river bed metal for Pal mere ton-Fox ton road I have to report as follows: — Cost metal delivered at Bainesse and Himafcaagi supplied from Eaerre 6s per yard without unloading. Cost of metal delivered along rSad where - required supplied from Rangitikei River per tram 7s 4 I per yard without unloading.' Cost delivered at Hnuataugi 6s per yard.

GENERAL.. As ratepayers! are oontibually requiring small quantities of riverbed metal for concrete work and it is difficult to get the carting done when required I took an opportunity offering to get 50 yards carted out and stacked at the Pnkenui Siding for this purpose. TRAMWAY.

The lineufen have been engaged in taking out decayed sle pars and re packing at the Uimatungi curve and also in packing bridges and attending to curves at the Sanson e‘nd; The sheep loading yards have been completed and are proving satisfactory. - ' TRAM MANAGER’S REPORT. 1 have the honour to report ou the working of the tramway for the month of February The; traffic was gooq and the -credit 'balance of £6\ 4s Sid was made. The chief items cf traffic were; Grain 113% tons, minerals 102% tons, merchandise 145% tons, chaff 23 trucks, sheep 20 trnpks, timber 5600 feet, and fares amounted _ to £4 16s lOd. Great difficulty, is being ' experienced in preventing tires from sparks from the locomotive. Every precaution is being taken and experiments tried, but without success. A great deal of the troubleis caused by the carelessness of residents along the tram line catting their fences end allowing the rubbish tp accumulate. The smallest spark Intp.it will then cause a file.' - - V'- ' ' J, , ;

1 OTHER BUSINESS. The Chairman introduced the mbjeot.of raising the clerk’s salary. He sajd\the work had more than ' doubled since Mr Drew had been. 1 ' - engaged;- far more than doubled in • respect to - the" amount- of mnnrv • dealt with. He tboaght that alMhe - Oounoillors were satisfied with the manner the clerk bad carried oat his. - dnties. - Recently be. had been also - doing the work of overseer. Removed that a rise of * £3O be made, making the salary £3OO per year. Or. Gray said that he had beenasked by roadmen to. propose a rise of their wages, but his reply'had been that the time was notTfavonrable to give a rise, and particularly was this the case in view of the dry weather reducing the income of ' farmers, particularly of dairy farrn'ers. The Taikorea Cheese Factory was receiving 700 gallons of milk per day less than on previous years. In respect to the work of the'Overseer, he was sorry that he was ill, •*- bnt if the Unless continued he could not expect that the 'Connell would continue his salary, more than a private employer. When he was working for wages and bad been taken ill no one p*id him wages nor did he expect it. Removed that tba rise to the clerk’s salary be £lO per year.

In respect to a remark, of Cr. Gray , that the clerk had assistants in the office, the Chairman pointed ont • that the clerk of the Bangitikei - County Council received £4OO a year and had assistants.

Mr O. Hunt said -he approved of

some of the remarks of Cr. Gray. The motion to give the rise of £3O was agreed to, Cr. Gray only dissenting. * The following tenders were coeptedNo. 193, C. Marton, at s 9d per yard ; No. 195, Smith and Hill, 4s lOd; No. .196, O.'Jensen, 4s ; No. 197 and 198, Stewart and Son, 5s and 7s; No. 199, P, Vallender, 5s 6d; Nos. SOO* and 301, Smith and Hill, 4s 5d and 2s 6d. Cr, Phillips said it was desirable to make certain improvements in the Saudon Township. He moved that steps be taken to. borrow.£soo for the purpose. O. Penney seconded the motion, which was carrried.

A public meeting will be called to define tbe work proposed to be done.