OBOUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11368, 15 October 1917, Page 4

OBOUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly mooting was hold on Saturday. Present: Crs. W. G. Pearco (chairman), J. Morrison, 01 McElroy, Hugh Burrell, W. Greenhow, J. H. Vincent and P. Eichler. The inward corresjxmdence was dealt with as follows: — From Daunevirko Wood ware Go., requesting permission to cart timber on the County roads with ‘hi load of 2% tons on four wheels, with aim tyres and offering to pay a tax of 3d per 100 feet. Or. Morrison said the Company had acquired the right to cut about million feet of timber on the Rua Road. The request required careful consideration. Ho moved that decision be deferred until nest meeting, which was agreed to. From M. Kew, desiring an explanation of the demand made on him for the key of the Halcombe Board office and stating that he had supplied a list of the subscribers. — Or. Burrell said he had seen no list. Or. Morrison said that was true. It had not been shown to the Council that there was one in existence. He added that some one had put live stock on the reserve. He did not know by whoso authority. said there was no explanation duo to Mr Kew. The building was erected by public subscription, was built on a lease from the railway reserve, held on lease the last 33 years by the Board and the Council, and as a successor to the Board in whom the building had been vested, owned and should control the building in the interest of the people of Kalcombo. The motion passed by the Council in respect to demanding the key should be enforced.

The Chairman, in reply to Cr. Burrell, said the was insured in the name of Mr Kew. Cr. Burrell said clearly the building should l>e held by the Council in trust for the Halcombe people, and both kej' and insurance policy should he acquired by the Council.

Crs. McElroy and Morrison said much money and labour had been spent on thb land. A tenuis court had been made. Or. Morrison regretted that cattle should ho allowed to spoil it. On the motion of Or. McElroy, seconded by Or. Morrison, it was resolved that the Council instruct its solicitor to write to M. Kew, Halcomhe, demanding from him within seven days the key and insurance policy of the building known as the bid Halcomhe Town Board office. -•’Failing this request being complied with it will leave this Council no option but to take action.

From District Railway Engineer, asking what use the Council was making of the railway lease at Halcombe. —Reply to be made that on the increase of the Board district the lease! 1 , etc., became the property of the Council. The lease would be held for the original purpose. From Mr. Feitch, complaining of water from road flooding his and Mr Southey’s properties.— Overseer to report.

/ TREASURER’S REPORT. Riding Accounts. —All Air. ; Taonui riding £IB7O 9s; Hiwinui riding £725 (is Id; Otangaki riding £llBO 7s sd; Makino riding £998 1s 2d;Raumanga Riding £913 5s 7d; Rangitawa Riding £78!) 11s lOd; Mangaone riding £65 Os 6d. Bank balances. —Interest Account, dr., £914 8s 7d; General Account, dr., £5991 16s Bd. OVERSEER'S REPORT Makino Riding.—The teams are at present at work on Kimbolton road. As the road in places required a good deal of gravel, it will take some time yet "to finish. The 'teams have been working on the Junction, Mangaone and the ? Makino roads, but with the exception of Managone road, these roads are now finished. Mangaone Riding.—The teams are at work on the. FeildiugHalcombe road. Lethbridge's road requires more gravel and I propose taking some from the Makino before leaving . I have bail to renew two culverts on Lethbridge's road-with concrete pipes. Rangitawa Riding.—Very little lias been done in this riding during the month. The surface men have done all required. Raunpuiga Riding.—l am now having the Junction road attended to. lam replacing ope timber culvert with a concrete pipe one. All blocks and side cuttings are being cleaned out, so as to keep all ''water courses clear. I intend to run the grader along the Junction road as soon as the gravelling is done and the horses available. I will have the drain Mr Davis complained about attended to later. Taonui Riding.—The surface men have done all required in 'this riding during the month. ■■■iTliere is a culvert on Forlong’s road, near Mr Palmer’s, getting in a bad condition and I have ordered timber jfor repairing it. Hiwinui Riding—A little patching bus boon done on the PulmerstonRapior and the Feilding-Ashhurst roads. There is a timber culvert on the Feilding-Ashhurst road which I am replacing by a concrete pipe one as soon as the weather is more, favourable. The pipes aro on band for this work.

Otangaki Riding.—A little patching Jias boon done on tho FoildingAslduirst and tho Paluiorston-Napcr roads. These roads are now in good repair am I should require very little done for some time. OTHER BUSINESS.

The Chairman said tin; chairman of the County Council was arranging informal meetings with the Kiwitea and Oroua County Councils’ in regard to tho erection of tho'Onepuhi bridge. Cr. Burn'll said ( referring to an article which bad appeared in the Advocate, that he no red that-jt was stated that failing tho Kiwitea Council contributing the cost would have to he borne by the Oroua and the Rang.itikei alone. Tho demand for the bridge had come most stronglv from Marten, consequently he thought the Marten borough should contribute. Cr. Morrison was of flit' opinion that tho Marten borough would do so. Or. Eichler said la' had hewi roquested by file director of the eliding Technical SrVhool to call the attention of the Count’ii to the ract that riie Manawatu a.nd Pohangina County Councils an-. I Fe tiding borough contrilmrt';! more ILherally to the school rhan the Oroua. Mr Fitzpatrick, tlio Council’s representative on tin' School Committee. explained on what class of instruction the several contributions wore spent.

Cr. Morrison expressed the opinion that it was a waste of money teaching boys to shear by hand she ars.

Cr. Burrell said many large farmers had not yet installed shearing machines. Also boys who commenced with hand shearing made the best shearers with the machines. was deferred as to amount of contribution.

It was decided to ask the Valuation Department to readjust ■ the valuations in the Halcombe Town district conformably to those in th* remainder of the Rangatawa Riding.