MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11906, 2 September 1919, Page 5

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting was lie! cl at Sandon yesterday. Present:—Sir Jas. Wilson (in the chair), Ors, Hunt, Boyce, Penny, Barber and Hammond. Cr. Phillips was granted leave, of absence.

Correspondence was read: From N. Z. Railways, forwarding paid on charges for tram £56 9s Id. From Minister of 'Lands, stating authority had been given for payment of £2OO fdr Meehan’s road.— The Clerk was instructed to reply stating that this year the main roads of the County are in such a state owing to motor traffic since the railway cut that all the revenue availaoie will have to go towards putting them in proper older again. The riding in which the road is situated has already spent £2OO for roads for the Makowhai settlement, and the Council is not prepared to find any further sum. As forming and metalling will cost at least £4OO the Council must decline your otter, hut if you wish we will spend the £2OO offered in cutting down the hill and metalling as far as the money will go to enable Mr Meehan to get out Ills milk.

From Commissioner of Crown Lauds, stating Department would meet cost of protection of riyerbank in Kopaue settlement. From Sopartment Land and Survey, thanking Council for arranging to repair fence round plantation at Rangitikei Headk From Public Works Department, stating it.vUSs Jifbposed to vest control of bridge over Oroua river on Hoiherp road in Kairauga County Council ,aud apportion cost of maintenance between that Council and Manawatu' Council.—The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Newman, M.P. strongly protesting against the proposal as the bridge was not only of nD use but a detriment to this County, as Kairauga ratepayers used our roads and did not pay rates, while Manawatu ratepayers did not. From Public Trust Office, regretting that application for loan of .■63000 for erection of workmen’s cottages could not be entertained, as no funds were available. —Mr Newman to be asked if he can help Council. From Minister of Railways, stating that Department has no statutory power to grant private sidings free of rental and in all cases, riding holders, who have hitherto enjoyed free tenancy, are being called upon, when siding rights are being renewed, to pay the standard rental fixed by by-law. From E. Newman, M.P., stating he would be glad to take charge of the Manawatu County Loan and Empowering Bill, and that he would spare no efforts to have the Bill successfully carried through. From Foxton Borough Council, asking if Council could sell 100 yards broken metal.—Council unable to accede to request. From same, asking Council to appoint delegate on deputation to wait on Minister for Lands, requesting that Foxton Harbour Board be gran'ed an endowment in lieu of the restrictions placed upon the Bound Bash by Government. —Or. Barber appointed. From Foxton Farmers’ Union, thanking Council for stand taken in regard to Goafs Rue in Manawatu District, in not declaring it a noxious weed in this district until it is so declared at the sources of supply, namely, the upper reaches of the Manawatu river.

The Union also suggested that Council ask Government to enforce the cuttirg of all Goat’s Kue on all Government lauds, particularly river beds. It was felt useless to impose the cutting of Goat’s Rue on the lower reaches of the Mauawatu until it is coped with at the source. T[i e weed is known to be growing up as far as" Mangatanoka, and it is believed was first introduced by Government, who planted it on a silt flat somewhere above the Gorge to prevent the scouring of the river at this point. From G H. Stiles, asking Council to.take steps to improve stop bank at*the old Terry House, near Shannon bridge, and enclosing cheque for part cost. —Matter to be attended to as far as funds \vill permit RATE ROLL. The following aitertaious were agree 1 to:—M. Humphries to P. Vallender, lot 26, town ot Camnbell, and part section 13, block 1; Estate G. Marshall to H. M. Hare, lots 3, 4,5, d.p. 1(191; J. Gray to A. Sutherland, lot 12, part section 149, Sandon; W. S. Hammond to A Cocker, rental section 260, Caruravon: E, K. R. Hutchins to R. C. Andrew, sections 79-83, and 87-90, Saudon; W. Campbell to W. Seifert, lot 10 and part lot 9, Sandon;A Ross to W. Stuckey, lots 18, 18a, 19, 19a, d.p. 1368, sec. 310,311, 313, Carnarvon; G. T. Woodrofe to A. H. Howan, lob 3 on d.p. 2530, part rural section 265, Foxton; A. and J. Evans to G. G. Coley, lot 3on d.p. 3002, Wellington register; A. E Eglintou to Messrs Slattery, part rural section 11, Saudon ,and rural sections 5, 8 and 9 , Carnarvon; A. Sutherland to M. Rowland, part section 147, Sandon, ; C. Watkin to T. H. Dixon, sections 46, 47, block 17, Te Kaw r an : Rowe Bros, to J. J, Goodwin, part section 317, Carnarvon; W. Bremer to M. C. Sciott, lot 6 oLsectiou 229, Carnarvon; W. A. J. Hall to E. Harper, part sections 40 and 41, block 11, Douglas Block; T. H. Ingley to D. W. McKenzie, lot 82, section 384, Carnravon; A. J. Ireland to E. Sykes, part sections 54, 55, block 2, Te Kawhau S.D, It was resolved: That notice be given that all rates outstanding on and after 34th inst w’iil be sued tor. TRAMWAY MANAGERS’ REPORT.

The Tramway Manager reported on the working of the tramway for the month of August, 1919. During the latter part of the month the s.s Kennedy commenced on the Foxton-Welliugton trade with the result that the traffic over the tramway lias improved. The chief items of traffic were: —Merchandise 132% tons, manure 55% tons, minerals 74% tons, metal 420 cubic yards. Fares amounted to £2 18s 2d . A debit balance of £33 15s is shown tor the month’s working. As the traffic now warrants it I have applied to the Railway Department for permission to resume the ordinary running as from to-duy. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer. (Mr G. Hickford) reported upon work in progress and works completed on roads throughout County for month of August. Sandon —We have now completed the reinforced concrete culvert on Bulls-Sandon road and also widened and deepened the creek outlet to culvert which we anticipate will"prevout storm water from

flooding roa3. Metar has been carted and repairs carried out on Ngaio, Bulls-Feilding and Kakariki roads. Mt. Stewart Biding.—The teams have been employed the whole of last month carting metal on Peilding Awahuri road and surfacemen have.been breaking down stones and the road roller rolling along this portion of the road. Waitohi Biding.—The contractors tor building a concrete bridge on Hammond’s Line made good progress during the early part of last month, but owing to delay ixx obtaining f oment the wprk has been delayed for several days. However I have managed to purchase a small quantiy of cement and expect to have this bridge completed by end of this week.

Roagotea Riding.—During last month the road roller was employed rolling down about 1 mile of crushed metal on Rougotea road and a portion of Banks’ road. We have at the present time three teams carting metal on Jones’s Line and when this road is put in order I proposed employing these teams ou Tompkins’ Line and the Foxton-Sandon road to cart repair metal. During last month 1 arranged tor carting of metal to Banks’ Line for 7s per yard. The road grader has done good work ou Rongotea-Longbarn road also Banks’ Line. I have arranged with Mr T, Dustin to build a remt'greed concrete bridge at the foci of Oemetry Hill on Songotea Longburu road for £BO and the carting of concrete metal for this work for the sum of- 8s per yard. Kavva Kawa Riding.—l have arranged to patch w’eak places along Main Drain road and also make up a portion of formation ou KelJow’s Line near Mr Grammar’s. With reference to the sand drift complained of by Mr Hogg on Kellow’s Line I have arranged to assist Mr Hogg by sending a man to erect a scrub fence. The Conn tv drain along tiie fence Mr Hogg will clean our for 4s per chain. Carnarvon Riding.—During last month we trimmed up I Campion’s Line with the road grader and also Makowhai road. Mr Lane lias completed the formation j wora ou PukiPuki road and is making good progress with the metaling. Awahou Riding.—As instructed by the Council I made an iuspectou of the road leading to Mrs Whitlow’s. This road is only a half chain wide, two thirds of this road was metalled about S or 10 years ago and in places the metal has almost disappeared, the balance of tills road is a sea of mud in web weather. At the present time there is a herd of 60 cow passing over this road every day and at present it is impossible to improve the condition of the road until thesummer then I would suggest that j the road be metalled from the Main road to Mrs Whitlow’s house aud from there ou to a private cow shed the road should be made up by the property owner. The Foxton-Siiau-non road is in fair order with the exception of a few pot holes which will be attended to in the course of a few days. A good deal of repair metal has been put in the bole along the Whtirokuo road and I have arranged to have this road trimmed up in a few days time with the road grader. Carnarvon and Awahou Ridings. —The increased motor traffic ou ! Poston -Sandon road is doing considerable damage, and it is impossible to keep the road in anything like fair order more especially that portion from Himitaugi to Foxton. We have railed a large quantity of metal along this portion «f tne road | which has been dumped every few j chans, men and earts have been cart- ! iug metal the whole of last month and yet the road is in bad order. The Palmerstou-Foxton road is also suffering from the same 1 class of traffic. We have used up all the metal available along the road aud there is not much prospect of getting any truther supplies of metal for this road until the locomotive ‘Manawatu’ is ready for commision, in the meantime I think it would be advisable to approach Govern ment for a grant towards, maintenance of main arterial roans in this County. Tramway Report.—As instructed I have taken out the old wooden piers of the tram bridge and tilled in approaches with rough metal right up to the level of the concrete abut ment walls. I have also built a concrete culvert under the tram line opposite the road culvert ou Bulls-| Sandou road. The surfacemen are ■ employed taking out old decayed sleepers between Eosiua aud Whale Line Sidings. General. —As instructed I have commenced the Oroua River Protection Works as authorised by the Commissioner of Crown Lauds on section Ho. 13 Kopane Soldier Settlement

Stone Crusher.—lt will be necessary to crush about 10,000 cubic yards of road metal this season, last year we crashed approximately 2000 and at the end of this month there will be very little available for repair wort, and I would recommend the Council to call tenders for crushing the above quantity of metal. As soon*as the locomotive “Manawatu” is ready for service. I would also suggest that in place of using the road roller for driving the crusher that the Council purchase a second hand portable eagine. The road roller engine is altogether too expensive an engine to use for driving a stone crusher and I trust that the Council will give this matter their careful consideration to-day.