MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18818, 6 July 1923, Page 9

MANAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council there were present: Crs. Sir James Wilson (chairman), H. H. Hunt, J. Boyce. W. E. Barber, J. F. McK-elvie. H. J. Fagan and W. S. Penny. CORRESPONDENCE. From New Zealand Railways, forwarding on paid-in charges for tram, £54 19s 6d. From Commissioner of Crown lands, approving of surrender of three acres of Mr Vile’s property for crusher, etc.

From State Forest Department, stating its intention to plant suitable trees and shrubs at the seaside resort, Tangimoana, and stating that trees will be donated to furnish a town shelter belt, if residents will undertake to protect the trees from stock. The hope was expressed that assistance would be given in making the resort one of the most attractive on the Coast. —A committee was set up to confer with an ofiicer of the Department. From New Zealand Insurance Co., in connection with the claim by F. W. Tostevcn for compensation, that there is no liability on council or company.

A. G. Scott and others, Feilding. wrote suggesting means of draining Pirinoa Street. —Referred to engineer. From J. Puklowski, asking per mission to raise road across Main road on Foxton side of main drain at Whirokino, without cost to the council. —Referred to engineer. F. A. Mills wrote asking for cul vert opposite Post Office at Oroua Downs. From F. Woods, stating that a portion of Motuiti Road is fit only for horsemen, and reminding the council that last winter settlers put in a week's work on the road gratuitously.—Engineer to attend to matter. It was resolved that the chairman, Crs Penny and Fagan be a committee to inquire into the working of the crushing plant.

FEILDING AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL.

A deputation from Feilding Agricultural High School, headed by Mr Tolley, waited on the council, applying for funds for furnishing the hostel. Mr Tolley, in application, spoke on lines of his appeal to Kiwitea County Council, and aroused the attention of councillors when he stated that to the Manawatu counts falls the honour of having provided the first dux of the school, a lad named Kilgour. There are a dozen pupils in tho school from the county. It was pointed out that the school was built anticipating 100 pupils. There are now 150, a dozen of whom come from Manawatu county. The Government had recently granted £3O for research work in connection with the growing of ryegrass and cocksfoot, which is specially valuable to the district. There are 20 acres attached to the school, and it is hoped to have later 100. Pressing the claim for as sistance, the deputation intimated that on invitation, the school staff, an exceptionally talented one. will visit any part of the district and deliver lectures.

In reply to this the chairman said they should not wait for invitations, but thrust themselves upon the settlers. He also intimated that, personally, he thought the council should assist in agricultural education, and quoted instances where at Home county councils are assisting in agricultural education. He mentioned that the Government had given about 3J millions in education ordinarily, and thought that if pressure was brought to bear v more money might be given to agricultural education. Referring again to the deputation’s request, ho said the council had helped to bring the institution into being, and should help to “clotho it.” He congratulated the Board of Managers on having introduced into the curriculum a course of domestic science. Cr Eagan favoured giving assistance, stating he had listened to lectures by teachers, which were excellent. Teachers are only too pleased to visit districts and lecture on agricultural subjects. Cr Penny, in endorsing Cr Fagan’s remarks, stressed the point that ,-t is necessary to go in more for scientific farming, as later lands will be higher priced. Cr Barber agreed that the council should support the institution by helping to “clothe the baby.” He emphasised the fact that many do not know of the institution’s existence.

Cr Penny moved and the chairman seconded, “That a contribution of £lOO be made this year and £lOO next year." Cr Hunt admitted that the institution is good and entitled to support, but moved an amendment that £lOO be given. Cr Barker, supporting, said the council could ill afford to be too liberal. The amendment was lost. FINANCE. The treasurer reported upon finances of the council as follows: County fund account, debit, £2126

17s lOd; loan account, credit, £8894 8s Bd. Not credit balance, £6761 10s 4d. Amounts available lor expenditure: b’andon, £768 16s 6d; Mt. Stewart, £390 10s 2d; Waitohi, £lO7B 16s lOd; Rongotea, £1447 Is Id; Carnarvon, £1064 Is lOd, Kawa Kawa, £lO4l 3s 2d; Awahou, £762 12s lOd. ENGINEER’S REPORT

The engineer reported as follows lor the month of June; Bandon Riding.—C. Martin has commenced his contract for supply ing and delivering metal on BullsFeilding Road opposite Ngaio. Repairs were carried out on Bulls-San-don Road and on the top end ol Kakariki Road. Owing to continuous wet weather we have not been in a position to put in the concrete pipe culvert on Bulls Road. A

back street in Bandon township was damaged by a motor lorry, which got stuck in the road and had to be pulled out by a traction engine Mt. Stewart Riding.—l arranged with A. Devery to cart about 50yds of metal on Ranfurly and Rakehou Roads for 5s per yard, and with tne exception of a few' yards for Raufurly Road the work has been completed. Repairs have been carried out on Stewart's Road and holes filled in on Feilding-Awahuri Road Waitohi Riding.—The roadway down llie cutting on Penny's Line ’ has been damaged by a motor lorry and will require 40 to 50 yards of metal to put the road in order. Usual maintenance metal has beea carted and pot holes filled ' along Taipo-Awahuri Road and the road I leaning t<? Kopani. Kawa Kawa and Awahou Ridings. —I have arranged with J. Buick to cart about 75y<ls of metal on to Pal-Merston-Foxton Rood for 10s per yard delivered near the Raugiotti School, and 12s per yard to end of Pyke’s Road. Metal has also beau carted from the tram line to Bain-1 esse to repair some of the worst holes along this road. Carnarvon Riding.—Messrs Valier der and Hirst have commenced their contract for supplying and delivering metal on River Bank Road. Repairs have also been effected ou Campion’s and Rosina Roads.

Awahou Riding.—Owing to continuous wet weather K. Easton had to abandon work at stop bank near Shannon bridge, for a time. The work is being proceeded with, and he hopes to have it completed in two weeks' time. After strenuous effort on the part of the contractor. Shannon Road has been metalled oper the bog, and is now open for light traffic only. Tramway.—Owing to the shortage of sleepers very little progress has been made with plate-laying at Himitangi end. A short length will absorb all the available sleepers, and after to-day’s work the length of 281 b track to be replaced will be reduced to 64 i chains. There is yet a good deal of filling and packing to be done where the rails have been reecntly laid down. Minor repairs have been carried out near Makowhai, and a large number of sleepers will be required to replace decayed sleepers in the curve approaching Rongotea Siding.

Stone Crusher. —Wet weather experienced retarded operations at the stone crusher, and under- the circumstances I am not in a position to report favourably on the trial run. Metal for crushing was so wet that the fine grit and sand set like cement in the elevator buckets, choked the main crusher, and blocked the screen. On one occasion when the weather cleared for a day a cubic yard of river metal was crushed down toll inch cubes every seven minutes. During the last three weeks we have made some improvements to the machinery, the screen having been adjusted and alterations made to the elevators and tram line.

The tramway managed- reported that chief items of traffic were minerals and manure 172 J tons, general merchandise 1312 tons, and timber 24,520 super feet. Fares amounted to 7s 9d. Accounts show a debit balance of £5O 19s 3d for the month’s working. Regarding the shed at Rongotea Siding the tramway committee suggests that it be allowed to be used for local functiorifc, during the pleasure of the council, control to be in the hands of the tramway manager.