COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1946, Page 4

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

horo whenua d1strkt COUNCIL'S JULY MEETING . The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held at Levin yesterday. Those present were Crs". G. A. Monk tchairman) , A. M. Colquhoun, J. D. Aitchison, J. H. P. Liggins, A. J. Gimblett, W. Taylor, R. W. Jenkins and D. K. Guy, and Messrs. F. H-. Hudson (clerk) and W. H. Fraser (acting engineer). Leave of absence was granted to Cr. A. M. Atkins. Sympathy with the president of the N.Z. Counties' Association, Mr. W. G. Belton, on the death of his vvife, was expressed in a motion passed by the council. The Public Works wrote informing the council that the access road to the Kereru f'arm settlement had been completed, and would be he responsibility of the council for maintenance in one month's time. The Public Works Department also informed 'the council of its mtention to acquire land for a metal pit near the council's worked-out pit on the Tararua Road. The exact area of land 'had lot yet been determined, as it .iepended on the requirements of fiie Levin Aero Club, which had not /et been stated. The department ;ought to purchase the old pit to facilitate working in the new one. yailing this, it asked permission to work the new pit up to the face of he old, eliminating the waste land letween the pits. The chairman uggested that the department night operate its pit from the old rouncil pit. He felt that the coun;il should not dispose of the old pit a.t this time. It was decided that he chairman and works committee negotiate with the department m those terms.

A works committee report, recommending the purchase of a tractor equipped with a shovel and dozer, was adopted. The tractor was formerly the property of the U.S. Navy and came to New Zealand from Saipan. It was in -excellent condition and required only certain work to be done to restore it to new condition. The price, which was in the vicinity of £2000, was fixed by the Government, which had bought them and offered them to the dis-u-ibuting firms. If the firms did not accept the tractors, their import licenses were reduced, . it was explained by Cr. Colquhoun. The acting-engineer's report was adopted. It was stated in the report that at the recent meeting of the District Highways Council, the applications for subsidies on highways within the county were all granted in full, with the exception jf the sealing proposals on main highway No. 473, which runs off the main road and passes through Koputaroa and by the Poroutawhao School. The subsidy requested for 'tliis' work ""was*"" £6000; and- -the rmount granted was £1000 on account. Cr. Guy said that the work had been of first priority before the war, and he was very disappointed that little was being

done. lne cnairman saia mau n was hoped something would be done towards the end of the year. Unfortunately, nothing could be done at present. The Manawatu Catchment Board advised the council that the conference to consider a scheme of control for the Manawatu River would be held at Palmerston North on July 25. The council's delegates to the conference are Crs. A. M. Colquhoun, A. J. Gimblett and D. K. Guy. Mr. A. P. Grant, engineer to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council is to address the meeting. A donation of £2 2s to the Horowhenua Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club was approved. Cr. Guy was appointed delegate to the club.