COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 15 September 1947, Page 4

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

Horowhenua Council Holds Moiithly Meeting The 'monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held at Levin on Friday^ the chairman, Mr. A. J. Gimblett;, presidmg. There wore present: Crs. J. D. Aitchison, J. H. P. Liggins, A. M. Atkins, W. G.. Taylor., D. K. Guy, R. W. Jenkins and A. M. Colquhoun, and Messrs. F. H. Hudson (clerk) and W. H. Fraser (acting engineer) . Construction of Road . The resident engineer of -the Public Works Department, PalmeratQn North, Mr. A. R. Acheson, advised that -it was proppsed to construct and legqlise a road down the right bank of the Manawatu River from the Whirokino Bridge to the Crown land lying in the Horowhenua County. The^ letter a§ked if the council- would be prepared to finaneially assist with such an extension if the road was extended to provide access to the native owners across the river from Foxton. The council decided that no action be taken. Conditign of Road Drawing the attention of _ the council to the shocking condition of Te Waka Road, Otaki, from a certain resident's cowshed southward' for a distance of approximately 500 yards, * a letter was received by the council from a ratepayer in the district. This portion pf the road had been used for ' driving cows and was a menace to ! t.he niotorist in wet weather. "As

I have to take a heavy loact oi miiK to Te Horo each day past this portion of the road, I would be obliged if the council could do something about this matter," wrote the ratepayer.. Stating that he had a good deal of sympathy with this request, the chairman asked the council to select some disinterested councillors to look into the matter. He understood that this nuisance had been referred to another interested department, namely the Health Department. It was alleged that a resident in the district had been in the habit of taking a tractor up and down this -road twice a day to feed his cows, and that the overflow from his cowshed had been going across it. It was decided to write to the resident in question and request that he should attend to the matter of drainage and the use of certain machinery on the road. Office Rental A request from the Levin, Borough Council for the council to join with it in making application to the stabilisation authorities for qonsent to the raising of the rental of the council's suite of ofiices in the Municipal Buildings was received. The rental had been reduced under legislation 19 years ago, and the Borough Council now asked for a reversion to the original rental. The council decided to accede to the request. Dangerous Bends Concern at the danger involved when negotiating several bends and narrow portions of Lester's Road, Mr. R. A. Lester, Shannon, wrote asking the council if .it could attend to these matters. Work was being carried out on portions of this road at present, but he understood that the worst spots were bqing left. He mentioned thut on one part three trucks had left the road, details of which had been given in a previous letter- to f.hp council. Some of the daneer

spots would not, in his opinion, require much work for a eomplete repair. Cr. Aitchison asked that the matter be left to the engineer. The engineer said that the work referred" to would be ■.qtteiided -to ;at a future dat'el • $$ '% • y'* The council decided- to advise Mr-. Lester that the improvements were being carried out. Forming Drainage Area Following a request from Colonel C. E, G. Fowles and others to the council for the formation of a drainage district of properties draining into the Mangone Stream, and a recommendation from the council that a meeting of interest-^ ed ratepayers be convened, Crs. Jenkins, Taylor and Atkins, and the. engineer and clerk, submitted the following report: "Your committee has to report that the meeting of settlers was held in the Anglican Church sehoolroom, Te Horo, on Thursday, September 4. "There was an attendance of twelve settlers at the meeting, together with this committee. After a general discussion .it was resolved tq takq steps to form a drainage areq under the Counties' Act, to comprise an area to be specifically defined on the western side of the railway line and draining into the Mangone Stream." Other Matters Making a strong proiest against the state of the drainage on a corner qf Poplar Road, Opiki, Mr. A. E. Olsen wrote, on behalf of several -ratepayers, requesting that Ihe council give some consideration \o having this matter . attended to. Owing to neglect, "said Mr. Olsen, the drainage on this corner constituted a danger and a most «npleasant nuisanqe to all who sed the road. The matter was f qferred to the works committee for a report. A letter from Mr. J. B. Grey, of Levin, asked the council if it would meet a deputation of residents from the Arapaepae Road area to discuss the prohlem of an improved water supply for this locality. The members for the Whirokino riding, the chairman and Crs. Guy and Colquhoun, were appointed to meet the deputation.