DAMAGE TO ROAD DENIED

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1947, Page 2

DAMAGE TO ROAD DENIED

OTAKI RESIDENT'S LE'iTEIt TO COUNTY COUNCIL Denying that his tractor causedany damage to the road, a letter was received from a resident of Te Waka Road,- Otaki, Mr. E. J. Jensen, at yesterday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council. His tractor used only the side of the road and he submitted that its "shoeking and dangerous" condition was not due to the manner in which he used it. The road had not carried' any more cow traffic this year than it had last year, or for the past 30 years. ' "I ascribe the cause of the trouble this year to the use of rot•„en rock instead of metal for road main'tenance," continued Mr. Jensen. He pointed out that nearly all the ratepayers on Te Waka Road used it as a "cow-race." The chairman, Mr. A. J. Gimblett, said that he did- not think the council should alter the decision made at the previous meeting. The council had, after receiving a complaint from another resident, written to Mr. Jensen requesting him to attend to the matter of drainage and the use of certain machinery on the road. The council had to take notice of complaints forwarded to it. , . It was explained that this area did not have good drainage into a lower level. Mr. Jensen had to take his drainage some four chains along the side of the road, and then divert it back into his property. . TTr It was suggested by Cr. R. W. Jenkins that Mr. Jensen did not use the road as a cow-race, but o'.ily for driving his cows" along it. He could exercise this right at any time. There were, however, no -water drains along the side of the road. , The acting engineer, Mr. W. H: Fraser, said that the road was definitely being. damaged. There were three reasons for this damage. One was the drahiage coming out of Mr. Jensen's property, the second was that the cows did a certain amount of damage and the third that the tractor, which was of the tracked type, tore.up the wet ground. The question of drainage would solve the whole problem. If this was attended to, then the other matter's would not cause much damage. It' was suggested by Cr. A. M. Colquhoun that Mr. Jensen should je asked to put the drainage inside his fence. Councillors questioned vliether this would do any good as the drainage would still have to cross the road. Mr. Gimblett said that the council was satisfled that some damage lad been done. It was decided that the works committee should be asked. for- a recommendation.