HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2172, 10 June 1914, Page 5

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

Business at tho monthly meeting of tilo Hutfc County Council yesterday was all transacted at the morning session. There were present: Councillors M. W. Welch (chairman), J. Wa'keham, W Sw';i.LSr ri! - J - Mr. G. Laing-iieasoiij civil engineer who recently visited Paraparaumu to inquire mtp tho proposal to install a. high-pressuro water supply there, fumlshed his report to the council. He stated that tho only practicable source of supply was the Wharcmouku Creek which rises in the hills east ol Paraparaumu and crosses the, railway a few chains to tho south of the township, and which he considered could he estimated to supply a minimum of 250,000 gallons per day. Tho supply could be arranged by establishing a reservoir having. a capacity of 20,0.00 gallons, with a 4-inch carrier main and smaller pipes for the reticulation of the town and certain areas beyond. The main would.bo capable of discharging 230,000 gallons pqr day, and the system, besidos serving ',the ordinary purposes, could be used for lire-extinguishing in part of the town. The estimated cost °iQon° il™' scheme by.itself would be -Id-U. It extensions.were required, the town scheme would be slightly more expensive (£1437), and the whole system with extensions would cost £1957. Discussion of the report .was held over until next meeting of the council. 11l hi? monthly report, the Inspector of Works stated that he • had visited Day s Bay m connection with the application of property owners to fence in certain portions of several roads, and he was of opinion that this privilege should be allowed in olio case only. Ho had been unable to trace the people responsible for removing the soil from the roads at Day's • Bay, but he did not anticipate any further trouble in this connection. The work of piping the water channel on Moana Road fronting Mr. D. M. Findlay's property was recommended. Tho inspector reported that the Tainui Street railway crossing at Paraparaumu was a danger spot, ana considered tho railway authorities should bo requested to remove the cattle-stops off the roadlino. This would enablo tho council to carry out certain improvements and minimise the danger. In the course of his report on roads and road metalling, the inspector said: "I would respectfully call your attention to tho bad condition of that portion of the road fronting Messrs. Keen and Reid's property (better known as Mason's Gardens). Steps should bo taken to have! tho trees cut clown, as the road becomes absolutely clangorous for motor traffic." The report was adopted. It was dccided to call for applications for the position of pound-keeper at rahautanui. •

A communication was received from tho Bank of New Zealand advising that the council's overdraft had been increased to £8000, should such . an amount bo required. A deputation of Epuni Hamlet .residents waited on this council to ask it something could bo done to clear storm-water off sections in that portion ot tho county. It was stated by. the deputation that many years ago the sum of £150 had been voted for culverts, but that tho money had not been spent. They asked if culverts could now; be placed in certain parts. The position was that, if relief wero. not granted, tho sections would liave to bo abandoned, and as they were mainly Government sections, the council would in such circumstances loso the rates. 'Having heard the deputation, the council decided that the chairman'and inspector should look into tho-question at the earliest opportunity. Permission was granted' for Mr. N. Abbott to have a telephone lino erected on the main road between Pahautanui ana liorokiwi Valley. The Hon. A. Baldeyj M.L.C., wrote complaining that turf had been removed from Owen Street and it was left to tho Inspector of Works to deal with tho complaint. Se\ cial other matters in 'regard to roads and fencing, arising out of correspondence, were also left to the inspector to-' deal 'with.,

Miss M. U. Crowther wr6to complaining of the bad condition of the road near her residence. It was reported that an improvement in the road had already been effected. An application by Mr! R. ,T. Port for compensation for land taken >in con.ncction with Maunganui Road, Reikior?Mgl \r Vas leffc ill tho hands of Councillor Howell. It was resolved that no objection be taken to-the renewals of tho slaughterhouse licenses held by Gadsby Bros., M. Jones, A. and W. Keys, A. Vella and J. Weir. '' . ■ ' Iho tender of G; ClaTke for work on Cottlo Road and Normaftdale Road was accepted. Tlie only other tender received was that of J. A. Forrest. It was resolved to'approvo tho action of tho chairman in authorising a contribution of £100 towards tho construction of Gracefield Road. Steps are to be taken to extend the polling hours on county election day until 7 p.m. It was reported that a property-owner m Stokes Valley had placed gates on tho road without - permission, and tho inspector was instructed to proceed to the locality to-day and remove the gates • '

The development of ( the ' Waikeria Prison Farm, in tho Waikato district, it is reported, is proceeding at a satisfactory rate. There are at tho present time some sixty prisoners in resideiido there, and the work of clearing the high tea-tree scrub, preparing tho foundations for tho central buildings, cultivating the cleared area, and making concrete'blocks for the buildings yet. to be erected is proceeding apace. Tho prisoners, it is stated, are wcrkiiVg well, and the prison farm lately established has already found time to claim distinction for tho crops it has grown, the buildings it has erected, aiid oven for tho growing capacity of the cleared land, which presented an unpromising aspect before the scrub was cut away. Many of tho prisoners live in single huts, tho remainder in larger structures, butpractically all the buildings have been erected by tho prisoners themselves, and . those who have visited tho site express considerable satisfaction at the manner in which the various works'have been carried out. Waikeria, it is understood, Will not be ready for the-reception of tlie prisoners who aro to be transferred to-it from the Terrace' Gaol until about a- year hence, and even then a -good deal of development work will remain to ho earned out.