COUNTY ENGINEER THREATENED WITH PROSECUTION

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1948, Page 7

COUNTY ENGINEER THREATENED WITH PROSECUTION

Sequel to Conplaint Against Farmer The fact that a farmer threatened legal action the Engineer, Mr H. E. Higgins, did not perturb members of the Grey County Council at its meeting yesterday, and the letter threatening such action was received, without comment. Mr W. T. .Neal, of Atarau wrote taking exception to a statement by the Engineer at the last meeting, that he was using a section of the road near Atarau in the Grey Valley, as a holding paddock. He also objected to the Engineer’s statement that the road, on wet days, could not be crossed without gum boots, because of the liquid cow manure and slush which was from six to eight inches deep. “I wish to say,” Mr Neal wrote, “that I challenge the Engineer on the statement that I use the road as a holding paddock. I use it only for driving cows. Unless a retraction is made I intend to take legal acticfp against Mr Higgins.” The Engineer informed the meeting that he and the Borough Health Inspector visited the area, and found that the cows, after milking were allowed to go on to the road, and wander down to another gate befoi’e entering a paddock. He said that if the cows were driven straight into the paddock after milking all the trouble could be obviated. He added that two other residents in the vicinity had complained about the state of the road, and, following the investigation, he had written to Mr Neal giving him ten days to clear the road, or face prosecution under the Health Act. Without comment from members, it. was decided, on the motion of Mr J. W. Hannan, to receive the letter. The Council decided to approach the Public Works Department for a subsidy towards making ten chains of road to give access to farmlands at linchbonnie, for Mr .1. A. Shaffrev. The work would cost a total of £250.

Mr C. R. Coulson, of Paroa, who sought the formation and metalling of Keith Road, Paroa, is to be informed that the work will be done if |he finds two-thirds of the money. The Council will provide one-third of the £2OO required. The Engineer is to report to the next meeting on the necessity for repairs to the Roa-Blackball Road. Work is to be carried out on the roads at Ahaura for Messrs Bruce Bros., and at Nelson Creek, for Mr D. A. Sadler. A bus shelter at Ngahere is to be removed to the opposite side of the road, as requested by residents of the' district.

The Engineer is to report on a request from the Inchbonnie-Poerua Farmers’ Union, for a bridge over the Orangipuka Rivei\ and repairs to footbridges over streams on the Orangipuku Road. The Council is to erect a light at the north-east corner of the Karoro Domain. A request for a light in Hinton Street, was referred to the Karoro Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association. It was decided to notify the Greymouth Borough Council, that the principle of establishing an abattoir for the West Coast, was approved, but no decision would be made until further details had been received.