ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST FARMER

Grey River Argus, 3 September 1948, Page 2

ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST FARMER

Report To - County Council Appropriate action is to be taken against Mr W. T. Neal,* of Atarau, who, at the last meeting of the Grey County Council, threatened legal action against the engineer (Mr H. Higgins). Mr Neal had objected to a statement by Mr Higgins, that he was using a section of the road near Aatarau in the Grey Valley, ds a holding pactdock. He aiso 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 Li om six to eight inches, deep. Reporting to the meeting of the Council yesterday, the engineer stated that an inspection had disclosed that the road was in a filthy condition, although vastly improved on what it was last January. Mr Neal had refused to make any improvement, and the matter had been handed to the Health Inspector for appropriate action, he said. Stating that the matter was no joke,, and that there would be a tragedy unless some action was taken, Cr J. Mulcare asked whether some arrangements could be made at Ngahere to establish a pond. He was referring to a complaint on wandering stock, made by Inspector M. J. Angland, of the Greymouth Police. Cr J. Clayton said there was a liability on persons permitting stock to wander on the roads.

It) was decided to appoint the chairman (Cr J. Ryan) and Crs Mulcare, Ryall and Clayton as a committee to deal with wandering s’tock and interview Inspector Angland. An authority was received from the Public Works Department for £1637 on a £1 for £1 basis for flood, damage restoration. The engineer, Mr H. Higgins), said that during the floods at Ahaura last year, two bridges were washed away, and the road was damaged. The latter had been repaired by the Council at a cost of £373, but the bridge would cost £2440 to replace. The Council had to get back the money it had spent on restoring the road’and some better basis of subsidy was required. It was decided to inform the Department of the position. A request was made by Mr C. .R. Coulson, Paroa, for me completion and extension of Veith Road by nine and a-half chains, to serve ten sections in the area. He informed the council that sections one and two had been sold and the trend was towards that district. He had offered £25 towards the cost of the work, and could not afofrd the £l4O asked by the council. The work would cost about £2OO to complete. Every section sold, and every house built would bring the council about £6 and he would like an inspection of the area made. Cr T. G. Jamieson suggested thaP the work be done as the sections were sold to ensure access. He pointed out that at. present vehicles could reach section No 1, but the remainder ol the sections could not be approached Mr Coulson had sold two sections, ana another was likely to be sold. It was decided to complete four chains of the road providing Mr Coulson found £25. The chairman referred to the death of a “good and faithful” servant of the Council, Mr George Gibson. He said he had represented the Council at the funeral. Members stood in silence. The Moana Domain Board wrote asking the Council to take over the work of completing a road and a foot track in the district. A grant had been made, and this would be transferred to the Council if it did the work. , x The engineer was instructed to report to the next meeting. The question of making a contribution towards the cost of the Royal visit was left over until the next meeting. , A donation of £1 Is was made to the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand.