Horowhenua County Council.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 December 1913, Page 2

Horowhenua County Council.

A.NWTAL GENEIIAJj ALEET--ING. At the annual general mooting ' of the Horowhenua County Council, held on Saturday, Councillor tr. jS t . Stephenson presulcd, and there also were presjit Councillors 11. J. .Richards, John Kbbell, James Prouso, G. A. Monk, G. Watson, 11. Freeman, A. Drake and 1,1.I ,1 . \V. Venn.

The correspondence (summarised in our issue oi' Saturday) was dealt with seriatim. The decisions come to are summarised below.

.Regarding I lie claim for compensation for accident to a man employed by a contractor for the council, members were of opinion that the council was not legally liable in the circumsiaiices. Jt was decided on the motion of Councillor Venn, seconded by Councillor Monk, that {he solicitors' letter be sent on to the council's insurance company. The County Engineer was instructed to go on with Hie survey work oil the road referred to in Mr Greenaway's letter withdrawing a guarantee. Mr G. H. Stiles's application for a crossing over Maknriki Creek (Ohau) was acceded to. The work is to be carried out at once, by the engineer, and Mr Stiles is lo be refunded the cost in February next. The expenses are not to exceed £10.

Intimation was received from the Public Trustee that a sum of £2701 was available as a loan for loading the Makerua Estate. The council decided that i 1 could not liff the money nor carry out the work: if it did it would be awkwardly placed as ii had been in regard to the private subdivisions of estates thai were undertaken some time ago in the southern ridings of the county.' This intimation is to he sent to the Hon. Mr MeNah, of Palnierston North, who l<s interested in the Makerua Estate.

Mr IT. I. Haines, of Palmerston North, was appointed the council's arbitrator to meet tho Manawatu County Council's arbitrator regarding the ShannonFoxton road maintenance dispute.

. l< was resolved on flic motion of Councillor "Richards, seconded by Councillor 'Kebbell, "That tlie engineer be authorised to attend tiie meeting of local governnmt engineers, to be held at Auckland m if arch next." Councillor Kichards, in moving the motion, said he was sure it would be in the best interests of the council to have their engineer attend the conference.

A sanitary contract with Mr \V. 11. Finlayson was entered into by the council in respect to Shannon.

Councillor Freeman spoke of the urgency for doing something to expedite the work of a bridge at South Manakau. The engineer thought it practicable to order the timber now,commence (ho work in .January, and pay lor it in February. Incidentally Councillor liiehards raised the question of whether it would not ue well to spend a bit more on bridge-making in the iirst place, and build a -ferro-concre-te. it would be cheapest in ilie Jong run. Councillor Stcphensou agreed in this view, but he.wanted to know liow the extra cost would affect ilie board in its present state of finances.

A discussion ensued regarding North Manakau road, and it was .stilted that Uie best way lor the settlers to go about procuring die Ml for Ml subsidy promised by Government would be to raise a special loan. This matter will be put to the settlers.

The dangerous condition of Waaka bridge (mentioned in (ho engineer's report.) was discussed, and Councillor I'rouse said that at the earliest possible moment a new bridge should be put' up. Councillor .Monk had spoken previously of the council's moral liability to put this bridge in passable order, especially as it was on the main road. The County Kngineer suggested that tenders lor the work be railed, io be in by next meeting of the council. A motion to this effect v:m carried unanimously, on the motion of Councillor Kiehards, seconded by Councillor Kebbell.