Horowhenua County Council.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 March 1915, Page 4

Horowhenua County Council.

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting or the Horowhenua County Council was helo in the Council Chambers, Oxfor 1strcet, Levin, on Th.3 - e were present: Councillors G. A. Watsou (chairman), G. N. Step£eiu>on, 1 ,, . W. Venn, G. P. C'ately, U. A. Monk, S. A. Broadbelt, I' , , lletter, J. Kebbell and H. Freeman..

The councillors for the Wirokino riding and chairman were appointed a committee to enquire into and cont?: - with Messrs Bartholomew and Roe, regarding the proposed road on the subdivisional plan of part 3D No. 2, Bocowhienua. Block, with power to affix the Council's seal.

Regarding the request wf Messrs Kay and Ad'kin fora bridge over the Ohau bridge on the Gladstone road the engineer was instructed to draw up plans and estimates for a stock bridge over the river and submit the same (j the next meeting.

It was reported that the police ha 1 teen instructed to attend to the complaints regarding the furious motor driving and without lights through Shannon..

Councillor Monk thought the matter r»eeded attention throughout the whole county. It was a common practice and should he etopped.

It was decided that all surfacemen in the employ of the Council "be instructed to report to the police a'ithorities all cases of persons ridtng or driving vehicles after dark witho it lights.

Regarding the resolution passed by the Runanga Council! protesting against the rise in foodstuffs. Councillor Venn said lie did not know if they could do much in the matter, but the rise was a thorough swindle. The Government supplied wheat to the mi'lers at a price which would ena'jk , them to supply flour at a lower ->ost than is at present being charged, and the Prime Minister was remiss in not. seeing that it was done.

The Council endorsed the resolution

Mr G. H. Fell is to be informed thai the Council intends to proceed with the format-ion of the road on Block Ot>whiwbi A and B.

Several letters in connection with Council's recent resolution refusing to pay any more hospital levies were (Iμ it with. Councillor Venn objected to the way in which the matter had bevi treated by the Wellington papers. Tlr.'y had apparently been prompted in the; , , remarks. According to the ridicule i> these papers people would think thai the councillors were a lot of fools. They should take steps to lay Mm whole position before the public and he suggested that the Council write 11 the Wellington papers and place itj side of the question before the public. Councillor Stephenson remarked t.I. ihe did not think the Council should liecome mixed up in a newspa-per controversy. Councillor Kebbell agreed with Conncillory Stepheneon's remarks. If any councillor liked be could reply to the press in hie private capacity. It was agreed that the chairm \n and Councillors Venn and Kebbell be appointed a committee to draft a letter to the Health Department and to the Wellington's Hospital Board, explaining the Council's reasons for refusing to pay any more hospital levies The councillors for the Wirokmo riding and the engineer were authori w 1 to make the best terms they could with Mr Boulton for the erection of a public pound at Manak'an. Councillor Venn moved and Councillor Stephenson seconded that Mi , Spiers be granted permission to place a tram on the side of the new Kingston road during this Council's pleasure, the said tram not to be less than six feet from the metal. The action of the councillors for the riding and the engineer in accepting the tender of Mr R. Close for filling metal into the trucks at Ohau for 2s 3d per yard was , confirmed. Councillors Monk and Cately were appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister for Public Works, with the omber for the district in respect to *».■» works in connection with the Waikanae river. When the applications for the position of surfacemen and water-race caretakers came up for consideration, Councillor Monk said the engineer should see that tEe men put in 46 hours per week. Personally, he intended to report any man not cloing the 46 hours' work, and such a man should be instantly dismissed. The trouble was that some of the men had small farms and they spent more time on them than they did on the roads. He knew one man man who cut wood in the Council's time. They should be given to understand 'that they would have to attend to their work. THe Council agreed with- Councillor Monk. Without further discussfora the following men were appointed. Wirokino riding.—-Thompson. Pureeir, Judd, Wishart (surfacemen)' and J. Teal water-race caretaker. Otaki riding. —Phillips. Murray. Ooates (surfacemen). Te Horo—A. A. Burt, R Hagan. G. Champion and J. Paddfln (surfacemen).

In the Tokomaru riding all the old employees were re-appointed.

Tlie engineer was directed by resolution to allot certain districts for the surfacemen in the Otalti riding, and to hold each surfaceman responsible for that part of the riding.