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Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 May 1915, Page 3

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EXTRAORDINARY MEETING. An extraordinary meeting, to deal with the estimatis for the ensuing year, was held by the Horowheiiua County Council in the Council Chambers on Saturday. There .were present - Councillors G. Watson (chairman), G. X. Stephenson, F. W. Venn, G. P. G. A. Monk, D'. Rettcr, J. Kebbell, H. Freeman and S. A. Broadbelt. A letter, from the Otaki Town Board stating thnt Mr H. Bright had been appointed its delegate to act on tlie deputation to wait on the Minister for l'ubl ic Health re the Morowhentia County and the Wellington Hospital Board was received. The sum of £22 4s -Jd was granted to 'Mr D. Judd, Otaki, for a strip of land taken by the council for wi.leir.ig the main county roail near the biidge over the Otaki river. Mi W. H. Field, staled r.hat he had written to the Minister for Public Works, asking that the Department give a pound for pojind sub;i!v f..r works to prevent erc/sion in ti-1 W.ukanae river. The letter > ,r as received. A letter from Mr J. Atkins, asking the council to re-grade the hill approaching his property at Manakau was received, it being understood that an amount would be placed on the estimates. Mr J. A. Nash wrote asking for a new road at the Heights, Shannon. The letter was received. I'he Assistant Under - Secretary wrote stating that the matter of a tyre tax on motor cars would receive attention. In connection with the same matter Mr W. H. Field, M.P., in a letter said that the motor tax was lully justified, and he would recommend it to the Government.' Councillor Stephenson moved and Councillor Venn seconded that Mr J. Keunard, poundkeeper at Shannon, be informed that if he continues to use the pound for other purposes except for what it was intended, the council will be compelled to place another poundkeeper in charge. - The, motion was carried. Councillor Cately moved that the Council grant £100 to the fund in support of the New Zealand VVountied Soldiers' Fund. All the local bodies had made contributions. Councillor Kebbell did not think it lair to come on ratepayers who were contributing to the fund. Councillor Better said it was a matter lor the Government to make such a levy.

Councillor Venn supported the motion. There was not a landowner in the country who was not making money out of the war. The motion was carried. The council resolved that for the ensuing year a general rate be struck of Jd in the Tokomaru riding, $d in the Wirokino, and Id in the Otaki and To Horo ridings, and a rate of id in the Horowhenua water-rate district. For the position of temporary County Olerk twenty-five applications were After consideration in committee v the question of making an appointment was held over until next meeting. The question of procuring road machinery was held over for further consideration. Regarding the question of providing the County Engineer with, better means of getting about the county roads, the chairman said that the engineer's salary was £275 a year, and out of that it cost him £10 last month to keep his horses. He suggested that the council provide him with a light car. Councillors Kebbell and Retter supported the idea. Councillor Cutely complained that there was no definite proposal before the Council. Councillor Kebhell said the chairman could bring up any matter for discussion. The engineer explained that with a car he could get over the county roads in Better time, and this would give liiiu more time for office work. At present Jfe fiad to work ten or twelve hours on Sunday to overtake his office work. If granted a light car he was prepared to maintain it himself, but if givcu a big car the cost of upkeep would bo too great to bear himself. The cost of keeping his horses had increased greatly, -and he intended to ask the council for eoine assistance. Councillor Monk suggested that the engineer make a formal application.

This was agreed to and the meeting adjourned.