Horowhenua County Council

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 June 1915, Page 3

Horowhenua County Council

MONTHLY MEETING. The Horowhenua County Council held its usual monthly meeting in the Council Chambers on Saturday: There were present: Councillors <i. ■. Wateon (chairman) G. N. Stephenson, F. W. Venn, G. P. CatW, G. A. Monk, S. A. Broadbelt, F. C. Retter, J. Kebbell, and H. Freeman. It was proposed by Councillor Stephenson and seconded by F. W. Venn that Councillor Retter bo appointed treasurer to the council until further notice. This proposal was agreed to. Mr Robinson's request for permission to erect a fence" along the formation of a road in Shannon was granted subject to the approval of the engineer. ■The council decided to intimate to and Kairanga County- Council •6hat it had legal advice that the council had power to raise a . joint loan for the construction «f the continuation of Sooitt'e road and was prepared to do so. A resolution from the Karori Borough Council protesting against the increasing cost of the hospital levies was endorsed by the council. The councillors for the Tokomaru riding were empowered to appoint a lamp lighter and sexton for the. riding ancSto attend to any repairs found necdas&ry. ißhgarding the engineer's application for a motor car: * Councillor Keibbell moved and Councillor Freeman seconded that the council obtain a two seated motor car for the use of the engineer, provided he agrees to provide for the upkeep of the car. His application for an increase of salary be held over, and that tho Chairman and Councillor Retter be appointed a committee with power to act. Councillor Catley did not favour the engineer's request for a farther £25. It meantt an increase ot the engineer's salary to £300. The engineer was getting older and therefore was becoming of less value every year. There were two ways ot covering such an extensive county: one was to get a motor car for the present engineer, and the other was to get a younger man to do the work. It seemed to him a wrong principal to wages as a man grew older. Councillor Cately went on to complain of the character of tho metal being put on certain roads in the To Horo riding, and the way in which it was put on, and considered that the engineer was not paying sufficient attention to the matter. The culverts and water tables also were not attended to as they should be. He was sorry to have to epeak in such a strain* He rather would have spoken otherwise but while there were what he consid'red to be any neglect in county matters he fetl compelled to oppose an incroase in salary. .Councillor Monk said they were faced with the fact that the engineer •was asking for an increase ot salary and better means of setting about the county. Hβ opposed any increase in the engineer's salary. He would like a report from the engineer as to fiis actual expenses. It amounted to an increase in salary and no was opposed to it. Councillor Freeman wanted to know it Mr, Malcolm had become any less capable now than before. Horse-feed, ae they all knew, had increased, and given a car the engineer would be able to get about the county 'better, and the Council would gain by it. Ho supported the motion. Councillor Venn supported the motion to obtain a car for the engineer but ■was not agreeable to the increase in_ salary asked for. It was new to him. VJouncillor Kebbell suggested that tlio request for an increase in salary be left ouit and dealt with separately. Councillor Stephenson thought the matter should have been considered before the estimates were passed. Councillor Broadbelt thought the proposal to get a car was a good one; it would give the engineer more time for supervision, but he was against the increase in salary. Councillor Refcter took the same stand. The motion was carried. Councillor Retter moved that the cost of the car is not to exceed £250. Councillor Broadbelt seconded the mdtion. This was agreed to. On the motion of Councillor Venn, seconded by Councillor Stephenson, the trustees of the Shannon cemetery are to call for tenders for the right to out grass and remove it irom the cemetery for a term of, say, hve years. Councillors Monk and Cately were appointed to classify the lands in the "Hautere water race district. The question of appointing an acting clerk to the County Council during the absence of tho county clerk was taken in committee, and after consideration and some discussion in committee, Councillor Broadbelt moved and Councillor Venn seconded in open counci l that J. B. Currie be appointed. This was earned. The engineer was instructed to propare an estimate of the cost of construction and metalling the road down the "mile drain" /at Waikanae and report at next meeting. . Levin's Cam /val \_ , ♦ —- Yht> organisation that going to enrnrt- *Jg* success of the carnival ie piocetxling apace, and the various committies that have the work arc putting in long hours working out all the details. Among the many features of tho procession will be a "Dark-town" band and a troupe of pierrots. Word has been received that all tho other "Queen" candidates will be present to take part in the procession in decorated motor cars from Wellington. At a meet of the executive held on Friday night last MiHill, of Wellington, was present and intimated his intention of being in Levin on Wednesday with tho general secretary to the New Zealand Patriotic Society, take part in the festvities. Mr Hill, in alll probability, t -will deliver the opening address. _ . On Saturday a owt. or more of flags and streamers for decorating the streets arrived from Wellington and this work . was commenced this morning.

Professor Cardston, general organiser wil arrive here to-day to supervise matters. -On the ground itself the attraction will be many and varied. These will bo produce stalls, lolly stalls, jumble d stalls, "bunty pudls the strings", "Ann [- Sally," "Hoop-la," etc., besides one of e the best sports programs yet shown in a Levin. Speaking to the manager of the Wer- ;. aroa Experimental Farm a Chronicle ~ representative learned that the farm will assist in the procession and fair. A special decorated motor car for the i procession is being provided for Miss 1 McKegg, the district "Queen" candir date. A commodious luncheon booth will be i provided and visitors are assured of a f plentiful supply of refreshments on the - ground. All the business people will recognize > the day as a general holiday. t Some excellent entertainments are I being arranged for the evening. > All those taking part in the proces- ! sion are requested to be at the railway i station (the starting point) not later than 10 a.m. Tickets will be obtainable at the iail- ■ way station before the procession ; starts. The public is asked to assist the committee in maintaining order and facilitate the marshalling of the pro-