HOROwHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 August 1916, Page 2

HOROwHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Tin' Horowhenua County Council i held it.s ordinary monthly meeting 011 Saturday when Councillor G. A. .Vlonk (chairman) presided. There- were also prevent: Councilors (i. X. iStcpliensim, I'. W. Venn, F. Ryder, H. Freeman, iS. A. Broadbelt, F. Retter, and J. Kebbell. J-nave of absence' was grunted to Councillor Catlev. In connection with Hugh .Mcliuo.sli'.s application ior water from the present water nice the engineer stated that they had no water to (spare. I liey would have to make a separate intake.. The councillors for the riding and the engineer were instructed to go into tli; matter and report at the noxt meeting of the council. Councillor Hotter moved that County Clerk inform il_- Wirokino Hiding Ratepayers ' Ass-oei!:ition that the council hopes to put the collection of native rates upon a better footing, during the runout year, find that >1 committee has been set up and is dealwit.li the question and is instituting proceedings agtainst the largest defaulters. This motion was the result of a request from the Wirokino Riding Ratepayers Association for information' as to how native rates were collected. Councillor Broadbelt seconded the motion^. Councillor Retter said; that the Association could assist the council by supplying the names of native landowners whose names were not 011 the council's books. The chai 1 man : And so as to make the association of some use. Councillor Kebbell: And the names < f any of their tenants. The ciiliurm.ni: If we send a few reque'tfi back to the association \vi> might not get so many from tliem. The motion was carried. A c.miplaiut wa.s received from Tborn«>s Davies, of Shannon that an interment had been mlade by mistake in a grave plot purchased bv him in the Shan 1011 cemetery. The engineer said that the plan, of the cemetery had; been lost. The matter was left in the hands of councillors for the riding to attend to. Councillor Broadbelt slaid it was absolutely necessary for the council to have plans ol' the cemeteries in the county -made. He moved that the engineer .make a search for all plaui> 01 all cemeteries 111 the county and ispoit to the council iat its next meeting. iCouncillor Retter said that tlue eouiK'il should liave the plans in the oiiice; tracings to be held by the sextows. Couuciliot j'reemuu secondied tile motion. A long and disjointed disussioJi tooK place 011 tiie matter, from wihich it appeared that the whole position was very u.nsajtisfiactory, and councillors' knowledge of it very uncertain. The motion was carried. The request of the Oiiau Institute for a lamp in front of the institute building was refused. The chairman said he was utterly opposed to it. If they granted the request theyi would set up a precedent and they would recei re showers of similar requests from other parts of the county. The reading of the Health Officer' 3 report om the Whaimon township raised doubts in the councillors' mind's as to their powers in carrying out the recommendations therein. The chairman said,' that Shannon either should be constituted a borough or I placed unde ra. town board. Councillor Stephenson remarked that steps were being taken in tliat direc- " tion mow. 'Hie allegation that refuse from the water tables was thrown 011 to the toothp&ths was not correct. The stuff had been carted away. The council iic'd 110 'by-laws to compel buildfers to submit plans to the council. As lor the drainage scheme, what was tho good of it with out a water supply? Regarding the kerbing and channelling, if the ratepayers would oomsent the council would carry out the work. So far where such work had been done the property owners paid half. It seemed that the writer of the letter was not aware of the position. Councillor "Kebbell moved; aind Councillor Retter seconded that the chairman. councillors for the riding and the

» m--0 aughieer interview the hoiiltti () ffioer oti the spot (if possible) and go into the wlioi« question. The uii tioii was passed. In connection with ;i atop bank built by settlor along tlio i,-oxton-Si)>an-iwiii main road, Councillor Stephenson m.jvod and Councillor Venn seconded that the opinion! of the -M unicipal Anbooiation's solicitor be obtained Us to tho light of the set Her in quest.on in erecting such a bank, the effect oi which was t.) increase the flood witters. Councillor Slcphe;t,-on said ili.it trouble whs likely to «.ri>-:> ( lit of it. It was ,n serious matter :oi tho c.juiii d -in.l tlio settlers. It increased .the d -p of flood waters backed up oil the ,-oad. The motion was curried. ll.iiiiinissrn's request lor to his property whs held over till next meeting of the council. COUNTY HANGER'S REPOR'I. Tlio ranger said in hin report that owing to tho rewnt flood iind gale, he had not taken action a.s to stock on the rcUds in the Tokonmru .riding, and tho northern end of the AA'irokino riding us a groat mumber of fcliens were -blown down. Xo doubt they would sooni be repaired again. The Otnki riding, with one or two exceptions was clear of stock. The offenders have t.n i their last warning. The Te Floro riding also was clear of stock exccpt in the case of olio or two roads. A horse impounded off tho nuiin county road a: To Horo was (sold at the Otnki pound for Is. He hiid endeavoured to trace the previous owner, but so far had T.ot sncoeedsed. Tho driving fees were: Tokoninrii Tlu" drivintg foes wero: Tokomaru riding 9s, Wirokino riding lis, Otaki i.ning fi, Te Horo 9s. There Was no manger, hayrack or water trough in the Otaki pound; these were very necessary. The report was adopted, ami the clerk wan instructed to write to the Otaki Town Hoard, drawing its attention to the references in the report to the Otaki pound.