HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 January 1917, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING. Tha ordinary monthly meeting of tho Horowhenma County Council is being held is Levin to-day, Mr G. A. Monk, chairman, presiding. Amongst the items of business for conlderation are the following letters received since last meeting:— From Ohincmuri County Council aisking whether Horowhenua- County Council has made any special provision for taxing motor traffic, especially the heavier class of vehicles, such as lorries.

From Messrs Grace Brothers, Levin, undertaking to form and fascine a strip of road, whenever requested by tho county engineer, conditional on the county council accepting dedication of a strip of land as a public road to Grace Brothers' property.

From H. Drake, asking that attention be given to the Waikawa Beach road, especially to the heavy sandhill near the river.

From Guy H. Ivingdon, Manakau, complaining that the council had removed gravel from his property at W aihoainga .road, Otaki, without authority; also that a padlock on his gato had been picked, apparently by thv roadman who removed the gravel.

I' rom W. Fogden, Otaki, renewing a request that something be done to Cemetery mid, and "intimating that ho would pay no more rates until the repairs were effected.

From Pal in erst on North Chamber of Commerce, as follows: "9th January, 1917: My chamber is taking action in the direction of inducing the Govei'n-men-t to speed up the installation of hydroelectric power. With a view of ascertaining the approximate idea of the amoiunit of power needed, I have sent «■ circular to all the principal firms in the Palmorston North district, including all the flaxmillers who are members of the Flaxmillers tioni. As till© matter of inducing the Government to get to work with the scheme at the earliest moment is of great importance, we hope for your co-operation, and trust you will take action in your district to ascertain the requirements. lam also writing to the other local bodies of Manawatu, asking them toi help n a similar direction. Yours trulyi, W. McKenzie, secretary, Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce."

At to-day's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council tlirere were present Councillors G. A. .Monk (chairman), John Kebbell, S. A. Broadbelt, Alex. Murray, H. Freeman, F. W. Venn-, and! G. P. Catley. Leave of absence was granted to Councillors Stephenson, and Ryder.

In regard to an application from settlers. on the Gear Estate (Te Horo), a long discussion took place in committee, after which it was resolved that a motion on the matter bo drafted, aftd submitted) to the council's solicitor. for approval or revision. The matter will be further discussed at next meeting. The council resolved to accept the dedication of a strip of land (as a public road) from Messrs Grace Bros., Wirokino. Mrs H. Drake's application regarding Beach road, Mannkau, was discussed, and the council resolved that it could take no action in the case. "MOTOR HOGS." It was resolved that Ohinemuri County cleric be informed that Horovi henu,a County l Council had no special by-laws dealing with heavy motor traffic in the county. The chairman (Councillor Monk) mentioned that it was time the council did something to control motor traffic. He saw a motor ear pass through Waikanae at sixty miles an hour. Co'Uinaillor Kebbell: "They do that aill through this county." Councillor Monk : "Well it's high time the council did something. I noticed that one of the local papers spoke of them as 'motor 'hogs,' but that .is too mild l a term; it is onliy) by good fortune that some of them are not murderers! J intend to promote a by-law governing the matter. VARIOUS MATTERS. The council resolved to receive the letter of the Palmerston North Chamber cr Commerce regarding speeding-up the Government scheme for supply of electric power to the Manawatu county. In the meantime the council willl make enquiries as to the probable local requirements.

In regard to Mr Guy Kingdoms complaint a/bout the removal of gravel from his property at Otaki without consent, the engineer said he had instructed the roadman to take metal off Mr A. Detoin's property, not Mr Kingdon's. He knew nothing whatever about a padlock being picked and he did not. think the 'roadman would have done it.

Mr Fogden'a complaint about the old Cemetery Road., Otaki, was received. The chairman said the road seemed no worse to-day than it was ten years ago. It was a road on which but little traffic took place. The council resolved that there were no funds in hand for spending on the road this financial year.

The council tendered >lr and- Mrs R. Hogpji (Te Horo) its sincere sympathy -with them regarding the death of their son, killed in action in France.

Councillor Kebbell spoke of the nuisance of vanegated thistle. Near Ohau (there was a patch of it growing on private property nea,r the road that would provide seed enough to propagate the whole district.—lt was resolved that notices be served by the engineer on various property owners concerned (throughout the county) to clear the 'roads up to their centres, of any sweet-briar, or gorse growing thereon; also that the council by-law

re variegated thistle bo enforced. The engineer's report as submitted was adopted. The engineer fiwthor 'reported that an aocowub tor £1-1 was being passed to-day for tilio provision of metal for Florida road, Muhunoa; other necessary work would be carricd through early as possible. RANGER'S REPORT. The •ranger .reported that the roads :in the Tokomaru riding were mow dosed-, and practically free from stock. They were worst at the northern end, as very few settlers had water in their paddocks. Wirokino Tiding was very tree from stray stock. Two informations wore -to be laid against persons in Otaki riding, for having allowed stock to wander on the main road; otherwise tlie roads were clear. informations 'woukl] be laid against some natives in To Hoto riding, for having allo wed stock to wander at'night. Certain settlers in Wirokino riding, had made no attempt" to remedy the nuisance the ranger complained of in his -last (re pigs, etc); the nuisance was very bad this hot weather. The number of dogs registered last year was 8-18: being 88 at 10s each, and 7GG at '2s '(id eafch. This year the ranger hopes to improve oil these figures, he having a better way of traveling. THE -DOG TAX. On the motion of Councillor Monk seconded by Councillor Broadbelt, it was resolved that the dog-tax for 1917 be 2s Gd each for sheep-dogs and 10s each for house dogs, and that G. "Watson, of Fairfield road Levin, be appointed dog-tiax registrar for the county for 1917. SPECIAL RATING DISTRICT. An authority l to raise -a loan for work on the Heights road, Wirokino .Riding (constituting a special rating aim) was given by special resolution of the council. i 'lowering horowhenua lake Councillor Murray reported on an ■interview between himself and the county engineer (as council representatives) and the .Horowhenna Lake Domain Board. They found that the new Act gave fishing rights to- the natives, although in the bill submitted to cotuncii there was no such provision. This was most unsatisfactory. The fixing of a permanent level for the lake (to be used annually for drainage work ■ was discussed. The comity engineer wns to feet the bo-avd again in a day or twoi, ad further discuss the matter. (Further report on the council meeting will appear in our next issue.)