HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Levin Daily Chronicle, 14 July 1917, Page 2

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

OIttDLXA'RY MOCvTIHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of Horowhenua County Council is 'being held in Levin to-day, Mr G. A. Monk in the chair] Following is a precis of the correspondence to be dealt with : —■ Messrs Nash and Collingwood .asked the council to call for tenders for fencing and culverting the Heights Road at Shannon, the matter being of extreme urgency.

Mr 'G. Plum ridge, Hea.therlea> wrote that he had had an accident while driving in the Avenue, consequent upon being dazzled by the toob right lights of a motor-car. Be asked that the council deal with the matter, "as these monopolists of til© road are a decided menace, and an unparalleled danger to the lives of other people." Mr Plum ridge added that he was voicing the views of others as ..well as his own. Mr G. H. Harper, solicitor, Otaki, wrote on behalf of Mrs Power, asking the council to remove obstructions from a watercourse on property occupied toy Mrs Devonshire, Otaki, and owned by Mrs J. C. Andrews, Wellington, who refused to have the work done. Messrs H. Huhner and C. W. Lankshear, Weraro'a, asked the council to have Mako-mako road waterraces culverted near the racecourse, the road there being in a had state. Mr F. P. Walkley, hon. secretary to the Horowhenua County Patriotic Fund, wrote soliciting from the council a vote of money to the association's funds. George Jude, surfaceman, Hvakara, tendered liis resignation as from 9th July. Intimation was received that a deputation from (Levin Borough Council would wait on Horowhenua County Counoil to urge joint action in the matter of impressing upon residents of the county and iborough the necessity of growing more foodstuffs. Mr "Ward, surveyor, Wellington, asked the council to close a road on the McDonald Estate. The road i 9 ahout two miles iin length; gives no essential access, and would he costly to farm. The closing of it is necessary in order to facilitate the early subdivision of the estate, which the trustees of"the estate have in view.

EEorowhenua County Council's monthly meeting to-day was attended by Councillors G. A. Monk (chairman), |f. P. Catley, JOIIII Kebl*ell, A. Murray, S. A. Broadbelt, EH. Freeman. F. ~W. Venn, Geo. Stephenson, * iF. J. Ryder. The application concerning the Heights road (eulverting, etc.) was left to the co.unty clerk to deal with. Mr Plumridge's letter was read, and intimation was made that the council would refer the matter to a special committee (011 by-laws) to report npon. The chairman reported thai the price of the Austin motor roller that had been ordered by the cpuneil had been increased by the manufacturers, -'lid the present cost now stood at .81270 for a ten-ton roller. A general discussion took place, in tlie course of wliicli opinions were expressad that a steam-driven roller might bo preferable in these circumstances. —-the more so as steam tractors had reached the height of their perfection, whereas petrol-driven machinery was being altered and improved every Tear or two. Ultimately it was resolved that tlie bounty chairman and the engineer act upon the motor agents' offer that the council's represent;! tires visit Gisbarn (at' tEe agents' expense) to see the Austin motor at work.

Mr Harper's letter re ia drain at Otaki was left to the members for the riding and the engineer to deal with. The request of the Minister for Internal Affairs, for free burial plots for returned soldiers who may die before being discharged, was acceded te. The request of Messrs Hubner and Lankshear, for remedial work near Weraroa Haceoourse, was left to the engineer to give effect to. Horowlienua County Patriotic Association's letter asking the council for a monetary grant-in-aid was held over for six months, as at present the council's moneys were not plentiful. Tke council, however, expressed itself favorable towards the application, and it was understood that a grant would be made towards the end of the present year. I%e application will be 'brought up again in .November.

The McDonald Trustees' application that the council would close a road on the Mci Donald estate, so as to facilitate a subdivision, was discussed. The r#ad runs from near Potts's »oad over the hill. It was, the county engineer said, a road that the council could not afford to open for many years. The council (on the motion of Councillors Broadbelt and 'Monk) resolved to take the necessary steps to close the road, the McDonald estate

being the only party interested in the road. Mr J. McLeavey, on behalf of the trustees, said that the estate would be prepared to meet the council in regard to expenses. It was resolved that the councillors for the Wirokino riding be a committee of the council to confer with the Levin Borough Council representatives regarding the necessity for growing foodstuffs. The council resolved to take tlio necessary steps to give effect to Mr It. Bevan's application to have a road to his property mado effective. At present it is blocked by an aero of ground held by another 'Manakau settler. The council discussed the matter of ■Otaki bridge and the danger arising from the driving of motor cars across it at excessive speed. Recently a serious accident was occasioned in this manner. The council resolved to get legal advice on the whole subject. Meanwhile a notice is to be put.- up regarding limitation* placed by the council's existing by-laws upon drivers over the bridge who drive at excessive speed; also that prosecutions will be made in the. case of anyono caught thus offending. Councillor Broadibelt reported that tlit* proposed deviation of a road at Koputnroa was hampered through a sum of £100 hying required for compensation by Mrs M. Webb, the owner of certain land affected. By altering the track of the proposed deviation this difficulty could be overcome to a great extent. The? council decidod that Councillor Broadbelt and the engineer go further into the matter. 'Regarding -tolkgat.es, Councillor Steplienson said it would bo well to leave the matter ifor decision by the

now comity council. Councillor Catlei seconded this proposition. Council lors (Monk, Broadbelt and Rydei thought it would bo wHI to have the matter discussed i*wd reported nipon by the present council; then the new council ■would have something definite to so upon. The council resolved thai a special meeting be held (on a date to he fixed) to discuss the advisableness of establishing one or more tollKates in Horowhenun County. Incidental to tile .discussion, Councillor Ryder submitted a return taken by 011 cof the council's roadmen, which showed that in six days of eight hours each 72 motor cars passed through Otalci (exclusive of loonl cars). On the first day/ of Wellington race 6 103 cars passed through Ofcaki.