HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 October 1917, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING TO-DAY.

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in Levin to-day. Present — Crs Monk (chair), Stephenson, Venn, Ryder, Freeman, Broadbe Murray, Kebbell and CatleyCORRESPONDENCE. The Manager of the May Morn Estate wrote drawing attention to the fact that the Company was called upon to pay £64 in rates this year as against £27 last year, this being on acoount of the revaluation they recently had carried j out. As there did not appear to have been any money expended on the Gorge road for some time, the Company asked the Council to spend the whole of tne rate money thia year on the road and extensioh The Company did not desire any further work to be done, however, until the weather was better. —Referred to Councillors for the riding. The Manager of Te Opakete, Ltd., Koputaroa, wrote in regard to the desired legalisation of the Paiaka road, stating he had evidence that the road was purchased and the formation and cuttings made at the expense of the Whirokino Road Board. He ask" ed if the County would give a certificate that the road was made and maintained out of the public funds, approve ot the plan and grant exemption againstwidening. The alternative was that, subject to being able to estab" lish the fact that the mad is and has been for 22 years a public road, the Council must pay compensafor widening. The chairman stated that this road was half a chain in width and on each side of it was a, chain road, the land for which was obtained without the Council paying compensation. If this road was now legalised it would mean that the Council would have to pay compensation for any land it might have to acquire in the future in the case of subdivision, in order to provide a chain road in accordance with the Act.

The Council was of the opinion that it should not accept any responsibility on account of these half-chain roads, and on the chairman's motion, seconded by Cr Ryder, a resolution to the effect that no action could be taken was carried.

Messrs Fell and Putnam wrote on behalf of Mrs M. Webb, stating that she was prepared to accept Council's offer as to fencing and water rights in regard to road through Te Ngae, Otawhiwhi, and also as to exemption from any special local taxation and the assessment of compensation at £200, but wished to add one condition — that the road should be deviated a little from the previous proposal. —Engineer and Crs for the riding to consider.

Mr W. H. Field, M.P., wrote stating he had received a letter from Mrs C. Andrews, of Heatherlea, regarding Sorenson's Road extension. He would be glad to make representations to the Government in regard to a grant if particulars were forwarded to him, but no time was more unfavourable |for asking for Government moneys. He asked the Council's opinion whether it would be any advantage to secure the Maori block between Mrs Andrews' faTm and Levin for returned soldiers.

Cr Broadbelt said he thought the idea of acquiring the block of Maori land for the soldiers was a good one, which should be brought under the notice of the Government, and might help in getting the road.

Cr Kebble said he did not favor making the road unless it could be done at reasonable expense, which he was sure could not be done. The matter was referred to the Crs for the Riding and the Engineer. Mr G. J- Crampton (Waihoanga) wrote asking for a subsidy towards the cost of a track to his place from Tangata bridge. The engineer said the one way the applicant could be helped was by him surveying and dedicating a road, and he was instructed to inform Mr Crampton to that effect. Mr H. Yates, Te Horo, wrote asking for a culvert at the entrance to bis property. —Left to Cr Catley and the Engineer. Accounts totalling £1770 were passed for payment. Left Sitting