HOrowhenua County Council.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 12 January 1918, Page 3

HOrowhenua County Council.

Tiie mommy meeting oi tne xlorowiienuu i_.oi.uny Council was neiu at juevin io-uay. l'resent — llie Chairman, Cr jionk, in the cluur, ana (Jrs. Catley, Wliyte, Bryant, Aie-Leavey, ALurray, uroad belt. Ur Jiyder was granted leave of absence. CUIUtESPOiXDEINCE. The season's greetings were received from the Wellington Harbour Board, the Minister for internal Affairs, and Sir Joseph Ward. Messrs J. liebbell and H. Freeman wrote acknowledging the resolution of appreciation passed by the Council on their .retirement from office. Mr F. W. Vpnn wrote in a similar strain. Mr John M. Hill, of Hautere Cross, forwarded a petition signed by fourteen settlers stating they were agreeable to the erction of a gate across the end of the Waihoanga. bridge. All the settlers in the district, except the one who raised the objection, signed the petition and they desired the gate to remain for the present. It was decided that the gate remain during the pleasure of the Council, Crs. Catley and Monk moving to this effect.

The May Morn Estates, Ltd., wrote asking for a reply to their proposal for the purchase of a cottage from Mr W. F. llusling, at Waihoanga, which was standing on County land beside the roadThe manager of the Company also asked for the improvement, of the Otaki Gorge road further in towards the property so as to give access. They had spent in addition to £77 previously expended in improving the track from the end of the road in to the property, where they were building a wool shed. The chairman's suggestion that lie and Cr. Catley be authorised to inspect and report to next meeting was adopted-

The State Advances Office notified that the Council's application for a loan lor the Otawhiwhi road construction had been granted.

The formal resolution levying a special rate of 3d in the iJI on all rateable property in the Otawhiwhi Road special rating district for the road loan of ,£SOO was carried on the motion of Crs, Broadbelt and Murray. RANGERS REPORT.

The County Ranger (Mr G'. Watson) reported that he'had kept the stock ol¥ the roads at night to the best of his ability, but if they were open much longer he was afraid he would be beaten. As the feed is now done son the district roads the stock was now wandering on the main roads and there were a great number of complaints from settlers about stock breaking down fences- The Manakau pound needed attention to gates, etc. The pound-keeper at Manakau had left and a new keeper would need to be .appointed. Since last Council meeting he had impounded 94 head of stock and five persons would be. charged with allowing stock to wander.

Cr. Catley said he objected to bulls being allowed on the roads at any time, and he mentioned a case at Te Horo where the animal was persistently on the road. He had complained to the ranger several times of this particular bull.

Cr Mc Leavey said he was informed the Muhunoa road was "full of bulls."

Cr. Catley considered the Council's system was at fault. The ranger should prosecute in every case and not have 'the option of poundingThe chairman said thai was too drastic. The habitual offender would not be caught but the man whose stock go't out accidently. The Hutt County's plan was a good one. If a man's stock was impounded a second time in three months lie was prosecuted. It was decided on the motion of CVs. Broadbelr, and Murray that the ranger's report be adopted, the ranger to take immediate action against any person or persons grazing bulls on the road, owners of such entire animals to be prosecuted.

ROAD MEN'S WAGES. The Council's surfacemen petitioned for an increase in wages to 12s per day owing to the increased cost of living and the upkeep of various conveyances used to take them to their work. Horseshoeing was now 8s for hacks and horse feed was almost double, while clothing and footwear had increased in prices. The Itangitike, Kiwitea and Upper Hutt Counties and several others had been paying 12s for some time.

The chairman questioned the statement as to what other Counties were paying'- The abjoining counties paid lis for permanent men and 12s for casual hands. If any increase was granted it .should be in the form of a war bonus, ceasing when the war ended.

Cr. Murray said he thought the Council should make an increase in the way of war bonus. He noticed that many other counties had raised the wages and he moved that the wages of the pei*manent men be fixed at lis for the period of the war. Cr. Catley said they would have to make the increase, but he did

attach not much inportance to the cry about increased cost of living because they saw men at the same time able to go to the races whenever they pleased with a haiulfull of notes. Every part of the community should bear its share of the cost of the war. Cr McLeavey said other Councils were giving riSes and they would have to do so. But at the same time he believed in all classes making sacrifices. Cr. Murray's mo'tion, seconded by Cr. Broadbelt, was carried, the increase to take eft'ect, from January 10. GENERAL. Accounts totalling <£2619 (£llOO

general account and ,£1519 interest on loans) were passed for payment. It was decided tliat 10 per cent penalty be added to all rates unpaid after March 18. On the motion of Crs. Broadbelt and Murray the ranger was instructed to impound all stock grazon the roads in the Wirokino riding as from January 19. On the motion of Crs. Broadbelt and Murray it was decided that the dog tax for the year, 1918, he fixed at 2s Gd per head for sheep and cattle dogs and 10s for house and sporting dogs, and that Mr G. Watson be appointed registrar.