COMMITTEE REPORTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XII, Issue 259, 12 April 1889, Page 2

COMMITTEE REPORTS.

The following report drawn tip by a committee of 'the Horowhenua County Council," anf.l adopted by that body, was read and .adopted by the Wirokino Road Board 1 at its previous meeting: — ' County Council Omce, Onfcala. Report of Committee. Your committee, to whom the proposed amendments of the .Public Works Act, 1882, was referred, after carefully considering them, hay c the honor to report : — Ist. That Section 10 is objectionable, as it interferes too much wJth the rights of ownership and migi'it cause great hardship if effect be given' to it. It may be argued that Local bodies have already this power in connection with noxious weeds; but as the seed of gonse and sweet briar do not spread with the wind so much as variegated thistles and other noxious weeds, those plants do not cause so much injury .to adjoining land owners, and as owner's of goise hedges, &c., have to keep the road lines adjoining clear, this apjo^ws to. be sufficient.

2nd. That it is desirable newclauses be inserted in the propped Act to meet the following : — A. That no fences of gorse or sweet briar, Ac., should be planted on the boundaries of road's withowt the sanction of the local body hay • ing authority over them. B. That local bodies should have power to compel property owners to fell the bush for one chain wide alongside of roads where the local authority may consider it necessary to allow the sun and wind to dry up the roads. C. That County Councils and Road! Boards should have the power to* order land owners to erect fences on the boundaries of roads. We consider this would tend to keep stock: off the roads and so save damage. Borough Council have at present th& power to order any town section to be fenced and there is no reason to suppose that if the power asked for, be given it will be abused by County Councils and Road Boards more than by Borough Councils. D: That in the last two subsections B*& C if property owners refuse to do the work after due notice has been given them, power should be given to local bodies to execute the work and recover the cost against the land.

17. That as County Councils (vide section 292 of Counties Aot 1886) have power given them to make bylaws to eradicate noxious weeds and to expend monies out of the County fund to eradicate the said weeds on roads, river beds, &o. it is expedient tbat to do he work more thoroughly power should be given when such weeds are growing on unowned and unoccupied or on absentee land, to have them eradicated, to pay the cost out of the County f uud and to recover the same in like manner as the rates are now recoverable. F That as there does not appear to be any section in the Publio Works Art or its amending acts compelling a local body having the control of a bridge or ferry to pay over the half or a part in proportion to its interest of the net profits of a bridge or ferry to the local body who is liable for a part of the maintenance, it is advisable that such payment should be made compulsory. Signed, John Kebbell, Chairman. W. H. Simcox. H. F. Eagab. Councillor*.