HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 11 June 1919, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

* ’ MONTHLY MEETING. Tito .monthly meeting of the above \vijs held at Wellington yesterday. Present: Crs. F. G. Cooper (chairman), W. Galloway, W. J. Howell, M. AV. Welch, J. Whiteman, and P. Cavanagh. Correspondence was road and dealt with as follows: — From Health Department re Nai Nai creek, and stating the matter was not ono for the Department. —Exception was taken to the letter, which was considered a slight on the Council. Cr. Welch said people were draining house refuse into the creek, and he suggested the matter be referred back to the

Health Department. —Agreed to. From Wellington City Council, re improvements of main arterial roads in the Wellington district, and asking

that delegates be appointed to confer with other local bodies. —Crs. Galloway and Howell appointed. From N.Z. Labour Party- re establishment of a prison camp in the Hutt Valley, and objecting strongly thereto. They asked to be supported in their contention.—-Received.

From Wellington Automobile Club ro Waikanae road and Akatarawa Gorge, suggesting improvements to corners and that the road be. fenced. The road when opened would, the Club considered, be a profitable one for all classes.—Consideration to be given in due course, it being pointed out that it would be some months before the road was opened. . From L. 8. Smith re sale of cottage at Paekakariki. —Or. Howell reported having agreed to purchase the cottage j and land.—Action endorsed.

From E. J. Jenkins, complaining of wandering stock at Wainuiomata, and

adding that, his wife was recently forced to climb a barbed wire fence,, while school children ran a big risk.—To be attended to.

From N.Z. Counties Association, asking for remits and name of delegate to l>o appointed by the ' Council. —Cr. Welch appointed. Slaughterhouse licenses (renewals) were granted to A. J. Robinson, A. F. Hook, and Gadsby Bros. Stock on Roads. Mrs Geoffrey Potts wrote relative to wandering stock at Paekakariki, and stating she was disgusted to iind so many head wandering and doing damage to property. Hedges, fences, and sand banks had been broken down, and this was to be regretted. If not attenc’.cd to considerable damage would be done, and she suggested the ranger be sent along and thus prevent a recurrence. Cr. Howell said the matter was verging on a scandal at Paekakariki, and something should bo done. There were many head of stock on the road, and the ranger should have assistance or give the matter strict attention. In consequence of the stock much damage was done. lie understood Mr Smith was a big offender, but he intended to attend to his fences. It was a common sight to see IS to L’o cattle on the road daily between Paraparaunui and Packakariki. He was not, blaming the ranker ; he was watched in his duties. Decided.to ask the ranger to pay special attention to the Paekakariki district. Mrs A. Bcrrclti wrote re cows grazing on roads, and complaining of ranger impounding her stock, after permission hod been given her by the Council. —Cr. Howell recommended that Mrs Thompson and Mrs Beretti be allowed to graze their stock on ihe road. nr i i i • .i. .1 It n-n o

Mrs A. Bcrrclti wrote re cows grazing on roads, and complaining of ranger impounding her stock, after permission hod been given her by the Council. —Cr. Howell recommended that Mrs Thompson and Mrs Borotti be allowed to graze their stock on the road. Cr. AVeich objected, and said it was not fair to ratepayers, and further that the Council was liable for any accident that might occur. He was only looking at the legal aspect.

Decided to write giving permission to graze stock, but declining all liability in case of accident. Mangakotukutuku Road. From O. P. Lynch re Mangakotuku-tuku-Game Farm road, stating he did not know which gate the Council needed removing. He thought if one was removed all should be removed and the road opened throughout. The notice also was too short to do justice to the. settlers, and he asked it be extended for twelve months, especially as the price of material was high. He also asked that the gate at Corduke’s be rc-crcctcd.

Gr. Howell said wire was there for the fence, and in his mind a year’s delay was too much to ask for. -Mr Lynch knew which gate needed removing, and further he had only a mile of fence to do to connect with his other fence. The road was a grazing ground for stock, and he moved no extension of i time be granted to Mr Lynch. The set- j tiers had had the road so long that , they thought it belonged to them, and ho felt sorry for them. Cr. Galloway said if one gate had to bo removed it was only fair to have the others removed. Cr. Howell said this meant the formation of about two miles of useless road. He objected to the removed gate being re-erected, and moved that the gate (Corduke’h) be not re-erected, and that no extension of time to Mr Lynch be allowed. Seconded by the Chairman. Cr. Galloway objected and said if one gate was to be removed he would move that all gates be shifted, and th:rt Mr Lynch be allowed six months to do necessary work.—[Seconded by Cr. Cavanagli. Cr. Howeil said if the amendment was to lie put he would ask that the matter be dealt with on, its merits. Mr Cromb only had a little fencing to do to get over the difficulty. The Chairman thought the Council should have a standing motion to have no gates on roads. He-was somewhat (in the dark concerning the present position.

Decided that the gate be not reerected and that Mr Lynch’s time be extended to six- months to complete his fencing, 'stock in the meantime to be kept off the road. __

Preserving Trees. ■ Prom Public Works Department re reserving Native bush on the Upper Hutt-Waikanae road, and stating it should be preserved as far as possible. Big trees, however, would have to be cut down as they were dangerous. Cr. Howell said the bush was beautiful from a scenic point of view, and some move should bo made by the citizens of Wellington to preserve it, also that on adjacent lands. It would be a great pity, he contended, to sec it destroyed. Cr. Whiteman said lie intended to. discuss the. matter witli Mr Field. Letter received on the understand- : ing that the matter would be further I gone into. i Reports. j

Mr Cudby (inspector) reported - tha ratepayers at Plimmerton were draw ing water for household purposes fro-: a pipe laid from the reservoir, and sug-

gested the Council stop fho practice. The concrete* pi pcs on the Horokiwi Valley road had been put in and a small bridge taken .out; the Paekalcariki hill compared favourably with any rnain road in the county: he had interviewed Mr Abbott relative to cutting trees hack, and the work had now Been

done. The main road at Taita was being metalled, hut royalty - paid For shingle, viz., JOd per yard, was excessive. The total cost was 65 per yard, but this could not be avoided. Con- • Crete pipes had been procured to replace the Horse-shoe bridge (Mungaroa), while the haulage of metal per motor lorry from Judgeford to Paren.ata worked out at 7s I’d per yard (live 1 | miles), which included time for two men spent in quarrying. Chilian’s road, | for about I- chains, was very dangerous and should be fenced, while the

| road in'the valley required metalling, j .T. Metzcnlhin stated he had used

■ the lorry 171 days in May, and that 7-1 loads had been taken from Palinutanui Ito Pareinata. The amount of fuel used ‘ was 101 tins benzine.

! R. C. Dick reported that planks in | the Akatarawa bridge, near the school, were broken, while the jlut t-AVaiknnae road that Aplin formed to Clifton’s house was getting-bad. He also reported that during, the month he had seized IS head of wandering stock, and had also warned Cr. Cavanagh about his stock wandering at Wainuiomata. It was decided to serve notice on settlors on the Kaitawa road to clear the gorse opposite, their properties. Cr. Galloway said the Council had no jurisdiction" with settlers taking water from the reservoir, and pointed out it was a matter which had been going on for years. When the reservoir was dedicated to the Council action could lie taken. Cr. Howell said the metalling arrangement for .Tudgeford to Parcmata would stand improvement by the erection of an elevator. It meant more expense. but would pay well. The Parcmata road, in the opinion of Cr. Galloway, was worse now’than ever I it had been, and lie favoured it being improved by contract work. Held over on account of (he absence of the inspector, who had to attend Court proceedings. Cr. Welch hold that a quarry should be secured near Mason’s garden, as the price of cartage was excessive. The matter was a serious one. and would have to be gone into. The cost of a quarry, and a-roadman’s house, would be about £6OO, which included six acres of land. There was enough metal to last for fifty years. Cr. Whiteman said the Council needed a different system for roadmaking.— Matter held over. All reports were adopted. General.

If was decided to have a road obstruction removed in the AYainui riding. failing which Court action would be taken.

It was suggested' by the Chairman that tenders he called for the purchase of a portable engine, while Cr. Galloway also held one plant was inadequate for the Council. It was deemed advisable by the Chairman to have a plant for each side of the hill, and a depot for repairs. He asked, would the Council agree to the engine and crusher going to Pahaufanui? He suggested the small (new) crusher and engine go to Horokiwi, and the other old crusher go to Epuui, Mungarou and Waimli ridings.—Agreed to. Cr. Whiteman moved that Metzenthin be put in charge of the plants in Horokiwi and "Whareroa ridings.— Agreed to.

Cr. Howell moved that the inspector and Metzenthin be engaged to secure another man to go on the motor waggon.—Agreed to.