HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 13 October 1919, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council lva.s held at Levin on Saturday. Present: Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), Fred. Coley, F. J. Ryder, Jas. McLeavey, S. A. Boadbelt, C. I. Harkness, J. R. Whyte, H. Barber.' Leave of absence was granted Cr. Bryant. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under; — From Commissioner of Crown Lands stating the Department had purchased the whole of Mr Bowen’s interest in respect to' a road at Mt. Robinson, and asking the Council to pay compensation to the Department.—Placed on paysheet.

From Railway Department stating it was arranging for a culvert to be inserted near Sir Wrn. Bevan’s at Manakau, and asking the fees be paid. —Attended to. From Shannon Borough Council, complaining of damage done by the Council’s heavy drays, and claiming for repairs. Cr. Barber said he understood from tho contractor that he was doing his best in the matter, and would repair the road when his contract was finished. —Suggested that the matter be left to Cr. Barber to see that a fair thing wm done. From J. Bowler (Shannon) drawing attention to the bad state of Buckley road drain. —Referred to Crs. Barber and Whyte to investigate. From Hoani Kuiti (Ohau) asking Cor the end of Papaitonga-Buller road to be brought to section cast 1, section 2. —Held over. From Levin Dairy Co., asking for road improvement at lleatlierlea. Work to bo done, the request being considered reasonable on account of a new creamery being erected. From B. J. O’Regan relative to Dougins’ claim against, the Council, agree- . ing to accept £3O in full settlement in addition to the refund of the deposit of £lo.—Passed for payment. From Manuwatu County Council, sug- ' ‘ gesting that an inspection and confer- , encc should be held at an early date to ( discuss what steps should be taken to | ] safeguard the Shannon bridge. It was . stated that an erosion had taken place just above the structure—Decided that _ a conference take place on the 24tli inst., the Chairman and Crs. Ryder, Whyte and Barber and Engineer' to be • the Council’s representatives. ' From J. P. James (Levin), asking . for road improvement. —Referred to the Engineer to attend te. , A Te Horo Water-race. ,

Geo. H. Harper wrote stating in 1016 Messrs Loughnan and .Jacobs applied for the Council's consent to take water from the water-race which had been diverted through a section owned by the Te Horo Dairy Co. The company could now trace no consent, and ashc was acting for the purchaser of section 63 it was doubtful if he had any waterrights over section 6-1. He therefore asked Was the water-race running across the "beach road from the Mangaone stream into section 04 under the control of the Council? (2) Was consent ever given to Mr McChesncy by the Council for him to take water from such race' The Engineer said the race was put there by James Gear, and was not a water-race within Council's rights; lit considered the Dairy Co. should attend to it The company took advantage ol the race and the Council gave help by putting a culvert across the road and it was now thought the Council should take the whole in hand.—Left to Cr. Uyder to attend to. State Forests. A letter was read from Farmers' Union and Fruitgrowers' Conference urging that the Government be asked to eoLervo timber, and asked that all suitable land along the coast quired to establish thereon a Stnto forest for the purpose of providing foi future timber needs iap kl destruction of valuable land by drifting sand. , Cr. Harkness said there was about SOOO acres of waste lands.near Levin and considered it should be acquired and planted, and be a forerunner of other plantations. It would provide timber and prevent sand drifts. It had been decided to ask the Government to take action at once.-Report received. Repairing Damage Done. TV H Field. xM.P.. wrote stating the question of defraying costs of repairs done to roads through the tram restrictions had been brought before the Minister for Public Works, who to-pre-pared to consider each application for assistance on its merits. This, to ma mind, was not satisfactory, but if a SS was made he would help the Council in any possible way. The Chairman said it was a hard matter to say what damage had been done, but in his riding it was shown that the newly-metalled roads were xooted to pieces. He suggested that a councillor from each riding be setup as a committee to frame the cost of damage done, The Engineer suggested a claim ol £3OO be put in, but «««*» «* averred this would not pay the co„ oi dnranffe in one riding. CrsTßvder. Broadbelt, Whyte, the Ckairma'n and tho Engineer were apItted as a committee to draw up the estimate of cost of damage. The Ranger. The ranger reported that jinee ** -iast meeting he had impounded 33 hea 5 stock, and had had several court ■ Ca Cr~.' Harkness complained of the ranger', inactivity, and said he was not doing justice to himself, ratepayers, or Council. He moved that in future if the ranger was not more active his services be dispensed with, firs. Ryder-aud Coley also made com-

plaints.—Decided to seud a letter to the ranger to this effect. Cr. Coley added that since he entered the Council three months ago letters had been sent to Mr Watson after each meeting complaining of his inactivity. The Chairman, while stating that tho ranger could not be everywhere, asked was the fault beeavise he was an old man and that a younger one was necessary? He considered if drastic steps were taken it might inflict severe hardships on some ratepayers. He favoured giving offenders a warning. Deputation. Messrs McDonald and Smcrle (Koputoroa) waited on the Council and asked for a road lo bo continued from the

Koputaroa store to Shannon, a distance of about two miles.

Crs. Broadbelt and Ryder favoured

lie road being made, especially as hcl

was likely to be forthcoming from the Shannon Borough Council, but Cr. MeLea.voy thought the expense would bo too great.

Crs. Broadbelt, Whyte, Barber, and Ryder were set up to ascertain tho position and report at next meeting. The Chairman stated that no notice had been given that the deputation

would wait on the Council, and said with the amount of business that had to be transacted notice of such should be given. The Council had agreed to stretch a point on this occasion, but he advised the deputation not tb again apj proach the Council without Jirst giving notice. Miscellaneous. Cr. Ryder took exception to a secondhand range secured for flic roadman's cottage at To Horo, considering it absolutely useless. He stated that tie had a new one under offer from J. S. Pole at £9 15s.—Decided to secure it.

Cr. Ryder also took exception to tho manner in which the Mangapourj creek had been cleaned, and asked had tho engineer passed it. —Tho Chairman said the matter was one that had been left K> the Town Board. Cr. Ryder in reply stated the Town Board had passed it, but he certainly would not have done

Cr. Ryder asked what was to be done re improving the road at Te Horo. If asphalting was to be done the Council should open its eyes and see what bad work had been done in the Levin borough, where tar had been laid. —The Chairman said in that instance tho road had not been prepared, the tar was laid

in unsuitable weather, but where laid under proper conditions tho road was among the best in New Zealand. Cr. Ryder also criticised the plans prepared for a culvert across the Man-

gapouri stream, aud said it was no wonder there were no tenders —it was,

in his opinion, ridiculous to expect such, when the specifications were looked at. The job under the specifications would eost a large amount.—The Engineer

said the culvert would cost about £OO, much above what ho favoured, viz., concrete pipes.—Decided to hold the matter over for a month. In answer to Cr. Coley the Engineer said he would attend to a culvert near Beauehamp's as soon as pipes were available, and would put in metal near Si'sson's as soon as a man was available.

Cr. Coley also reported that a big ree was down in the Gorge, but was icing removed as expeditiously as possible. He also stated that the bridge at

the "Devil's Elbow" was shaky, one stringer in particular needing attention. —-The Engineer said, in his opinion, the structure was perfectly safe, but ho would make another examination. It. was decided that the Council pay for birds' eggs as last year, viz., 6d ped dozen for blackbird and sparrow eggs, 3d for thrush, starlings' eggs not to be. taken.

It was agreed to erect danger boards near the Ohau and Tokomaru schools.

The Chairman reported„that he, with Cr. Coley and Mr Field, had waited on th» Minister relative to tho Otaki Gorge road, and had received a favourable reply to their request for assistance. He also reported that owing to a change of dates he had been unable lo attend the Hutt County conference.

The Ceuncil agreed to accept a 40ft road in the soldiers' settlement, Kuku road.

Accounts amounting to £1313 17s 4d were passed for payment.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr J. Malcolm) submitted the following report: — Te Horo Riding. In this Tiding there has been nothing done for the month but maintenance. "When I thought the weather was due to clear up I sent the men on to To Horo to do the tarring, but now I suppose nothing can bfc done. I hava got a man on cleaning the Hautere and Te Horo water-races. The main road through the riding is still very good. Otaki Riding. I am glad to say that the finish of the metalling operations for the present are at last in sight. I think I can safely promise that the machinery will be shifted from there by this day week if the weather gives us a chance. I was able to secure two ironbark stringers for the Waitohu bridge when in "Wellington. I expect them up at once, and will get them put in to enable us to asphalt the deck before removing the gear from Otaki. I have got the road leading to Mr Atkins' place at Manakau trimmed up. I think this, when metalled and rolled, will make a comfortable road. TVe fencing materials required for the Manakau cemetery are now on the ground. The fence will be erected early next week. * I had the leaky water-Tace at North Manakau clay-puddled, and the road man now reports that it is ail right. I have called tenders for a reinforced concrete culvert for crossing the Mangapouri stream on the old cemetery road. They are due to-day. but I do not think we can. compete with the • cement pipes, even although the cost has advanced, sUgbtfe ._

Wirokino Riding. There is nothing doing in the riding for but the regrading and metalling of the Wallace road. It is

now about finished. 1 inspected the Ohau West load t( the beach as asked for by the deputa tion that waited on the Council at last meeting, and I find e-ight or niixff chain! of a sandhill that will have to bi lowered and thatched. I think aboul ono mile should be formed and at least the half of i-t metalled. This will cost roughly £450, and will have to be provided for by a loan, I presume. I beg to suggeft that a committee be appointed to wait on Mr Saint in reference to getting through his land to get the metal from the Olitu river for the road through the Kuku soldiers' settlement. It the metal is got where I propose it will reduce the cost at least one ! half. I propose getting the Levin to Foxton road put in order when the teams return from the south end. A good deal of it will take doing. I had a letter from' the Chief Surveyor in reference to the metalling of the roads in the OtuiOa soldier.-' settlement (Wirokino). I wrote to him explaining how I thought it should be done, and expected a letter would have been before the Council today, either accepting or rejecting my proposals. Of course it must not lie forgotten that we have (ID chains of road that must be metalled to enable then, to get on to the settlement roads, and this could only be done when we arc repairing the Foxton road to be able to get short uiling with the long. I have prepared a plan for adding

Tokomaru Riding.

My contractors are dodging away getting the worst parts of the roads round Shannon kept passable. There is still a good lot wanted even to do the worst parts, but 1 suppose we will keep on for another month at least.

two rooms to the roadman's cottage at Tokomaru, and I think when you sec it vou will agree with me that this is the best way over the difficulty. I hope the Council will see their way to call for tenders for the addition at once, as it is much needed, the place being hardly habitable. While on the subject of roadmen's cottages, I would like to point out to the Council that they have a cottage on the H. V. Settlement that could, by the expenditure of, say, £IOO or thereby, be made a very comfortable home. As it is we cannot get a surfaceman to live in it, and have to accept a much less rent for it than it would command itit was made comfortable.