HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 10 December 1919, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, ". '' , ' -- ' ■'.-.- Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Wellington yesterday, present: Crs. F. G-. Cooper, W. Galloway, M. W. Welch, J. Whitemanj W. J. Howell, P. Cavanagh. A deal of discussion took place over the election of chairman, and eventually Crs. Welch and Cooper were proposed. Voting was even, and the "Otaki Mail" representative was asked to draw. The "pull" resulted in the withdrawal from the hat of Cr. Cooper, Cr. Howell congratulated the Chairman on his election and his work in the past, and stated that by supporting Cr.: Cooper ho had no personal feeling against Cr. Welch. Cr. Welch also congratulated Cr. Cooper, and asked that all work harmoniously with him, and for the benefit of ratepayers in general. He certainly hoped to bo elected as .this was his last term of office. . • Works ana rnance. It was decided that the Works and Finance Committee consist of the whole Council, and that any two councillors : be appointed to sign cheques, inspector's Beport. The inspector (Mr Cudby) reported that the bridge near Mr Wilton's (Mungakotukutuku) needed renewing, •and he recommended it be substituted with a concrete culvert, or a shorter j span bridge in concrete An old wooden culvert on Kapiti road had been renewed with pipes, also one on Eangiora'J road at Bikiorangi. A fair quantity of j rock had been prepared for crushing at 1 Horokiwi Valley, and the motor lorry was still in use in the Epuni Biding. Several recent encroachments wore also reported, while carters at Paekakariki were constantly removing sand from tho sea beach fronting the parade, and ' well within tho area whieh came under the jurisdiction of tho Council. He suggested the caretaker of the beach be placed on the same footing as the one at Plimmcrton.

Relative to the Mungakatukutuku bridge, it was decided to adopt the inspector's report and leave the matter in his hands to attend to.

Cr. Galloway drew attention to the growth of gorse on the quarry tcserve at Judgeford, and considered it a disgrace.—Left to the inspector.

In connection with the matter of encroachments at Lowry Bay, the inspector was instructed to take Court proceedings without further warning to the offenders. Cr. Howell said ho was "sick and tired" of giving repeated warnings, and considered a few prosecutions would clear the atmosphere. He hoped the inspector would tako stringent steps at once, and ventilato the affair, and at the same time save trouble for the future.

Crs. Welch and Cavanagh did not think tho Council should be severe in cases where encroaching fences were no detriment. They thought some ratepayers deserved consideration and a little latitude.

' Cr. Galloway considered every case should bo considered on its merits; he i"did not wish to rush into law —the Council had had already enough experi- , ence of that. > Cr. Cavanagh thought Cr. Howell was ' ' showing his teeth'' in the matter, and as a member of the Whareroa Riding . should confine his attention to that: . part of. the district. j. Cr. Howell took Cr. Cavanagh to task ' for his remarks, while Cr. Whiteman {'maintained that the encroachments skould be removed. Tho inspector's Teport was adopted; • and therefore the removing of sand at 1 '■ Paekakariki and other matters would j i be given consideration by the inspee- I r tor, J Ranger's Report, j The ranger (B. C. Dick) reported ' that during tho month he had seized 27 head of stock. Several offenders had been convicted and fined, and others were yet to be summoned.—Report adopted. Enginedriver's Report. The engine-driver reported that the lorry had worked 18 days, ana had carted 343 yards of metal during the ! month. The driver stated that part qf i the crusher plant was missing, but the I clerk stated they were not on the ini< voice and therefore had not been paid j for.—lt was decided to order necessary ! parts at once. , Encroachment Refused. Alf-W. Feast waited on the Council and askea to erect a motor shed; which would encroach slightly on the road, at Lowry Bay.—Cr. Welch considered such applications should be granted, conditionally, but Cr. Howell objected, and J said Mr Feast knew what he was doing J I when he bought his site. It was not J ['night to give the ratepayers* rights | I away, and he emphatically objected to j j any encroachment. He moved permis-» sion be not grasted, and stated he-did j so oh broad lines, and said he felt rate- i payers would be glad of his attitude in j time to come. He was there to serve j the public, and not to pander to individuals. The motien was seconded by the "chairman. Cr. Cavanagh moved an amendment, which was seconded by Cr. Welch, that permission to erect the shed be granted. • The latter pointed out that the building would not affect "the road in any way. The motion was declared carried on the casting vote of the chairman. Cr. Welch said he would give notice to move that a by-law he framed allow- " Ing ratepayers to erect such buildings subject to th.e'appToval of the Council. Or. Cavanagh said hi would also give 1 notice of motion that the matter of ' - prosecution be rescinded. 1 '. Workers' Dwellings. s" Cr. Howell, in advocating a loaß of £3OOO ftft walkers' Swellings, ssia tas

money could be raised by special order,; andhe moved that the necessary steps be taken with a view of providing " Ho * suggested that £6OO each be allocated for Rikiorangi, Paraparaumu, Paekakariki, Wainuiema,ta, and Mangaroa. He maintained ■ the project would be self-supporting.— Necessary steps to be taken. , Correspondence.'

| Correspondence was read and z dealt with as junder:— ■ I From N.Z; Bailways re, drainage rej serve at Plimmertou, stating it was pro-' posed to vest.it in the Council if it ! would accept dedication.—Left to Cr.) Galloway and the inspector to invest^ .gate, and report at the next meeting: From Department Internal Affairs relative to fresh letters and numerals for motors, etc., and stating HCC and 1 to" 500 had been allocated to the Council, j —Received.. - •■'■' ' . • From Health Department, re sump at Plimmerton, and stating tho Council's inspector should approve of the site. — Eeferred to the inspector. From/Health Department re nuisance at Day's-Bay, and complaining that housei drainage was being discharged contrary to the Public Health Act, and asking the matter be given attention. — Left to the inspector to attend to.

From Health Department, reporting cases of infectious diseases at Day's -Bay.—Ecceivcd. From Mangahao Hydro - electric Power League, forwarding its progress report. It stated that a sawmill had been bought and an electric power plant ordered. The League, however, considered the work should be expedited by less "red tape."—Received.

From Horace Baker and, others asking for a drainage area to be formed at Lowry Bay, provided the expense did not exceed £2o.—Left to the Clerk to secure the necessary information.

From Maymorn Estate, Ltd. (A. Seed) re converting tramway formation into a road, and stating the matter was one now entirely for tho„Council. The estate would do its best to assist the Council in the matter, as the work was one that would be of great »«!vantage to the district. —Left in the hands of Cr. Whitemau and the inspect or. From A. Sutherland (Plimmerton), complaining of the inactivity of the sanitary inspector. —To be attended to. From H. E. Evans asking permission' to fill a tank from the water supply at Plimmerton. Not entertained, as Council had no jurisdiction in the matter. '- From Raumati Estate Co. asking for the construction of remaining portion of Matai Road.—Left: to the inspector to give an estimate on the cost. Accounts. Accounts amounting to £925 3s 100 were passed for payment.