HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, 12 January 1920, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held at Levin on Saturday. Present: Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), F. J. Ryder, W. J. Bryant, J. R. White, 'C. I. Harkness, J. McLeavey, S. A. Broadbelt, and Harold Barker.

Leave "of absence was granted to Cr. Coley, who was absent through illness. A wish was expressed that Cr. Coley would make a rapid recovery.

Correspondence,

Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — From District Engineer of N.Z. Railways, enclosing deed of easement for Din pipe culvert under the line at 53milc/ peg for Mr Sevan's benefit. —At-

tended to. The chairman, amid laughter,' expressed the hope that it would ~ j not become blocked with "red tape." / From Vallancc and'Mortcnsen(Wcra- / roa), drawing attention to the serious / inroads made by the river at Kimbeiv ' ley road, and stating if allowed to continue the approach would soon bo cut off. The road itself whs in ,a bad state of repair and required immediate attention, while the river had on several occasions got behind the groyne protection, and unless something was done there was a danger of it being washed away. —The engineer said something would have to be done, but said wirenetting was first needed. In his opinion there was no immediate hurry.—The engineer was instructed to inspect the locality without delay.

Soldier Settlers' Rates.

From Department of Lands and Survey advising that the non-payment of rate's by a soldier had been discussed by the Land Board, when it was decided to notify the defaulter that the full amount of rates must be paid the Council within 30 days of date of notification, otherwise his neglect to do so would constitute a cause for consideration of the forfeiture of his interost.

The Chairman pointed out that the clerk had gone to a deal of trouble over the matter, and that it had been a difficult matter to got the affair settled, as the returned soldier refused to answer any aommunieations.

The clerk was thanked for the activity he had displayed, it being considered due to him that the affair had been brought to a head.

Mangahao Scheme,

A letter was read from the Mangahao Power League, reporting progress and stating that a deal of machinery, was now on the ground or undcrorder. It considered rates paid for labour were .inadequate and should be increased, especially as it caused delay and friction. Only 60 men had been employed on the work and more were necessary. The work was progressing but slowly, and it was hoped red-tape methods would be abolished and that the work would be pushed on more vigorously; also that a younger and moro active Minister be appointed to the Public Works Department. Councillors expressed a hope that the work would be pushed on more expeditiously, and held that a vigorous Minister was needed. The Chairman saicb the men on the job were doing their best, but many employed were mere youths. As far as local bodies were concerned the League was doing good, and he held a separate Government Department should be set up to control the work. It was a question of improving the methods, and it was probable machinery would arrive before it was really needed and lay there for some time before being ready for use.

Tenders,

Tlie tender of William Winter at £1970 9s for the construction of tho Oturoa road had been accepted liy Crs. MeLeavey, Broadhclt ana Harkness, and their action was endorsed. The tender of T. Clifford at £29S was accepted for metalling the Waikawa bench road (Mannkau). KukH Special District.

Or. Harkness complained of tho bad state of the proposed road at Kuku (soldiers' settlement), and asked it be

given attention. Tho Engineer said'he was doing his best in rfe/ matter, and suggested that the formation"Vc proceeded with. Ho was nearly ready to get tie signatures £ox jjif; special rating district —ho only

awaited "a plan. \ ;Qr. Harkness said there should bo no "rouble to get the woik done, but he si wished it done more expeditiously, as at preSc-nt-they had to trespass on Mr », 'Y"sn|>f's 'land. ' "~xt! was decided that as soon as the signatures were obtained the formation of the road be proceeded with. The Banger. The ranger reported impounding 16 head of stock last month. He suggested to members of tho Wirokino Riding that the roads be closed, as they were tho means of keeping him busy watching adjacent roads that were open. Mr Harkness said he was agreeable to the proposal. Cr. Broadhclt drew attention to two hors cs that had been on a road for weeks past. The ranger said "he had hoc seen them, but he would giva the animals attention." Cr. Broaubett suggested that an order be secured from a justice of the peace or other necessary steps taken so that deerepid animals could be destroyed. It was decided to close the roads in Wirokino Biding on and after the 19th "i^'da—- - *»■»• i A deputation of returned soldiers from -Heights road (ShiiMOn) waited on the Council and asked for road improvement. They said there wefe«snts i in which horses coirtd be buried, wMle.j accidents were common. It was alfsO'v ■ lutely unsafe to" drive' women over thjel . road, and'at present only saddler* and eioa'chbuilders-benefitted. ,' pr. Brdadbelt said he faxew thQ wad

to be a bumpy one, and maintained it should be repaired. Cr. Harkness was sorry to hear such a report, and said he would support any move to repair the road. The Engineer said the only difficulty was to get labour, and if any young men would help he would see they were well paid. The surfaceman was unable ‘ to cope with' the road. Two of the deputation volunteered 1 to assist, and it was agreed to put the ■ work in hand as soon as possible. It was pointed out that members Of the deputation had no access to their property unless through private lands. Some councillors considered this a disgraceful state of affairs' and condemned the Government. Tho deputation agreed 4 to write to Messrs Field and Newman M’s.P., on the matter, and ask them to do their best to get the Government to put in a road. Miscellaneous. It was decided that the dog tax for tho year 1920 be fixed at 2s 6d per head for sheep and cattle dogs, and 10s for house and sporting dogs, further that George Watson bo appointed registrar. It was suggested that the registrar get busy at once. Mr Watson was instructed to collect from the Natives, an Act being passed empowering local bodies to do so. Cr. Ryder said he had had his attention drawn to the condition' of the Tasman road, but he considered it was not so bad as reported, and much bettor than other roads. It was as good as the Council could keep it. Cr. Broadbelt drew attention to growing willows in the ICoputaroa stream, arid asked they be poisoned. — Engineer promised to attend to the matter. Cr. Whyte drew attention to bud conveniences at the workman's cottage at Tokomarn, and suggested that more daylight be let in. At present inmates were almost in darkness, it being impossible to read a letter in daytime when inside.—Matter to be attended to. ' It was agreed that the Council was in sympathy with the proposal to establish a mutual insurance sebemo as proposed by the .Counties' Association executive, and was prepared to join the scheme proposed. It was resolved that for the purpose of surveying and making a road on the north bank of the Otaki Gorge from Taungafa bridge to the Waitatapia stream the Council authorise the raising of a loan of £750 at 4J. per cent for 36A years. The special rating district will , comprise sections 16 and 17, Block IV., Kaitawa, and sections 18, 19, 20, Block V'., Taungata. i It was decided that a*committee, con- . sisting of the Chairman, Crs. Broadbelt and Harkness, and the Clerk, be appointed to make arrangements with W. Winter re tfic purchase of another motor truck for metal carting, the said committee to havo power to enter into an agreement with Wintor for the purchase and sale of such truck.. Accounts amounting to £2593 19s lid, including £1523 interest, were * passed for payment. 1 ENGINEER’S REPORT. * I Tho County Engineer (Mr J. Malcolm) submitted tho following report:— There has boon little' done in th« county for the month. With tho cxeep- j tion of what has been done in the ( Wirokino Riding there is ’nothing to report on.

The re-grading of the Avenue is finished, and the Foxton, the Koputaroa and, in fact, all tho district roads arc now in very fair order, and will do without any more metal for the present financial year, bar accidents, with one exception, and that is the part of the Foxton road that we propose tarring. It will require some more after it has been widened and trimmed .up. The contractor has kept the motor waggou moving almost all through tho holidays, and I am satisfied it turns out to be what was needed to do the metalling. * Whether it should be the property of tho Council or cpntractors I am not prepared to say. Personally I favour contractors, as they generally get better services than the Council. The committee set up to deal .with the tender for the metalling, etc., of the Oturoa road accepted the only one received, that of Wm. Winter. It is fair and reasonable, and being within the limits I presume they could not do better. I went to Wellington to see tho Chief Surveyor over this matter, and he told me he wanted nothing to do with it, as he had every confidence in us carrying it out to the best advantage. He will pay, however, on our requisition. I attach a schedule.

I accompanied the committee appointed to view the proposed extension of the Kawiu to Foxton road, and they were unanimous in favour of getting the road made straight before proceeding with it, and instructions have been given to get the survey done. This I expect will be done in a few days when we get over the holidays. Since resuming work | have inspected'all the main roads in the county, and I am pleased to say they have stood tlio holiday traffic very well. There ara a few places where pot-holes begin to show, and I will wherever possible get them attended to as soon as we get a shower.

The roadman's cottage at Te Horo is finished at last, and it is now a fairly comfortable cottage.

Tkc contractor for additions to the Tokcmuru cottage is getting on well with his job." I expect it will be finish: cd by the-next meeting of the Council. In reference to finding more cottages for the men, I had a conversation with one of our men who stays in Otaki (Carroll) in ro this matter. He applied to me to shift him to some place where he could get d house. The one he tad been occupying, and for which h had wee*, been sffidj and although*’he and''Els family had bruited (the township-they could not even get k vwofrooriied' place to crawl into. I uni sure I don't know tpf any place within! the county where there is a chance oilgetting a place.