HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 14 April 1920, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at, Wellington yesterday. Present: Crs. F. G. Cooper (chairman), IV. J. Howell, M. W. Welch, F. Cavanagh, J. "Whiteman, and W. Galloway. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under: —

From Public. Works Department, stating that as soon as a report was received on the I’ahuratahi bridge the engineer would confer with the Council. Relative to tho erection of bridges on the Waikanae-Upper Hutt road a report was put in as to the cost thereof. The Government agreed to erect two bridges provided the Council did other work at its own expense. —Decided that the offer be accepted, and that the 'Government be asked to da the work as speedily as possible. From Public "Works Department forwarding proclamation taking land through Block V., Paekakariki S.D. — Received.

From Commissioner of Crown Lands giving permission to expend £1157 for roads through Ngarara (Paraparaumu) for soldier settlement purposes, and asking the work bo done as expeditiously as possible.—Denied to proceed with the work.

From Railway Department, complaining of nuisance caused to railway lands at Paekakariki through the activities of the stone-crusher. —Reply to be sent that the nuisance would be abated. From Public Health Department, complaining of a nuisance at Day’s Bay, and suggesting legal proceedings be takeii by tho Council. —To be attended to.

From Treasury Department, forward ing advice note re Court fees collected which amounted to £<*.-—Received.

From "Waipn County Council, suggesting a vigorous immigration policy. —Cr. "Welch said the housing problem was the difficulty, and that the Prime Minister was doing his best- in the matter. It was a matter which, should bo left to the Government.

Cr. Galloway, however, favoured giving it support, and this was agreed

From Horowhenua County Council, asking for delegates to be appointed to meet at Levin to discuss the Mangnhao electric, scheme. Chairman and Cr. Howell appointed.

From Wellington City Council asking for a delegate to be appointed to attend a mooting to forward the interest.” of the "Wellington district. —Cr. Howell appointed. From Upper Ilutl. Town Board, asking if the dog registrar had the Council’s permission to illegally collect in the Board’s area.—Decided to reply with an emphatic “no,”

From E. C. "Watt and L. G. Fans, two returned soldiers, asking for a rebate of rates, incurred while they wore on active service.—Agreed to. From Featherston Automobile Club, thanking the Council for its donation to improve the Rimutaka Hill road, and asking if the Council intended making a deviation in the road. —Decided to reply in the negative. From G. Lundon, asking the Council's fianancial support relative to the visit of the Prince of Wales at I’etone.— Decided to give £25.

Workers' Dwellings. A letter was received from the P.W. Department relative to the £3OOO grant, for the erection of workers’ dwellings, and stating no part of the amount could bo spent for the purchase of land.

Cr. Welch said at the rate councillors wore going the Council would need to strike a 3d rate to cover expenses. Councillors generally, he said, did not know what they were doing. - Cr. Cavanagh said he wished to buy five acres of land at Waimiioiuata ont of rates, a contention that was supported by Cr. Howell, who objected to Cr. Welch raising bogus objections. Cr. Cavanagh eventually moved that tenders be called for the purchase of five acres of land in his riding for workmen’s cottages. —Carried.

Inspector's Report. 3 The inspector (J. "W. Cudby) reported that a 2Mt x 42ft pipe had been put In at the Horse Shoe bend north of Upper Hutt. the old bridge taken out. and the gully filled up. and that about 30 chains of the Hutt-Waikanae rORd, near Mr Clifton’s at Rikiomngi, needed metalling. If done it would be of great advantage to people living further up the hill. and. would be so much done towards tho through road which people were anxious to have. He recommended that the work be done as soon as possible. The Moon-shine-Upper Hutt grant ox S-TI had been expended. The lorry had been taken to Paraparaumu for inspection by a mechanic, the new gear part had been put in, but he understood the part supplied was not what was require-!. He had decided to have the crasher re- I moved from Wninuiomata to the Epnni i riding. It had been working satisfac- i torily, but trouble had been experienced with the carters, and the quantity of metal put through was getting less and less each week. The foreman had done his hest. but without avail. ; The. result of Thursday ’s storm had no serious effect on the roads, only a few small slips being reported. The tender of Mr Maclean had been accepted by Cr. Howell and himself for the fencing of the Para,;"uir&umu cemetery at £2 5s per chain. The inspector stated the carters< seemed very dissatisfied. wi,h their rate ..«* pay and in consequence went to work and knocked off when they chose. A limited amount of natal was i>ut through, yet they expected increased j>av« The state of affairs was cose!3efe3 assatisfactory.

generally contended that , was ilmply being made use O?, and the inspector's action in removii&p.

' should provide its own plant for carry j i n g, but Cr. "Whiteman differed. ICra. Howell and Galloway stare' with the increased cost of horse fee j something would have to be done. I L former pointed out that one contractor whoso tender had been, accepted for work for the Council, had become so disgusted over the rise in feeu uml he had sold his horses and sacrificed his

drays. The discussion raised the point of drays being licensed, and Mr Cudby said he had been placed at a great disadvantage owing to licenses being compulsory. The general opinion was that carts

working for the Council should not be licensed, and that Mr Cudby should be allowed discretionary powers—Finally agreed that earls and drays employed by the Council, wholly, and solely, should be exempt from license tees. Cr. Galloway moved for an increase in Ihc. price of wages for carters, the

present price in places being 25s ue one horse and driver. 35s ior two hot and 43s for three horses. This, he considered, should be made uniter.-ai throughout the Council. The Chairman moved in Ihis dime tion, the motion was seconded by 1 r. Galloway, but was opposed by < Ts. Whiteman and Welch. It was. however. carried, provided the drays were in the Council’s employ only.

Miscellaneous. The ranger reported that lie jva-- ink jug proceedings against owuors ot se\ •• tul unlicensed vehicles. It was decided that the metalling contract with the Maknra Count\ i c.i-> at the end of the present mouth. A letter was put in .reporting that .1. Cooper, who had worked in the Wham roa riding, had been missing since December, despite the fact that some t!' was owing to him. — Decided to hold the cheque in case he turned up.