HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 12 May 1920, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Wellington yesterday. Present: Crs. F. C 4. Cooper (chairman), W. J. Howell, P. Cavanagb, J. Whiteman, M. W. Welch. Correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — Fvom X.Z. Military Forces ro sanitary depot at Trenthiun, and objecting to the night-cart going through a certain road. —lie ply to be sent that the military authorities should grant a con,on as the road had been comman-

deered by them. From Agricultural Department declaring prickly pear a noxious weed. ;U was suggested that the Department’s attention be drawn to the fact that already they had enough noxious weeds to look after without naming

ore. —Letter received. From Horowhemia County Council

relative to conference to form an electric power board. —Or. Cooper reported tliat he and Cr. Howell had attended, but the conference hud proved futile

t 0 t!u . Government engineer

to attend* L’rom Wellington City Council, askin'- that gorse fires at Muhina be reduced to a minimum. —The Chairman said the Agricultural Department declined to cut their gorse, hence he sugnested no action be taken. * (•,. Web’h said the Council was one of several offenders, and that the. City Council was also an offender. The Chairman said he would like to tee action taken against all owners who allowed gorse to grow on their properties. — Letter received. From Munson uud Burr, stating Bumely traction parts were due to arrive in Wellington about the middle of the month, and on arrival would be forwarded to Paraparaumu.—Received. From Packakariki Water Supply Committee, asking for particulars relative to raising u loan of *6OOO, etc.— Particulars supplied. The. Clerk reported that on receipt of particulars a meeting of ratepayers had been he d - Matter referred to Cr. Howell and the Clerk to fake action as desired by the ratepayers, and thus put matters on a , , • *' vjj C proper basis. ' ' From Packakariki Ratepayers’ Assoelation, stating an association bearing ibis name had been formed, and desired to draw attention to wandering stock, which were a nuisance and a menace ‘and did much damage. The Association hoped the ranger would pay more attention to slock. 'the letter aso asked that matters of a sanitary nature le , ll<o „ivcu attention.— Copies ot tlic letters^to be sent to the officers inicrested with instructions to have the complaints attended to. Fion. C. c. Hills, complaining o! two horses wandering about Packakariki for months past. He pointed out that tllc Pomes had done much damage and Should be given aUcut ion.-Cr. Howell said the complaint was justified, but -.he ranger considered if useless taking cases to Olaki because lines were so light.—Letter to be sent to the ranger. Hospital Levies. ' A letter w.a.- received from Wellingtou Hospital Board, forwarding estimates lor 1920-21. and stating the Council’s share of expenditure totalled AU.Af £5<K» move, than the previous >L (V Welch said the Ifutt people would have' to get a hospital of their own in the Hutt Valley, and added that things were that hot that immediate action was necessary. He doubted if twenty patients were sent per y from the county to the hospital, and considered that a conference should be hold and tilings brought, to a head. * The Chairman:We can only grow and , look pleasant; but tilings are deculedlj j bad.—Letter received. Inspector's Report.

Jtr .1. AY. Cud by (inspector) reported that the heavy downpour of rain on the 27th uit. caused a considerable rise ia the Hutt river, but fortunately it was not attended with serious results. There was, in places, a scouring of the roads, while culverts became blocked. The slight damage done was soon remedied. A short Stop bank has been built on the bank of the Hutt river to prevent the flooding of Moonshine road, and an adjoining owner, who would benefit, has agreed to contribute towards the cost. Light street lamps had been consigned to Day’s Bay. an would be erected as soon as possible. The main roads throughout were in fair to medium order, but it seemed impossible to keep them free from potholes under the present system oi maintenance. The back tyres of the motor lorry needed renewing. Some correspondence from the P.W. Department would come before ihe meeting re the Packakariki road. He (the inspector) did not consider the work had been carlied out by the P.W. Department as arranged, neither ns to the quality of ihe work done nor the manner in which it had been finished. This reference was to the work near, the trough, and the last section undertaken. Mr 11. C. Dick (sub-inspector) reported that owing to the heavy rain the river broke the bank near the game farm at Paraparaumu. and repairs were needed before another Soon occurred. The pipes were unable to curry the I waier at the top end of Eata road and i the water in consequence did damage by running down the road. There were three bad holes in the road near May- 1 morn, due to a stump rotting away. He suggested the purchase ot some ironbark timber, which was for sale at the Lower Hutt. The ranger (lb C. Dick'i reported having summoned several ov.mrs of wandering stock, and in mo~t easC-s con* v’Ot’O" - imd nee a recorded. Other Court eases were r endlng.-Report adopted. Mestr? Finlay and finyle. of Day s Say. waited on the Council and asked that the lamps in their locality be

erected as early as possible. Scvoral minor accidents had occurred due to the darkness, while ratepayers had spent much money’ and got but little in return. —-The Council promised attention as early as possible. Mr Hoyle said it was only by good fortune and the fact that 3UU boys wore present that the properly at the bay was not destroyed by fire through an outbreak in the gorse. Flamea swept a big area, and the fire got within a few feet of several -buildings. He asked that the Council endeavour to get the gorse cleared. The Chairman said the ratepayers of Day’s TTay should see the Agricultural Department and get that body to tak9 iction.