HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 16 August 1920, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the atjovi Council was held at Levin on Saturday Present: Crs. 0. -A. Monk (chairman) F. Coley, P. J. Ryder, .1. J!. White, B Barker, Jas. McLeavey, 0. I. Hurkness, W. >r. Bryant, S. A. Broadbelr. Correspondence. Correspondence) was read and deai with as follows: — From AV. H. Field, M.P., thankin, the Council lor its support of the Levin-Foxton-Martou railway deviation. A copy oi' his lettorTo the PrimsMinister (already published) was cuclosed.— Decided to thank Mr Field fo his efforts, ihe chairman considering; the letter sent by Mr Field to the Minister a very good one. From secretary of Palmerstou Norll Hospital Board, asking- for payment < ■.' levies duo so that the Board riiigk. claim the Government subsidy on same. —Placed on the pay-sheet. From Foxton Chamber of Conirnerci. i asking the Council to have a signboard erected at the approach to a dangerous bend about half a mile on the Levin side of the Whirokino bridge.—The ' matter was left to councillors for the Wirokino riding, with power to act. From K. Cant (Tokomaru) asking for the right to rent an unformed road,—Left to Cr. Whyte. From Angus McLaggan (Tokomaru) making application to be allowed to erect a fence and gate on Toi Tot road for the purpose of grazing two cows. - Agreed 10. From F. J. Sioman (Shannon) complaining of (lie roadmen throwing spoil into his drain and blocking-it, He asked that the men lie sent as soon a possible to clear Ihe stuff! away.— Lei; lo Cr. Barber In attend to. From M.esdanics Mite.- and MeCluu (Tokomaru) applying for grazing rights on part of Toi Toi si reel at a rental (o be fixed by the Council.— No action. From Minister of Public llealih, stating a new health bill would be introduced during the present session, and asking for the co-operation of local governing bodies in framing an Ac! which would remove most of the existing difficulties ami anomalies in public health administration.—Cr. Harknc -.-.- asked if il referred lo rubbish being deposited on the road-. The Chairman answered in the negative. From F. H. Letts (Otaki) making another request For a culvert, and ask ing "whether if would be put in before j the Parliamentary Buildings wen j finished."—Cr. Ryder reported tha 1 i the culvert was in. The Chairman objected to such ; 'letter and thought- the dignity of the Council should be maintained. In fact, he was nearly objecting to the letter being read. From Gerald Anderson (Otaki) .-r>- j ing he would be pleased if the Con:: ■!! I would keep pressing Cr. Uyder and |i,e j engineer in Ihe matter of road improvement al Te lUanuao. Residents wef . still greatly inconvenienced by the bad S state of the road, which was practically ■ unapproachable by vehicle. Held over. From Ct. M. Lothbridgc (Otaki) sin:- j ing the vestrymen of the Te Horn I Anglican Church desired to draw- the | Council's attention to a deep and dangerous hole on the Hautere-Te Horo read in front of the new church. Ml" asked, in view of evening services to be commenced shortly, that the matter would be given attention. At present the danger was increased by unlighted streets. —Left to the inspector with power to have the work done. From Horace Freeman (Waikanae) drawing attention to destruction of his | fences by wandering horses, a matter i which had been going on for four | years. Recently seven horses put in the night in his vegetable garden, and as his work look him away from home he was a considerable loser.—The Chairman said he had seen the ranger, who had decided to take court action. From M. F. Miles (Manakau) askinghad anything been definitely decided ripen regarding the water-race for which the Council were petitioned about some rime ago. Although he noticed that Cr. Ryder was instructed to report upon the matter, he had never seen that gentleman. If was. he said, no good waiting for the dry season, and then having the same old row- about it. —Cr. Ryder said he and Cr. Bryant would give the matter attention and report at" the next meeting.—Agreed to. The Ranger. The ranger (0. "Watson) reported that during the month he had impounded 64 head of stock, while a number of offenders were to be summoned. He had been to Waikanae and found offenders, who would be brought before the Otaki Court. Cr. Coley said three cattle, which seemed unowned, wandered about the roads in his riding, and these the ranger said he would attend to. Cr. Coley moved that the reads in the Te Horo Hiding be opened from S a.m. to 5 p.m. from Ist September.—Seconded by Cr. Ryder and carried. Cr. narkiress asked if anything had been done to Bevan's fence, where stock wandered ad,, lib. on and off the road. Cf. Ryder said there seemed to be "nothing doing." Assistance Needed. Messrs Macintosh and Malcolm waited on the Council and asked for improvement ar Hoi-.io town-hip. and stated £3O had been collected towards road improvement. The metalling done s>as been appreciated, and ha.- soirred residents to action. Only a few chains remained fo be metalled, and they were anxious for the work to be done without delay. The Chairman considered-the offer of about £3 to £1 was a splendid one. and thought the Council should try and ineot the position by 'giving £lO. Cr. Er.rkness agreed that .something

should be done to help Riose who had already helne-? thertselyes. Cr. JYicLeavey agreed, and thought ; the work should 'be done while the teams were there. ' Mr Macintosh said no formation would bo required, and personally he would be willing to pay treble his rates. '' : Decided to grant £! Q. A Bridge for Waitohu. ;' A petition was received from G. H. j Xicols, Bills and Moore, Joe Grant, W. . I P. Kershaw. V. Taylor. D. Taylor, G. | Rogers, H. Wilton, W. Macdonald, M. Coles, G. Tattersall. R. H. J. Knox, D. Xoble, H. Kilmistcr, P. J. Ryder. AV. Chancy, R. F. Blair, Bert Pcnney, L. Sherman. Archie Smith, McDougnll Bros, and Harold Cockrell (Otaki) asking for the erection of a bridge over ' the Waitohu stream at the crossing of i Ringawhati road. At present inconI venieiico was caused by having to I make two journeys to cover this part ) of the district which would be obviated I i if a bridge were erected as asked for. , Cr. Ryder explained the position, and \ said the bridge was certainly required, I | especially by tradesmen who now had 'to make two trips whereas one should 1 j lie sufficient. It would be a fairly big | job, as the hill to the approach would I I need much attention. j j The Chairman pointed out that tim- j j ber was not available, and moved that i I the matter be left to the new engineer f I 10 report on. —Agreed to. ' Roadmen Working in Gangs. I i Cr. Broadbelt suggested that the men ! 1 in the Wirokino Riding lie worked in I I gangs, considering such would be an | improvement. j I Cr. Harkness agreed that it would be ) j a splendid experiment, and suggested a ( I conference of all the Council's work- i i men and tlie new engineer. It had | been said that oftimea men wore. i away from work from alleged illness, ■ while others had said they would not i work in a gang. They wanted a better i understanding. 1 The Chairman thought the sugges- ! lion as far as Wirokino was concerned j j was all right, but would not apply to his riding or Tokomaru. He suggested giving the new engineer a chance to fool his way. lie thought ho should bo given three months' free hand, but he did not agree to a conference of work- | | men. engineer and councillors. He considered thai the engineer should have a free hand with the men. The Chair- I man also contended that the new en- • ■.■ infer should be in the hands of the acting-inspector for a time. Roadmen's Cottages. .T. Sullivan, roadman (Koputarou). j '-.role, stating he had received notice to j quit the house lie was living in, and j asked the Council io do its best to find ! him n residence. The shift would be ! his fifth, and' he would like to get a permanent place.—The Clerk said n ■ quarter-acre .section and a house had j been offered at £300.—-Left to the councillors for the Wirokino Riding, with ! j power to act. j Cr. Ryder drew attention to a similar | ' petition til Manakau, and suggested n j house under offer be accepted. The j| house and land was offered at £225, and ■ he thought it a cheap place. Cr. Co-ley j al«o placed an offer before the Council i for a residence and land, and was ad- !! vised to get the offer in writing. Accounts. Accounts, amounting to £2,">77 Os 2d. i were passed for payment.