HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Otaki Mail, 15 March 1922, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. A meeting of tlie Horowlienua Council was.held on Saturday and was presided over by the chairman (Cx. G. A, Monk). Others present were Crs. A. Knox, C. I. Harkness, J. McLeavey, H. Barber, J. R. Whyte, F. J. Kvdei and H. G. Bryant. Correspondence. Bulliman Bros., Waikamte, wrote drawing attention to the condition oi a culvert across the Waikunae road in front of their property. It was stated that the pipes had sunk in places and caused a block in the water, thus Hooding tho road and adjoining property. — Referred to the chairman and engineer.

The Department of Labour forwarded a copy of section 7 of the Industrial Concilation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1921-22, which, notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of I9US', exempts local bodies from the provisions of any award or industrial agreement in respect of any relief works they may institute.—Received.

A petition was received from three ratepayers of Te Horo that the Council take the necessary steps to turn the flood water at Te Horo into its natuia. course. —The chairman said he was sure residents would be disposed to pay a portion of the cost, and he moveu that the engineer frame an estimate of the cost of carrying out the work. — Carried.

The Otago Hospital Board wrote ask ing for support in a protest against in creased fees charged for audit. Tin last account received by the board intimated that the fee was £3 3s per day of seven hours at 9s an hour. The p;e vious rate of £2 per day was regardou as high, but tho new- rate was in th< opinion of the board exorbitant. L was therefore suggested that the Coun cil bring the matter before the M.l’. for the district. —Supported.

The Advances to Settlers Office wrote slating that a loan of £3OO hao been granted lor the purpose o£ e.x lending the Horowhenua water race system to a portion of the Muhunos ' No. 3 block near Oliau.—Deceived. The Levin Sawniilling Co. applieo l'or a grant of £l5O iii terms of an arrangement made in regard to ex i penditure on Gladstone Road. —The i matter was referred to Crs. Harkness ' and McLeavey.and the Engineer for an inspection of the work carried out j and a report before the end of t lie month. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote calling attention to and enclosing a copy of a notice which appeared in the Gazette of February -'3 calling for objections... to the proposed constitution of the Manawatu-Oroua River District — Received. The Department of Health wrote asking the Council to have certain structural alterations carried out on a dwelling at Ohau owned by Butterfield Bros, and occupied by Mrs Holder.— Notice to be served. | in regard to the proposal to supJ ply water from the Levin mains to 5 settlers in Tiro Tiro and Mako Mako £ Roads, a petition was received from f residents in these areas asking thar, ) the work he carried out.—On the mo- | lion of Cr. McLeavey it was decided S that tiie necessary steps be taken to | form a special area, for this purpose. Requests from Ridings.

Cr. Knox reported that a ratepayer recently fell through a bridge over the Mangaone, which was a, pretty good i indication of how badly repairs were I needed. —Attention in this quarter was | promised. £ Cr. Bryant stated that settlers at Manakau were desirous of having u high pressure water supply installed, and considered tapping the Waikawa stream for this purpose. He asked that the engineer be allowed to inspect, the site and report on the practicability and probable cost of tlic scheme.— Granted. 5 Purchase of Road Plant. 1 “Now that the Council has decided to procure some up-to-date road plant, I think it would be advisable to get either one or two light two-horse graders to be used for trimming and raking in,” said the engineer in the course of his report. The chairman strongly supported this, and on his motion two are to be procured. Cr. Harkness, asked that repairing work be done on the Gladstone road. The engineer promised to look into the matter, and remarked that continued complaints came from that quarter. Either metal was too rough or else it was too fine. There was always something wrong. ENGINEER S REPORT. The Engineer reported:— During the period ending to-dav the work throughout, ijlie county tins been carried out in a satisfactory manner.

The crushing plant has been working almost continuously in the We taro a Settlement pit, and approximately 1500 yards of metal has been put out in various parts of the county. The motor iorrv has been engaged in carting to the Ihakara Hill, and is at present working on tiie Levin-Fox-ton Road, which is in very bad eonIdUtOO, having in many places broken ! through W the sand. This road will require a large amount of maintenance gravel in the near future. -~ Tlie new portable oil engine nas It been shipped from Lyttelton, and will I arrive ai any time now, and should J pe in position to start work about | the middle of next week. The roller | will then be available ip start rolling I again on the main roads. 1 A contract was let during the mouth for llie supply and delivery of maintenance metal for the main -road between Otaki bridge and Vvaihanae, and tiie contractors are making good progress. In company with Cr. Knox 1 visited and inspected the proposed watei race at Hautere from Mr Lethbridge's. As this race will be fed from a numI her of springs, I have not much conI fidence in the proposal, but I am having the springs, cleaned out.to ascertain the amount of water available

and will report more fully at next meeting. On the 4tli and sth of this month a fairly heavy flood occurred on the Manawatu River, and in the vicinity of the Shannon bridge further erosion has taken place on the western .bank) but no further damage lias been done on the eastern side.of the river.

The Ohau River was also in 1100. l towards the end of last week, but i “ have to report no further damage at ihe Muliunoa East; Road bridge.

A start has been made with the erection of a motor lorry- shed and benzine shed, 'and both these buildings should he completed before next meeting.

I again inspected tlie bridge on Lindsay Road during the month, and and that the repairs will be more costly than was at first anticipated. 1 now find that it will be cheaper to put in a concrete pipe culvert, so have ordered pipes accordingly.