HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, 17 January 1923, Page 3

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ i MONTHLY MEETING. ' The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at Wellington yesterday. Present: Crs. H. D. Atkinson (chairman), A. I. Mackay,- J. Whitcman, W. I. Limbrick, H. Foley, A. R. Edwards. Correspondence. Correspondence was dealt with as follows: Odlin's Road.

From John Odlin and Co. re the maintenance of Odlin's road, and stating the new portion of the road had been completed. They asked that the matter ox maintenance be considered by the-Council and that they be given permission to maintain the 200 chains of road for one year for £45. It was considered by Councillors that Odlin & Co. were geting all the benefit of the toad, and getting more in return than ibey paid in rates.—Dcceidcd to offer £l*s Dangerous Practice.

From C. Chadwick, drawing attention to tie danger of permitting cricket matches on lite 1-limmerton beach. He pointed out that several children had already been injured. Thi Clerk said he bad received, complaints of a similar nature from three others.

Dee-Vied to erect a notice I < aid noti tying that-cricket would not be permitted on the beach.

Or. Limbrick said some mothers had even gone SO far as to obstruct play by standing in front of the wickeis.

1 A- Paekakariki Matter. From Agnes Guthrie, asking permission to erect a galvanised iron fence on . the Beach Road at Paekakariki so as to prevent fire reaching her house and' to provent wandering stock doing damage. She also desired permission to remove some small trees. Cr. Mackay said annoying conversation went on under the trees near the house, and proposed that permission as I asked for be granted.—Agreed to. ; , A Paraparaumu Complaint. I From Rev. Kcndrick, stating that while cycling along the Paraparaumu road he encountered a mob of cattle | and the drovers refused to help him so | that he might pass. The cattle were j I mostly wild and near Waikanae he took | to tho railway lino and there passed them. He was, however, very late for Church service, besides being subject to annoyance. —Decided that as no names were given no action be taken. Paekakariki Parade. From Minister of Lands, noting that the Council agreed to provide one third of the cost of tho extension of the parade, Paekakariki. —Received, it being understood that the Government would provide a similar amount. Kapiti Crossing. From Railway Department regretting it could not accede to the Council's request to remove gates and fences at Kapiti crossing at Paraparaumu and thus make a level crossing.—The Clerk stated that advice from the Council's solicitors was that the road was a public one, and therefore the Department should remove obstacles. Qtaihanga Crossing.

It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Mackay, that the Minister be asked to put up an overhead bridge at Otaihanga, the Council to do part of the roading. An Obstruction. From N.Z. Railways, asking the Counto give attention to trees interfering with a view of the railway at Waikanac (Higginson's).—The Inspector said he could not understand why the Department called upon the Council, it was the Department's duty to request the owner of the property to clear the trees.

Cr. Mackay favored writing Mr Higginson, and asking him to clear the view.—Agreed to. Warwetu Stream.

From Hutt River Board submitting proposals re the clearing of Waiwetu stream.—Cr. Foley objected to the Council contributing much towards the cost as tho County was only slightly concerned.—Cr. Foley and Inspector appointed to attend a meeting and report to the Council.

Paekakariki Hill Road. From Wellington Automobile Club re fencing the Paekakariki Hill road and offering £IOO to the Council if it would fence tie northern side within six months.—Cr. Mackay said the cost of fencing 21 miles would amount to about £4OO. He suggested the Automobile Club appeal to other Councils for help, especially as they would benefit. The-Chairman thought the worst parts might be done, while Cr. Foley favored the Council giving a £ for £ Cr. Limbrick also considered the Council (Whareroa Biding) should assist. He thought the Government might help. Cr. Mackay considered all Ridings •were interested and did not see why the whole responsbiility should rest on his Riding. Or. Limbrick suggested Cr. Mackay [take the initiative and get into touch with other local bodies and ask for supI port. *

The Clerk was authorised to ackuowledge the letter and to state to the Automobile Club that the matter was under consideration, also to add that the Council as in sympathy with their appeal. It was chcided to aypeil to all local bodies b'hreen. WeUiagtrr. ana Palmerston (inclusive') for monetary heln. "

An OhjapHoft. i From Wellington Automobile Club, Objecting to direction hoards, contain-1 ing advertisements, being erected ia the future—Cr. Mackay was in sympathy with the Club, and moved that advertisements on boards be submitted tn

the Council prior to their erection. — Agreed to. Cemetery Matters. It was reported that the Taita Cemetery Board had decided to acquire more land for burial purposes, but, owing to the i.\ scuce of the Council's delegates from the meeting the area was not agreed upon. —Cr. Foley reported that he. did not receive his notice of the meeting till too late, while Cr. Atkinson said he received his after the meeting was over. A lettci from the Board pointed out

that it would again meet to discuss the

area to be taken, and hoped the Council's delegates would be present. —Cr. Foley said he would attend, but Cr. Atkinson said as the meeting was fixed at an inconvenient hour he could not be present. Deputation. Cr. Foley suggested that a deputation, which \vas to be heard, should be asked to state their case and withdraw,

after which the Council could deal with the matter. Deputations from I'aekakariki, he said, had a weakness to prolong meetings which was detrimental to the business of the meeting. Further vl\ desired to speak, whereas the remarks should be confined to one. Other Councillors agreed, and the depu-

tation was to be informed accordingly, but failed to attend.

Clerk's Report. The Clerk (A. J. McPherson) reported that the credit balance to date was £4327, and after payments had been made for the meeting there would be a credit of £2700. He reported that Whitcman's Valley road extension through Pringie's to the river at Silverstream was a public road, and that the final payment of £IOO had been paid Mr Smith, of Paekakariki, for his quarry.

Mr Pringle, by letter, said he did not know of a road through tho estate, but he would communicate with Mrs Cotter, who previously owned some of the road.—Held in abeyance, pending an answer. Inspector's Report. The Inspector (Mr Cudby) reported that a slip occurred on the JudgefordMoonshinc road which for the time stopped all traffic. Planks of a bridge in the same locality were broken through heavily-laden motor lorries. One carried 24 bales of wool, the other 25. The planks were of solid totara. Good work had been done on the Munganui road. He hud been in communication with the Railway Department re the purchase of some 400 gallon tanks which could be used as a rubbish receptacles at Plimmerton. The bridge near Campbell's sawmill at Akatarawa had been repaired, some 3000 ft. of planking being used. The work was carried out jointly by the Council and the sawmillers. Stokes road had been widened, and a portion nonneeded metalling. Planks, etc., were required for Blackie's bridge at Horokiwi Valley, also 620 ft. for an adjacent bridge. For these he recommended hardwood limber, so as to cope with tho increasing heavy motor traffic. The Inspector said it could be proved who broke the bridge, and the Chairman suggested action be taken for damages. It was generally agreed that it was a mistake now to have totara planks and agreed that hardwood timber was most suitable. Cr. White-man thought if action was taken the Council would lose the case as it was for the Council to provide suitable bridges for heavy traffic. Cr. Mackay favored action being taken. Cr. Whiteman said the ford was a good one and considered motor-lorries should make use of it. It would be a very expensive item to re-plank the bridge.

It was decided to sue for damages provided the roadman considered there were reasonable grounds to go on.

It was decided to declare the Pahuratahi bridge unsafe for heavy traffic. The Range*. The ranger (Epuni Riding) reported that the roads had been free of stock, only twelve head having been seized. — Cr. Whiteman said at Akatarawa the roads roads were overrun with stock. C. G. Griffith (ranger) reported that in other parts of the riding 31 head had been seized, including stock at Waikanae, Paraparaumu, and Rikiorangi.

It was decided to ask the ranger to keep a watchful eye on stock in the Akatarawa district. Statutory Half-Holiday.

At a special meeting Wednesday was fixed as the statutory half-holiday, it being agreed that this was the most suitahie day,