HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 13 September 1921, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the County Council was hold, on Saturday. Present: Crs. Monk (in the chair) Broadbelt, Knox, Whyte, Bryant, Barber, MeLeavey, Harlcness and Ryder. Correspondence. 1 The Public Works’ Department asked for particulars of County loans, rates, valuations, also in regard to roads, bridges, and county property generally. —The clerk stated that the information was being supplied. Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, diew the Council’s attention to the .necessity of paying the amount due. The hospital funds were seriously strained and until the levies due were paid, the Hospital Board would be unable -to make necessary payments. The Chairman stated that so far as the-Horowhenua Council-was concerned, the hospital accounts were paid to date. Messrs Cooper, Raplcy and Rutherford, Solicitors, Palmerston North, on behalf of the Trustees in Bright Bros, estate and for Mr W. M. Simcox, owner of section 31, plan 119, subdivision of block X, Waitohu Survey district. Mr Simcox informed the writers that there was a road at the back of that- property leading to. the North Manakau road, and that it had been taken over by the County. They asked to be informod if that was correct. Cr. Ryder said he could not say whether the road had ever been taken over by the Council, and he questioned very much whether the right-of-way was a legal one. It may have been taken over by the old road board, but he did not know whether it hud been by the Council. The Chairman said he had no information about it at all. Cr. Ryder said he would make furthor enquiry, and the matter was held over. Mr W. D. Patten, To Horo, wrote re the cleaning of the drains on Pukemiro settlement. Nothing had yet been done,- and he asked the Council to enforce the penalty as provided by the Act. Cr. Ryder said he had heard that what Mr Patten asked for was ridiculous. The engineer said he had visited the drains, and there was little cleaning required. The trouble mainly caused by cattle breaking down the banks. ■ The engineer was instructed to have the work attended to. Stray Stock. The ranger reported that 132 head of stock had been impounded during the month, and 10 offenders were to come before the next sitting of the Court. Cr. Ryder said there was one very bad case near the Rahui factory. When the milk was coming in the factory gates had to be left open and cattle got in the factory yard and damaged the grounds. This was not right at all as the manager had gone to a lot of trouble to put the grounds in very nico order. It was resolved to draw the attention of the ranger to this complaint. General. In reply to Cr. Ryder, the chairman said that the public road at Otaki would shortly receive attention. Cr. Knox asked about the water race at Te Horo, and if the engineer would prepare an estimate for the work. The chairman .said the matter would bo attended to. Accounts amounting to £2427 2s 2d wore passed for payment. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer reported that the period ending that day had been a very quiet one and there was nothing of importance to report. The general work had been carried out in a satisfactory manner. The road plant was shifted from the Tokomaru Riding to Levin. during the mouth and would start work on the main road from Levin, to Ohau within the next few days. The roads throughout the County had recoived a good deal of maintenance gravel, and taking everything into consideration were now in a fair order, although some of the main roads were practically utorn out. Pipes for the Florida Road bridge had been ordered and should arrive at anytime. A start had also been made with the repairs and re-decking of bridge on Muhunoa East Road. Good progress was being made with the metalling contract on Ohau East road.

Cr. liarkness said he was glad something was being done on the Mnhunon east bridge. A little patching was required on the top , end of McLeavey road.

Cr. Broadbelt said a good many accounts for work on the Arapaepae road had been put in this month, and he asked for particulars.

Those were supplied by the engineer. Or. Broadbelt said the condition of the beach road was bad owing to the

encroachment of lupins. The summer was coming on, and the road should be cleared. In reply to Cr. Broadbelt the Clerk said the borough was receiving a subsidy from the townspeople towards this road. The engineer in reply to a further said work on the Gladstone road was going on very, satisfactorily. Nothing further had been done regarding the deviation of the main water raee. The Chairman said there were certain formalities to be attended to betwoen the different public bodies before the work of deviating the race could go on. Or, McLeavcy expressed pleasure that the soldiers' road at Kuku had been attended to. The engineer's report was adopted, and the engineer was instructed to prepare a plan of the proposed district for water supply to Messrs Lumsdcn and others at To Horo, also an estimate of coot of same; that Mr J. G. Harkness be granted permission to erect gate on road at Paliiko extension, .same to remain during the pleasure of the Council and erected subject to County engineer 's approval. General. The action of the Chairman and engineer was confirmed in getting an estimate for the overhaul of the County crusher. Time- of Meeting. Cr. MeLeavey stated that the Council had that day reverted to the 9.30 a.m. meeting in place of 11 o 'clock. Although the hour did* not effect himself personally, lie thought if the business could be done for six months of the year by starting at 11 o’clock, it could be done in the other half of the yearr On tlio other hand, the summer was a busy time for some- of the Councillors, and he moved that the hour of meeting be 11 o'clock. The Council agreed with Mr McLeavey's remarks but the Chairman pointed that the hour of meeting in each six months of tho year was fixed by resolution, and an alteration would require notice of motion. The Chairman said lie would move that the next meet-ing-be held at 11 a.m., and Cr. McLeavey could give notice of motion to rescind the resolution on the Council's books to fix the hour at 11 o’clock in future. This was agreed to.