HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 November 1921, Page 1

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

n ■" ~ ■■-—— -« - I NOMEMBER MEETING. The monthly meeting on Saturday was attended hy Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), F. J. Ryder, J. R. Whyte, G. Barbei’, S. A. Broadbeli, A. R. Knox, J. McLeavey and H. G. Bryant Apology was made lor the absence oj Cr. C. I. Harkness. The Woodville County Council tor warded a resolution of protest againsi the postal rural delivery fee, which had been proposed by the PostmasterGeneral, and was to take effect m January next. The chairman said that it appeared the Government was really out oi pocket by the rural service. It the people got the service they should he prepared to pay for it. On Cr. Ryder’s motion, the letter was received, the mover speaking against the remit. The Manawatu Council asked for support in protesting to the Railvva> Department against their high tarifi on benzine. The* chairman and Cr. Ryder spoke in support of the protest, which it was decided to endorse. Mr W. Winter, contractor, wrott that he regretted being unable to undertake the work of gravelling Lindsay Road. Owing' to his plant being idle for the last four weeks he was in Levin, he was compelled to take a contract with the Eketahuna Council, which would lake twelve months to complete. He hoped the Council would be able to get the work pushed through at an early 'date.—Received. Mr L. Peach, Shannon, stated that in event of Mr McDonald completing the Tokomaru Valley contract,, the writer asked that his wages oi £l2 for which the Council held an order, be retained and forwarded to him by post—Received. Messrs. Harvey and Co., Ltd., Levin, applied for the lease of a portion of a road in Tokomaru Valley as the site for a sawmill. The Engineer said if a mill were put ,up it would be necessary to gai an undertaking indemnifying the Council if the road were damaged. On the chairman’s motion the matter was left in the hands of the Clerk'and Engineer to look hito the matter of the lease,' and to take steps for the protection of the road from heavy traffic. The Tokomaru School Committee asked for a refund c>f 18s, cost oi carting three loads of metal to the school. Cr. Whyte stated that the Council had promised to pay the cost ol' the mjatal, whijeh statement -’ Was sup posted by the Engineer. The Committee’s request was agreed to. Messrs. Park and Best, P. L. Arcus and L. Prouse wrote that the road leading in to their properties from Beach Road at the Hokio wanted attention. / The Engineer said he had promised to put the grader over the roa,d when it was available. A culvert also wanted, attention. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer * Mr A. McLeavey, Ohau, informed the Council that water from the water race collected on his property and that of Mr R. Healy, and formed a lake. If a deviation were made it would prevent the water escaping from the race.—The Engineer was instructed to have the matter attended to.: PLAINT AGAINST RANGER. Mr w. J. Miller, Levin, complained of the action of the county ranger in interfering with the writer’s cows in Tiro Tiro on the 13th inst. 'to obtain access to a night paddock it was necessary to t,ake the stock round Kawiu Road. While his daughter was driving the cattle on this route the ranger irdered her t.o return the cattle to the farm. He asked the Council to instruct the ranger to allow the cattle to proceed in future without being molested.

The ranger said complaint liad been made to him about this stock grazing on the road for hours at a time. On the day in question Mr Miller’s daughter was not driving the cows, but sitting on the road in front, and allowing the cows to graze on the road. It she had been driving them he would not have interfered. The ranger’s explanation was accepted. Cr. Ryder reported that stray stock was still in evidence in the Otaki riding. The ranger said he was out nearly the whole of Friday night in the Otaki and Te Horo ridings, and had not seen a single beast on the roads. The ranger referred to a letter that had appeared in the local paper with

reference to stray stock on the Muhunoa and Ohau roads. He explained that during the recent epidemic at Muhunoa, when native owners were not allowed to send milk to the factories, their cows were taken over oy European farmers and milked, so as to help the natives. During this time the ranger decided to allow some latitude regarding the Maori farmers’ cows and allow them ?n the roads, but he found that a certain European had taken advantage of the occasion and put his cows on the road top. The ranger had impounded these cows, and the owner. would appear at the next sitting of the S.M. Court. MOTIONS. The councillors for Wirokino, with the Engineer, were \authorised to inspect land on the Arapafepap Road south of Queen Street, with a view to obtaining an extension 1 to the present gravel reserve 'on Mr Prouse’s property, and report ta next meeting. On Cr.* Broad belt’s motion, the recommendation of Cr. McLeavey and the Engineer to fence the gravel pit. facing Beach Road on the Experimental Farm property as agreed to with Mr McCulloch, was approved, the work to proceed as soon as possible, the gate to be locked, Mr McCulloch to hold one key and th 3 Engineer ths oth^r. - Correspondence. The Health Department stated that legislation was proposed that would give power to County Councils to make grants to district nurses. —Received. The Rangitikci County Council stated that, it had forwarded the following remit to the last conference of the j Counties Association: “That. County j Councils be exempt from the operation ! of all arbitration awards.” The re-* was unanimously adopted, but the j co-operation of all councils was sought to get an amendment of the present Act to safeguard the Councils interests in this respect. The Chairman stated that in some local bodies the whole of the employees are under the award, in others a portion were under the award and in others none were effected. The employees should cither all be under the award or none should be. The remit was supported. A Te Horo Road. Mr Evelyn -Macdonald, Te Horo. wrote re the Te Waka road, which was' in a neglected state, and he protested j against the policy of taking no action [ simply because there were no com- I plaints. He also asked that when me- j tailing was being done in the vicinity a few loads be put down at his entrance gates. The metal pit at the junction of the Pahiko extension road required a short piece of protecting fence. . A notice should be put up to prevent further removal of gravel, which was undermining the road. He complained again of the neglect re the Pahiko drains. Complaint was also made about the recent erection of telephone poles along the road, and the damage of being a collision with some of them, owing to their not being back far enough from the roadway. The Chairman said what Mr Mac donald said about the gravel pit was right, and no more gravel should be removed from it. If their condition necessitated attention, the engineer should take steps to put the Pahiko drains in order. He thought the members for the riding and the engineer should go into the complaints made and report. This was agreed to. Access at Manakau. Mr J. W. D’Ath. Manakau, informed the Council' that Cr. .Ryder had interviewed him re. access to Messrs Sim cox and Bevan’s properties, South Manakau. A half-chain road had been set aside some years ago, but the authorities would not pass it is it was not a chain wide. However, Messrs Simcox and Bevan continued to use it. If the Council paid the writer £2O lie would fence it on both sides, or the County could fence and he would give the land. Probably it could be vested in the Council. Failing this he was j prepared to sell a full chain road for £4O and fence it, or he would accept less if the County fenced. The length was about 10J chains. The Chairman considered Mr D ’Ath’s offer was very reasonable, but the expense should fall on those who worked the right-of-way. He moved that the letter be sent on to Mr Simcox, as it was he who approached the Council about it. The motion was carried. Messrs Park and Adams, solicitors, wrote in reference to the outlet asked for by Mr Bevan, of Manakau, through

a portion of Major Tatum's property. They had communicated with Mr Beva>i, who said the alternative route pro- ; posed by Major Tatum was quite im- J practicable. It seemed there was no prospect of coming to any arrangernent whereby a right-of-way could be ; taken by consent, and this being so it j would be necessary to take steps under the Public Works Act.—lt was decided that provided Mr Bevan bears the cost, the Council take steps under the 1 ub- , lie Works Act to put the road through. Bridge at Waihoanga. Messrs W. F. Bussling and A. L. Corrigan, Waihoanga, asked for assistance in paying the repairing to the footbridge giving access to their properties. The bridge was the only outlet they had and the initial expense was borne by the. settlers. The cost of the repairs was £37 6d. The Chairman said as the setilers had gone, .to the expense of putting up the bridge" the Council might give son.o little assistance, but the engineer should go in to the account and see what work had been done. Or. Knox said the bridge had been widened and ' greatly improved, and was the only means of crossing the Otaki river that women and children had. as the ford was dangerous. The Chairman's motion that the engineer go into the account, for repairs Teas, carried, the Chairman stating that the Council could not hold out any hope of paying the full amount. Ngarara Drains. Mr W. H. Field, M.P., telegraphed strongly urging that immediate attention be given to the neglected Ngarara drains, as the loss arising therefrom had been severe, his son having lost several beasts which had been bogged on what was previously dry land.— Left in the hands of the Chairman and Engineer to inspect and report. Cr. Bryant/'(Otaki) said he considered that a notice should be placed on the Waikaw a bridge limiting the speed, at which lorries crossed with heavy loads. Flax carting contractors were causing a nuisance by dropping odd bundles of flax on the road and leaving them there. Cr. Bryant'added that he had been approached about the condition of a half-chain road in South Manakau, and whether the .Council could do anything ,to assist the residents there.—lt was decided that enquiry be made. Cr. Ryder (Otaki) reported that the Otaki bridge and approach must be attended to. There were several bad holes in the asphalt .surface on the bridge, but the engineer said they must have warm weather to allow of the asphalting being done. The Pahiko drain-cleaning wopld be completed on Monday.

Cr. Knox (To Boro) said the only thing that wanted'attention in Te Horo were the drains, which should be ’..'caned. Perhaps the engineer could arrange to make, an inspection of them. Mr Davidson,- of Te Horo. had asked that the drain near his place be attended to as soon as possible. The engineer and Cr. Knox were appointed to inspect and report. Engineer’s Report. The Comity Engineer reported:— In Otaki riding everything is in very fair order. The main road from Jubilee Road to the Otaki bridge has been maintained and Rahui Road and other roads in the vicinity are at present .receiving a coat of maintenance gravel. Te Horo Riding: The southern section of this rhlmg is getting somewhat .;ut of rep:. ll , (out this is accounted for ».v the fact C.ut ther- ha- '■••on no surfaceman on ibis see tic a for nearly r < uths. fb. »•' ei, a new nan has been a PI tinted wll commence work on Monday nexr. .Tec ether part if the riding is in fair order although a few of the district roads would be the better for a few loads of gravel. Contracts: Very slow progerss has been made during the period with the Ohau East metalling contract, but as there is not a very large quantity of metal now to put out this, work should be completed before next meeting. Work on the water race deviation is progressing in a very satisfactory manner. The metalling of the Raluii and adjacent roads are also receiving sutisfac. to rv attention.