HOROWHENUA COUNTY'S COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 16 January 1923, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY'S COUNCIL.

MEETING of COUNCIL,

The Council, met on Saturday. Present: Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), J. R. Whyte, F.J. Ryder, H,, Barber, J., McLeavey, C. I. Harkness, S. A. Broadbelt, H. G. Bryant and A. R.lvnox. Much-Discussed. License. Mr F. W. Vare informed the Council that his slaughterhouse near Otaki had been completed at last. Delay had been caused through the difficulty of obtaining timber and cement and the fact that the bridge across the Waitohu had been blocked.

Or. Ryder pointed out that stock was being killed without a license and the Council was being ignored. The Chairman: That is a matter fortho Stock Department. The Council could grant a license as soon as the preliminaries were in order. It was decided to grant the licenses when the necessary formalities were attended to. Road Repairs. The Otaki Borough Council stated that the main road between Otaki bridge and Waercnga road wanted immediate repair, and if the work was not done in seven days the Borough would carry it out, and charge the County half cost.

The Engineer reported that the road had been attended to. Otaki River District Roll.

Messrs Harper and Atmore, Otaki, stated that the Otaki River District was about to be constituted, and as there may be a difficulty in fixing the names of County electors in the river district, it was suggested the list of names be forwarded to the County Council for comparison to ascertain their correctness. —Received. Objection to New Rates. Mr Stahle, manager of the Bank of Australasia, Otaki, wrote re the rate demand on his property under the new valuation. ''The valuation of the properties is excessive, ’ ’ the letter stated, "as no land at the present time except town properties can be fairly valued at over £IOO per acre. Also we in that particular part of the County get nothing for our rates. The road fronting the properties rated was formed but not metalled some two years ago, and is nothing but a quagmire in wet weather. Can you inform me if there is any way of getting a revision of these valuations for we on small areas aic paving in the main on improvements without any corresponding benefits. It appears we would be better if included in the Otaki Borough Council.” Cr. Ryder' said the matter had been mentioned of approaching the Otalci Borough to got these properties taken in. The properties were just outside the town area on the road to Manaknu. The Chairman said that that rested with the owners. The County would not object. If they did so the Otaki Borough would have a considerable portion of the main road to maintain. The Chairman added that the clerk had re-, plied stating that objection to the rates should have been made to the Assessment Court.

While on the subject of Otaki roads, he would, take that opportunity of contradicting a statement made in the “Otaki Mail” that the main road at the rear of the railway, between Jubilee Road and Mill Road was in tlic County. This road was in the borough of Otaki. Slips on Road.

Mr C. Stewart asked the Council to remove slips on the man road leading to his property at Manakau. —Attended to. Culvert Too High. Mr F. E. Gurney, Otaki, drew attention to the condition of the culvert opposite his property on the Rahui road. It was too high and prevented the water getting away. —Referred to Cr. Ryder and the engineer with power to act. Road Overgrown. Mrs W. H. Simcox, Otaki, complained of the condition of the old coach road through being overgrown by lupin and toitois, and asked that these be cut back.

Cr. Ryder said he was over the road a short time ago, and it certainly was not in a very good state. Referred to Cr. Ryder and the Engineer to have matter attended to. Hautere Water Race. Mr R. Hagan, jnr., Otaki, waited on the Council and complained of the condition of the Hautere race which had had no water in it for some time. It wanted cleaning, and had not been attended to for two years. He had spoken to the roadmen and they said they had no instructions to do the work. He considered he had lost £2O in the month owing to having to water his cows through the supply boing cut off from the race.

The Engineer said Mr Hagan’s father had been sent up to clean the race. Mr Hagan said his father had gone to Te Horo and did not go. back to the race.

The Chairman: The point is you vant water and the Council will do its best

to give it to you. Mr Hagan sileo complained of the

dam at Beauchamp’s, which impeded thedfiow of the water. The Chairman said they would have to look into the matter and get it remedied, They hopnA to augment the from the Otaki river. The Chairman sttaed if it was a matter of cleaning, the Council would see into it. The Chairman stated the rate had never been sufficient to maintain the races, and if the rate was raised and maintenance better attended to, it would perhaps give more satisfaction. Cr. Ryder asked if some of the interested settlers would tender for cleaning the races. Mr Hagan said ho thought so. The Engineer said he proposed taking Mrs Hagan, senr., off the roads and putting him on races permanently. Cr. Harkness said it appeared the | races were nobody’s job in particular and nobody attended to them. A good system, however, was in force up heie. The Chairman said the Hautere race matter would be gone into to see what could bo done. Engineer’s Report.

The Engineer reported: During the period just ended, although tlio holidays have intervened, work generally has been carried out in a very satisfactory manner. Advantage was taken during the holidays to overhaul all plant, and this is now in good order and has been shifted to the new gravel pit at Shannon. Metalling of Tokomaru roads will be commenced at the. beginning of next week, probably Tuesday. A bridge on the Shannon-Tokomaru main road near Judd’s was damaged during the period, and a new concrete abutment had to be built. A new bridge is necessary and an allowance will have to bo made on next year’s estimates.

Metalling in the Wirokiuo riding is now practically completed for the ycai, although a few trucks of metal will be required for roads in the vicinity of Koputaroa. Sixty chains of main road through Wcraroa settlement received the first coat of tar during the week. Tarring at Te Horo was also completed during the month. Timber for redecking and repairs to the Oliau and Otaki bridges has now arrived in Wellington and will commence coming to hand on Monday next. Work will be comm.eij.ccd on the Ohau bridge during the coming week and it will, therefore, be necessary to close the bridge for all traffic for a certain period during each day until work is completed. Advice has now been received that the timbei for the Waitohu bridge has been lyingin Newcastle ready for shipment since the first week in November, but should, now arrive in Wellington about the 25th inst. Two temporary stringers were put in since last meeting. Cr. Harkness said the tarring of the road through the Weraroa settlement had been done very expeditiously, and he hoped it would turn out successfully.

Cr. Broadbelt enquired when gravelling was to be done at Koputaroa he had spoken of last month. The Engineer said it was his intention to procure some metal from Paekakariki, as it could be got cheaper than obtaining a supply fron^Ohau.

Cr. Broadbelt stated the settlers in Lindsay Road were asking that the pipes which were at present of no use whatever could not be taken up and placed as culverts in front of their gateways.

The Engineer said if the pipes were taken up they would be used elsewhere. Cr. Whyte said lie was pleased the roads at Makerua were to get some metal. A satisfactory arrangement had been made with the owners re the taking over of a connecting road in the Makerua.

Cr. Barber stated he would like to see the Engineer do something on the road to the Shannon bridge. It wanted attention in the low part through the swamp.

Cr. Ryder asked if it would not have been better to have put iron bark stringers into the Waitohu bridge instead of rimu.

The Engineer explained that hardwood stringers had been ordered for the. new bridge, and the rimu stringers would not be left there. They would be re-milled and used wherever wanted.

Cr. Ryder again drew attention to the dangerous corner where Sinicox’s private road meets the main road at Bevan’s Hill. Notices should be placed on the road to warn traffic as a collision might occur at any time. The Engineer said that notices were ready to be put up. Cr. Bryant complained of the condition of the South Manakau road. He thought the Government should assist as the road had been knoeked to pieces by the carting of hydro-electric poles. As regards tho Waikawa beach road the Government had granted a subsidy, and a subscription list was out to raise £IOO among the residents. Cr. Knox asked if another 50 yards of metal could not be got for the Gorge road, Te Horo riding, to put it in order. The. Chairman thought something

could te done. Cr. Knox said the Mangaone road was

bad and the bridge just about impass- * able. He thought the Engineer should go down ancl make an inspection. The* road up from the Te iforo railway station should have something done to it as it was very bad. |