HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 14 August 1923, Page 5

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

i The nionthly meeting of the Horo- ; wlienua County Council was held in ■ the Council Chambers on Saturday. The chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) presided. There were also present; Crs. Jensen, Galley,, Barber, Ryder, Bryant, Whyte, Harkness, and Broadbelt. | CORRESPONDENCE, The Wellington Automobile Association wrote that its executive at a recent meeting had decided to erect a board on the Hutt road notifying motorists of any main roads being closed for traffic owing to a slip or others reasons, and requested that the County notify the Association of any road closed or bridge dOAvn, when the fact would be recorded on the board. —This Avas agreed to. The Levin Borough Council lod Avarded a copy of an agreement in respect ftO' the water-race system.— Referred to a committee consisting of the councillors for the Wirokino Riding and the engineer Avith power to act.

The Borough Council further intimated its willingness to accede to the Council’s application for a lease of 21 years of a suite of offices in the proposed. Toavu Hall, the Comity Council to vacate the present offices when the neAv ones became available —Agreed.

Mr E, Newman wrote regretting ills inability to wait on the Council in rqgard to a road to-his property, as previously arranged, owing to indisposition, and asking that this road receive consideration.

Cr. Broadbelt pointed out that the road in question, Avhich was a side road leading off the Wait are re- road, was in a very had condition and difficult to keep in order. It had never been properly formed, and would require a considerable expenditure to put it in a proper state. However, the Council would have to do something. Mr Newman intended to start milking on this property and needed the road.

Cr. Harkness said it was a pity that the matter had not been brought up when the estimates Avere being framed.

In answer to a question from the chairman as to the possibility of including this road in a special 'loan area Avith the Waifa-rere road, the Engineer intimated that the settlers ’concerned \\ 7 ould probably agree to this. A Government grant Avould be necessary and should not be difficult to obtain, the County Council to supplement the amount in the usual way.

On the suggestion of Cr. Broadbelt it Avas agreed that Mr Newman be asked to make arrangements to* meet the councillors for the Riding and the Engineer Avith a vieAv to coming to some decision on the matter.

The County Solicitors wrote re the taking over of a neAv road being made to facilitate a subdivision of properties on the Manakau Beach Road, belonging to Messrs T. Bevan and. P. W. Inge. The chairman said that in connection Avith this road as with other roads which the County was asked to take over provision Avould have to be niia.de in the loan for payment of any supervision by the Engineer and office staff.

The Engineer intimated that this was being done and it Avas agreed that the matter be attended to.

From D. L. Corrigan offering to cart 100 yards of metal free of charge for the Gorge road, provided the Council would put on a further 100 yards. —Referred to the councillor for the Riding and the Engineer, with power to act. Accounts amounting to. £2647 8s Id, Avhich included 6 months’ interest on loans to the Treasury (£1422), were passed for payment. ENGINEER’S REPORT. 1 have not a great deal to report for the period just ended. The weather has been lairly good, hut work throughout tlie County lias been somewhat delayed owing to more than half the men having been laid up with influenza.

In the Tokomaru Riding everything is in very fair order excepting the main road, which in some places requires metal.

A contract was let during the month for the supply and delivery oi approximately 1200 cubic yards of metal for. this riding at a reasonable price. This contract should have been commenced ten days ago but owing \o illness the. contractor was unable to do anything; however, 'he informs me that a start will he made at the beginning of next week. it was my intention to- metal the portion of the main road Irom the Miranui mill gate to about two miles north of Makerua station, with rnetai from Paekakariki, but on making enquiries I find that it will he somq considerable time before this metal will he available. I therefore now propose to use metal from the Ohau river. Timber for the main load bridge in front of Mr Judd’s property and decking for tile Tokomaru bridge lias been ordered and work will be commenctd whenever this timber comes to hand.

Wirokino Riding.—Work in this riding is fairly well forward and the roads generally in good order. The water-tables have all been cleaned out and the small grader has been at work during the greater part of the month. Several old culverts have been renewed and two culverts have been put in on the Otai'ua road—a quantity of metal has also been put down on this road which is now in good ordqr. Tar is on hand for top dressing on main road, Weraroa Settlement, but until the heavy frosts are past, 1 do not think it would be advisable to do anything on this section of the road. Timber is on order for the Potts Jffiad bridges and should arrive at the end of the month. A start will be made on the bridges, whenever the bridge gang finish work in the Te Horo Riding. Thq crusher lias been again set up in the Bartholomew road pit and crushing operations wit be commenced whenevqr arrangements can he made for an engine to drive crusher.

Otalu Riding.—Only light maintenance has been carried out in Ids ridsing. Thq second'crusher has been set ■up in thq gravel pit on Waikawa Beach road and a contractor is at

present carting boulders to crustier in readiness lor the crusher to start work. Timber is also on order lor tbq bridge on South Manakau road and repairs to bridge on the Rahui mad will be carried ou within the next fortnight, in company witn Gr. Ryder 1 inspected the culvert on Freeman’s road and it was decided to replace thq old box culvert with ‘24 inch concrete pipes; the pipes will be on the ground at the beginning of next week.

Te Boro Riding.—Th e main roads have improved considerably sincq the heavy motor lorry traffic stopped. The portion between the Otaki bridgq and Te Horo has received light maintenanc and thq southern portion from Fraser’s road to Waikanae has received a lair coat, pproximately 400 cubic yards. In connection with reported danger to two bridges on Mang'aone road I have inspected both these bridges and havq to report that except for a slight slip on private property above one ot thqm, no alteration has taken place in tbe stream during the past 2£ yqars. Re fence c>n Rahui road—this will be attended to when the bridge gang are at work on this roah. Bq proposed water-race from Mr Lethbridge’s property, Otaki Gorge, I have spent some time during thq month making a trial survey and getting particulars of same. I will submit a report and estimate at next meeting.

GENERAL

Cr. Barbqr (Tokomaru) brought up the question of heavy loads amounting to as much as 10 tons, crossing the Shannon bridge. This was Power Board traffic engaged in carting polejs, but even so should not be allowed.

The chairman agreqd that the loan was excessive, but pointed out that it was widely distributed. Howevqr, it would be attended to.

C.r. Whyte said hq had inspected the work done on 'the 1 Kaihuna road by thq settlers and found it very satisfactory and done at a rate which left some of the County grant in hand for luture use.

Cr. Harkness (Wirokino) rqported having visited the Kawiu-Foxton road and found that the water was. making great inroads in the fillings in places, ilq suggested that the Engineer inspect with a view to action.

Engineer said the- Council was waiting for tliq Government estimates to come out before doing anything here. There was a fair sum sum of money on hand, but it sqeined that metal was needed before much improvement could be q’fected to the road. In reply to Cr. Broadbelt, the Engineer explained that as soon as an enginq could be arranged for to operate the crusher the Wallace road would receive the requir’d ; attention. Cr. Catiey asked when th e metalling provided for in the qstimates would be gone on with. There, were several roads in the Kuku district which nqeded repair. The Engineer said that it- was not advisable to put heavy lorries on the roads except where absolutely necessary, at ibis time of the year. Another tiling was that the rates werq only beginning to come in and it was inadvisable to get ahead of the available funds.

Cr. Bryant (Otaki) rqported that the Waikawa river appeared to be scouring out behind the bridge arid suggested that it might be advisable to put in groins.

Or. Jqnsen (Te Horo) asked if anything was being done about the Swamp road and Doctor’s, road contracts.

The Engineer explained that as regards the Swamp road it nad beqn proposed to take metal from the gravel pit near the spot. It was found, however, that thq occupier of the land on which the pit was situated, who was only leasing the land, had no power to- permit gravel to be taken off thq property. It would now be necessary to obtain metal from the Otaki river and he was waiting until the 'lorry was available for the work. It was decided that Cr. Rydqr interview the owner of the property wi h a view to obtaining permission to get th? nqcessary gravel from the pit. COUNTY RANGER’S REPORT. The Ranger reported having impounded 31 head of stock during the month. Cr. Harkness mentioned that a horse/ bad been running on Bruce road for over a week. He had -seen a number of other stock running on back roads as well. Crs. Catley and Jenscjn also spoke of the number of stock at targe, and it was decided to adopt the report with a recommcndaion to .the ranger that more attention be paid to the outlying roads o! (he Wirokino and Te Horo Hidings. The Engineer iwas instructed, to prqpare a report on the cost of the Bucklcy-Koputaroa road and place same before Council as soon as possible.

Proposed by Cr. Broadbelt, seconded by Cr. Catiey: “That the Engineer be instructed t° take legal action against thq Levin Sawmilling Co. for the damage done o the Tararu.i road by the carting of timber from the mill to Levin on motor lorries.”—Carried.

It was agreed that the following rates be written off as at 31st March, 1923, viz:— \ For the rating year 1919-20: Geneji'a! rate £llO 7s lid. Special rate £2l 3s 4d. Also lor the year ended 31st March, 1923. the Jollowing roles in the Te Horo Riding General rate and special latfjs Nos. 56, 64, 65, and 112, £4 Os sd. In connection with outstanding rates in general it was proposed by Cr. Broadbelt and seconded by Cr. Harkness: “That when possible a judgment be got on all rotes outstanding over two years, and thq amount bo attached to the title of the land in question.”—Carried. Applications for the position of County Clqrk wfcre before the meeting and after going thoroughly into the merits of the different applicants Mr F. H. Hudson was appointed to the position. This concluded thq business of the meeting which terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair.