HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 24 October 1923, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The County Council met on Saturday. The chairman, Cr. Monk, presided and there were also present: Crs. Broadbelt, Jensen, Catley, Harkriess, Barber, Ryder and Bryant. License for Slaughter House.

The inspector for the Department of Health forwarded a* report on the site of a proposed slaughter house to be erected at Otaki, and stated that if certain safeguards were adopted there could be no objection to this site.

The chairman said that this was a favourable report and the Council could not do anything but grant the request for' the license. Cr. Ryder stated he had inspected the site and could state that the slaughter house was well built. If the drainagje w.enti into ithe creeks thei'e was no doubt that there would be pollution. There had been "some objection, on the part of residents, to this license being granted owing to a neighbour's stream being polluted by another slaughter house, but if precautions were taken as suggested, similar trouble in this case could be avoided.

It was decided to adopt the recommendation of the Department.

Noxious Weeds.

The Director of the Department of Agriculture forwarded a circular letter informing the Council that under an amendment/ of tihe "Noxious Weeds Act of 1908," passed during the recent session, power was given to local bodies to declare any plant mentioned in the second schedule of the principal Act, except blackberry and sweetbriar, not to be noxious weeds within the means of the Act, within its district or any portion thereof. ■ \ The chairman said the reason for this was that in certain districts there were weeds, as. in the case of Californian thistle, which it was impossible to check and it gave local bodies an opportunity to remove v them from the list. —Letter received. Road-Signs For Motorists.

The Goodrich Service Corporation wrote that it was their intention to erect sign posts wherever permission could be obtained from the different Counties, drawing the attention of motorists, to the existence of dangerous corners, approaches to schools, etc., and asked for permission to erect such within the boundaries of the County. The. Wellington Automobile Association also wrote re the same question stating that they were willing to supply the. signs and asked if the Council would undertake the erection. Referred to the Engineer with power to act. Waikanae Beach Settlement.. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., wrote asking permission to install a temporary water isystem (at Jthe /Wainiclm township, Waikanae beach, until such time as a permanent one could be provided.—Referred to the Engineer and chairman with power to act. Hautere Water-Race Scheme.

A letter was received from Mr. G. M. Lethbridge's solicitors re terms under' which he was prepared to permit water to be taken from a creek running through his property for the proposed-Hautere water-race scheme. The chairman said he had nothing much to say except that the conditions imposed would effectually block the scheme. The Council had no idea that expenditure such as was suggested would be necessary. The settlers concerned would not be prepared to stand this cost.

The Engineer said that the suggestions would upset his estimation and he could not recommend that it be gone on with under the circumstances. On the recommendation of the chah man the matter was left to the member! of the Riding and the Engineer foi further inquiry. A MAKAKAU ROAD. Mr John Horn, Man-akau, asked that the Council consider the putting of a road into the property on which he and several other settlers were farming and which was now served by a half-chain right-of-way only. The chairman said thajt a special district would have to be/formed, and land bought for the purpose. Cr. Bryant said the present right of way was in a deplorable condition and was almost impassable. The chairman, suggested that a' committee should be set up to go into cost of the road, etc., their report to he submitted to the settlers _ concerned for their consideration.Agreed. The members for the riding, engineer and chairman being appointed such a committee.

Engineer's Report. The Engineer reported as follows: — "Although the weather was somewhat broken at the commencement of the period just ended and delayed work somewhat, still a jlarge quantity of metal has been put out throughout the County, and the work generally hat' been very satisfactory, the total amount of metal put out being 260 C cubic yards. The two crushers aro now at work, and given fine weather and suitable transport, large quantities of metal can be handled. The 'contractor in the Tokoma**. Biding 'has made good progress with' his contract, having put out about 90Q cubic yards during the period. - The timber is on the ground for repairs to the Tokomaru bridge and this work will be put in hand when the bridge gang is available.

In the "VVirokino Biding the main work has been metalling and trimming water tables. The contractor for the metalling of the roads in the southern end of the Biding is making fair progress, and has carted 575 cubic yards. The metalling of the roads in the northern end of the Biding has been commenced. "Wallace Road has received a fair coat of metal and a start made with Main Road, Ihakara. The Kawiu-Foxton Boad has been reformed and is now in readiness for metalling. A Government grant of £3OO, £ for £, is available for this work, and appli cation will bo made shortly to put it in hand. During the period a meeting was held in connection with raisinp money for the reforming and nietallinr of Waiterorc Road. The members for the Riding and the settlers interested were present. It was decided to form ji Special Rating Area and raise £9OO which, together with the Government subsidy . of £SOO and £IOO from the

County, will bring the amount up to £ISOO. , Improvements to the road in front of the school and public hall at Ohau will be made within the next few days, when the metal drays will be in that vicinity. Timber for the bridges on Potts Road and Main Eoad is on the ground and work will be commenced on same in the near future. The majority of the Wirokino men are at present working with the plant in Otaki Riding. Te Horo Riding. i The roads in this Riding are in fair order although metal is required for patching. This work will be started whenever the plant fmishos work ir. tire Otaki Riding. The bridge on the Te Horo Beach Road is completed, but the road requires metalling. I will try and arrange to have drays put on to, do this work next M r cck. A start will be made with the bridge on tire Hautere Cross Road next week. Pipes have been put in in the Hautere race on Mr. Best's property where leakage was taking place, and an ' alteration on thefluming on the Gear race through Mr. Windley/s property will have to brmade. In connection with flood water on road in front of public hall at Horo, this, in my opinion, was caused through pipes becoming blocked in the Gear water race. Cr. Jensen and myself visited the locality and have a.i\ ranged to make certain alterations which should help to abate this nuisance. Everything in the soiithern end of this riding appears to be in fair, order.''

Cr. Barber asked if something could not be done regarding the Tokomaru Valley rond. This was in a bad condition and should he attended to. The engineer .said he had asked Mr Nash of that localityto let him know when the road 'required attention when he could proceed with the work. This would save transporting men from Levin. He would see that the matter was attended to.

Or. Barber also stated that the Shannon-Foxton road was being cut up from Shannon to the bridge by the Manawatu County Council carting metal over this distance and he considered that, that body should contribute something to the repair thereof.

Cr. Broadbelt brought up the question of the Heatherlea-KoputaToa, road which required attention. He mentioned also that the Koputaroa Hall would be opened in about a fortnight and there was a request that some improvement might be made to the road in front, of the hall.—Agreed to.

In answer to Cr. Ryder the engineer stated that Green Lane would be attended to almost immediately. Cr. Jensen said there was complaint about loose sand being put on at the n.mproiadh %o *the bridge on the Tq Horo- Beach road. This was causing inconvenience to motor traffic.

The report was adopted, with a. resolution that the Manawatui County be asked to contribute towards the repiair of >)ha Shannon-Foxton road where they had caused damage.