HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 February 1924, Page 4

HORO WHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly of th(3 Horo.ua Council was held in the Council Chambers on Saturday morning, Cr. G. A. Monk occupying the chair. Also present: Crs. Jensen, Catley, Broadbeh, Bryant, Whyte, Barber ami Darkness. Railway Culvert. From the Otaki Chambjer of Commerce asking the assistance of the Council in approaching the Railway Department re the lengthening of a culvert at the Otaki goods shed. The chairman stated that as far as

he could maKje out me ruau m was a private one. At the same time they could represent to the Railway Department the advisability of putting the road in a better condition. Agreed to. , _ . Waikanae Beach Road. The County solicitors forwarded a draft of a memorial to His Excellency the Governor asking for proclamation in respect to land taken for the Waikanae beach road deviation. The County solicitor also wrote that the plan in connection with the diviation of abovje road, had been approved by the Governor-General, and enclosing a memorandum for signature by the chairman. On the motion of Cr. Monk, seconded . Kxr rtv. -TpnsoTi- it. was decided a portion

of the road, aggregating two acres pnp rood 2.24 perches, be closed and that the land comprising same be exchanged by the Council with Mr. W. H, Field, of Wellington, for an area of 2 acres 33.01 perchps for the purpose of the deviation. Otaki Gorge Road. Mir, ft Hautere Cross wrote re the opening of the Otaki Goige north bank road, and stating that the settlers were willing to do the work. A sum of £3OO was available and this should bp sufficient. The chairman stated that this reopened the question of the opening of this road. The money available might be sufficient to open the road but fthc keeping of it open was another matter. He understood that the settlers concerned were willing to kepp the road in order, but it was possible that these men might sell out and the new mou refuse responsibility. At tbp same time he felt that something should be done for these settlers. Another thing was in regard to the suspension bridgp on this road. The Public Works engineer had asked that an inspection of this bridge should be made in order to prevent this structure following that on thp Otaki. Gorge Road. He would therefore suggest that before any money was spent on the road, an inspection of the bridge should be made in order to ascertain if it was in a satisfactory condition. —Agreed to. .It was agreed further that the request of Mr. Blackmore be agreed to on condition that maintainance could be arranged and that the bridge proved satisfactory. Waihoanga Crossing. A letter was received from Mr. H. W. Stpvens, Otaki Gorge Road, stating the wire rope over the Gorge, erected in place of the Waihoanga suspension bridge, was worn out with the result that the school had had to bp closed. The cage was also of unsatisfactory construction and h’e asked that some better arrangement should be made. The engineer statpd that in view of the criticism which had been made he Avould like to state that he had recently been across in thp cage with four Public Works officers and had no trouble whatever. These Public Works engineers had stated that they were quite satisfied with the construction and he considered that Mr. Stevpns’ letter was quite uncalled for.

Cr. Jenspn agreed that, as far as he could see, the arrangement at present was satisfactory. At the same time if anything, could be done to make these peoplle feel more secure, it should be adopted. The chairman stated that they had done everything possible. There had been a promise of a bridle on the pulling, which, although hp did not consider it was necessary, it would be as well to put on, if it would give the settlers a feeling of security. At the same time h’c took pxception to the tone of Mr. Stevens’ letter. The design of the cage was one accepted and approed by the Public Works Dppartm’ent, and as everything had been done to assure safety, there was nothing more that could lie done. The letter was received. General. Accounts totalling £2454 10s lid and including £1424 14s 6d balance of yearly interest on loans were passed for payment.

Engineer’s Report,

VThe County; JEtngfcnfaleir tjpd: — k Otaki Riding. “I have practically nothing to report in this riding. Te Manuao Road has been metalled and a start made on the Main Road. When the Main Road is completed a start will be made on Blairs’ Road. Everything is now in readiness for the construction of the new bridge on the south Manakau road, and work will be commenced when the •rang finishes the Potts 7 Road Culvert. Te Horo Riding. Metalling on the west end of Te Horo bleach road has b'een completed, and a start made with the Mangaone Road. The Main Road south of Te Horo has been patched and a quantity of metal is being put out on the Otaki Gorge Road. Work on the Hautere water races has bc'on completed and the races are now in good order. Re proposed Hautere water races extension, I have had the springs on Mr. Lethbridge’s property opened up and have tested same, and find there is not enough water coming from the springs to take into consideration the scheme. I also measured the main stream, and find that the water at present running in this stream w T ould not fill a four inch pipe. As one of Mr. Lethbridge’s conditions is that a full three-inch pipe full of. water must flow in this stream, enough water would not be available for the proposed new extension. I would therefore advise that the Council abandon the proposal.” 1 In answer to Cr. Jensen, who asked 'hen the plant would bp. available, for

tli Te Horo riding, tke engineer stated that during the present dry weather there was not much use in going on with repair work. As soon as possible, however, the plant would be sent down. Cr. Jensen presented an application from the Otaki Gorge settlers asking that a suspension footbridge be put across tke river in thp place of the Waihoanga cable and cage at present in use. The settlers were prepared to do the work if the County would supply tho material. —Agreed to. The engineer’s report was adopted. A ndtice of motion was proposed by Cr. Monk that the charge for an eatinghouse license within the boundaries of this County should be raised from 10s to £1 in order to conform with the provision of the Health Act. Proposed by Cr. Catley, seconded by Cr. Broadbelt, that the Dog Tax for the year 1924 be fixed at 2s 6d per head for .sheep and cattle dogs and for house and sporting dogs 10s per head; and further that George Watson, whose residence is Princess Street, Levin, be appointed registrar for the Horowhenua County for the year 1924.