HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 April 1924, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

APRIL MEETING.

The Horoiwhenua Comity Council met at Levin on Saturday. The chairman, Cr. fi. A. Monk, presided, and there were also present Crs. Ryder, Barber, Bryant, Harkness, Broadbelt, Galley and Jensen. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. Whyte. CORRESPONDENCE. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded an extract from the New Zealand Gazette off the 3rd inst., containing ,a notification of the proposal to include lands in the ManawatuOroua River district.—Received.

Mr H- R. Farquhar, surveyor, wrote for details of the requirements of the County re the formation of a road from 'Tokomaru through part of the Markeruia Swamp, which road it was proposed to ask the Comity to take over when formed.—Referred to the Engineer to reply to. The Shannon Borough Council wrote further regarding their request to lay pipes along County roads in the course of their water supply scheme—Agreed subject to the Shannon Borough Council accepting responsibility for any liability arising after the laying of such pipes. ' Messrs J. G. Peers and H. C. Easton wrote complaining of the state of the Buckley road from the overhead bridge to the river which it was stated was full of pot holes, the water tables also requiring attention. Rereferred to Cr. Barber and the En- ] gineer with power to act. GRANT FOR W.E.A. The Levin branch of the W-E.A. applied to the County Council for the' usual grant and also that, a representative of the should be appointed' to- the Committee. The chairman .stated that the idea of the Council in making the grant of £ls in the first place was that this amount should be granted to help the work in its ini tied stages, it being expected that after a time the movement would be self-supporting. Following this idea he would recommend that the donation be reduced this year to £lO. . This was .carried, Cr. Harkness being appointed to the committee. TARAR.UA ROAD.

Thfe IJevln Slawmilling Co. wrote asking for the County’s assistance in regard to the road from the "mill to the top of the Tararua road. They also asked that they should receive a share of any orders for timber required by the County.

The Chairman stated that he had recently gone over this road on which there were no- settlers living at the present time. The anaount of upkeep to keep the road in order for the settlers’ use Would be practically nil. The saw-milling Co. was practically the only user and he could not recommend that any alteration be made in the present arrangement.

The matter was refle-rred to the Councillors for the Riding, and the Engineer to report on at next meeting. APPLICATION FOR WATER.

Ah application was receixed from Messrs W. Ryder, Griffith Bros., arid R. A. Prouse, asking permission to divert part of the water from a race running through the Boys’ Training Farm, so as to bring the water to their properties.—Referred to the members of the Riding and Engineer. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer .'reported as follows: Since last meeting! the weather has been—fine and work throughout the County has been carried out in a very satisfactory and approximately 2700 cubic yards of metal has been put out on various roads. There is nothing of importance to report on in the Tokomaru Riding The Main Roads are in farly good order except the portion at Makeraa and I was in hopes of having had this section metalled before the meeting, but the contractor, has not yet-com-pleted Okuku road. A large pipe culvert on Albert road will be required to be removed and a bridge erected in place of same as in every heavy rain the water flows over the road and causes a good deal of inconvenience and damage. On Pretoria road a large box culvert has. collapsed under a heavy embankment and will have to be replaced with a concrete pipe culvert. If pipes are puit in, in the present position of the old culvert the road will have to be tunnelled and the cost will be very considerable (£210), but by making a divertion in the creek and shifting! the culvert to a new position the estimated • cost is £99. The timber for _)>ridge on main road near Mr Judd’s property is expected during next week and a sltart will then be made with the erection of new structure. WIROKINO RIDING. The roads in this riding are in good order although it is difficult to keep the main roads in anything like shape owing to the dry weather. Approximately 1100 cubic yards off. metal was put out in this riding during the period. Metalling on Arawhata- road has been completed. The formation work on Sand Road is finished and a start made with the metalling. The twin pipe culvert on Potts road was finished during the period and wafer table® on Levin-Foxton and other roads have received attention. Good progress was made with the Tiro Tiro road wafer supply, but owing to certain fittings not coming to hand the work has had to stop. The flood gate on the Aratangaita Drain has been repaired. The specification for the metalling off KawiU-Foxton road has been approved by ttie Public Works Department and I expect to receive the approved copy within the next few (lays when this work will he commenced. Re proposed metalling of road to Messrs' Webb and Hannan’s properties, Heatherlea, I have inspected the road and estimate the cost of grading and metalling at £2B? 10s.

Pipe Line Through Capper’s Property.—During the period just ended another attempt was made to stop the leaks in the pipe line through Mr Capper’s property, but has again proved unsuccessful.’ All the new joints with the exception of one have stood the pressure, but, a number of old joints gave out whenever the "Water was again turned on. As the repairing of leaks seems- to be proving aim endless job I would advise that either

iron pipes properly jointed be put in or the course of the race altered and a short fluming erected, if practicable. A survey and levels will be required to be taken before the fluming scheme can be considered, but to continue with the present pipe line I can now see is only a waste of time and will eventually prove useless. Referring to Mr Capper’s waterrace, the chairman, said that it Was now stated by the Engineer that the pipes would have to be replaced, it was for the Council to decide whether a fluming or pipes should he used, liis own experience was that fluming always leaked and probably they would have to consider the advisability oi getting; pipes. LOAN OF COUNTY MACHINERY.

Another matter which the chairman had to bring to the notice of the Council, was the loan of the road roller to the Public Works fo-r the purpose of shifting some heavy machinery to Mangahao. The rpller 'had been off the roads for 17 days, but as the weather was dry no great loss had resulted. He asked that the Council endorse his action in lending the roller.— Agreed to. TOKOMARU RIDING.

Cr.. Barber asked what was the agreement between the Count*' and the man who was attending to Metalling in the Tokomaru riding. The present position was unsatisfactory and he would like to see a new man given the work. The Engineer explained that the wjork was being done on a basis of so much' per yard. - He agreed that the position was not satisfactory, but there was difficulty in replacing the contractor.

Cr. Harkness congratulated the Engineer -on the comprehensive nature of his report. He inquired what was the County’s position an regard to the Waitarere road.

The Engineer explained that there had 'been no communication received tram the Government in regard to this road. .The application had been sent in and would be dealt with in order of priority. Cr. Broadbelt brought up the request of Mr McGill, of Koputaroa, that a special rate be raised to metal the ,road into his property and to that off a neighbour whose property could also be rated for the purpose. About £IOO would be necessary. It was agreed that the Engineer report on the matter. OTAKI RIDING.

Cr. Ryder stated that he had received a complaint that the metal on the Manakau South road required attention. The road between the Otaki railway and the railway station was in a bad condition and should be repaired. In answer to a question as to certain repairs to the Otaki Bridge, the chairman stated that this work would come under the Main Highways scheme. TE HORO RIDING. Cr. Jensen stated that on the soldiers road there was a portion of loose gravel which required binding. He asked that this be attended to. There was also a sand-drift on this road which should be watched. HOKIO BEACH ( ROAD. The chairman explained that in regard to the proposed deputation to the Ministers off Education and Agriculture in regard to a subsidy to this road, that a letter had been received from Mr W. H. Field, M.P., stating ! that there was great difficulty in getting the two ministers together in Wellington. He hopedj, however, to arrange such a meeting next week and would advise the County when this was done.

The jEingineer was instructed to have the Hokio stream cleaned out at a cost not to exceed £lO. RANGER’S REPORT. The County Ranger reported that he had during the month impounded 47 head of wandering stock. COUNTY RATES. The following resolutions were carried: Proposed by Cr. Barber, seconded by Gr. Ryder, that in accordance with the provisions of section 28 of the Rating Amendment Act, 1910, an additional charge of 10 per cent, be added to all rates outstanding at the expiration of six months from the date of application therefor. It was decided that the land comprising the Shannon-Buckley road be duly dedicated under the Public Works Act and that the necessary survey work be done in connection therowith. Agreed that the settlers on the Waitarere road, who* had drains bordering on the road should ,be given notice under the Land Drainage Act to imediately clean same and deepen where necessary. • It was decided that the Engineer’s honse be wired fqr electricity.