HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 18 July 1924, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ilorowhenua County Council was 'held in the Borough Chambers on Saturday, the chairman, Cr. G. Monk, presiding. Also present: Crs. Jensen, Catley, Broadbelt, Barber, Ryder, Bryant and i Harkncss. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. White. - Accounts totalling £2989 13s 7d were passed for payment, this sum in- j eluding £1450 19s 8d contribution to . the Palmerston North Hospital Beard. : Correspondence. - - ' t- ’

Mrs. M. L. Burch, Ohau, wrote stat- j ing that in order to enable her to cart j timber on to her property at Ohru.it was necessary that a cutting should be I put in from the main road, and as-dng j if permission was necessary before i commencing the work. She also inquired' if the Council was prepared to assist with the work pf giving access to the property. Or. Harkness stated that the section referred to was the one opposite the post office. A high cutting would be necessary and as some of the spoil would have to be deposited on the County property he had advised Mrs. Burch to apply to the Council. ) The engineer stated that it would not' be possible for the County to assist in the work beyond supplying a culvert. —Permission to do the work necessary would be given as requested. Dangerous Culvert. The Otaki Chamber of Coimnerc wrote asking that the Council approac | the Railway Department regarding a j culvert leading into the railways goods I shod at Otaki, and which, it was 'stated, j was narrow' and dangerous, with a view 1 to'having the said culvert widened. ■ j The chairman stated that Crs. Jensen | and Ryder' and himself had inspected ; the work and found that between the I road and the railway culverts, a hole i had been left. Hd would suggest that application be made to the Department, that failing their agreement to connect the two , culverts, a railing be put round the hole, or the County be given permission to do the work. —Agreed to.

Pinancing Main Highways. The Waitomo County Council for-' warded the following resolution ask-, ing for the support of the Council in its application: “That the Government be urged to take ipto consideration the necessity of amending the exisiting legislation so as to enable local bodies to obtain sufficient loans from the State Advances' for the purpose of the Main Highways Act and other development work.” —Agreed to support the motion. The Public Works Department, . Wellington, wrote stating that the District Engineer had been appointed the Board’s representative with whom the Council should communicate regarding necessary work of repair, etc. It was asked that the Council forward to the District Council proposals for work to' be undertaken in regard to Main Highways within their boundaries, it being pointed out, however,_ that-with-out an amendment to existing ’ legislation to permit of finance no work could be undertaken for some time to come. The chairman stated that the maintenance estimates had already been submitted.' The Board had already rethe ■ roading proposals also. He moved that the letter be received.— A nrrnprl to * Returned Soldiers* Rates.

The following motion, proposed by Cr. Monk and seconded by Or. Catley that, “The collection of the returned soldiers ’ rates that are in arrears, be placed in the County solicitor’s hands,’' was carried. Engineer’s Report. Tiie County Engineer, Mr. W. N. Anderson, reported as follows:—“During tlie . early part of the period just ended'the weather was very wet and unsettled and delayed work considerably find the roads were cut up badly. However, the weather has. now improved and everything has improved accordingly. I have practically nothing to report in the 1 Tokomaru Riding.- The .light grader is at work in the northern end of this riding and the roads in this section are all in fairly good order, but the- roads in the southern end require ,a good deal of attention. I am -sending number two plant and two lorries to Shannon next week and' a start will be made with the annual maintenance when the plant arrives. A. fairly large flood 1, occurred in the Manawatu River during the-period and although a little erosion took place above the bridge on the Shannon-Foxton Road, no damage was done to the bridge or approaches. Wirokino Riding.—Everything .in this riding is very satisfactory. Owing to wet weather, metalling on the Kawiu-Foxton Road has been stopped in the meantime, but the lorries are engaged in maintenance metalling on various roads in the riding. Most of the water-tables and culverts have received attention. and the men are at present engaged trimming and patching. The deviation of the ditch on the Waitarere road has been completed. Timber for the new bridges and repairs to bridges, in the various ridings will .arrive within the next day or two and a start will then be made with the redocking of the bridges on the Kuku and Soldiers’ Settlement Road and new bridges, on Queen Street, and Koputar-oa-Levin-Foxton Road. Everything in the Otaki Riding is in very fair order. The main roads have been graded with the light .grader and patched. The Waitohu Valley. Road requires raking in, nad this will be attended to when the roller is returning from Te Horo next-week. Work will be commenced on the Rahui Road bridge in the near future. Timber for same will arrive next week.

To Horo. Riding.—Metalling in the northern end of this riding is practically completed and the southern, end of ■will receive . attention almost immediately. The drains on the Main Road have been attended to and pipes have been ordered for renewal of culvert on the Mangaone Road (Rikiorangi end). The Otaki Gorge Road is at present receiving a quantity of metal and the Mangaone Road will be repaired during the next period. Taungata Bridge.—Work in connection with- the -inspection of this bridge was started during the period but had to *bo popped owing to the Vet weather.