HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 23 January 1925, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY, MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Horo- j whenua County Council was held at Levin on Saturday, the chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) presiding Also present: Crs. Jens'en, Broadbelt, Catley, Harkness, Bryant, Ryder> Whyte and Barber. Accounts > for Payment. Accounts totalling £IOU4-13s 7d were passed for payment. Correspondence. From the secretary Levin-Foxton-Marton Railway, League acknowledging receipt of donation of £5 towards the fund of the League, and also assistance afforded by the County staff in preparing data, etc. The chairman in moving that the letter be received moved a vote of appreciation of the manner in which the League had carried out its work. This was seconded by Cr. Harkness and carried unanimously. Manakau Tramway.

The Manakau Sawmilling Co. wrote in acknowjiegtmenit of (the "{Jd|uricil's letter that they noted that several sheep belonging to Mr. Daroux had been injured through having their legs caught in the tramway crossing erected by the Company. They, stated that this crossing had b'een put in accord-1 ing to the Council's requirements, but admitted that if such accidents occured it required alteration and a .metalled crossing would probably bo better. They were prepared to pay £o as damages for the sheep injured, but declined to, recognise the general damage claim submitted. The letter was received. Rule of the Road. Mr.. E. A. Pullman, Te Horo, complained that on several occasions lately when his boy* had been returning from the factory, he had been on the bridge when cars had come on to it, the drivers of which had refused to back, although the horse-drawn vehicle had been first on the bridge. He asked that if there was a by-law compelling them to do this, that it should be exhibited in a conspicuous place on thß bridge. The chairman said that if an extract from 1 the County by-laws, which dealt with this matter, were printed and put up on a board in a conspicuous place on the Otaki bridge it would help matters. The by-laws dealt explicitly with this matter. It wa s particularly hard on a boy to be placed in such a position and could motorists attention be drawn to the by-laws it would probably help. This was agreed to, it being further agreed that Mr. Pullman bo written to stating what was being done. Jtfain Highways Matters. From the Public Works Department asking that all proposals under the main highways scheme, be submitted in triplicate. —Received. A copy of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the Motor Lorry Regulations was received from tire Public Works Department.—7 Received. Erection of Business Sign. Mr. G-. Kemsley, Waikanae, applied for. permission to erect a business sign on the main road at Waikanae.,. The engineer stated that he was of opinion that the Main Highways Act had some control in these cases. It was agreed that in the meantime permission as asked for should be given.—Agreed to. j Otaki Gorge Access. \ Messrs Harper and Corrigan waited on the Council regarding access by mean a of a bridge to Mr. Corrigan's property. Mr. Harper in stating the case said that the amount of £750 raised by special loan some time ago, it was now agreed by the settlers con- ' cerned, should be divided amongst the settlers, so as to provide access to their own properties. Mr. Corrigan stated that the only means of access to his property at the present time was by means of a very ricketty swing-bridge; He asked that the Council agree to the plans as submitted. General. Cr. Harkness (Wirokino) said it was satisfactory to note that work in connection with the Tararua Road was go-' ing ahead. He would like to see the Waitarere Road pushed ahead. It was necessary to get this work done before the wet weather and he was of opinion that once it was started and progress payments began, the Advances Department would find the loan-money. j County rinances. Mr. Catley drew :ittentiou to the small balance of the unexpended revenue—£Boo, which it was necessary to spend over two months. He asked thai the greatest care bo exercised so 1 a s not to over-expend the revenue of tiio County. The interests of the ratepayers must be safeguarded and he, i would ask that no expenditure be made i without the full authority of the CounI eil. I Otaki Riding. —Cr. Eyder asked when the Council would make arrangements to visit Mr. Preston-Thomas' property regarding the water-race. It was agreed that, an inspection be made within the next fortnight. Width of Loads. Cr. Ryder asked if the Council had authority to regulate the width of the load of flax-loading. Some of the loads at present on the roads were up to 14 feet and constituted a danger to ! other traffic The .chairman stated that there was : power to keep the load down to 8 feet. If loads were of the width complained of, something should be done. Waihaonga Bridge.

Te Horo Siding.—Or. Jensen asked if anything could be done regarding the Waihoanga Bridge. The chairman stated that he was moving that Mr. Field be again written to asking that he arrange a deputation to the Minister on this matter. Tbe Council could not dictate to the Department, and could only approach the question in this way. Cr. Jensen asked further that the scrub be cut off banks on the hill-coun-try roads. The chairman stated that there was some difficulty regarding the approach to the bridge, which it was thought might undermine the present road. He was very anxious to see this access given. When the money wus diverted from the North Bank Road it was -tedded that it be used for the cimstruc-

tion of two bridges so placed as to Serve all the settlers concerned. The difficulty was that the bridge -which Mr. Corrigan suggested, unfortunately, would not serve his neighbours. That was the whole position and he was certain that had the settlers been able to come to the Council and say vhut they had come to an agreement regarding the location of the bridge.?, th-3 wort would be done two years ago.

! Mr. Corrigan stated that he was at present; the only settler living on his Section, and he considered he wa s deserving of special consideration. I The chairman said that if Mr. Corrigan was prepared to sign a contract that ho would erect a bridge according to the specifications, for the sum of £2OO, the next consideration was the maintenance. The Council would like to fix the responsibility of this on the land and he would suggest that Cr. Jensen, the engineer and himself visit the site next week, when this matter .could b'e gone into fully.—This was agreed to. Koputaroa-Poxton Road. Cr. Broadbelt asked if anything had been done on the Koputaroa-Poxton Road. H'e had been told that about a foot of turf and sand had been put on the road, and he wondered what was the reason for this.

The engineer stated that a considerable amount of m'etal had been put on this road. Regarding the turf complained of, the drag had been at work there and had probably pulled some of the turf from the sides on to th'e crown of the road. The engineers report was adopted. . The following resolution was carried: "That in regard to Mr. J. W. Egginton's request a notice now bo served in terms of section 62 of 'The Land Drainage Act, 1908,' on- Messrs S. Bowker, R. Rankin, H. McMillan, and S. Carter to remove from the drain running through their "respective properties adjoining the Koputaroa stream all obstructions calculated to impede the free flow of water in such drain." Ranger's Report.

The County ranger reported having impounded 47 head of wandering stock during the month. It was decided that in future the ranger be directly under the control of the engineer, who would instruct him just where to proceed, with a view to gaining greater efficiency, by him and agfee to the work being done immediately,