HOROWKENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 January 1926, Page 4

HOROWKENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

JANUARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Counciu was held on Saturday. Present: The Chairman, (Cr. Monk) and Crs. Jensen, Catley, Broadbelt, Harkness, Bryant, Kyder, Whyte and Barber. Main Road Through Manakau. The Manakau branch of the Farmer's Union forwarded a resolution, carried at a recent meeting, that "it be a suggestion to the County Council that the" main road through Manakau should be tar-sealed to full widthy That the p>ostoitice side of the town from the railway crossing to the subway should also be tar-sealed, and that two additional lights be added, in positions understood by Cr- Bryant." The chairman moved that the request bo referred to the Works Committee to consider and report. He thought it a good thing to do the full width of the road.

Cr. Catley: Chargeable to the riding, of course. - The chairman said the Highways Board would only do half. the road up to 18" feet. The opposite side of the road was purely, a riding matter. Cr. Bryant said it-would be satisfactory to refer the .matter to the committee and this was agreed to. Shannon Punt. Mr. C. V; Checsman (To Maire, Shannon) enquired whether anything definite had been done in regard to appointing a man on the Manawatu Eiver punt, and offered himself for the positioii.—Bef erred to the engineer. Paying for Sinall Birds Eggs. The executive of the Dairy Fanner*' Union, Wellington district, discussed the small bird nuisance, and asked the County Council to re-consider their decision not to buy any more birds eggs from school children, as this would, at least, prevent the pest from multiplying. Cr. Broadbelt asked if this Counen had been singled out in the matter. Had' the same letter gone out to ail local bodies. The chairman said the Council had decided to do nothing this year, but it would b'e again considered when the estimates wore discussed for next year.' Cr. Catley: It is too late now. Cr. Harkness said the matter was brought forward by a body that he was connected with, though he was not present when it was discuss'ed. He was pleased to see they were taking an interest in-the matter. Tlie, Council hau always paid for birds eggs but this year it was felt that as the office would be shifting at the tiiuo.it would be inconvenient to be bothered with it. The chairman: And it was felt that some otheiv arrangement should be made now that high-salaried officers should be counting birds eggs.

The' letter was deferred for consideration with the estimates. Waihoanga Bridge. The District Engincr of the Public Works Department advised that £SOO, on a £1 for £3 basis, had been approved for the re-erection of the Waihoanga suspension bridge over the Otaki Bivcr. The chairman said the Council went to the Minister and asked for £1 for £1 subsidy. The matter was referred back to the Council to submit alternative schemes. This had been done and the result was that the Department offered £1 for £3. The estimated cost of the bridge was £2OOO. The riding would have to -find £ISOO and the Public Works £SOO. It did not seem possible for the riding to find that money, and the only terms on which the work could be done was £.l for £l. He suggested that the Public Works district engineer be again approached and if they did not got what they wanted they should go'back to the Minister. This district had made very few applications for grants from the Public Works for the last few years, and it was felt that this was a deserving case, and that so much of the cost should not fall on the local body. Cr. Jensen seconded the motion. j

Or. Catley agreed that this was an exceptional" case. Interest was stiil being paid on £4OO or £SOO on the old bridge and that would mean that the riding would have a burden of £I9OO or more to pay interest on. Ci's. Catley," Jensen and the chairman and engineer were appointed a deputation to wait on. the Public Works engineer. Engineer's Report. The engineer reported:— ' ■ Otaki Riding.—Everything in this Riding is in fair order. A quantity of: maintenance metal was put on the main road before the holidays and No. 1 grader was at work on this length for several days. Rahul Road is in need of repair and tenders will 'be called fo---thjs work early next week. Te Horo Riding.—Repairs to the crushing plant were made during tluholidays and another start was mafic with the metalling in this Riding at the beginning of the week. The main road suffered somewhat owing to the very heavy motor traffic during the holidays. A. small grader has been at work on this section. The district roads are in good order.