HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 16 February 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. t The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. Monk (chairman), Ryder, Jensen, Barber, Whyte, . Broadbelt, Oatiey, Harknesb. Leave of absence was. granted Or. Bryant. councillors' Travelling Allowance. Regarding the allowance to Councillors of travelling expenses, the Government Audit Ollice advised that, in future, the charge for use of private cars can only be allowed in cases where no train or other suitable public means of ; transport are available. Further, the Ollice would only pass as actual and reasonable travelling allowances coindividual Councillors (or like members of Local Bodies) such sums as are based on the ascertained actual and reasonable expenses of each such Councillor or member. That is to say, tae respective train, coach or like public transport fai'e, whichever is the less, plus meals and lodging, where essentia., must be the basis and limit of allowance. ... If any member owning a car ciects to use that ear in preference to ike aforesaid means of conveyance, he must defray any difference in cost. Where'no less expensive transport than a member's own car is available, the Audit Office would be prepared to pass charges at the rate of 8d per running mile, which is the scale applied to members of the Public Service under like conditions. Th'e chairman moved that the Clerk, who was going to Wellington, take up .the matter with the Audit Department with a view of adjustment; if no arrangement was arrived at the Audii Department could take what steps if desired—Seconded by Cr.' Harkncss and carried.

Shannon Punt. The Shannon Chamber of Commerce forwarded a resolution to the effect that: ''lt be a suggestion to the Horowhenua County Council that when the motor -is installed the working hour.-; of the punt be extended to 11 p.m. on week days." The service would, they pointed out,* be greatly appreciated both by travellers and settlers, and the \ Chamber strongly recommended the endorsement of their resolution. Cr Barber asked if.it were possible (to alter the method of running the punt, by making a charge, the position 4:o be tendered for. The chairman said the' County had wanted to make a charge, but the Highways Board had blocked them. , lhe Board now said that if .the maintenance of the punt (including the wages or the man in charge) exceeded the maintenance of the late bridge, they would increase the amount of subsidy. If" were necessary to double the shift, the County would try that and give tne men definite hours. Cr. Barber said it'was not so long since the Council had heard of people ' wanting to go over th'e river at - o'clock in the morning—one man couldn't possibly keep hours like that. The chairman said he thought the> best thing would be for the Council to have ,a conference with the Manawatu County Council, as th'e latter were much more vitally interested than were the Horowhenua County. He would suggest that passage by way of the punt'.should' be free during certain hours, after which a charge should be made. . ,i i. iv. It was finally resolved that the Works Committee shall go into the question of fixing the hours when the punt shall be free and the charges to be made after hows, still endeavouring ,to do the work with one man. The Shannon Borough Council repoitf/' that.there was no boat attached to the punt on the Manawatu River. Taw {was a very serious matter and should be given immediate attcnt-on. The engineer informed the. Council there was a boat, and the meeting resolved to advise the ctfiannon Borough Council accordingly. Works Committee's Report

The Works Committee reported:— Makcrua Drainage Board: In accordance with the directions from the Council at the last meeting, your Committee have to report that an inspection of the Tokomara Riding and the operations being carried out by the Makcrua Drainage Board was made on the 14th ultimo. As a result of the inspection the Clerk was instructed to write to the Board giving them notice to immediately cease all work on the main' road between Shannon and the Kingston Road and in the vicinity of the Kara Creek until plans, etc., for a definite scheme have been submitted to this Council for approval. Bridge: After an inspection of the bridge on the sth instant your Committee have 'to report that in view of the opinion of the engineer as to the undertaking being of a dangerous nature, and he being unable to give an assurance that the repairs necessary to make the bridge safe for traffic wih not cost more than the rough estimate on 1 £640, your Committee cannot recommend any steps being taken at present towards re-constructing the bridge. •Manakau Branch Farmers' Union: With regard to the suggestion which • was before -the last meeting of. the Council that the Main Road through Manakau should be tar-scaled the fiul width, also the Post Office side of the township from the railway crossing to the subway, and that two additional lights be provided in the locality, your Committee have to recommend hat tJu. work as suggested be done on the mam road and that two,new lights be installed before the winter. With respect to the tar-sealing on the eastern side ot the railway your Committee have deferred the matter for further considera-

tion.! „. ~ ' , m„ Metalling Contract, Otaki and it Horo Ridings: Your Committee have to report their acceptance of the tender of Mr. W. Thompson, of Otaki, for the supply and delivery of metal on district roads according to conditions and specifications at 7s 6d per cubic yard. Rotaiv Broom: Your Committee recommend that a rotary broom be purchased for main highways construction work at an approximate cost of £l3O,

the same to be suitable for attachment to a tractor.

Rate of Wages: Your Committee recommend that such ordinary labourers as are engaged throughout the County in connection with main highways construction be paid at the rate of Is 9d per hour, actual working time. Owing to the inclemency of the weather your Committee were unable, on lhe day of their meeting, to inspect the progress made since las* meeting in main highways construction. It was decided that Crs. Catloy and Barber, with the engineer meet on the 19th inst. and discuss the Kara Creek bridge plans with the Makerua Drainage Board. In connection with the Taungata bridge Cr. Ryder said that the structure was in a very bad state, and, if anything was done it should be hone at the risk of the Council and not the engineer, who knew nothing of the work when first done. The chairman, considered something should be done—the matter had been left long enough. Land was specially rated for the structure, and it might be arranged that the amount be paid from the general fund of the Riding. He suggested, that the whole position be placed before the District Engineer, and to state that it was considered best to dismantle the whole of the bridge. He thought it should be closed to all traffic. This was agreed to. The report was adopted. Engineer's Report. Mr. W. N. Anderson (engineer) reported:—l have the honour to report as follows:—The weather during the period just ended has been very unsettled, and work has been somewhat held up but satisfactory progress has been made throughout the County. In the Tokomaru Riding the main roads are in good order and the district roads are now receiving maintenance metal. The contractors for the formation and metalling of the Ashlea-Tcmu-kanui Road are not making much headway with the formation work on the above road, and I have notified the engineer accordingly. The bridge gang ! will again be at work shortly and the Albert Road bridge will then be elected. A gang -will also be sent to work on the Pretoria Road during the coming week. • Advice has been received from the , Highways Board approving the installation of an engine, etc., for driving the Shannon punt, and I am now making arrangements to have same installed.

Wirokino Riding: Everything in, this Riding is in fair order, although ; several of the district roads have been j cut up a-little owing to the diversion) of the traffic off the Main Road. Number one crushing plant has returned, from To Horo and is again crushing in the Bartholomew Road pit. The metalling of Waitarere Road has re-com-menced. Re alteration to water race system on Mr. A. McLeavey's property (Ohau): I have inspected the locality and estimate the cost of alterations at £75. Otaki Riding: The majority of roads in this Riding are in fair order, although the Main Road is somewhat rough in places. Tenders were called for the supply and delivery of 360 cubic yards of maintenance ni'etal for roads in the southern end of this riding. The tender of Wni. Thompson at 7s" 6d per cubic yard was accepted. Re proposed new road north of Waikawa railway crossing: I have inspected same and estimate the cost of at £950. To Horo Riding:' There is nothing of importance to report on in this Riding. All the roads are in fair order. Numi bcr one crushing plant completed work last week and shifted to Levin. Ranger: The Ranger has reported to me as follows:—"This month I have impounded 31 head of wandering stock: Since last Council meeting, at the LcI vin S.M. Court, fines amounting: to £lB i ?,? 6d, and Court costs amounting to £ls ss, were recorded against offenders for stock at large." ; The report was adopted. Waihoanga Bridge.

A deputation from the Council recently waited upon the District Engineer of th'e Publie Works Department in regard to the construction of the Waihoanga bridge, and although, at present, there was nothing on the estimate's the Engineer stated he would recommend a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £IOOO to be placed on the new year's estimates.