HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 18 June 1926, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

JUSii MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held on Saturday, the chairman (Mr. (1. A. Monk) presiding. Also present: Crs. Barber, Whyte, Bryant, Kilsby, McLeavey, Catley, and Jensen. An apology was received from Or. Ryder. Roads and Car Tax. The Hamilton Borough Council forwarded a resolution recently passed by

; it, asking the Horovvhenua County j Council to support the subject matter j contained therein. Firstly, that the | first-named Council viewed, with eon.'cern, the increasing burden being placed on its ratepayers in respect to the formation and maintenance of the streets, and it was, therefore, of the

opinion that such increased charges were due solely to the demands of, and the damage caused by, motor traffic. Secondly, that it was totally inequitable to burd’en the ratepayers with the whole of these charges. Lastly, that the Government be strongly urged to introduce the necessary legislation during the coming session, and, as a matter of urgency, transfer an equitable proportion of this burden from the ratepayer to the user of the road and

streets. The chairman said it was plain that the trouble lay with the boroughs. The Main Highways Act was chiefly introduced for the purpose of ensuring a docent main road throughout the country. Most of the boroughs already had

good Toads and they felt that the comities were-getting a little the better of it. The speaker did not think they were, although possibly the case in point could be supported, because in the County Council’s own case no user of the road was called upon to pay more than 50 per cent, of the cost of re-

constructing, the road. When he said “user” he meant “ratepayer,” but Councillors must disassociate themselves as such from ratepayers. He would move that th’e letter be received. iCr. Catley said he was inclined fo disagree with the chairman, there'being something more than appeared on the surface. Generally speaking, th'e motorist was bearing a pretty fair share of taxation, and some of them were using them a good deal more than others. It would be almost impossible to make a man pay for the 'extent to which he

r —j - —- used the road. Certainly some charge should be imposed on them without doing them an injustice. The chairman: If they had suggest-

I cd some alteration to the incidence of {taxation, there might have been some- | thing in the letter. 1 Cr. Catley said that a number of peoj pie had an idea that a heavily-laden | lorry did more damage to roads than a rapidly-moving car. It was his belief that a fast-moving car was far more destructive, especially on a

macadam road, and he went-so far as to say that a heavily laden lorry assisted in consolidating the road.

The letter was received. Blocked Drains.

Mr. R. S. Lowry, Te Horo, drew the Council’s attention to the condition of the drain running through Messrs Ferguson’s, Milligan’s, Harkness’ and the writer’s properties to the Otaki river. There appeared to be. a bloek-

age at the mouth of the drain, and as his land had been under water for practically four months during last winter lie was not anxious to have a repetition of the occurrence. He asked that notices be sent out to those concerned

in the cleaning of the drain. Cr. Jenson said he inspected the drain, and there had never been an attempt to drain the water there for some years. Tli'ere was no hope for better drainage until levels were taken. The Commissioner of Crown Lands

had surveyors there at one time, and the necessary information would probably be available. The matter was referred to Cr. Jensen, who will'report to the Council. Road Formation. Mr. K. D. Jones, Waikanac, the only access to . whose property was by way of th’e Hadfield Road, which is at right angles to the main road, wrote stating

that during the six years he had resided there not more than one.man’s work for one half day per year had been expended on that particular road, and that in the event of raid falling, while the writer was away in the car it was impossible to get within 30 chains of the property, and the road became altogether impassable. Often he had to I wait three weeks for the road to dry J sufficiently for him to bring stores, etc. He suggested that about 20 yards only

needed metalling, which could be accomplished by ploughing furrows along each wheel track and then filling with mctal. If the Council could see its

way (o assist, the writer would be prepared to provide two men for the work. The chairman suggested that the two surfacemen working in the vicinity of Kir. Jones’ property should do some work similar to that recommended by the writer. , This was a soldicr-settier ease in which rates had always been paid, and the farm had been well developed and merited the assistance asked.

The chairman’s suggestion was affirmed by the Council.

Elver Encroachment. The Misses Mowbray, Waikanae, thanked the Council for having furnish ed an estimate and plan of the proposed groin to be erected in the river at the rear of their properties. The matter is receiving attention within the coming week.

Preparations for Epidemic. The Department: of Health forwarded a schedule of requirements for a further epidemic of influenza, should one eventuate. The chairman said the local bodies and hospital boards were asked to cooperate in the event, of an epidemic. The SPalmorston Hospital Board had been through the district and arranged where hospitals could be set up and for persons to be in executive charge and make the necessary arrangements in case of need. In Levin the Town Clerk had been appointed and the chairman suggested that the County Cl'erk be also authorised to act for

the County Council. He said the last big epidemic came upon the County suddenly and many people were doing things to cope with it that resulted in a certain amount of waste. He under-

stood the direct cost to the Government of that epidemic was a million and a half. The present arrangements were designed to prevent that.

The chairman’s suggestion was agreed to. Heavy Traffic Fees, The Kairanga County Council forwarded a draft for £758 7s 4d, being

the amount due to the Horowhenua County Council for heavy traffic fees. Notice was also given that a conference was being called, to consider the further apportionment of heavy traffic fees, on June 23rd, at which representatives from the Horowhenua County

Council were asked to attend. The chairman said the amount collected in the Horowhenua County Council last year was £255. The majority of the lorries that passed through this district were domiciled in other districts or boroughs. Many were domiciled in Wellington from which the County received no benefit. The body that collected the money did not necessarily have the traffic. Evidently the boroughs were under the impression that they were not getting enough and that was the reason for

the new conference. Palmerston, for instance collected £I6OO and received £SOO. He did not think all the fees had been collected. In boroughs not far away that was the case. The chairman, Clerk and Engineer were appointed to represent th>' Council at the conference. Waiioanga Bridge.

Mr. D. L. Corrigan, Waihoanga, drew the Council’s attention to the report of the last’ Council meeting which appeared in the press, and in which the chairman’s remarks were made to convey that the writer had failed to act reasonably in regard to the proposed bridge. He said he felt (fuite sure that when he reminded the Council of the vai’ious steps taken, it would acquit the writer of having, in any way, failed

to make effort to ‘ meet th’e position. Firstly, a road which was presumed to give access to this property, and for which money was raised, was considered by the Council to be impracticable. In the meantime the only access to the property was over a temporary footbridge on the furthest boundary of his section and this was ultimately carried away. Then came the various steps taken to endeavour, to neighbouring interests to combine in the erection of a suitable bridge, and after a great deal of time spent upon this the project failed. Secondly, the writer stated that those concerned had approached the Council, asking that it should allow them their own proportion of the

money towards a suitable bridge, but , 1 although the Council had been very willing to help, there had followed a

difficulty of site and a bridge that could be put up for the available money. They had already hail to incur the of having the matter dealt with by three different engineers, and it was only within the past three weeks that the difficulty had found solution. They had submitted to the Council’s engineer the plans and specifications kindly supplied by Mr. Bonham, engin-

cer to the Hutt County Council, and which had been further altered at tRe request of Mr. Anderson. The only difficulty now was that of finance and if the Council would now confirm the bridge now submitted and their decision to devote to the payment of the bridge the proportion of loan moneys to which they were entitled, the whole difficulty would be solved. They had no access to their property but over the flimiest of a plank bridge, with very dangerous approach. Each time the bridge was crossed, it was at imminent danger to life and limb. They had battled against all these difficulties and they hoped the Council would see its way to help them out. The chairman suggested that the engineer interview Mr. Benham and tell him what he required. The plans still do not come up to the requirements of the engineer, the bridge being far too high for the width. Mr. Corrigan had shown Cr. Jensen, the engineer and him self some time ago a site which would be quite suitable for the erection of a bridge of this kind. If it was put up to the requirements of the Countv en-

gineer, the Council , could very well agree to it being erected. It would have to be put up under warrant ns it was on private property, so that the maintenance, if any, would be at the expense of Mr. Corrigan. «If agreement was reached on the plans, the Council could apply for the warrant. The chairman said the matter had b'een beset by moving difficulties and Mr. Corrigan would admit that numerous visits had been made by the engineer, the speaker and his colleagues to the site. Always when it seemed as if the matter was about to be arranged, some obstacle had arisen. If a bridge was

to be built it must be a certain class of bridge and at a certain place. The balance of loan money could then be made available. Cr. Jensen said the Council had done all that could be reasonably expected under the circumstances. The bridge proposed was far too high and too long. The chairman’s suggestion was agreed to