HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 17 August 1926, Page 2

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

—♦ MONTHLY MEETING. There was a full attendance ol councillors at the August meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, held on Saturday, and presided over by Gr. Monk. SHANNON PUNT. The following resolution lias been passed by the Manawatu County Council: “That provided the accounts and other matters in connection with the Shannon Ferry are all squared up and the Horowhenua County Council is prepared to allow metal to be taken from its Shannon Pit for the approaches .to the punt free of cost, this Council 'ls prepared to take over the working of the ferry as recommended by delegates at, the - Conference held on the 21st of June last,” —The chairman moved that tlie request be agreed to as the Manawatu had always had metal from the Shannon pit.—Agreed to. ROAD SIDE PEI’ROC PUMPS. Messrs W. 14. Gunning and Co., Shannon, sought permission to instal a kerbside puuqi at their Tokoma.ru p; omi-.0. Tlie Manawatu County wrote enquiring as to the conditions under which the Council permitted the installation of bowsers. The chairman said the Council had given permission for such installations during the pleasure of the Council. The solicitor to 'the Counties’ Association advised time , local bodies should require a bond guaranteeiio’ diem against damage through anyone colliding with the kerbside pump, which should be sufficiently lighted. He suggested getting uniform conditions among the local bodies in tin No. 9 Highways District. The Clerk said the local holdies were dealing very cautiously with the question and some were point-blank refusing to allow the installation of the pumps and others laying down various regulations. The Engineer and Gr. Whyte explained that Mr Gunning’s pump would be in a very safe position under his verandah. Cr. McLeavey thought Mr Gunning should have permission seeing that other applications had been already granted. The matter of drawing up conditions was referred to the Works Committee, Mr Gunning being free to go on with the erection of tlie pump on the understanding .that it w : ould be subject to whatever regulations were adopted. KOIPUTAROA FLOOD GATE, The Buckley Drainage Board asked the County Council to appoint representatives,' including the engineer, to meet those interested in the Koputaroa flood gate, and' discuss the question of repairs and other matters of interest. —Crs. Kilsby, Barber, and the Engineer to represent the Council, • NO LIABILITY. At the July meeting a claim for £2O compensation from Mrs L. .Capper, in respect of a cow which fell into a 'water-trace; was discussed, and it was decided to obtain a legal opinion as i;o Tlie Council’s liability for loss of stock through falling into unprotected water races. The-Council’s solicitors stated it was well settled law dial such a bodv as a County Council was/not liable for the omission to do a thing or to take step's to prevent an accident,' happening. In view of this it was obvious that the Council was not liable for any less, of stock which may arise through lack of protective measures to prevent stock getting into the water races. The opinion was discussed in committee and the Council decided tlia’ it could not legally give compensation. EKOSION' ON GLADSTONE ROAD. Mr G. L. Adkin, Levin, drew 7 attention to tlie threatened ension of his property on the Gladstone Road, just below 7 the floodgate. Erosion has been going on at this spot for some time, said the letter, and during the last flood the under-cut river bank came to within a few 7 feet of the road formation. . A groin put in would cause shingle to pile up at the danger spot and prevent further damage. If, however, no steps were taken the waiter would accept no responsibility in tlie matter, nor would he permit eny encroachment on' his property, in the

event of the road being away.—Engineer to inspect. HIGH PRESSURE WATER. Messrs J. Di timer, A. Hall, J. Lemmon, H. W. Christie and J. Hi. Taylor requested having an estimate of the cost to instal a high pressure system on their properties. —Tlie Engineer said the nearest point ikav was at the Roslyn Road.—He agreed to give a rough estimate of cost, WATER IN QUEEN STREET. Mr H. Hossack drew 7 attention to the waiter races near liis property in Queen Street, only a moderate rainfall causing overflowing and the collections of water. It depended on what attention was given to this request what attention he would give to the County’s demand for rates. The chairman said the trouble was caused largely by the spring wader which came to the surface in the vicinity, and was causing a lo,t Of trouble in Levin. Tlie Engineer said the water races were in vefv fair order as he had sent a man there immediately on receiving a complaint. The races could only carry a part of the water as the spring water collected there, it being a natural depression. ’ The chairman said the matter had nothing to do with the rates. 1 Tlie letter was received. A ROAD COMPLAINT. Mr A J. Mark, Lindsay Road, Levin complained about the condition, of the road leading to his property at Koputaroa. The road is impassable for vehicular traffic in its present condition, and it was impossible for .the writer to .convey his cream to the factory unless some improvement were made. The road required reforming and tlie water tables cleaned, and he asked that the road leading to his property be properly fenced, as that was the cause of the whole trouble. Cr. Kilsby said there had never been a penny spent upon the road since its original formation, and it was time that a little money was spent. The road was now in a very neglected state, hnd the speaker Suggested the council should endeavour to reform it, as soon as tlie weather was suitable. The chairman observed that no money had been voted for this purpose and councillors should be careful in arriving at any decision in this respect. They had to keep this in mind—if the money was spent on « this work it would have to ,come from some other , project—and he would remind them that the books had to balance at tlie end of the year. If that were not done they were individually and collectively liable and responsible. , The engineer was instructed : to report to the Works Committee. Advice has been received that the . management of radio station 31JO, . Melbourne,' ‘have made arrangements with Mr Alan Cobham, the aviator, to speak from the studio at the station at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday evening. A short time ago an, aeroplane came up from Christchurch aerodrome to make an aerial survey and photographic record of the floods iti the Manawatu for the Manawatu-Oroua River Board. It also made, incident-, ally, an aerial survey of the farms in the River Board area and ratepayers to the Board can now obtain a photographic plan of their holdings. The idea is rather a novel one and even benefiicial for the maps should prove very useful to refer to from « time to time. , , Speaking at the Horowhenua County Council meeting on Saturday, Mr W. S. Carter, chairman of the Mana-watu-Oroua River Board, said the .Government had made a grant of £2OOO to relieve the distress caused by tlie recent floods in the Manawatu. The annoyance caused, and time wasted, through people .ringing the County Engineer on all sorts of trivial things was referred to by .tlie Engineer at the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday. During the recent flood lie was called from one end of the County toi ,tlie other, on a dozen or more* wild goose, chases, and the thoughtlessness of people was very annoying at a time when liis services were required urgently elsewhere.