HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 17 September 1926, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

SEPTEMBER MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held on Saturday. The County chairman (Mr. Monk) presided, and there were also ['present Crs. Jensen, Catley, McLeavcy, I Kilsby, Bryant, Ryder, Whyte and Bar- < ber. | Traffic Procedure. J Pulmerston North Chamber of Coni- ! merce asked the council to furnish the I following information:' (a) whether the by-laws provide for the recognition t of an approved type of device in lieu (of or in addition to, hand signals for ) the purpose of indicating by day or night the direction in which cars, lorries or buses propose to turn or proceed; (b) whether, as in some European centres, the local authority favours the use or .recognition of such a device; (c) whether the compulsory adoption of some such device is recommended as in the case of certain European countries. ! The matter was left in the hands of the engineer. ■■ ' Authority To Raise* Loans. The chairman of the No. 9 District Highways Council stated that in (he past therq had been occasion when local bodies were granted permission to commence construction work as a matter of urgency without having obtaine.i the necessary i monetary authority, a;':d ■from this it appeared that the idea h.tJ j gradually developed so that local bodes now considered that when provision;;' approval of plans and spccificaticas had been obtained they were in a puvi-rion-to at,once commence work. The writer pointed out that such procedure was contrary to the practice which had been existent relative to .grants, etc., from the Public Works Department for many years, and the Main Highways Board had in no way departed fVom this procedure. On no account nay Jocnl bodies commence work until the necessary authority from head office hud been received. Otaki River Bridge, The attention of the Council was drawn by the Tararua Tramping Club jto the condition of the foot-bridge which provides access to Mi\ Murray's j property across the Otaki Fiver in the Waiohanga Gorge. As this bridge was the only means of entrance to the -property, and the Tararua track also had one of its terminals there, the club stressed the necessity of the bridge being made Usable. They suggested the i possibility of a grant from ihe Public 1 Works Department. J -The chairman moved that :he writer ibe informed as / follows: If" the Tara j rua Tramping Club can obtain funds | from the Government in support of their project the County Council would also contribute. The motion was carried. Engineer's Report. " Reporting through the Works Committee, the engineer stated: — The weather during the period just ended has been very unsettled and work generally has been somewhat delayed and the roads throughout the County have suffered owing to the w,ot weather.

Tokomaru Riding. The district roads in this riding are in fair order. Maintenance metalling will bo commenced on these roads at an early date. The main roads are in good order, a considerable amount of metal having been put out during the period. *jMuch trouble has been caused on the main road owing to small slips coming down, but these have now been removed. A 24-inch concrete pipe was put in on the Marinoto Road to replace earthenware pipe.

Wirokino Riding.—Everything hi this riding is in "fair order. The grader has been at work on the Lcvin-Wiro-kino main road and the Levin-Shannon main road. -I have inspected the site of the proposed bridge on the Ho'kioWaitarere Road and estimate the cost of same at £l6O. \Re high pressure water supply, Arapaepae and McDonald Roads, from Roslyn Road: I have inspected the locality and estimate the cost of extension at £BOO. This price is for a 2in service along Arapaepae Road and service alonjr McDonald Road. Re river erosion, Gladstone Road: Slight erosion has taken place on this road about 10 chains north of bridge over the Makahika stream. • A? though the erosion is not so far of a serious nature it would be advisable to erect a small groyne to stop any further erosion.

Otaki Riding. —l have'*very little to report on in this riding, all the roads arc in very fair order. The grader has been at work on the main road on two occasions during the period. A heavy slip came dovrn on the Rahui Road and part of the same road at another point gave way and slipped into the river. Both jobs have been attended to. Re extension of Waikawa South Road: I estimate the cost of same as shown on plans at £14.00. To Horo Riding.—-The district roads ir. this riding are all in fair repair. The main road was badly.pot-holed but has been much improved owing to the recent use of the grader. The grader ha? also been at: work on the Te Horo beach and swamp roads. A good deal of maintenance metal has been put on! on the southern end of the main road and a roller has been sent down to work in this part of this riding. The groyne and protective works in the Waikanai; river have been completed. Pipes have been ordered for repairs to water race through Mr. Best's. When these arrive repairs will be put in hand.. The report was adopted.

The chairman said in regard to Mr. Best's water races, the Council had covenanted to properly maintain the races and keep them in good order ano erect fences as provided by the award when required to do so. They had now to ascertain what the award was. '