HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 12 October 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

OCTOBER MEETING. Mr G. A. Monk presided over the October meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, held on Saturday, there being a 'full attendance of councillors. POPLAR ROAD. The Poplar Flaxmilling Co., stated that the flood practically destroyed their road leading to the Shannon road, which will cost approximately £2OO to repair. In view of the volume of rates paid by the writers, it was thought only fair that the County Council should contribute something towards the cost, as none of the company's carting was done over the County roads, neither did they contribute very much towards • the rates of the Manawatu County Council. •• MWBM The chairman presumed it was a private road in the Moutoa, but the Engineer could ascertain the position. ■The matter was left] in the hands of Or. Harbor and the. engineer, who will make a report at the next meeting of the Council. SHANNON BRIDGE. The Shannon Borough Council asked the-County Council to consider the matter of replacing the portion of- the bridge at Shannon carried away by the flood, with a temporary span. \ The writers stated that they understood the cost of the punt, to date, was over 3000, ancl had never given satisfactory lervice. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., had etated in a letter that a wooden struclure was more costly than a steel one Would be, and the bridge was now being re-designed. The old bridge would not now be required in connection with the ]-ew structure, an objection that was put forward when the temporary span was previously asked for. The chairman said he had nothing to add to what he had said half a dozen times, except that the matter hinged, to a certain extent, upon the report &f the EI or Commission. Any consideration of this question should b held over pending this report. c FEE FOR SALEYARDS. The Manawatu and 'West Coast Live Stock Auctioneers' Association replied "Uo the advice, that the County Council, in conjunction with adjoining' County' > - Councils, had decided to impose a charge of 3 guineas on all saleyards established, in the district. It was asked that the fee should be reduced, in view.of the following facts: (1) The stock industry was in a very parlous condition, • cud, "oAving to the fall in values of stock, it Avas quite impossible, owing to heavy costs, to get any return for the work done. (.2) These yards were established purely for the convenince of small farmers Avho are unable to afford time and expense of driving small lots of stock to the bigger centres, and if the foes imposed were insisted on'

the. writers must either close doAvn the yards or pass on the charge to the farmers. (3) As the Council Avas aware, the farming industry is suffering very materially from fall in values of produce, and Ave are most unwilling to make our charges higher than they are *at present. (4) These yards fu-e mostly established at a considerable distance from any habitations. They

should not, require any inspection, and v many of rhem are only used about once in every two or three months. Such yards as Waikanae, Te Horo, Shannon, and Tokomaru should really be exempt, but at all events a nominal fee of, say,

half a guinea, should be. the limit. The chairman said he did not think the,charge of three guineas Avas excessive as more than three guineas Avorth of damage Avas done to the roads. In addition there .was the_ necessity of having these yards inspected, and the Council had to contribute thereto. He Avould move the letter be received, Avhich Avas agreed to. AN OHAU ROAD.

Mr E. H. Saint, Ohau wrote saying that it was inconvenient not to have proper road access to the property occupied by Uhu'on the Ohau East Eoad. Fur 25* yours the writer had farmed riiitf property without pressing for a road, but now that he was milking cows lie found it a difficult matter to sledge out the milk and cream, particularly in bad weather. As he was the only ratepayer likely to receive benefit irom such a road, it would be useless for him to expect., other, ratepayers to support the raising of a loan for the purpose, and he would/ ask the Council to grant him the formation of such a road. The councillors for the riding, together with the engineer are to inspect and report. WALLACE ROAD DRAIN. Mr J. Corby, Ihakara, drew attention to : seepage -oming from an unfinished* drain running along Wallace Eoad past the writer's property, and asked that the matter receive immediate attention. The Engineer said there was no seepage coming from the main road so far as he was aware. Cr. Kilsby and the engineer are to inspect and report upon the position. PIAKA ROAD. Messrs James and Thomas G. Mcdill drew the Council's attention to the state of the road from Mr Webb's farm to the property occupied by complainants at l'aiaka. The road, was impassable, and it was asked that the matter receive attention.—The Engineer was instructed to report on the cost. ! > --y BRIDGE OVER THE HOKIO.

A petition was received from a number of ratepayers asking for a bridge across the Hokio stream to give access to certain settlers on the western side of, the Lake. The chairman said the eost of the bridge would be £l6O, which was to be raised by means of a Public Works lean spread over three yjjars.

They would bear the Avhole cost of the

Avork. I The following motion Avas carried: {"That subject to the required signaI turea being obtained to the petition '' presented by certain ratepayers respectling the levying of a special Avorks rate for the erection of a bridge on the Hokio.-Waitarere Road, the clerk be authorised to take the necessary steps in accordance Avith Section 125 of '' The Counties Act, 1920, so as to enable onethird of the sum required for the work being during the current financial year." BRUCE ROAD COMPLAINT. Mr .Tames Avery, of Bruce Road, Weraroa, called the Council's attention to the water race running through his property being insufficient to carry the Avater, resulting in his land being flooded. He asked that some steps be taken to relieve the situation. Referred to the engineer to .inspect and report. FLOODING FROM WATER RACE. Crs. Catley, McLeavey and Kilsby, omprising a sub-committee set up to inspect and report on the complaint by Mr G. Seivers regarding* the flooding of his property, reported as folloAVs: We inspected the Avater-race complained of and found it in a very dirty condition, due to lack of proper cleaning, and also to the fact that there are some old cattle crossings in the shape of culverts, Avhich block the free flow of the Avater. These should be removed. Another source of trouble is the culvert across BartholomeAV Road, Avhich is not large enough to carry any extra quantity of water due to flood conditions, in consequence of which the road is flooded to a length of some six chains. We re-

commend that, with the approval of the Borough Council and ratepayers concerned, a slight diversion, Avith a larger culvert, be made. Cr. Catley said he understood MiAnderson, a resident in the locality, Avas willing to divert the Avater-race along his boundary if authorised to do so.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

The Engineer reported: —The Aveai : her during period ending to-day, Jias shewn considerable improvement and work, throughout the County has progressed in- a very satisfactory manner. Tokomaru Riding- — All roads in this rilling' are in fair order and maintenance metalling has been commenced on the district roads. 1700 cub. yds. of metal has been put out to date,, and arrangements have been made for the delivery of a further supply of 2900 cub. yds.; 1300 cub. yds. of crushed metal for the northern end and 1600 cub. yds. screened metal for the southern end. A grader is at present at Avork in this riding. The metalling of the Okuku Road deviation is nearing completion, and a start will be made at an early date with the maintenance of the remaining portion of this road. The eastern end of Kingston Road is somewhat out of repair and Avill be attended to at once. Re Mrs J. Kennard's and .D. J. McClure's complaints; in company Avith Cr. Whyte, I visited the locality of both complaints and have to report that these matters are being attended to. ,

j Wirokino Riding.—All roads are in fair order. No. 1 Grader lias been at Avork on the main roads during the period. Re bridge over Avater race in front of Mr R., A. McDonald's property on Hokio Beach Road. I have inspected the old bridge and estimate the cost of repairs in- timber, at £22 4s; as an alternative x permanent job could be made by substituting 42-inch concrete pipes at.a cost of £25. I would recommend, OAving to the small difference betAveen timber and concrete, that the concrete pipes l>e put in. Repairs to Tararua Road. —I estimate the cost of putting this road in fair order, at £IBO.

Bridge over Aratangata Drain, Koputaroa.—l hope to be able tc procure pile driving plant for this Avoik at an early date and whenever this is available, Avork.on neAV bridge will be commencted.

' Lindsay Road Extension Metalling. —I estimate the cost of trimming and metalling same at £220.