HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 18 January 1927, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

—: «. JANUARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held at the County Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, the chairman (Cr. Monk) presiding, and all the councillors being present. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr E. B. Hammond, Director of Town Planning, forwarded a copy of a circular which has been despatched to all licensed surveyors to acquaint them with some of the general principles of planning which it is desired they should adhere to when preparing' schemes of subdivision for the approval of the Director as required by section 32 of the Town Planning Act. —Eeceived. The District Health Office, Wellington, notified that an opinion had been given by the Solicitor-General to the effect thai it was not necessary to publish health by-laws in full, so long as a notice was published setting forth'in clear language the object, purpose or general effect of the by-laws.—Receiv-od. . _ .

A communication was received t'rom the same office submitting formulas for rat poisons. The Wellington City Council recently experienced difficulty in obtaining supplies of rat poison; and the Department advised that local authorities should keep in advance, or on constant order, a supply cf poison.—Re ceived.

The Department of Labour wrote calling upon the Council to hold a special meeting to fix the weekly half holiday for shops in the County.—There being no desire for a change, no action was taken. Writing with reference to the Kar« stream bridges, the Makerua Drainage Board stated that the matters referred to in the Council's letter of November22nd were arranged at the Board's meeting of December 6th. The matter:, referred to in the Council's letter of December 14th would be attended to in the manner that the Council desired. (At the last meeting of the Council it was reported that a' conference was hold between representatives of the Council and the Board, at which it was agreed that the Board should raise the bridge over the Kara stream on the western side of the railway, to stop-bank level and make certain improvements. The Council resolved that the Board's offer be agreed to, and that they be asked to submit an undertaking in regard to several other matters arranged at the conference). —The letter was received. .

The Board also wrote asking if the Council would provide sheathing from the present deck level to the water level, for Kara bridge west.—ln reply to a question by the chairman, the engineer (Mr W: N. Anderson) said that in his opinion the request was not a fair one. —It was decided not to agree to the request. Mr Josaph Liggins wrote stating that there was about eight chains of Pretoria road which was' impassable in wet weather. Mr Galloway and Maori, neighbours had agreed to form the eight chains to the satisfaction of the eer if the Council would metal the same as soon as it was formed. —The matter was referred to the councillors for the riding and the engineer to investigate. and will'be considered further when the estimates come up. The Auditor-General wrote stating that, the Council had authority to contribute to the maintenance of the Koputaroa stream floodgate.—The County Clerk was authorised to draw up an agreement between the Council and the Buckley Drainage Board relative to thi , matter.

The Main Highways Board requested a statement .shoving for each highway or section thereof on which a construction subsidy had been voted: (1) The actual cost for the month of January, 1927, and (2) the estimated expenditure for the months of February and March, 1927. —The information asked for is to be supplied. PEPBECIATION OF A ROAD.

Cr. Whyte stated that Mr Craw had ■ complained that damage was caused by the Makerua Drainage Board, in reference to. Hume's road, which ran acrosj the County boundary to Tokomaru. The 'Drainage Board had built a bank on -the road, and Mr Craw stated that he had to use the top of the embankment to cart his- flax. This was all right in dry weather, but in wet weather it was risky, the roadway being only from 12ft down to 7ft wide in places. When the Board widened the main drain, it took some of the road into the drain. This was formerly a chain road, but the Board had used so much of it for the drain, that it had been cut down to about half a chain. The councillors for the Tokomaru riding, together with the Engineer, were appointed to investigate the complaint. PURCHASE OP SUPPLIES. The Chairman reported that, in accordance with the instruction given by the Council at its last meeting, he and Cr. Catley had interviewed Mr P. E. Parker relative to the latter's allegation that the County Engineer had unfairly discriminated against Parker, Vincent and Co. in the purchasing of supplies. Mr Parker refused to give the name of his informant, except under such conditions as could not be accepted. Another charge made against the Engineer by Mr Parker had been investigated and found to be groundless. . ' The Chairman moved the adoption ol this report. The motion was seconded by Cr. Barber, and carried unanimously.