HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 14 June 1927, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Ilorowhenua County Council was held in the County Chain!) ws on Saturday, there being present: Crs G A. Monk (chairman), Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, McLeavey, Catley and Jensen, Mr. F. H. Hudson (clerk) and Mr. W. N. Anderson (engineer). Notification was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs that local authorities may conduct searches for town-planning purposes without the payment - of any fee. —Received. CLOSING DATE OF FINANCIAL YEAR. The Matamata County Council forwarded a circular urging the need for an amendment to the Counties Act tc. provide for ending the financial year on June 30th instead of March 31st. (The Marlborough County Council'favoured the present arrangement.) The chairman said he thought thatthe Council might easily say that they were satisfied with the - existing arrangement. Their financial year closed with that of all the Government Departments; and the fact of the dairy companies closing their year at another time did not affect the position. It was decided to reply that the Council is satisfied with the present arrangement. MAKO MAKO ROAD.

The Town Clerk of Levin wrote stating that the Borough Council had referred to its streets committee the question as to whether Mako Mako Road should be tar sealed or. whether the penetration system should be adhered to. Nothing more would be done to this road until towards next Christmas, when the Borough Overseer would confer with the County En-

gineer . Cr. Catley stated that what the riding representatives had asked the Council to do was to re-open the question. Originally the County had made an agreement with the Borough for the penetration system to be used. Subsequently it was thought by the Streets Committee that it 'would be an advantage to tar-seal the road. The matter was one for the' engineers of the respective bodies to go into. The Chairman remarked that the Borough Council was willing to confer with the County representatives before anything further was done to the road.

The letter was received. BOUNDARY ROADS

Estimates of expenditure on boundary roads for the current, year were submitted by the Levin Borough Council as follows: —Kawiu Road East —scarifying, widening, metalling, and rolling (complete) £4B 8s 9d; attention for balance of year, £5. Kawiu Road West —New culvert, £4. Tiro Tiro Road— Patching, £10; new culvert, £3 3s. Beaeli Road—Trimming, patching and rolling £ls. Bartholomew Road—Two new culverts, £l2 8s; patching, £2O; combing (if grader can be obtained), £lO. Total, £127 19s 9d. New work: Mako Mako Road West —Roadway £IBB, footpath £9O. On the motion of the chairman, the estimates were referred to the works committee. ' * MOTOR WARNING BOARDS.

Mr T. F. Jackson, chairman of the Poroutawhao School Committee, wrote stating that a motorists’ sign-hoard was badly needed at either side of the approach to the school, as the road was very narrow and there was a sharp bend on the south side just before reaching the school gate. • Cr.. Kilsby asked whether it was the duty, of the Council or the Automobile Club to erect these boards.

The Chairman; We make it our duty The club erects distance boards.

The-request was granted, and left in the engineer’s hands. EIGHT OF THE EOAD.

klr James McGill, of Palmerston N., wrote stating that the road into his farm at Buckley in a shocking condition, and he wished the Council would make some endeavour to give him some measure of relief. On the side of the road motor cars and drays were left standing by neighbours, - preventing him from using this part of the road, which was principally dry. He asked the Council to advise Messrs Webb'and others that the road could not be used for this purpose. All he wanted was loom to pass in the event of bad weather.

Cr. Catley said that the practice complained of by Mr McGill had existed to a certain extent; and it should not be allowed. The letter was referred to Ors. Kilsby and Catley with the engineer, with Dower to act. DKAINAGE AT OPIAU. Mr R. G. Wall, of Tawanui, Oliau, wrote asking if the Council would be prepared to put in a culvert across 'Jie road where the drain leaves his property in Kuku West Road, to connect up with the drain running along Messrs Stratton and McLeavey’s prtperty and emptyings into the Kuku stream. He had interviewed the owners and they were quite agreeable, and the three persons concerned (including liimself) would maintain the drain. This would do away with the present drain on the south side of the road whore it was impossible to keep the stock out, and also relieve the county of keeping their portion (five chains) of the present drain clean. Cr. Catley stated'that there had been an agreement between Messrs Wall and Hilyard and the Council to keep the 'drain outlet clear; but this had never been kept, and it was the fault of the Council. The arrangement was that the Council wa3 to do one-third, Mr Hilyard one-third, and the Council the same. Mr Wall had been doing it practically all along—the Council had done its share twice. The drain was full of a water-grass, which made it very hard to keep the drain clear; it required cleaning about four times a year. The matter was referred to Crs. Catley and McLeavey, with the engineer, with power to act. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The following report was presented by the Works Committee:— Engineer’s Report.—Owing to there being insufficient time at the last meeting of your Committee, they were unable to consider the engineer’s report and therefore recommend that the same

be dealt with by the Council at this meeting. Makerua Drainage Board and Kara Main Road Bridge.—The Engineer has been instructed to include in his report the result of the conference with Makerua Drainage Board representatives on this matter.

Public Works Grants. —Your Commit, tee recommend that application.be made to the Public Works Department for grants in respect of Lindsay, Paiaka. Mark’s and Saint’s Roads, on a £1 for £1 basis, and that, the Department’s provision in respect to the Waihoanga and Taungata bridges be renewed. Metal Pit for Wirokino Riding.— Your Committee, reviewing their recommendation whicll was submitted to the May meeting of the Council, are unable to see their way to alter the locality of the site previously found most suitable. The only further recommendation they can make in recognition of the position is that the area to be acquired be reduced from three acres to one and a-half acres.

Fencing of Drain on Koputaroa-Fox-ton Road.—Your Committee recommend that Cr. Catley be authorised to purchase on behalf of the Council such posts as may be required for this work, should lie have an opportunity of obtaining the same at a reasonable price The report was adopted. It was decided to advertise in August for applications for the position of surfaceman for the Wirokino Riding. With reference to 'the site for a metal pit, Cr. Catley said the Council had nothing on-the .estimates for this, and it would be another burden. It would provide 30,000 cubic yards, 12 feet deep, and should last about 12 years.

Cr. Jensen said he thought that, for the metal needed for the highways the Highways Board should be asked to contribute. In the past the Council had, he believed, used all its reserve metal, and in many instances it was making the highways without asking the Board to pay anything towards the metal. It was not fair to continue on those lines. The County could have had considerable revenue, iand he thought they were entitled to it. Some of their metal-pits were becoming depleted, and the Board' was not' paying anything towards them.