HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Shannon News, 11 October 1927, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

OCTOBER MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in the Conpnty Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, there being present:—Crs. Monk (chairman), Barber, Whyte, "Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, McLeavey, Catley and Jensen, Mr F. H. Hudson (clerk), and Mr W. N. Anderson, (engineer). NO. 7 OMNIBUS DISTRICT. The Palmerston North Borough Council notified the County Council of the receipt from the Public Works Department of an Order-in-Council altering the boundaries of No. 7 Omnibus District, which are now described as follows:—All that area comprising the counties of Kairanga, Manawatu, Pohangina, Kiwitea, Horowhenua, Oroua, Woodville and Rangitikei. including all the boroughs and town districts therein or contiguous thereto.—Received. VISIBILITY AT-HIGHWAY CORNERS.

A letter was received from the Public Works Department stating that in April, 1924, the Main Highways Board laid down certain standards for highway construction. In particular, the minimum standards for curvature were set out as follows:—First class highways, l-h chains radius; second class, ■l. chain" radius; third class, f chain radius. There appeared to be a tendency among local bodies to regard the requirements as standard practice rather than as an indication of the minimum radius which the Board would approve under difficult conditions. Proposals were often ;submitted involving the use of 1-' and 2-chain curves on first class highways, where a minimum radius of 5 chains was warranted and was often the most economical proposition on account of the reduction in distance. With the large increase iu mo-tor-traffic on the. main arterial routes,, sight "distance was becoming evermore. important, and whenever, the cost was not prohibitive the Board considered tnafc an attempt should be made to provide a minimum sight distance of 200 feet by using Hatter curves or alternately by benching the batters of cuttings. The chairman said thtj letter should be referred to the County Engineer's department. The Works Committee would have an opportunity of seeing the-introduction of a wide curve between Arapaepae Road and Queen St., Levin. The fast-moving traffic was increasing, and the Council would have to relieve- the curves, or they would become dangerous. In reply to ja question by Cr. Jensen, the chairman stated that„t.he Council had carried out the Board's requirements as to corners: as nearly as possible when laying down its, roads. This Avas a circular letter, pointing out that local bodies were inclined not to carry out the.particula) requirements. Cr. Barber questioned the visual effectiveness of the bend on the north side of' Tokomaru, turning to the railway line; but the Engineer stated that it had been constructed to standard. The letter was referred to the En gineer's department. MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Mr P. W. Council, of Palraerston N.. cjerk to the Makerua Drainage Board wrote stating that the Board had received the Council's letter drawing attention to the condition of the road on Mr G. Craw's property, and asked tht County chairman and the Engineer ti meet {he Board on the road in order t< discuss the matter and arrive at som< decision.

It was decided that the chairman anc. Cr. Ryder meet the Board next Thursday morning. Messrs limes and Oakley, solicitors, Palmerston North, wrote with reference to land required to be taken fron. Messrs Williams and Spiers, in con nection with the banking of Okuki Road by the Makerua Drainage Board stating" that there did not appear to bi any need for the preparation of ; special »plan showing only the lam taken for road purposes, as the plai already prepared showed the positioi with - sufficient clearness.

The Clerk expiated that the Boar< was putting a bank along the road and the road had to be widened b\ taking some land from private land owners, but the Board could not den with these people directly. and th. Council was acting for it. The Coun ciPs undertaking was to close the olnroad and take the new one.

A resolution was passed that the com mon seal be attached to the plan showing the land to be taken. ALLEGED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY Mr T. Christensen, Makerua, win. wrote to the previous meeting of the Council complaining that County work, men had damaged a fence and wharc belonging to him, wrote again, the Council having replied that they could not see any cause for complaint. He stated he was sorry the Council could not do anything in the matter, but he hoped they would send someone to inspect the damage. He thanked the Council for cleaning the dram. No action was taken. SHANNON HIGHWAY. The Shannon Borough Council wrote asking for the Engineer's estimate for Main Highways purposes, as early as might be convenient. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, to have it carried into effect. , A letter from the Shannon Borough Council, expressing appreciation of the County Council's grant of £lO for the cemetery, was received. TOKOMARU TENNIS CLUB. ' A request was received from the Tokomaru Tennis Club for two drainpi eg for the entrance to the. section r> the northern portion of the Domain. Cr. White supported the application.. He stated that there was an old culvert at the far end of the boundary of the Domain. The Club was putting in a tennis court, and there was a lot of material to be carted in. The Club would put the pipes in. The request was granted. DRAIN AT HEATHERLEA. Mr J. M. Milne wrote w'th reference

to a drain traversing his property and that of Mr L. McDonald, at Heatherlea, stating that it was blocked through the falling-in of a small cut on Mr McDonald's property, and so his own property was flooded. They were not situated in a drainage district, and the writer asked that, under the Land Drainage Act, notice be given to Mr McDonald to clean his section of the drain. On the motion of the chairman, 'the communication was referred back to Mr Milne for further information as to the locality of the drain. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £5039 17s lid were passed for payment.