HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Shannon News, 14 October 1927, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

WAIKAWA SOUTH ROAD EXTENIONS.

At the meeting of the Horowhenua Countv Council on Saturday a letter was received from Mr, C. W. Foster, surveyor, with regard to the Waikawa South Road extension, asking -for a certificate from the Council that the new road had been formed and metalled to the satisfaction of the Council. On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to give a certificate under the common seal that the Council approves of the work. Question of a Right-of-way. A letter was also received from Mr. Foster stating that the Land Transfer Office had "asked him to ascertjm , whether a 50-links strip of land on the eastern boundary of Pukbhou 4H No. 1 was a public road. Apparently it was laid off by the Native Land Court as a right-of-way when making the original partition. As the adjoining land had been alienated, there appeared to be no purpose for this strip. If the Council recognised it as a public road, he asked tha't they would give a certificate to that effect. The chairman stated that the matter had'been looked into, and apparently the Council did not recognise this as a public road; it had no use as such. They had never used it, and he did not see that it could be used in any way. It was almost immediately behind Mr. P. Simcox's house on Waikawa South Road extension, and it joined a blind road that did not start or end anywhere. The Council could say definitely that no public money Avas spent on it. It was decided to reply that the Council did not recognise the piece of land in question as a public ro.ad. Potest Lakes Road.

At the previous meeting of the Council, a letter was received from Selwyn Simeox with reference to a gate on Forest Lakes Road, stating that there was a road 20'chains in-length, with a gate at the end of it, opening into his property. This gate had been broken down by stock several times, and he wanted it removed to'.the topjjof the hill, four or five chains from the main County Road. The Council advised Mi". Simeox to hold the matter over until they knew what action 'was-going to be 'taken in regard to the extension of the road. He now wrote stating that he noticed that it was proposed to extend the road to the railway line, about 4 chains. The entrance to Forest Lakes and the main county road was through a deep cutting, and when stock were being driven along the main road and animals broke up the cutting, it was almost impossible- for dogs to head them for 20 chains from the main road. He had had to repair the gate more than once when it had been broken bv a runaway beast. The chairman stated that there was some sound, common sense in Mr. Simcox's letter, and after giving it. consideration lie thought that the Council should grant his request to remove the gate from its present position to the top of the hill, just inside his own entrance there. This was a dead-end road and it was opened back some 20 chains. Stock got in there, and they must be a terrible nuisance to the oc.cupier. In the gate's present position Mr. Simeox could lock it, but once it was shifted he had no authority to do that and the Council would have no authority to force anybody to shut it. The chairman moved that the request be granted, to have effect during the pleasure of the Council, and that this information be conveyed to Mr. Simeox.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Bryant and carried. Otaki Wandering Stock.

The Town Clerk of Otaki, on behalf of the Borough Council, wrote thanking the County Council for having granted permission for the. Borough Ranger to deal with wandering stock on Convent Road. —Received. Piping Across' a Eoad. Messrs Ashdbwn Bros, wrote asking for permission to put in some pipes across the Beach Road, To Horo, to run off surface water. They stated that the road was stopping the water in the wet season, and they wished to take the water across the road in a 4-inch pipe. They would do the work without interfering with the traffic if the Council would grant them permission to do it. The chairman said this was a matter which the Council should refer to Cr. Jensen and the engineer to look into. The policy question was cropping up again, of' a ratepayer wanting to do the work. This was a by-road, but the Council had a surfaceman whom they could send to attend to the matter.

The application was referred to Cr. Jensen and the engineer, with power to 'act.

Claim for Metal,

Messrs Treadwell and Sons, solicitors, wrote with reference to a of metal taken by the Council's staff from the property of Mr. Hira Parata, at Waikanae, for road-making. They stated that apparently it was arranged that details of the amount taken should be supplied; and they wished to know wihat price tho Council was prepareu to pay for the metal removed. The chairman stated that the material taken was practically spoil. He suggested that the engineer prepare a statement as to the quantity taken, and that an offer be made or a settlement effected. Strengthening metal and material for about a mile of road were obtained from a knob on Mr. Parata's property, and the workmen made a flat paddock of it. , The matter was referred to the engineer, with instructions to endeavour to effect a settlement. Mrs. D, Morgan, Te Horo, wrote drawing the attention of the Council to a water-hole in front of her gate, and asking that it be attended to as soon as might be convenient. .She stated that it had. been caused by the highway gang in. ploughing. The .matter was : left to Cr. Jensen and the engineer to attend to. Boulders for Crusher, Mr. V, J. Cottle wrote with "refer-

ence to a supply of boulders for No. - crusher, stating that there were a few acres of stones at the back of his place which the County had left, being more apparently too far away, but which he would like to cart to the crusher. He wished to know if he could come to an arrangement to sell them at the cniaher at a price thatf would pay expenses. The chairman stated that the matter of boulders came up at the Finance Committee and he suggested that the Works Committee might go into the boulder question. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.