HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 17 January 1928, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

JANUARY COUNCIL MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Horowheiuia County Council was held in the County Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: Crs G. A. Monk (chairman), Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Bryant, Kilsbv, McLeavey, Cntley, and Jensen, Mr. F. H. Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr. A. R. Callender (Act-ing-Engineer). TRAVELLING ALLOW’ANCES.

The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of gazetted regulations prescribing the rates of travelling allowances payable, to members of County Councils:. The new regulations provide that Councillors shall he entitled to lOd an hour during the time that they are away from home, and'the cost of transit to and from meetings.—■ The communication was formally received, the Chairman remarking that the scale was much better than that existing in the past. TECHNICAL BOOK FOR ROADMEN The chairman of the Main Highways Board wrote stating that the Board had under consideration a proposal to reduce the price of Bulletin No. 1 (treating of highway maintenance) with a view to having it issued to all road foremen and surfacemen.—The Council decided to order 24 copies of the book for the use of the permanent staff. FOREMEN’S EXAMINATION. Willi regard to the examination of foremen and overseers on road construct on, notification was received from the Public Works Department that it was proposed to hold the third examination for certificates under the Highways Board in February. Prospective 'candidates should forward on tries to Ihe Public Works office, Wellingtonfi not later than January 25th. —The letter was referred to the engineer. OKUKU ROAD.

In reply to a letter from the Council the Makerua Drainage Board advised that it was prepared to release the Council from any obligation to vest the old Olcuku road in it, as provided for in the agreement dated November 3rd, 1025, and also that it would undertake at all times to keep the noxious weeds on the bank in subjection. The Board there#re asked for the Council ’s cheque'for £l5O due. It was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Whyte, that the account, of the Board for £l5O for Okuku road construction be paid, subject to any deductions for legal costs of agreement, etc. KARA MAIN ROAD BRIDGE.

The District Engineer wrote with reference to the Kara stream br'dge, on the Shannon Highway, stating that the plans were satisfactory, but asking for attention to some minor, details. When ;he work is put in hand, he added, the appointment of a clerk of r works will have to be approved by the s Department. The . work must not be commenced, as there is no . financial prov.sion on the estimates.

The chairman said he was very pleased to know that the Department had approval of the plans; but the proviso rhat the work must not be commenced because there were no funds, annulled rhe good that the Council was trying to do. This was a matter of extreme urgency. The Council should be in a position to call for tenders for the construction of the bridge; and he suggested that the matter be left in his hands so that, he could take it up with rhe Highways authorities. He though* the finance* could be arranged. The matter was one that must be despatched before ihe winter. There was £6OO to be found by the Board on a £ for g basis. Tl.rs* had to do with the remaining link of the banking scheme ; o keep the water out. He would instruct the clerk'to write to the Highways Board, putting the whole posi ..on before it; and he would follow the matter up. On the motion of Cr. Ryder, seconded by Cr. Bryant, the chairman was uithorised to call tenders for the con,miction of the Kara main road bridge :is soon as definite arrangements arc made with the Highways Board foi finance. BUCK LEY ROAD. Messrs J. G. Beers and H. C. Easton, ■A Buckley, Shannon, wrote stating tha; he Buckley Road from the Overhead Bridge to the river bank required tome metal. The County men went away .ad left it when they were doing the ijier roads. The writers hoped that he necessary metal would be put on while the weather was good. The matter was referred to the nu'ufillers for the riding and the Engineer. with power to act. VACUUM OIL SIDING.

The Vacuum Oil Company Proprie aty. Ltd., wrote acknowledging the : ounc l’s willingness to grant the firm a license foY a private railway crossng 'info 'its property at- Levin, subject o ''certain conditions, to which the firm fgreed. The Council was asked to have ,he necessary license prepared as early as possible.' The Railway Department had been asked for a plan of the proposed siding, and a copy of this would oe forwarded to the Council. The' Clerk was given authority to go into the matter with the County •Solicitor and have the necessary documents prepared. KUKU DRAINAGE DISTRICT. The Assistant. Undor-Srcrelary of internal Affairs advised the Council that the Cdmnrssiou which was appointed to consider the proposed alteration of boundaries of the Kuku Drainage District had furnished its report and recommended that an alteration of the boundaries be made, but had modified, the area as prayed for in the petition.' A copy of the report-was attached, and-the* writer-stated that it was intended to give effect to the recommendation relative to the alteration of the boundaries of the district, as contained therein. —Received. SURFACEMAN’S POSITION. ifclr J, P, TThlayson, of Levin, wrote applying for the position, now vacant, of surfaceman in the WirOkino riding’ Cr. Catley stated that the surface-

man’s cottage needed papering and painting. - - , , . The chairman said he thought, t.iat provision was made on the estimates for some painting this year. It was resolved, on rhe chairman’s motion, that the application for the position, also the quest on of renovation of the surfaceman’s house, be referred to the Works Committee. CONTRACTOR’S CLAIM. The comma ice set up to investigate the claim of Mr C. A. Louglinan on the Ashlea-Te Mukanui road contract recommended that the eonuactor, Mr Louglinan, be paid the sum of £-6 19 for repairing the ramp mentioned in his letter of August 28th, 1 ( J26, this amount represent.ng the supply of 132 yards of spoil at: the schedue late of 4s Id stated in the for the Ashlea-Te Mukanui road. —The recommendation was adopted. WATER-RACE TROUBLES.

The Council resolved that legal proceedings be taken against Arthur Stratton for the polut on of the Morowhenua main water race where the same Hows through Horowhenua 3E2 No. 10 C 3, Block \i., VVaiopehu S.D., in terms of Section 62 of the Water Supply Act, 1908, and that Raymond YTckers Brown and David Laing, occupiers of' Sections 58 and 5 7,- Horowhenua Tillage Settlement, be written to and requestion to abate the nuisance caused by pigs pf-dluiing the water-race through their respective properties; and furtlier, that a similar request forwarded to Henry Bowling, of Huku, Ohau, in respect to the water _ race flowing through Ohau 3, part No. 25, Block IV,, Waitohu S.D. Or. McLeavey said he had noticed in various places that ducks were spoiling the water in the races. They should be rounded up, as this nuisance was felt by neighbouring users of water--races. WORKS COMMITTEE. Recommendations by the Works Committee were dealt with as follows: Mr D. J. McClure —claim for accident compensation. —That this matter be referred to the County Solicitors with'instruct on to take such action as may be necessary to obtain a settlement of this claim by the contractor. Ohau West Road Extension.—That the Acting-Engineer’s estimate of £BOS 2s 3d for the construction of 1 ' this extension, as shown on the plans submitted to the Public Works Department, be approved, and that the Coun cil resolve to inform the Department that provision will be made annually on the Wirokino riding estimates for a sum of at least £ls per mile being available for the upkeep of the road if necessary. That the Council consider at this meeting, certain tenders which have been obtained in respect to this

extension. The tender of Mr A. Motfershead was accepted, and it. was decided that the work be proceeded with on the completion of formalities. Culvert at Mr J. R. Kelly’s, Tokomaru.—That 2ft concrete pipes be installed for a distance of 301 1., provided Mr Kelly is prepared to pay half the cost of the work.

The recommendation - was adopted after being amended to provide that Mr Kelly be required to pay half the cost of the pipes only. TREES AT ROAD CORNERS.

Cr. Jensen called attention to the need for having trees cut back at road corners where they were obstructing the view of traffic. He moyed that, the Acting-Engineer be instructed to give notice to occupiers of properties to take this action where necessary. The motion was carried. •