HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Shannon News, 23 March 1928, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

BUSINESS AT COUNCIL MEETING*. At the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, at Levin on Saturday, the following were among the subjects dealt with:— Pukehou Deviation. Mr. George Bevan, Pukehou, wrote stating that he was prepared to reerect the fence along the eastern boundary of the road facing his property, in connection with the main road deviation;, the Council to pay him : the same price per chain as it cost the Council to erect the new fence along the road through Mr. R. B'Ath's property, and for a length of. 21 chains.— It was decided that the acting-engineer give Mr. Bevan seven, days' notice to agree to the Council's proposition, failing which the acting-engineer is to have the work done where land has been taken in the recent deviation. (The verbal arrangement reported by the acting-engineer add notified by him to Mr. Bevan,, was that compensation for land taken was to be assessed on the assumption that there was no fence on the land at the time.it was taken; that Mr. Bevan would erect a substantial legal fence along the eastern boundary of the land taken and supply all material .iu connection with the erection: of such fence; that the Council would pay him for erecting such fence and supplying necessary material, at the rate of £2 per chain—payment to be made when the work is satisfactorily completed; Mr. Bevan to reply in writing confirming these arrangements "or otherwise. It was further notified to Mr. Bevan that the length of fencing required along the eastern boundary of land actually taken was 12 chains. The portion s of fence along the eastern road boundary where no land was taken for road deviation and which was not touched by contractor Lee should, the acting-engineer thought, be shifted to the correct boundary at Mr. Bevan's own expense: As far as the Council was concerned, it could remain on its present line as per agreement held by Mr. Bevan.)

Access in Otaki Gorge. Mr. A. Seed, Wellington, wrote renewing application for ah extension of the road formation to reach his property in the Qtaki Gorge. He stated that for very many years he had been paying the County substantial rates, the collection of which had given the Council no trouble whatever; and he thought he was entitled to a greater measure of consideration in the matter of access. The work of extending the formation to a point adjacent to the end of the footbridge leading to his cottage would be a small. matter, for there was already a rou£h track formed, at his own expense,’ most of the way—though this might not be actually upon the definite road line. There vwas no heavy work involved in the short extension of the formation for which he was asking; and though there was one small creek within the length required; this would not need to be bridged, as it was not subject to flood, and , a ford would be quite effective. There was ample metal available in the sidlings along the length, but very little metalling would be required—only in the soft places, as the exten-

sioa would ba subject' only' to the light-

est tramc; The application was referred to the Councillors for the riding, fox consideration when framing the estimates. Waikawa South Road Extension. Messrs Park and Adams, solicitors, Levin, forwarded transfers of land from Mr. E. P. Simcox and. Mi. T., Be* van in connection with Waikawa.South. Road extension. —Resolutions were passed accepting dedication in bothl instances and directing that the seal. be affixed to the memoranda. ! Mr. Percy Siiucox, who was introduced by Cr. Ryder, waited on the Council ; with reference to the metalling, of theWaikawa South Road extension. Hestated that the formation of the* road was completed in the spring, and he thought it had been the former engine oer's intention to have the road metalled during the summer, iff.- Simcox proposed to offer some sections* for sale on this road in May, and possession would be given on June Ist. It was possible that five people might ber living there and would* require to build houses and sheds. If they Wished to, do so in June and July, an unmetaU fed road would get into a bad*. state.*. He knew that money was ready to b$ used on the road; the crusher was idle, and there were boulders iin- Bryant's paddock, stacked up alongside, the pit; ready, to be used. Crs. Bryant, and Ryder inspected the road the day* before the meeting, and he believed they were quite willing to endorse his suggestion that the road should be metal-* led without further' delay. . The chairman: What is the, formation in the roadt

Cr. Ryder: It is very sound. The chairman: What is the cl&ss of

stuff —sand? Cr. Ryder: No; it is solid earth’. There is a small piece of swamp, ,with a filling of a foot or 18 inches right \ across it. It is about six months since the formation was completed. There is no sand or mud. Mr. Simcox took his car over it, and Cr. Bryant and I walked back over it. The road, is fairly solid.. I am sorry we did not have the acting engineer with. us. I / think it is in the interests of the Coum eil to metal the rpad. I don't think, wo shall be losers by doing so. If Mr. Simcox is successful in selling the, see.- ~ tions, I think it will be a god send.to the, Council if the road is metalled;, but if they start to cart material, for cowsheds over it in the middle - of wim feer, in its unmetalled state, - there is. i no need for me to tell you what it will be like. Cr. Bryant corroborated Cr. Ryder's v view of the matter. v \

Replying to questions, Mr. Simcox stated that about 42 chains ofmetak ling were wanted. The Council had formed the Toad. ( i*

Cr. Ryder: I feel sure that he will be successful in the sale. We yrere. .agreeably surprised with some* of: the country he is offering. There is no question that it is attractive country. Cr. Catley: Is the money available ?- The chairman: Yes. Cr. Catley: Then, why can't it> go on? ; Cr. Ryder: The acting-engineer; is under the impression that;it should not be metalled till next - summer—that is the reason.

The chairman; The Council will give consideration 1 to the request, and Mr. Simcox will be notified in due course. Local Councillors appear confident; but it is that riding that 'will have to pay the piper if it breaks up; They seem quite confident there will be no trouble,

Mr. Simcox then thanked the Council and withdrew. Cr. Jensen said that this was one of the matters that the Council should leave to the engineer; if hesaid' the j „ road was not fit to metal, the.speaker' did not think the Council should urge the matter.

Cr. Ryder; Does any Councillor think I would advocate a thing wer are going to pay through the nose: £6rf I think I am acting to-day in the inter* ests of the ratepayers.

On the motion of Cr. Ryder, seeond 1 - ed by Cr. Bryant, it was resolved; that the Waikawa South Road extension* he

metalled without delay. Cr. McLeavey asked if it was pro® posed to call tenders for the work, and the Chairman replied that the Council

intended, to do At-with its own crusher.