COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Shannon News, 11 September 1928, Page 3

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

MEETING OF HOROWHENUA COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in the County Chambers, levin, on Saturday, there being presefit: —Mr G. A. Monk (chairman), Councillors Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Eiyant, Kilsby, McLeavey, Catley and Jensen, Mr F. H. Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr J. T. M. Brewster (County Engineer). COUNTY JUBILEES. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr G. P. Newton) forwarded a circular stating that the Government had recently had under consideration (the question of expenditure incurred by local authorities in connection with jubilee celebrations'. It was desired that any future contemp!ated ) expenditure on purposes such as this should first be considered by the Government, and wherever possible arrangements should be made to meet the expenditure, or -'portion thereof, out' of “unauthorised.” The Chairman said 1 that there was not much likelihood of this County having a jubilee for the next few years; and on his the communication was received.' CULVERT WANTED. Mr T. M. Ryder, Tokomaru, wrote making application for a Gin. culvert above his entrance on the Albert Road, Tokomaru riding. The matter was referred to the Councillors for the riding and the Engineer, with power to act. V SURPLUS WATER. Mr T: Christensen, Makerua, Wrote I asking if the Council would supply him 1 iVith 9in. pipes to put across the main road, as he had permission .from the Railway Department to get rid of all surplus water. The application was referred to the Councillors for the riding and the Engineer, with power to act. MAKERUA SETTLEMENT.. In response to the Council’s request, the owners interested in the Makerua--1 Rangitane road scheme forwarded an undertaking to maintain the road to the Council’s satisfaction until such time as it is gravelled. Mr 11. A. Seir fert, acting as .attorney, wrote that the Council had before it the petition for the raising of a special loan by the County to do the metalling, and it was anticipated that the work could be carried out early in the summer. The Chairman stated that this matter was before the -Finance Committee, and he suggested that the letter be referred to the committee with ■ a view to making the necessary application to the Loans Board. This course was agreed to* WATER-RACE DIVERSION. Mr Reg. Butt, Levin, wrote with reference to the water-race through Lots 27 and 28, Arapaepae Estate, stating that, as it. was nearly always running full, he. wished to take some of it through another paddock. T.he application was referred to the Engineer, with power to act. DAMAGE BY FIRE. Mrs Jessie Laing, Wallace Road, Ihakara, wrote complaining that the roadmen lit a fire in u high wind, on August 27th, with the result that it spread to her property, destroying native trees and ferns and spreading <Hter a pasture. She considered that the Council was liable foi- the damage done. The Chairman remarked that there Was a danger at this time of the year in lighting -fires near bracken fern, which was partly dry and contained more dead material than in the autumn. His experience of the punga trees was that they would grow again after the fire. The letter was referred to the Engineer, with instriuetions to inspect the locality and report to the Council. BETTER ENTRANCE DESIRED. Mr E. H. Saint, Kuku R.D., Ohau, wrote requesting an entrance to Sections B and C of part Ohau 3 No. 2(5, sub. 1, Blk IV., Waitohu S.D., on the main road near the Ohau River. He was in occupation of these sections; having a long lease from the Nativeowners. At present the entrance was rather awkward, owing to the road being banked up for bitumen paving. He would be pleased to meet the Engineer so that he could inspect the place. Gr. Catley and the Engineer weiy authorised to inspect the entrance, with power to act. WIROKINO FATALITY. j A letter was received from Mr Ci E. Bennett, Assistant-Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department, in reference to the recent accident on the Levin-Foxton Road, resulting the death, of John Smart. He stated that the police, in reporting to the Minister, in terms of Regulation 18 of the Motor Vehicle Regulations, recommended that a whilte-paintecl railing be erected at the cornier where the accident occurred’ about a mile south of the Wirokino bridge. A resolution was passed directing the Engineer to report as to whether a, rail as suggested would- be of any bcnc-j fit to the travelling public.. CONTRIBUTION TO lIOKIO DRAINAGE BOARD. Notification was received frpm the floldo Drainage Board that-it had been decided to approach the Council with a request that its annual contribution; of £lO towards the cleaning of the Hokio stream be' reviewed. ,It- was pointed out in the letter that the Horowhcnua Lake and, in turn, the Holcio stream formed practically the principal outlet for the surplus waters of the Horowhenua water-race • system, which to a considerable extent aug-; mented the volume of water with Avhieh the Board had to contend. Whilst the Board realised that its w r ork in a measure had primarily benefited the properties in the vicinity of the Horowhenua Lake, yet it felt that it had also contributed towards the efficiency of the water-race system, and ,such be-, ing the case, merited a, contribution which would be more in accord vyith the benefits derived. Should the Council so desire, representatives of the.,

Board would be pleased to discuss the matter with a committee of the Council on a date to be arranged. The Chairman said that the historyv of the affair, as far as he remembered it, was that a commission was set up to deal with the formation of the drainage district and it was realised that the County Council had some liar bility as far as the drainage of the Horowhenua Lake was concerned. He had appeared before the Commission, in company with Mr F. H: Hudson, and other representations were taken, with the result that the commission decided that the Council’s annual contribution should be £lO. To comply with the Board’s request certain for malities would be necessary, or an' an nual contribution could ( be made out side the award. There was nothing in the letter in support of the applica-. tion apart from the fact* that a con siderable'- amount of water was going from the races into the lake,'making the level of the lake higher than ilwould be otherwise. It had to b taken into consideration that a goo. deal of this discharge wa3 suffac< water and that it would' eventually reach the lake in any case. There was no suggestion advanced as to why the Council should increase the eontri. bution of £lO, but he thought that, oul of courtesy to the Drainage Board, i< would be as well if a committee from 1 the Council were to meet the Board discuss the -matter and report to the Council. A Commission could be ap plied (for, to have the contribution varied, or perhaps it could be varied J by mutual arrangement. The chairman moved that tiie councillors for the Wirokino riding, together with the . Engineer, be a committee to discuss the question with the committee from the Drainage Board, and report to. the Council.

The motion was seconded by Cr Ryder, and carried.

WAITARERE ROAD

On behalf of property owners on the southern end of the Hokio-Waita-rere Road, Mr T. G. Vincent, wrote requesting the Council to place a culvert on the road, opposite Read’s whare; also to cart and'spread a few loads of spoil on the crown of the road between the Beach Road and the bridge. Cr. Kilsby spoke in support of the request, which was referred to the Engineer, with power to act.

On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was decided that a notice in terms of Section 146 of the Public Works Act, 1908, be served on the occupier .or owner of part Section 78, Nga-rara West A. Block IX, Ivaitawa, in respect to trees which obscure the view on the Waikanae Beach Road. RAM FOR WATER RACE.

Mr E. R. Vickers, Bullcr Road, wrote applying for permission to put a ram in the water-race on the property occupied by him, for the purpose of supplying liis cow-shed with water. —The application was referred to the Engineer for a report. -