COUNTY BUSINESS.

Shannon News, 16 October 1928, Page 3

COUNTY BUSINESS.

MEETING OF THE HOROWHENUA COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held iri the County Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, ,there being present: Mr G. A. Monk ■ (chairman), Crs Barber, Whyte,. Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, Gimblett, Catley, , and Jensen, Mr F. 11. Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr J. T. ,M. Brewster (County Engineer). 'The Wellington Hospital Board wrote "'Soliciting the- Council’s interest in -the Southern Cross souvenir -flags , raffle.—Received. , mr^vrc< MOTOR VEHICLE • REGTJLATI.ONS. The Minister of Public Works for- ' warded a copy of .the Supplementary ■. Regulations for Motor Vehicles, together' with intimation of his intention to convene an advisory Board. The Chairman said that, unless the Council desired to offer, an objection, the local bodies would be represented on the Board by a delegate from the Wellington County Council. On the Chairman’s motion, the communication was received. MAKERUA ROADING. SCHEME. ' Mr" H. R. Farquhar, civil engineer, Palmerston North, wrote with reference to the Makenla special rating r district, stating that since., discussing the proposed boundaries of the district with the Council’s representatives, the proposal to include some 0232 acres (being the'whole of the lands in the • titles concerned) had been considered. The amounts which each owner would pay in rates for roading under this *' proposal were so radically different from the amounts they had mutually agreed on (nor had a-method been discovered 'of settling these differences) ■ that this proposal was not feasible. The owners, howeverfsubmitted a new plan. Under the new proposal Whitaunui (660 acres approximately) and Temukanui (336 acres appr.) were each to have land transfer surveys prepared so that separate titles might be issued for their respective areas in the special rating district; and Miranui ’? area was to be increased from the former proposal to include sections, so that, on completion of dedication, of the roads, separate titles would Be available, if required, for

each section or block in the district. This proposal did not—agree with the owners’ mutual arrangement regarding ' payments for roading, but the. differences were considerably less than those in the first-mentioned proposal, and. should the Council agree, could be mutually arranged. The estimate now was considerably in excess of the one forwarded by Mr A. Seifert, and wa:. based 'on. the Co'unty Engineer’s figure of 15s 4d per cubic yard of metal The owners were agreeable to this, pro vided that the loan might ( be raised a> required and that there was no neecss ity to raise the whole loan should tin work be carried out at less than tlii estimate. ■ A 'guarantee would also In supplied by the larger land-owner, that, should the work, whicli was t. be carried out by contract, exceed tin amount of the loan, the excess woub be met by them. The owners luu agreed to provide the money in tin coming summer for metalling 51 chain, of the Ashlea Road Extension, be tween the portion now metalled an :i the portion (15 chains) ificluded ii the-loan. It was hoped to metal 4 miles 57 chains of the Makerua-Rangi, itane Road and 66 chains of the. Ashle: Road' Extension, thus making then through metalled roads this summer A considerable part of the land abou . . the centre of the plains was beiiq used this season for the first time i > dairying. A metal road was thus bad ly required by these settlers, who re spectfully requested the Council to usi all means within its power to expedite raising the loan and metalling these - roads. " The estimate submitted totalled £8199 10s. On the motion of the chairman, see onded by Cr. Catley, it was resolver that the matter of the Alakenia road; " be referred back to Mr Farquhar foi the petitioners’ assent to the special fating area and for application to the Local Bodies Loans Board for author ity to borrow in due course; also.that the Council be supplied with a cope of any agreements entered into by the property-owners concerned regardinj. the construction of the roads. . TRAFFIC NOTICE AT SCHOOL. Theh School Committee at Opiki, ii. the Rarigita'ne district, forwarded a request for the shifting of one of two motor-traffic signs, recently erected, t'. a position which the Committee considered more effective. —The request was agreed to. KARA STREAM BRIDGE APPROACH The -Makerua Drainage Board advis ed that it was prepared to pay onequarter of the expanse of a new access to Mr Taylor’s pioperty, in eonnet'tion with earthwork at the Kara. Stream Bridge approach; but in regard to the road drain, it was not prepared to accept any liability. The chairman stated that this matter would never have cropped up, only that the Board wanted the Kara Bridge raised on a level with the existing bank. When this was done, it became necessary to construct fillings, -■'■which had the effect of cutting-off Mr Taylor’s entrance to Ms property. The contention of the Council.was that the bridge was raised for the benefit of the Board, and consequently it was the Board’s duty to provide Mr Taylor with means of access equivalent to .‘that which previously existed. He thought ‘that the Council should renew , its application to the Board in stronger terms than before. On the motion of Cr. Ryder, seconded by Cr. Kilsby, it was resolved that th,e matter be referred back to the Board, with a request that it be attended to immediately. ANOTHER ACCESS QUESTION. Mr Hi J. Prier, of Makerua, wrote stating that an employee! of the Council had filled in a roadway belonging to the writer, hvho, in consequence, had' Sad to take his stock over a hill SUjJK ("i * j \ * i * "" t-

at considerable risk. In compensation for his right-of-way having been taken,. he contended that [another road should be made to enable him to get; his stock in and out; and lie suggested that the County Engineer interview him. The Engineer was authorised to meet Mr Prier in regard to his application. „ DAMAGE TO A FENCE.

Mr Jas. Parsons, Levin, wrote drawing the Council’s attention to the condition of the fence on his property opposite the Levin Dairy Factory. He stated that the Council’s men, when carting metal find dumping it, had in a number of eases tipped it right through his fence on to his property, and slock' had been able to jump the fence, breaking off some of the posts. He asked the Council to remove the metal and repair the fence. On the motion of the chairman, onded by (Jr. Catley, the Engineer’was authorised to rectify any damage that had been done at Mr Parsons’s. WATER-RACE RAM.

With regard to the proposal by Mr E. B. Vickers to instal a ram in the water race in Bullcr Road adjoining Mr B. V. Brown’s property, Mr Brown wrote stating that he had no objection to the work being carried out. —Received.

OTAWHI'WHI ROADA question relating to the Otawlii whi Road was raised by a letter from Messrs Jacobs and Grant, solicitors, of Palmerston North,-who stated that they had received from Mr Foster, surveyer, of Levin, a plan showing location of a surveyed road which, they thought, did not coincide with the situation of the formed They asked the Council to advise them as to what its intentions were as to legalising the formed road, upon which, they understood, nubAc money had been expended, which actually constituted a road under the Public Works Act. The chairman stated that the road originally called the Otawhiwhi Road was later known as Webb’s Road, and 'also as Paialca Extension., The road much of it ran through Airs Webb’s property, 'The legalisation* was not conipjeted. Owing to some water rights, it rvas agreed in 1915 or 1916 that the road should be -diverted. It appeared that the Council should now take the necessary steps for legalising the road. Air AlcGill would wait onthe Council to ask for this to be- done. Air AlcGill, who was introduced by Cr. Kilsby, said he understood that the road was originally surveyed on the centre of the terrace, and when the r.ew road was formed it rvas formed at the base of the terrace. The settlers interested desired that the present road '>e legalised. M 1 ’ Lowe and himself ■.■ ere willing to give the necessary ■and. Cr. Ryder moved and Cr. Kilsby secmded that the Council take the necessary steps to legalise the Otawhiwhi Road on ;the ejxisting roaidway, and this was carried. ARATANGATA FLOOD-GATE.

Mr' R. A. Spiers, of Koputaroa, wrote stating that he rvas the owner of land on both sides of the Aratangata Road at the river end, and in .the past (he only access was over the flood-, gate, but as this was now unsafe for cralfie he was deprived of access. He asked for a bridge over the drain. The chairman, said that apparently there was a drain constructed on a road reserve or dedicated road line, and on that diain there had been a flood-gate which had been used for a bridge. The question was -as to the Council’s responsibility for getting the load line on to Air Spiers’.s property. Evidently at some time in the future a flood-gate .would have to be built there.

Cr. Kilsby stated that he had received an offer for the filling-in of the floodgate and renewing of the earthwork, at Is 6d a yard, the quantity of material involved being 50 or 60

yards. This would .suffice for Mr Spiers’s requirements for a considerable time. Mr Callender, the Assistant Engineer to the County, had made an -estimate of about £340 for a new floodgate; but the Council had not that amount of money to spend there at present. Probably £l2 or £ls would cover the cost of all the temporary work required. Cr. Catley said there was the question of how far the Council rvas liable to keep a flood-gate there. Before anything of a temporary nature could be done, the water would have to be stopp'd from coming on both sides of thc.;ate, and there was the danger of the structure falling in. He thought that it would be useless to do anything of a temporary nature until the percolation was stopped. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Kilsby, the matter was referred to the Works Committee. ARATANGATA DRAIN.

With regard to the Aratangata drain, the Works 'Committee recommended that the Engineer be instructed t-o have levels taken from the road to the mouth of the drain as soon as possible. Cr. Kilsby said that the redommendation was "not worded exactly as he would have liked, as it might mean that the work could be done at any time thenceforth. He did not want to see anything done cn this before Christmas; the ground and drain were not. at present in a suitable condition, there being too much water. The Chairmau: You may have a big flood at Christmas. Cr. Kilsby: In regard to the dram itself, it cannot be done. The Chairman: You have no objection tc the levels being,

Cr. Kilsby: No. Cr.' Ryder: It was well understood by.'the Engineer that- lie would not do it till the ground was suitable. The recommendation was adopted.

lIOKIO DRAINAGE BOARD GRANT Crs. Catley "and Kilsby, who had been authorised to confer with representatives of the Hokio Drainage Board, presented a report in which they recommended that the .Council’s annual grant to the Board for the cleaning of the Hokio stream be increased

from £lO to £25, such increase to take place at once. t .. Cr. Catley explained that the £lO grant was inaugurated some year 3 ago. The Board contended that it was now insufficient, owing to the increased cost of the work.- , , , The chairman said he thought that the report would have to be referred back, as no reasons were given m it for the increase, and these were needed for the Council’s guidance. Cr. Catley: We should get a statement from them as to the reasons, then? . . - . , The Chairman: This is a thing that has to be tackled. We have a responsibility which was fixed at £lO per annum by a Commission. The Council will require satisfactory reasons to increase it.

Cr. Jensen: And very strong reasons

too. ; • The Chairman: I am not saying whether I oppose it or agree with it. It depends on the reasons. Cr. Kilsby: When we met here these things were pointed out to us. They had been receiving £lO only since the work \had been ’carried out 'by the Board, and should anything further be required where they had already spent their loan money they would not receive that £lO front us. That is in view even if we increase the amount to £25. They are asking for this reason: When the Commission sat, the estimate rvas £3OO. When they came to complete the job, they found that £3OO would not do it; it cost them about £IOOO. Therefore they claim that the share which thje Commission authorised as this country’s share is not sufficient on the face of their loan money to-day. That is one of the principal reasons why they are asking for the increase. It ,'is also because values have increased.

The Chairman: You may be astonished to learn that they are getting 10s to the £1 up to £IOOO for all they spent on that stream, from the Lands Department. The Clerk: Whether it is applicable to the work done or to be done is to be determine# yet.

Cr. Catley: if wc get a statement from them in detail,. will you accept it then ?

The Chairman: Provided that you make a recommendation. - It was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Jensen, that the report be referred back to the committee, with instructions to obtain reasons why the grant should be increased from £lO to £25, and that they .submit the reasons in a subsequent report. Cr. Gimblett rvas appointed to act with the other representatives of the Council. ENGINEER’S RESIDENCE. Cr. Kilsby moved aiid Cr. Bryant seconded, that the County Engineer’s house, be repainted; and that specifications be drawn up, and tenders be called, to be submitted to a committee consisting of the councillors for the Wine kino !Ridii|g and the Engineer, with power to act. OHAU WEST GRAVEL PIT.

Referring to the question of the disposal of the gravel pit on the Ohau West Road, the Clerk .stated that the matter had been in the hands of the Works Committee. An offer had been received of £SO, for the pit, and this had been accepted. The transfer was ready to be signed. A resolution was passed that, in consideration of £SO. having been paid by Air E. J. Pink, of Ohau, for the purchase of the gravel pit, containing-one acre more or less, on the Ohau West Road, the common seal be attached to the memorandum) of -transfer.