HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 25 January 1929, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

JANUARY MEETING OF COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ilorowhonua County Council was held on Saturday, in the County Chambers, Levin, there being present: Mr G. A. Monk (chairman), Crs. Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Biyant, Kilsby, Gimblctt, Catley and Jensen, Mr F. H l . Hudson (County Clerk), and Mr J. T. M. Brewster (County Engineer). LOADOMETERS. The Manawatu County Council forwarded a suggestion for the purchase of a set of loadometers conjointly by itself and the Horowhenua, Kairanga and Oroua County Councils; the machines,to be available month about or on making a special request. The Manawatu Council was prepared to look after the machines and keep them in order. The chairman' explained that the loadometer was a weighing machine that eoflla be placed under a lorry to compute the load. The matter had been before the Highways District Council on several occasions, and endeavours had been made to induce the Highways Board to purchase, or subsidise the purchase of* such machines for the district, but so far the Board had steadfastly declined. The question of heavy traffic was one which a good deal of consideration was being given, and the Government proposed to call a conference to deal with the question of license fees. This. Council had spent a considerable amount of money to build roads to carry heavy traffic, and in some cases the highways had been used by excessively heavy traffic/. The only remedy was to, weigh the loads, and in case of excess ito take action. He thought that the Council should enter into an agreement with the counties named in the letter to purchase a loadometer. This Council had not so far appointed an inspector to deal with these' matters. The communication might be considered by the Works. Committee, at its next meeting. The Manawatu Council’s scheme was a good one. On the motion of the chairman, the matter was referred to the Works Committee.

Replying to .a question by Cr. Jensen, the chairman stated that a loadometer would cost about £l4O. Cr. Gimblett: Have you got anything to check their speed The Chairman: Oh. ves. SURFACEMEN’S HOLIDAYS. Six workmen employed by the Council petitioned for the reinstatement of four holidays taken off" the old list, asking that they ,be added to the Christmas holidays. They stated, in their communication, that under the existing conditions they were quite unable to make any arrangements to participate in a holiday with their wives and families, the eight days allowed them, coming at odd times of the year. The request was referred to the Works Committee. COMPLAINT REGARDING COW-. SHED AND PIGSTYES, A letter signed, by Messrs George Voss, A. McLaggan and Q.* Cron, of Tokomaru, was received complaining against Mr Miles having his cowshed and pig-styes adjacent to their properties. They also stated that a public roadway was used as a cowyard and calf-paddock, causing a nuisance. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Ryder, it was decided to refer the matter to-the Health Department. KARA MAIN ROAD BRIDGE. Advice was forwarded by the clerk of the Makerua Drainage Board (Mr F. W. Connell) that tlie ! whole .Board had 'been appointed to meet the Council ’s delegates on the matter of the Kara main road bridge and approaches.

The Chairman stated that a committee, consisting of himself and Crs Whyte and Catley, had been set up to meet the Board, and he would endeavour to arrange a date to suit that body. CONTROL OF WATER RACES

Mr IX J. McLean, of Kimberley Road, forwarded a complaint regarding the water-race that runs along the boundary between his property and Mr A. R. Bryant’s. He stated that, as Mr Bryant had no water in one paddock, he had taken the water-race through on to liis place for a distance of about 18 yards and then put it back on the writer’s property. Mr McLean considered that Mr Bryant should take the race along on his place for half the distance —about seven chains. Whereas the former had only 18 yards to look after, the writer had six chains.

Cr. Gimblett stated that the system of looking after the water-races required some overhauling. Years ago he and the late Mr Peter Stewart had to get permission to divert a water-

race, putting in a lengthy deviation on‘-condition that they* kept it in thorough order. to the .satisfaction of the Council. Now, apparently, users were digging deviations -where, they liked. Was there any officer of the county who was thoroughly conversant with the races maintained by the Council and with those that had to be maintained by agreement with those who dug them? The races should not be tampered with; they were to 0 valuable.

Cr. Catley said that apparently from what Cr. Gimblett had stated, a good many diversions hacj been made. None had been made without the knowledge of the Council, without questions being raised, while he had been a Councillor The diversion in question seemed to have been done without the authority of the Council. The Chairman said it appeared in all probability that, prior to the selling of this land, the Government had maintained this particular race. lie thought that there had been an arrangement that the Government did not pay any rates, but maintained its own water-race. Apparently when the present occupiers took over the laud they continued to do that. Cr. Gimblett said that the Council liad had a number of caretakers of the water-races, and he thought that since Mr Howell’s time they had not been’ qui.te conversant with the conditions. He did not suggest that, the Council take over the whole of the race, but that the Engineer go into the question and ascertain which races are maintained by the county and-which are not. If the farmers could get the Council to clean out the races, they could not be blamed. The Chairman: If you strike a rate over the whole of the lands that benefit, you should undertake it. Cr. Gimblett stated that the reticulation of the water-race system was like a piece of wire-netting. It had been carried, out by the Council up to a point as per plan; anything over and above that was at the expense of the farmer. Mr Stewart and himself had put in a race at great expense, and it was worth it. He had 18 or 20 yards of main race, and it cost him quite a lot per annum for general maintenance; he paid that because the water was there for his use. With the permission of the Council ‘he had taken the water down his boundary fence. The officers of the Council should know which was a county race and which

was a private race. The Chairman: You will want a plan. Cr. Gimblett: If we take the plan at first in existence, it will be pretty near the mark. We should have one officer or employee who is conversant with that.

It was decided, on the Chairman’s motion, that Cr. Gimblett and the Engineer inspect the race mentioned ill the letter and report to' the Council on what has been done. OHAU EAST ROAD.

Mr E. H.' Saint wrote stating that, as arranged with Cr. Catley, the writer’s father had interviewed the Natives principally interested in the land which would be affected by the deviation of the Ohau East Road on the line indicated by the Engineer, with the result that the Natives state that they would have no objection to- the proposal, provided that suitable compensation is paid for the land taken. Before further steps could be taken, it appeared necessary that a plan should be prepared in order to legalise the new road line, and he asked if the Council could see its way to have such a plan prepared.

The Clerk stated that this matter had been before the Works Committee for some time.

Cr... Catley said the trouble had been .to know who were the Natives concerned as owners. Mr Saint was well .conversant with them, and the speaker had asked him to get some idea as to how they were going to view the proposal —whether they were going to give part, of the land voluntarily or not. Mr Saint had done that, and his statement to the speaker was that they would. What steps it was proposed to take rested with the Council. The latter had applied for a £2OO grant for his road, and the Department had granted £IOO on account. That was as far as the matter had gone at present. The applicant was getting access to his property only through sufferance over Native land, and it ought not to be allowed to continue. If the Council codld, relieve him by giving him a public road, they should do so. To get back to the other road the Council would want some more land, and Mr. Costello would convey land fre of cost to the Council from where the road would end to the old line of road which they proposed to abandon.

The letter was referred to the Works Committee, on the motion of the Chairmai. 1

WAIHOU ROAD FORMATION,

For the purpose of providing interest and other charges on the £450 loan for farming and metalling the Warhou Road, a resolution was passed levying a special rate of Id in the £ in the Waihou Road special rating district. NORTH MANaKATJ ROAD.

The Works Committee recommended that, in view of Mr S. B. Meredith having taken up the old tram-line on the North Manakau Road and re-form-ed the same at his own expense, and as portion of the road gives access to two settlers, Mr Meredith be paid the sum of £2O towards the cost of the work; and that Mr Meredith be informed that he will be expected to maintain the road in future 'at his own expense Avhilst the same is being used for mill traffic.

Cr. Jensen said it appeared to him that there was no guarantee but a verbal one that the road would be kept in repair. Past experience showed that a verbal arrangement was of no use to the County. ' Cr. Gimblett asked if the road had been left in better repair than before the tram-line was laid.

Cr. Bryant stated that the company

that'formerly had the mill It ft the trnmdiiae •on the road. Mr Meredith took the line up, and did about £SO worth of work on the road btisides. The Council would have had to tTMIOVe the tram-line if Mr Meredith had iffit done so.

The recommendation was adapted, and it was also decided that Mr Metedith be requested to enter into, an agreement accordingly. . ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The County Engineer reported on riding matters as under: — Tokomaru Riding,—General maintenance has been carried out in this riding, Since the last meeting of the. Council,, a local storm accompanied by heavy rain,, caused a high flood in tho stream on Albert Road, which-caused a bridge to collapse. I have subiflitted plans and proposals to the Public Works Department with a view to getting a subsidy for flood damage. A temporary crossing has been made for traffic until such time as the new bridge is erected. , ■ Wirokino Riding. —A quantity of maintenance metal has been placed on Gladstone Road, Upper Queeni .Street, Fairfield road, Ohau West and. /Soldiers’ Roads. General maintenance, has been carried out on roads where required. A washout iu the main water race has been repaired by building a concrete wall. i ...

To Iloro Riding.-—Maintenance work has been carried out on Otaki Gorge, , and minor matters attended,to.

General. —The jaw stock on the Acme crusher gave out and a new one. was purchased and installed. The machine is now working satisfactorily., . The Case tractor is doing good'work driving the crusher. OTARUA BRIDGE,

Cr. Whyte asked how..long it would be before the Otafua bridge would- be renewed. He Stated that the settlers f at the northern end were held up with their wool.

The Engineer stated that he was applying for a Government subsidy, of £1 for £l.' The plans had been sent down, and he would ask the Department ,to expedite the matter.. The bridge would not be- up in less thau six weeks from the time when the plans were approved. Cr. Whyte: Would it be possible. to re-eoustruct th.e bridge on the old site? The Engineer: I don’t think so; the timber is too short. The old one was 18ft.', and there is a 21ft. gap now. Cr. Whyte suggested that in ' the meantime a load or two of metal be deposited near the old bridge. 1 LEVIN-FOXTON ROAD.

Cr. Catley asked if attention ,could be given to the road to. the Wirokino bridge. < . ' The Engineer stated that, asthe three crushers were working at Tokomaru, he could not get metal for that purpose yep RAHUI ROAD. Cr. Ryder asked the Engineer- to put a man on Rahui Road, near Mr Emmett’s, to attend, to the water tables. Cr. Jensen: That is in Te Horo riding. / Cr. Ryder: So it is., (Laughter.) Cr. Jensen: We don’t have floods up there. ALBERT ROAD BRIDGE. Cr. Ryder said, that another matter to which he wftlied to. call attention was that of Albert Road, Tokomaru, where his son was farming. He, would like Cr. Bryant to look at the bridge. Cr. Barber: You cannot sell any wool till February. (Cr. Ryder: There is a temporary bridge there to get the wool over. Half the clip is out, and the rest is in the shed.

The Chairman: I have had to pack wool.

Cr. Ryder: So have I; but when it is in bales you cannot pack it. Tho Chairman: Roll it. It is a good thing to see a councillor in trouble, isn’t it ? _