HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 12 February 1929, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

FEBRUARY MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held m the County Chambers, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: The Chairman (Mr G. A. Monk), 'Crs Barber, Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, Gimblett Cat * ley, and Jensen, Mr F. H- Hudson , (Clerk) and Mr J. T. M. Brewster (Engineer). Leave of absence was granted to Cr. Whyte. 8 COUNTY WITHDRAWN FROM , OMMIBUS DISTRICT. The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department, Mr F. Wi. Furkert, wrote stating that th ®' County was added to the No. 7. Motor Ommibus District on September LA«. 1927, fin order to {overcome certain difficulties in connection with the insurance of passengers on motor ommi- ■ bases plying within that district and for some distance outside or n. nStated that this difficulty would be overcome when the Motor Vehicle ln- - surance (Third Party Risk) Act cams into force .on June Ist, and it had therefore been decided to reduce the district to the original boundaries as laid down in the schedule to the Motor Ommibus Traffic Act, 1926. An order-in-Couneil affecting this appeared in the Gazette of January 17th. ■ The Chairman explained that previously the v county was attached to Palmerston North for ommibus purposes, but under the new Act it was apparently not considered necessary that this county should belong to any motor and ommibus district, and therefore it had been taken away. The letter was received.

BANK ROAD AT LINTON. Messrs Hankins, and Abraham, solicitors, Palmerston North, wrote that they were instructed by Mr Geo. Craw, of Linton, to request the Council to level off and render fit for traffic that portion of the public road which runs along the main Linton drain and upon which front Mr Craw’s sections Nos. 47, 49, 50, 51, D.P. 825. Mr Craw had arranged a sale of sections ,47 and 50, whilst it was probable rhafc a sale would also be effected very shortly of Sections 49 and 51, and as the respective purchasers were building on their seet- ■ ions, both they and Mr Craw naturally ' required reasonable road access. The writers added, that the portion of the road referred to, which is at the extreme Tokomaru end, is at present practically impassable owing to the large mounds of spoil which were deposited thereon when the Linton Drain was enlarged. They understood that ■this was not the first time that Mr Craw had made a similar request to the Council, but that in 1926 two of the Councillors met Mr Craw on the site, together with representatives of the Makerua Drainage Board, and that, although it had been expected that the matter would be remedied, - - nothing -had, ever been done in this • direction. Now that the sections fronting the road had been sold, it "was ab- : solutely essential that access should begiven. The Chairman stated that most of this trouble had arisen through a dis-. pute between the Makerua Drainage’ Board and Mr Craw. Apparently the Board, without the authority of the - Council, when widening the Linton drain, which served Mr Craw’s and other properties, deposited, the spoil on the road-line. He did not think there had ever been a road them The - Board had been able to level-off the top of the spoil so that Mr Craw was able to cart flax on the top of the bank, but 'in wet weather the surface became slippery and there was a danger of the'teams going over the bank. Representatives of the Council had discussed the matter with the Board; who said they had done everything that could reasonably be asked to provide access as good as that existing when the drain was constructed. The Council's representatives —Cr Ryder ' and himself—that not been in a position to refute that, because they had not known the nature of the access previously existing. Mr Craw contended that the access now was not equal to that which was in existence before the work was done. Mr Craw could not expect the Council, out of revenue, to make a road and metal it, giving access and added value to his property, unless he was prepared to ,do something himself. Although thero might be ia dedicated road-line, the Council were not bound to build a road on it. The solicitors should be informed that the Council were not prepared to form and metal a road till they knew what. Mr Craw would do. This work could either be done by. forming " a district to raise a special loan,- or Mr Craw (could do it out of his own pocket. The chairman moved that thy committee, consisting of. himself and C'rs. Catley and Whyte, which had been • set up to interview the Bdard on another question, take up this matter with Jbe Board and report to the Coun- ' cil.

Ct. Ryder, in seconding the motion, stated that he could vouch for all that - the chairman bad said. The motion was carriedWith reference to a complaint made to the Council by some settlers at Tokomaru, about Mr M. A. Miles' cowygrd and, pigatys being adjacent to their properties, IMr Miles wrote stating that when Inspector Huggins had visited the place he was thoroughly satisfied ' and did not know what the people were complaining of. The writer had spoken to a resident whose, name had appeared on the com* plaint, and he said he was not aware ■of the rpport having been sent inThe resident’s wiffs was interviewed by the writer, and her objection seem- • ed to be to the poise of the machines. The Inspector had thought it was a waste pf time running about after falv reports. The writer added that if all the farmers kept their places half as dean as his there would be no need

for inspectors. He would like to meet the County Engineer, “to have a talk over Council matters that would be a great benefit to them.” The chairman mentioned that the complaint had been referred to the Health Department, and it was not in the Council’s hands. He moved that the letter be received. The motion was carried. KARA MAIN ROAD BRIDGE.

With regard to the conference which is to take - place between representatives of the Council and the Makerua Drainage Board, regarding the Kara Main Road bridge and approaches, Mr F. W. Connell (clerk) wrote stating that the Board would be represented at the bridge on February 14th, at 9.15 a.m., by such members as are able to attend. The letter .was received, the chairman stating that the deputation had been arranged for the date named in the MAKAHIKA FORD.

Mr David Haiij, Gladstone Road, Levdn, wrote stating that the ford across the Makahika stream, on the Upper Gladstone Road, was in need of attention. A bank of metal had formed on the top side of the ford which confined the stream to a narrow channel and left the ford Very littie rise in the stream made it impossible to cross ’the form. He thought that a groyne on the 'top side of the bank of metal would remedy the trouble. Two or three men would be available to give the . Council a hand with this work; also a horse and dray. Cr. Gimblett stated that the ford was formerly kept m repair by the owners of the sawniill that used to operate at Gladstone Road. The work required now was of such a nature that it should be done during the summer. The trees overhanging the road also needed attention.

On the motion of the chairman, the matters of the ford and the trees were referred to Crs. Catley and Gimblett, with the Engineer, with power to act. LINDSAY ROAD EXTENSION.

.Mairua Farm, Ltd., wrote stating that, in view of the approaching winter, they again made application for the metalling of the piece of the Lind : say Road Extension from the intersection of |the Road down to the boundary of their property, the distance being about 24 chains. It was submitted to the Council that, iii view of the very large sum which the writers paid in rates, and the fact that this was their only road access, they were entitled to some consideration at the hands of 'the Council. The road two or three times been formed and was quite satisfactory during the dry months. During, five or six months of rhe year, however, it was practically impassable. Cr. Kilsby stated that for this and several other roads in the riding that were in a bad state there was no Government graiit. The Council {would have to take into consideration what they were going to do with these roads. The Chairman: This road has been before us for the last three years. Cr. (Kilslbyt Wo should endeavour to do something with it during the next financial year, ,It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Ryder, to refer the communication to the councillors for the riding. GRANT TO REST ROOM. A letter was received from Mrs C. Bartholomew expressing the sincere thanks of the Plunket ana Women's Rest Room Committee for the Council’s grant of 20 guineas towards the Rest Room fund. DOG TAXATION. The dog taxes for the coming year were fixed at 2/6 for sheep and cattle dogs and 10s for house and sporting dogs. Mr Geo. Watson, of Levin, was appointed registrar. . PENALTY ON RATES. (The Council passed a resolution that public notice be given of their intention to impose am additional charge of 10 per cent, on all rates remaining unpaid after Tuesday, March 26th. McGILL'S AND MARK'S ROAD. Cr. Catley moved and Cr. Kilsby seconded, that the Engineer be instructed to have plans and .specifications prepared of McGill’s Road' and Kukutauaki (Marks) Road, for the approval of the Public Works Department, The chairman said that the plans would have to be in and - the work commenced before March 31st, so that the Council could pick up the money whtn it became available and the rid ing could place on the estimates an amount sufficient to meet the subsidy. The motion was carried.