HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 15 February 1929, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT MATTERS. At the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, the following business relating to the southern portion of the district was transacted: — Otaki Gorge Road. Mr. A. Seed wrote with reference to the Otaki Gorge Road, noting the Council's disclaimer that any promise was made that the work of extending .this road for the few chains required would be undertaken this year. He regretted that he had misinterpreted the Council's letter in this regard. He alsa noted that the Council required his estimate of the cost of the proposed road extension before considering the question of giving assistance to the work. Apart from any cost of survey or pegging the road line, and apart from the initial and delivered cost of piping required for culverts, he estimated that the work could be completed for a total expenditure of about £SO.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Bryant, the matter was referred' to the chairman, Cr. Jensen and the engineer, with instructions to see what could be done and report to the Council. Mangaone Road. Air. W. Baxter, sawmiller, Waikanae, wrote bringing under the notice of the Council what he described as the shocking condition of the Mangaone Road, Reikornugi, between Messrs Monk Bros.' residence and his sawmill. He stated that when he com-' meneed sawmilling operations there eighteen months ago, the above road was in a deplorable state, and to enable him to get his timber out he had to repair the road at his own expense, which had cost him approximately £IOO to date. The only time spent on this road by the Council's surfacemen during the above period was seven to eight days in spreading metal, when ho gave them assistance with some of his own' men. He asked the Council to have the road repaired between Messrs Monk Bros.' residence and the cutting, immediately, also that the engineer inspect tHe cutting between Messrs Hooper and Neilson 'a properties, as this appeared to be unsafe and a menace to the passing traffic! The above road vvas now showing increased traffic owing to the daily running of the creamery motor-lorry, tradesmen's vehicles, and tourists motor cars. The writer wished to assist the Council by maintaining portion of this road; therefore he would undertake to keep in repair the road from that side of Mr. Nielson's property to his (Mr. Baxter's) sawmill, with the exception of the bridge. Two of the bridges on Ms side of Mr. Nielson's .required attention immediately. On the evening of February 2nd a motor car crashed into one of them and took the right--hand side rails clean off, and went over the side of the bridge; so the bridge was now minus the rails on that side. The chairman stated that the road had been very unsatisfactory. Sawmill traffic had been responsible for this, as it had been for the bad state of certain other roads in the district. The speaker had to travel over a road which was not satisfactory, but which could be maintained for a very few pounds a year if it were not for the sawmill. The chairman and Mr. Baxter had discussed a verbal arrangement, which the latter did not at the time refute, but recently Mr. Baxter stated over the telephone that he had not agreed to it. The only course now was for him to make a deposit, the same as other sawmillers along the coast had clone. The chairman suggested that the engineer and himself go over the route and report what could be done. His own property was paying the bulk of the rates in that area, and he had just a sawmill'road to put up with. This mill was erected right across the road, permission for this .having been obtained from the Council many years ago; but now it was practically' impossible for anyone to get through. The matter was referred to the chairman and the engineer, with a request to confer with Mr. Baxter and report to the Council. Waikanae Subdivision.

"Messrs Seaton, Sladdcn and Pavitt, engineers and surveyors,' Wellington, wrote asking for approval of amendment to a plan of subdivision in Waikanae township. On September 12th, 1925, the Council approved a subdivision of two lots (part seetion4l, Ngarara West C, Block IX, Kaitawa 15.. D.). It was now desired to add to -Lot 2 a small area showing on a tracing submitted. The chairman moved that the Council approve of the alteration of the plan as shown. This was seconded by Cr. Ryder, and carried. ■ . ' ■