HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

Shannon News, 19 March 1929, Page 2

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL

SOUTHERN DISTRICT MATTERS. < At the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, the following business affecting the southern part of the district was t transacted: — Manakau North Road. Mr. S. E. Meredith, sawmiller, Manakau, wrote with reference to the Manakau North Road, stating that he was willing to keep that portion of the road in repair which was recently inspected by the County Engineer. Since the latter's visit, he had done a considerable amount of permanent repairs. This road appeared to be fairly popular with picnickers, and since he had opened it up over seventy cars had used it, chiefly on Sundays and holidays. He thanked the Council for the consideration granted him, which was very greatly appreciated.—Received. Ota&i Cemetery. A request was received from the Otaki Borough Council for a contribution towards the upkeep of the Public Cemetery. The amount contributed last year was £lO. The Town Clerk stated that the burials since January Ist, 1928, had been nine from the county and three from the borough..—The application was referred to the members for the Otaki and Te Horo ridings for consideration when they are framing their estimates. Convent School Notices. The Town Clerk of Otaki wrote stating that it had been resolved by the Borough v Council that two '' school'' notices, be erected , at the Convent School, in Convent Road, to comply with the traffic regulations. The signs in the Borough had all been erected, and so that there.might be uniformity of signs he would be glad if this Council,would authorise him to procure the same. The signs and standards complete cost 17s 6d each, plus cartage, and the Borough would undertake the erection. The County Council's share of the cost would be one sign and half the cost of the other. Cr. Jensen asked why the .County was asked to contribute the whole cost of one sign and half the cost of another. The chairman explained that this was because, after the school was passed, both sides of the..road were in the County, and at the other end only one side was in the County.

Cr. Jensen: Otaki is pretty well looked after as regards notices. It seems that, as soon as they, enter the County roads, they are; going to make up for lost time. We may have similar requests from elsewhere, and the question is whether it is necessary. Cr. Ryder: It is a most reasonable request and is most urgently wanted. The road at this spot is very narrow and the vision is obscured to ascertain extent by a hedge; it is really a case that we should meet. . Cr. Gimblett moved that the request be complied with. The motion was seconded by Cr. Ryder and carried. Forest Lakes Road'. Messrs Harper, Atmore and Thomson, solicitors, Otaki, wrote advising the Council that Mr. W. M. Simeox had completed the whole of the formation work in connection with the Forest Lakes Road dedication, and was ready to execute the deed of dedication as soon as the Council indicated ; its willingness to accept same. They enclosed a plan of the existing road and also of the land to be dedicated. The existing road was to be widened to a chain, and the new road was also one ehain in width. As they were anxious to give a title to Mr. Jepson, who had acquired land from Mr. Simcox at the end of the new road, they would be glad if the Council would expedite this matter and advise them as soon as possible of its decision, ia order that they might proceed .with the preparation of the necessary documents.

On the motion of the' chairman, it was decided that the engineer be instructed to inspect the road and certify to it. Question of Valuation. Mr. D. H. Lea, Otaki, writing with reference to the rating question, reminded the Council that in a previpus letter regarding his last year's rates, he had stated that if he found he was wrong in- assuming that his rates had been raised because a private valuation of his, made by the Advances to the Settlers Department, had been used, he would pay the rates. He was not wrong. The Valuer-General had admitted the point, and therefore, some little time ago, the writer asked, as he had a right to do, for a new valuation. That new valuation had not yet been made, and he regretted the delay in. the matter, but the fault was not his own. He had asked the Valuer-General to take the matter up with the Council, and had asked further that, until the new valuation was made, he would allow him to be rated on the old valuation. This seemed to the writer to be just.. If the Council sent him a rate demand on the old valuation, lie would send the money by return post. • The chairman suggested - that the Clerk be instructed to explain to Mr. Lea why the Council could not wait for him to get a new valuation. The writer had to pay on the assessment, whatever it was; the Council had nothing to do with that, which was a matter between Mr. Lea and the Valuation Department. j The suggestion made by the chairman ,was agreed to. The Old Coach Road.

Mr. D. H. L.ea also wrote with reference to the metalling of the old coach road. He stated that he understood that £75 was earmarked in the last estimates as a staTt towards forming and metalling this road at least as far as his gate, as the result of a visit made by the County chairman, Cr. Ryder and the engineer (he thought). He asked the Council to let him know if and when it was likely, to be started. It was six years since he

had first mentioned the matter to Cr. Ryder, and he knew that that gentlehad done all he could to see the matter through. Cr. Ryder staled that the engineer was to have gone over the road, with. him. but they; hud not yet. been able !to do this. ■ - ■ ' " • ■ > . j It wiu-> left to Cr. Ryder and the enj gine-r to put' in hand such work as I can bo carried out on the road. | Claim for Compensation In Respect of Land. A statement of claim was received from Mrs. Alice Elizabeth Tatum, for £247 lis as compensation for all loss I arising out of the taking of one rood 1.0 perches of land in Block-YH of the Waitohu Survey District, being part of Mani.watu-Kukut.auaki No. 4E Section 48. The claim was made up as follows: —Value of land taken £l5O, improvements £77 14s, depreciation of remaining land £2O. The chairman moved that the claim be referred to the Finance Committee, with power i v o act. The motion was seconded by Cr. Ryder, and carried. Application to Erect Signboard. The proprietors of Mahara House, ■ Waikanac, wrote seeking permission to erect signboard at the front gate. The application was.' referred to the chairman, with power to act. Dangerous Corner. Mr. C. D. Sutton, Te Horo, wrote calling attention to a dangerous turning at the foot, of the road near his property, where it joins the Mangaene Road. He asked the Couneil to widen the culvert, and fill in a depression caused by the old drain sinking. Cr. Jensei! stated that there was not much room for cars to get round. He suggested that the engineer have a, look at the place and see what .was necessary to be: done. He added there were other places where . there \ was urgent need of widening, and they might all, be taken into consideration in connection with the new financiel year. \ The engineer was instructed vto inspect the locality complained of by Mr. Sutton. Waimea Beach Road. Mr. -AY. H. Field, M.P., forwarded a telegram stating that he had had a deputation of Waimea purchasers regarding the Beach Road, which was in many places too narrow for two cars to pass safely. Motor traffic was increasing, and he trusted that provision would be made for Ayidening the road, before next summer.

"This is getting pretty close home," remarked the chairman. Cr. Gimblett: We should refer it to the Highways Board. The chairman: It is ' a subsidiary road. A suggestion has been made in the direction of taking pieces of land on various corners and relieving three or four corners in that way. If that is done, I think it will make it a fairly safe road for a time. Up to two hundred cars have, during the holidays and on odd Sundays, gone in and out by that road, showing that there ia a highway, and most of it is a half-chain considerable traffic on it. The Board were quite pleased to accept it as a subsidiary highway. We cannot widen the road before next summer, but we might, .secure Mr. Field's assistance in making representations to the Board to subsidise £3 for £l, which seems the usual subsidy these times, towards 'the cost of taking this land and relieving these particular corners. I don't think that anything more than that can be done at the moment. Until Mr. Callender (assistant engineer) is released from his more urgent wolrk he cannot .go there, but during the winter he may be able to survey these corners. It will rest with the property owners, of whom Mr. Field is one, whether we take the land under the Public Works Act; whether an arrangement is made with us; or whether there is a donation of the land. , It was decided,- on the chairman's motion, that a reply be sent to Mr. Field, stating that the Couneil hope to put the work in hand with a view to taking the necessary land before next summer to relieve the bad corners.

Otaki Gorge Bridges,

On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was resolved that the plans of the new Waihoanga and light stock bridges for the Otaki Gorge as submitted to the committee, be forwarded to the Public Works -Department for approval. Road Legalisation.

It was decided as recommended by the Works Committee, that the necessary statutory steps be taken for the legalisation of the Main Highway through Pukehou No. 48, Block IX, Waitohu iS.D. Mangaone Road. With reference to the subsidence of the bank at Mr. Lumsden's, Mangaone Road, the Worke Committee recommend that Mr. Lumsden be paid the sum of £3 towards the erection of a fence to be placed in such a position that the Council will have free access to the quarry "on, the road, and on the understanding-that the Council may remove metal from Mr. Lumsden '9 property adjoining the quarry, without charge. ; The recommendation (was agreed to. Otaki Bridge. It was decided that tenders be called for the labour of painting the Otaki bridge. , .. : -. • , ■ ■