COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

Shannon News, 22 March 1929, Page 4

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

HQRffiWHENUA COTTNOIL MEETS .-t The -monthly - meeting of the Hororwhenua County Council was held in 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. H. Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr J. T. M. Brewster (County Engineer).

Dr. Reakes, Direetor-General of Agriculture, acknowledged receipt of the Council's letter drawing attention to the growth of noxious weeds, particularly ragwort, in the County, and in reply advised the Council that he would be pleased t0,,100k into the matter.— Received.

When the Engineer's report was under discussion, the chairman mentioned that progress was being made by pro-perty-owners in the destruction of gorse on tho Wirokino Road. ' EXAMINATION FOR OVERSEERS. (The District Engineer advised the Council that it was proposed to hold an examination for foremen and overseers for the certificate of competency under the Main Highways Board, in May next.—The letter was referred to the Engineer.

, REMOVAL OF GRAVEL. Messrs Innes. and Oakley, solicitors, Palmerston North, instructed by the trustees of the will of the late Mr J. Jamieson, of Tokomaru, wrote giving the. Council notice not to remove any gravel or boulders from the foreshore of their property at Tbkomaru adjoining the stream. , Any. license that might previously have been given was now determined. The writers also . aslced for an account of what bad been taken and for payment of the royalty payable in renpect of the same. On the motion of the chairman, the matter was referred to ,an existing committee, consisting Jof Cr, Whyte and the Engineer, to arrange a settlement.

BILLIARD ROOM LICENSE FEES.

Miranui, Ltd., flaxmillers, forwardel their cheque for £lO 'for two years' license fee on account of billiard room. At the same time they pointed out that, in view of the restricted use of the room, the fee charged appeared to them to be excessive. The room was not on the same footing as one situated in a town; it was over three miles from Shannon, on the mill property, and was used by the men who boarded at the mill, s but was not open to the general public; during the closed down period of the year the room was very little used, if at all. The firm requested the Council to grant a substantially reduced license- fee, so that the firm might still continue providing their employees with this form of entertainment.

The chairman said it had been suggested to him that the Council- ; might charge Miranui, Ltd., the original fee of £3 3s. The room had not been in occupation the whole time, and it was only because a man was employed to look after it that the Council were able to charge a fee at all. It was resolved, on the, motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Whyte, that in accordance with the provisions of the Wellington West Coast joint bylaws, 1925, the Council, approve of a a refund of £1 17s per annum being made to Miranui, Ltd., in respect to the license fee of £5 payable for a public billiard room. » APPROACH AND BRIDGE.

The Makerua Drainage Board forwarded £7 10s, its contribution, as arranged, towards Mr R. L. Tippler's approach and bridge. The chairman moved that the com • munieation be received. He stated that it was in accordance with an arrangement arrived at between repre-* sentatives of • the Makerua Drainage Board and the County Council and MiTippler regarding a bridge which had had to be removed on account of the 1 raising of the road at that particular point. The Board were to iprovijde £7 10s for metal, the Council were tj construct a new bridge, and Mr Tippler undertook to do formation work for the access.

The chairman's report was adopted and the letter received.

KERBSIDE PUMP. ,An application wa3 received on behalf of Messrs Gunning and Co., Tokomaru, for permission to erect a kerbside pump at their store, the proposed .site being, at the opposite end cf the veranda to that occupied by an existing pump. Indemnity insurance would be taken out and any rentals due would be paid. The Engineer having certified ths site as satisfactory, the application was granted, under the usual conditions, l:

MANAWATU BRIDGE ROAD. Mr A. R. Acheson, assistant district engineer, wrote advising the Council on behalf of ':h e District Engineer, that the construction of the FoxtonS'haiiynon /deviation with the new Manawatu bridge) was complete, and that as from March Ist the Council would be responsible for future maintenance on that length of the deviation situated within the County. The letter was received. CONTRIBUTION TO HOKIO BEICH ROAD. The Levin Borough Council forwarded its cheque for £25, its promised subsidy towards the cost of' work on the Levin-Hokio subsidiary highway. The contribution was received with thank 3. ' (Advice was received from the District Engineer that the Highways Board would subsidise the £25 from the Levin Borough Council on a £2 for £1 basis. DEFECTIVE ENTRANCE.

Mr C. Aplin, McLeavey Road, Ohau, wrote stating that the entrance to his property on the eastern side of.. McLeavey Road was a watercourse with on old wooden culvert which was becoming unsafe to cross over. There was a cement pipe which was left on his property before ha took possession.

H© ide?ired' tJißiiGJojuncjljitwliavet a look, "at the place. Or,. Gimblett stated that the late Engineer, 4o> put in a culvert at the place referred to, and lie left pipes there, but all except one of these were subsequently taken away for - another job.

The matter was referrod, on Cr. Gimblett 'a- motion, to the • Engineer, with power to. act.

ROAD .CERTIFICATE- WANTED,

Mr H. E. Farquhar, surveyor * and engineer, Palmerston North, wrote asking the . Council to give a certificate of the publicity of the road shown on deposit plan No.; 4921" as the northwestern boundary of Lot 22, and part Lot 21, and also as the south-eastern ; boundary of Lot 2 I>,P. 9134, and 6a and 6b, Waitarere- Block.

The chairman said that apparently the Council were not very certain as to the position there. He moved that the matter be referred to the Engineer for an investigation and report. The motion was carried. OTAWHIWHI ROAD.

Mr James McGill, Koputaroa, wrote stating that, in the event of the Coiincil undertaking to metal Otawhiwhi Road before the winter season, he was prepared to carry out, at his own expense, such formation work as might be reasonably required. He added that it was hardly necessary for him to stress the urgent need for an improved access to his property, as the position was well known to the councillors for the riding. It was decided to infoim Mr McGill that the Council were not in a position to metal the road out of revenue, but that they had a Government, grant in view, and would do the road at the first opportunity. WATER FOR STOCK. Mr D. V. Brown, Buller Road, wrote with reference to the water ram on the property occupied by Mr Anyon arid recently owned by Mr A. s McLeavey, at Ohau, stating that sines Mr McLeavey made the -connection with this ram to supply his cowshed with water there had been little or no water pumped tjhrough to the back parts of the properties of Mr E. R. Vickers and the writer. He asked if the Council (would 'have the matter looked into as early as possible. Cr. Catley stated that Mr McLeavey, when a member of the Council, was appointed caretaker of the ram by the Council, and apparently Mr Anyon had been.looking after it since.Mr McLeavey's departure.

The .'Chairman said that the amount of water taken through this ram was probably not sufficient for the stock of the settlers interested, so' that there was a shortage in dry weather. They were trying to pump water through a -fin. pipe up and over a considerable distance, to provide for three or four hundred cows, and the Engineer informed him that it was not quite feasible; he also said that it might take him several days to investigate it and make a ..recommendation!. • T-lie of stock relying in this ivater had increased.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Ryder, it was resolved to refer the matter to the Engineer for an investigation and report. OHAU EAST ROAD. 'The Council aidopted a recommendation by the Works Committee that the Engineer prepare the necessary plans for the purpose of legalising a deviation of the Ohau Ease Road m the vicinity of Mr E. Saint's property, and in addition submit an estimate of the cost of the proposed work. TRAFFIC CONTROL. ' ' On the recommendation of the Works Committee, the Engineer was authorised to erect the necessary traffic signs at various corners and intersections on the Main Highways as .recommended by the Committee in October last. , The Works Committee reported that plans were submitted showing the location of the jpeed limit signs of 25 miles per hour. TUiey recommended that these be approved, and that the necessary steps be taken to pass a by-law as proscribed the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, and regulations thereunder.—The recommendation was adopted. These speed limits have reference to the portions of the Main Highways occupied by townships. The Council were asked by the Works Committee to consider a special report which had been prepared by the Engineer, on control of traffic and by-laws. < It was left to the chairman to bring the report before the Council at a suitable opportunity.