COUNTY BUSINESS.

Shannon News, 19 April 1929, Page 4

COUNTY BUSINESS.

MEETING OF HOROWHENUA COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of . the Horowhenua County Council was hold hi the County Chambers on Saturday, there being present: Mr G. A. Monk (chairman), Crs Barber, Whyte, Ryder Kilsby, Gimblett, Catlcy and Jen-

sen. Mr E. 11. Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr J. T. M. Brewsler (County - Engineer). Leave of. absence was granted to Cr. Bryant.

TOWN-PLANNING. From the Minister of Internal Affairs was received a statement drawn up by Mr Mawson, the new Director of ■"Town-planning, with reference to subdivisions for building purposes in counties. In the course of this state-ment-it waj set out that, whether or not a regional planning scheme was in course of preparation or under consideration for any part of a county, every plan of subdivision of land for building purposes which came before -a County pouneil should be carefully examined in respect of—(a) The width, direction and grade of proposed 1 new roads in relation to their probable traffic requirement; (b) the linking-up of existing roads or the planning of new roads so as to permit of their continuation, if necessary, for the economic ■and convenient subdivision'' 1 of adjoining lands; (c) the use of the land or the .buildings which it was proposed to erect on it; (d) the density of the buildings to be erected on the land in question; (e) open spaces; and (f) the preservation of tree 3 or other objects or centres of'natural beauty. The

Director offered to place his. services - at .the disposal of -County Councils should they desire any guidance or expert advice on matters relating to the planning of rural areas. "I am just afraid," said the Chairman, "that our town-planning business in New Zealand is not developing very fast; it cannot." He moved that the communication be received, and -this was carried. OLD MANAWATU BRIDGES.

• Replying to the Council's letter of - March sth with reference to the withdrawing of the piles in the old Manawatu River' bridge, Shannon, the District Engineer wrote that he did not know of any shipping likely to use the portion of the Manawatu referred to, except punts which might in the fiu ture be used in connection, with any protective works required. _lt was not considered necessary to withdraw all piles, but if. found necessary the piles would be shattered off three feet below the lowest, level of the river bed to obviate formation of obstructions to flood flow. The Chairman, to Cr. Barber: Will it be satisfactory if that is done? Cr. Barber: Yes, if they will shatter the piles below the bed of the river. It relieves us of all responsibilities.

The letter was received. OLD ROADS IN TUWHAKATAPUA BLOCK. A letter was received from Messrs Jacobs and Grant, solicitors, of Palmcrston North, in which they stated that quite recently the long task of completing the dedications of roads in i the Makerua district fioni Mr Hugh Alters and others was completed. When the roads were only in contemplation soino reference was -made in cones--pondenee to the closing of certain unused and useless roads which were set aside some years ago for reasons it "was now hard to comprehend. Notably there was a piece of road in the middle of the property owned by Mr S. R. Young which connected not even with any of the new roads and that could not possibly serve auy useful purpose. Next there was a piece of road that was reserved out of the Tahitikei Block, and which ran originally from the river bank to Tuwhakatupua 2a.

. It had never been formed or used, nor ,' was it likely to be, nor would this road ever be of any practical use to anybody. In the case of each of these, the writers suggested that the areas by these roads be vested in Mr Young and Mr Hugh Akers respectively, in exchange for the areas of land already given for the new r.lading scheme. In addition to the above there was a road reserved (alsc unlikely to be used) •' more or less following the river bank around sections 40, 41 and 36. This, they suggested, nnght be closed and vested in Mr Akers in exchange for the. large areas already given for roads. The Chairman s-aicl that the closing - and transferring of roads was rather •a difficult matter. The Council had no idea why these roads in the first place were ret aside. He moved that the •Engineer be instructed to prepare a report as to the advisibility or otherwise of closing the roads in question and as to whether they had any value as road lines. Cr. Barber: There may be the possibility >at some future, time of settlement.

The Chairman: They are mostly pieces on the river bank. There is 'one little bit of road righ-t in the middle of a paddock. Cr. Barber: That country is in process of being reduced to closer settle- ; ment.

The Chairman's motion, which was '■'' seconded by 'Jr. Ryder, was carried. \" + HEIGHTS ROAD. Mr F. S. Bobbie, Shannon, wrote '■ drawing attention to the condition of vv.the Heights Eoad and stated that it ). required two more culverts. At the

-. time of writing (March 22nd) the water was running down the road for a "chain or so. The drain which Messrs Bobbie Bros, had put in at the* top ■ of the hill required cleaning out. They . - had already cleaned it out once at '" their own expense, and he thought that the Council should do it this time. '• . Cr. Catlety" (stated that the drain had beon dug too deep and narrow, and - had probably collapsed. . The Chairman moved that the matter be referred to the Engineer.' ; • Cr. Catloy said that if the Engineer ;:.. would' arrange with a foreman to go

up with the speaker he would undertake to visit the .locality and see what had occurred.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Jensen. and carried.

Cr. Catley added that the road had been neglected for a long time and culverts put in were covered up by silt. The Council had given him authority to have the water-tables cleaned, and the man engaged uncovered pipe culverts which the Council had not known existed. The speaker agreed with the writer's request that more culverts should be put in. He had asked Messrs Lav/ and Robbie to notify the Council where culverts were necessary. CULVERT REQUIRED. Mr A. J. Mark, Lindsay Road, wrote stating that he required an entrance to his property, which would necessitate the installation of a culvert 23 feet long. , On the motion of Cr. Gimblett, the application was referred to the Engineer, with powov to act. REMOVAL OF CULVERTS. . The Water Committee recommended that the Council provide the necessary concrete pipes and the labour of one man lor the removal of two culverts to the position desired by Messrs Kilsby Bros., provided the applicants supply the services of two men. The "recommendation was adopted. LINDSAY ROAD METALLING. With respect to the request by Mairua Farm, Ltd., for the metalling of a piece of Lindsay Road, the Works Committee recommended that the sum of £25 be placed on the 1929-30 estimates for doing slight repairs in the way of metalling; also that application be made for a £1 for £1 Government grant in respect of same. PROBLEM OE UNMETALLED ROADS. Cr. Gimblett aoked if the Works Committee would explain how- they intended to proceed with work like this. He had inspected the piece of .road, in company .with* other Councillors, and £25 was not going to do much on it. There was ho metal on the piece referred to. His reason for bringing the matter up was that it seemed to be only a part of one of the most difficult positions that could arise in the Wirokino riding; it referred to unmetalled roads. The more he considered the problem, the more he was in the dark as to how it was going to be solved. Cr. Catley had told him that there were at least four roads under consideration that required metal. The present recommendation seemed to be only for the purpose of patching-up the road for the time being. Were the Works Committee going to deal with the othe: roads along these lino 3, or in what way were they going to deal with them.

* Cr. Kilsby said that the Committee would like tc see some definite method by which they could finish the uncompleted roads. There were several ways in which this could be done, but which was the most economical and efficient way he did not know. Finance was their problem. Until they were able to .arrange finance it was a most difficult .job. The sum of £25 recommended by the Committee Avas placed on record to be put on the estimates for the-coming year by the new Council, who might say it was not necessary. He would .like to see certain portions of these roads done each year out of revenue, if possible. He did not see any other way in which they could be done. The Council must take some definite stand and do something like that. ■ He did not know whether he was quite right in saying that such roads should be made out of ordinary revenue, but he could not see anything else for it. The people interested in this case were just as much entitled to a decent road to their property as the rest of those •paying rates. Cr. Catley said he had discussed tlie question informally with Cr.- Kilsby several times. There was only one practical way of dealing with uncompleted roads: that was, to get, if possible, a £1 for £1 grant from the Gov•ernment, and then to' go to the ratepayers for the balance of the money ■by way of loan. If the ratepayers would not give their sanction for a loan, it was impossible for the Council to do the work out of revenue. The Council had sufficient calls on its revenue, and did not want to increase the. rates for the purpose indicated. "I have had it in my mind." Cr. Catley added, "to try to get my colleagues to discuss it with me from that point of view. Cr. Kilsby says there is no hope of getting their consent. I don 't care whether Ave get their consent or not': if we put it to them and ■they refuse, the funeral is theirs and they have to suffer. You cannot forn a special district where one person is concerned; there must be two or more It is not sound from a ratepayer's point of view to form these roads out of rexdnue,. because they are made for posterity, which has to a certain extent to pay for them, of to-day."

Or. Gimblett said he would accept Cr. Catley's offer to meet him and discuss this'question. It-was really only patching the matter up to deal with it as the-Works Committee recommended. He therefore moved that the 'clause be referred back to the Committee, to give the Councillors for the riding an opportunity to re-consider it, so that a further recommendation could be made to the Council, which could then decide the question. "As regards Cr. Catley's idea of getting a rate carried over the whole riding to ■metal those roads, I don't think he has Buckley's chance," Cr. Gimblett added.

The Chairman: It is a double-edged sword. We say, "Either you consent to a loan or we raise the rate."

Cr. Kilsby said that the subject had been discussed with him by Cr. Catley, and the speaker could not see why people not directly connected with these portions of road were going to vote in favour of a particular ratepayer having his road <tlone. Ho had discussed it with residents living outside the area affected, and they said

it was no use to them and they would not vote for it. He did not think that many would be influenced by the proposal; he felt that not two per cent, would vote for it. It might be a'matter that would not interest many of them at all, with the result that they would not- vote . Cr. Jensen remarked that Cr. Gimblett was not on the Works Committee and perhaps it would be- better for the three riding members to get together —as it was a local concern, and try to come to an agreement as to the action to take, aud, if they failed, leave it to the Works Committee. He would like to point out the difference between the Wirokino and Te Horo ridings. In the former the rates were ever so much lower than in the Te Horo riding. Cr. Gimblett: Question, Mr Chairman.

The Chairman: If wo carry Cr. Jensen's proposal- to do away with ridings, we will be all right then. The way to get a further discussion is for the matter to be referred back to the Committee.

Cr. Ryder seconded Cr. Gimblett's motion. He remarked that it was purely a riding matter, and as chairman of the Works Committee he was only too pleased to' fall in with the proposal for further consideration.

The motion was carried; and the Chairman informed Cr. Kilsby that he could discuss the subject with his colleagues nnd communicate the result to the Works Committee. OVERTAXED BRIDGE.

Cr. Catley stated that the bridge at Muhunqa West was being used by heavy motor vehicles, for which it was not intended, being only a light structure. Cars used the bridge in order to avoid going through the water, but now heavy lorries were using it. He suggested that the availability of the bridge be limited to ordinary car traffic.

It was resolved that a notice beposted up at the bridge restricting traffic to two tons. NEXT MEETING.

As the County elections take place on May Bth, it was decided that the next meeting of the Council be held on Satur/lay. May 4th, and that the usual monthly meeting of the Works Committee be suspen/led.