HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 17 September 1929, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

SEPTEMBER MEETING OF COUN- ' , ■ OIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in ' the County Chambers on Saturday, the.- oeing present: Mr G. A. Monk (chairman), Crs: Barber, Ryder, Bryant, Colquhoun, Gimblett, Catley, and Jensen, Mr P. H; Hudson (County Clerk) and Mr J. T. .M. Brewster (County Engineer). Leave of absence was. granted to Or. Whyte, who was absent from the district. With reference to the petition presented to the last meeting by twelve ratepayers interested in the Waikawa water-race district, in tue -vicinity-ot Manakau, asking the Council to maintain the water-rave— resulting in a decision by the Council to carry out ur- . gent work required and to take steps to levy a maintenance rate for the "current year—Cr. Bryant, who was absent from the last- meeting of the Council, explained that although his name was not on the petition, he had paid rates ever since the water-race was put in. . ■A resolution was passed that, m accordance with Section 55 of the Public Works Act, 1928, the Council appoint Mr N. H. Mackie, Valuer, Palmerston North, to be an assessor on its behalf in the matter o'f a claim for compensation by Mrs C. T. Tatum, of Manakau, ior land taken,, near the Waikawa Bridge, for the purposes of a road to give access to property formerly owned by Mr Robert Bevan. CD. FARM ROADING. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote acknowledging receipt of the . Council's letter and jexprossing his thanks for the Council's approval of the scheme of roading for the Central Development Farm. ' He stated that provision had been made for the side roads to be 40 feet and the continuation of the through road to Buller Road to be. one' chain wide. With regard to the Council's requirements for a metal pit, in the scheme as surveyed provisions had been made for an area of 2 acres 2 roods 18 perches, which it might be possible to dispose of to the Council. Of this area he understood that approximately two-thirds had been worked. The question of dealing with the Council regarding this area was receiving attention and was.at present withheld from any disposal- of adjoining The Chairman stated that, a week or two ago, he interviewed the Commissioner and pointed put that,,in view of the cutting-up and additional roading, the Council anticipated receiving .< the pit gratis, as they were expecting to take over the roads. The Commissioner was looking into the matter. Cr. Gimblett said he thought that the Council would not be receiving enough in the remainder of the gravel , reserve, even if it was given to them They should look ahead and try to get a little more. Cr. Jensen: What we wanted was two acres of fresh land. Cr. Gimblett: We wanted two acres of metal, and they are offering less than one acre. ; The Chairman remarked that the Council had power under the Public Works Act to take land where there was some metal. Cr. Gimblett asked the Engineer if he would use the metal from the CD Farm in preference to river metal for the Hokio-Waitarere Road. The Engineer: I think so. I would have to crush it. Cr. Gimblett: It is quite a different class of metal from that of the Tararua pit. The Engineer: It is not quite as big. but it is in the same class of metal; it is too big for road-metal. With regard to the proposed road*. Cr. Gimblett said-that he was opposed :. to the Council taking over anything less than a chain wide. The Department had not offered any valid reason lor not increasing the width of the side roads to a chain. Cr. Ryder: They only go to two sections. Cr. Gimblett: Is there any likelihoo,d of the 40ft. roads being used for an extension. The Chairman: No. Cr. Gimblett: Supposing that Arawhata could 'be drained, it would be valuable country. The Chairman: It is roaded by th< Arawhata Road. These two are deadend roads, and it would be a mistake to throw a chain-wide into non-use. Cr. Gimblett: What are the lengthr .of the 40ft. roads? The Engineer: Twenty-five chains. Cr. Gimblett: We have the example of the Kawiu Road. There was a time when it was said that it would never be needed. Now there is no room there

and you have to pick a place to turn round. I don't see that the land - would be wasted in widening these roads to a chain. The Chairman remarked that the scheme had been agreed to by the Council, provided that the Department metalled the road to the Buller Eoad a chain wide. LOADING BANK. Messrs A. Boss, Bough and Co., Ltd., flaxmillers, Foxton, wrote conveying their shanks to the Council for having granted them permission to erect a loading bank on the Koputaroa Eoad. They would guarantee that no obstruction would be caused to the passing of traffic along the road. With regard to the road, their lorries all had wide tyres, and no damage should be done. —Beceived.

DANGEB AT A WATBB-EACE. Mr J. H. Mungavin, Ohau, wrote drawing attention to the water-race running in front of Mr C. Aplin's property, at the corner of MeLeavey.Bd. In his opinion, it was very dangerous, it being some ten or twelve feet deep 5 and unfenced. To bis knowledge, one beast was lulled through falling into the'race at th» place mentioned. He

asked that an-inspection be made with a view to fencing it. • Cr. Ryder stated that ,the Works Committee had visited the spot and found two hydraulic rams there, and these were the cause of the race being so deep. He did not know by whom they had been erected. The Chairman: Were they working? Cr. Ryder: Not when we were there, but apparently they are in working order. They supply two farms. As things are to-day, the race is a danger to stock. Cr. Catley 'stated that the drain had been blocked to make a fall for the pipes to drive a ram. He consideied that the two settlers who were get; ting the benefit should do the fencing. Cr. Ryder: The rams are on the publie road.

Cr. Colquhoun: With the motor traffic nowadays they cut the comer, and the. metal has woiked into the culvert. It is at this end of McLeavey, Road, on the corner. The culvert wants extending as well. On the motion of Cr. Catley, seconded by Cr. Colquhoun, it was resolved that the holders of the properties served by the rams be requested to fence the race and thus protect stock from falling in. " Cr. Catley raised the question of the rights of the persons who had installed the rams to do so; and it was decided that the Councillors for the riding make an investigation and report. WATER SUPPLY AT OHAU.

Mr A. S. Eastoh, Muhunoa Road, Ohau, wrote with reference to the water supply on his farm. He stated that last year, during the. summer months, his; stock were without water, and recently it had failed again. He hoped that the Council would be able to remedy the matter at an early date. The Chairman stated that it was in connection: with the same matter that Mr Anyan had written to the Council, as a result of which the Engineer had been authorised to instal a new ram. The Chairman had received. a letter from Mr A. McLeavey, who previously owned the land now held by Mr Anyan, and he asked the Clerk to read this.

In his communication, Mr McLeavey stated that when the late Sir Walter Buller subdivided his property, he raised a special loan to road and water it. Mr McLeavey and jus .brother bought several sections on the western .side of the road, and the only water they had was on the front of their sections, so they applied to the Council, asking if it could give them a better water supply. The late Mr J. Malcolm, then County Engineer, inspected the locality and said there was some money left over from the loan and recommended 'tihe present ram. Some years after that two settlers applied to the Council to extend the waterrace system to their properties situated on the Muhunoa'West Road, but : the Engineer of that time, Mr W. N. Anderson, after taking levels, found that it was impossible'"to take the water Tihere in an open race; therefore he recommended an extension of the ram. To do this he had to take the pipes through the writer's ' property and also buil'd the present concrete tank, and the only compensation which Mr McLeavey then asked was two troughs in his back paddocks. The two settlers formed a special rating area over their properties to raise a loan of £3OOO to do the work; and the Council would readily see that he (Mr McLeavey) would not pay rates on this extension, as his property was not in the/area. Perhaps this was the agreement that Mr Anyan had written about. The writer's opinion was that the Council would never have satisfaction from a ram unless there was someone on the spot to look after it, as he had done. The only time he had worried the Council was when this had wanted overhauling, and that was not ."very- often. He desired to correct the impression held by some people that he ha'd used his influence as a councillor to do this work. The work was finished years before he had become a Councillor.

Cr. Catley stated, that the, scheme was originally made for half the number of cows that were now being supplied. The ratepayers of ; Ohau had been told clearly that what was wanted was a scheme costing £lB5, with an electrically driven motor to pump the waterj but they had not replied. The Chairman: Mr Anyan is not interested in that. Cr. Catley: He is, beeause he draws his water from the tank that this ram fills. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Byder, the matter was referred to the Councillors for the riding and the Engineer for a report. MAKO MAKO EOAD. Mr H. B. Cooper, Mako Mako Eoad West, Levin, wrote stating that no metal for maintenance of that portion of road had been sent out. It was some considerable time since his first request was made, and he was then given to understand that the matter would be attended to. He also mentioned now, that one of the pipes of the water-race culvert in front of the s Eacecourse gates had been broken for some time: all floodwater flowed over the mouth of . the culvert into the Eacecourse grounds, and when the weather became drier there would not be enough watei coming through to keep the races further down supplied for the stock. The Chairman said he understood that this road had had attention. The Engineer stated that about s month ago he put metal on the road There had been several potholes witl a depth of about an inch. The water race had had a pipe broken in the cen tre, not at the end. It was decided to reply to Mr Coopei stating that the matters mentioned bj him were receiving .attention. FLOODING OF AN ENTEANCE. Mr F. C. Leddra, Arapaepae Eoad Levin, wrote reminding the Counei ' that, some time ago, he communicate* with them concerning the water fror the road draining into his entrance am

forming a pond in the gateway. He had pointed out that, at the time when the main road wfc f being formed, the Council lorries, loaded with metal from the dump near-by, used to back into his gateway very frequently while the dump lasted, for the purpose of turning round. This was quite all right, Gf course, but it had the effect of making mere pronounced the depression in front of the gateway. His first letter was referred to the Engineer and a member for the riding, with power to act. Soon .afterwards the late Engin-. eer resigned, and probably the matter was overlooked. If the Council could dump a load of metal in front of the gate, it would cause the surface water to be diverted' from the road, and rectifv the trouble.

The Chairman stated that this was an old complaint; he remembered Mr. Leddra bringing it up in Mr Anderson 'a time as engineer'. ; On the Chairman's motion, the mat-, ter was referred to the Engineer, with power to act. CLERK OF WORKS. ;

The District Engineer (Mr R. 11. P. : Ronayne) advised the Council that the, appointment of Mr R. W. Goldsmith! as clerk of works in charge of the construction of the Waikawa and Kuku Stream bridges was approved—Re • ceived..

ROADING IN TOKOMARU BLOCK. Messrs Hankins, Fitzherbert and Ab-, raham, solicitors, Palmerston North, wrote with reference to the question of Mr Craw's road in Tokomaru Block. They stated -that they understood from Mr *Craw 'that a deputation from the Council recently waited on the Makerua Drainage Board with reference to the levelling of the road running through Mr Craw's Tokomaru- Block, and that the Chairman of the Board informed the deputation that the road had been levelled off and was actually in a better condition than it was before it wa3 blocked by the Board's operations. Mr Craw informed the solicitors, that this was quite incorrect, and that the road had never been touched by the Board and that it was not in, a fit state for any traffic whatever. The writers suggested that this could easily be confirmed by an inspection, and Mr Craw would be pleased to meet any members of the Council on the spot. .It was resolved that the Chairman, Crs. Catley, Colquhoun and Jensen make an inspection. BRIDGE CONTRACTS.

A resolution was passed' to sign the contracts with Messrs Brayshay and Brayshay, at £555 16s lid, for the erection of the Kuku bridge, and Messrs Christian and Nielsen, at £2256, for the erection of the Waikawa bridge. The latter contract is well under way, and the Engineer reported that the contractors for the Kuku Bridge had commenced operations and the time allowed for completion would be three months. ' Cr. Gimblett suggested ed that at the Kuku bridge the white: lights be replaced with red ones, to ; give a more effective warning: The Engineer stated that he had procured a number of red glasses, but found that the colour washed out in the rain. He would see what could be done further in the matter. OTAW.HIWHI ROAD.

For the purposes of the Otawhiwhi Road, which is a blind road running from Paiaka Road to the eastward and which has recently been legalised, the Council passed a resolution consenting to the taking of land in Te Ngae Otawhiwhi A Block No. 10, 3 roods 14 perches, in B Block 1 acre 1 v rood 38.2 perches, and in part Otawhiwhi-Mana-watu Kukutauaki No. 7G 1 rood 17.2 perches, as indicated in the cens3iit of the owners endorsed on the plan; and that the common seal be attached to the plan. SAINT'S ROAD DEVIATION.

The Council adopted a recommendation by the Works Committee that the Engineer be authorised to engage a surveyor to survey the proposed deviation" of Ohau East Road (Saint's Road). ROADING IN OPUHI BLOCK. The Engineer having submitted to the Works Committee specifications for proposed road to serve the Opuhi Block, these were approved by the Council on the Committee's recommendation. They provide for the road to be formed up to a total width of 26 feet, in a manner similar to, that carried out on Alters Road; metal to be placed on the road 10 feet wide and nine inches deep; culverts of ample diameter to be placed.in the road where required; metal not to be placed on the road until the formation has been in existence over one winter, or a minimum time of six months.