HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 20 September 1929, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT MATTERS. At the monthly meeting of the HoroAVhenua County Council, at Levin on Saturday, the following business relat ing to the southern portion of the district was transacted: — Petrol Bowser. On behalf of Mr. Cleary, storekeeper, Te Horo, application was made by Mr. Garth <G. Williams, of Palmerston North, representative of- the Texas Oil Co. (Aub.), Ltd., for permission to ihstall a kerb-side petrol pump. The necessary agreement, signed by Mr. Cleary, was attached. The writer added that the Site of the proposed pump would not in any way cause interruptions to the traffic.

It was resolved .that permission be granted, subject to the work being carried out according to tJhe requirements of the Council and to the satisfaction of the engineer. Request for Lamps at Waimeha.

At the direction of the Ratepayers'’ Committee of Waimeha (Waikanae Beach), their secretary, Mr. A. H. Burgess, wrote asking if the Council would have two lights placed on Rauparaha Street —one at the eastern end where it branches off from tthe Beach Road, and the other at the western end, adjacent to the Domain. These lights were much needed and would be greatly appreciated by those who used the township roads at night.

The chairman stated that there were difficulties in the way of granting such an application. The electric lighting of a township was controlled by a clock working a time-switch. The charge by the Power Board for a street light was £3 17s Gd a year, but he did not think that the Board w r ould be prepared to install two lamps at Waimeha, considering the amount of reticulation required, together with the switch and gear; the cost would be between £25 and £3O for revenue of about £8 a year from the Council. He had made a suggestion to Mr. Burgess, however, concerning one light. He believed that one lamp could be erected quite cheaply by the Power Board and the light could be controlled by a Waimeha resident if 'a wire were run to his dwelling. The chairman moved that the County Engineer confer with the Power Board engineer and ascertain what the position was.

The motion was seconded by Cr Ryder, and carried. renting and Convemiekices.

The committee, consisting of the chairman and 'Cr. Jensen, which was set up to consider requests made to the previous meeting by the Waimeha Domain Board, recommended that the Council grant permission to the Board to erect the domain fence fronting Tutcre Street six feet on the road side of the true line, in order btr enclose and protect shelter tre'es growing on the road, such fence to remain during the pleasure of the Council; also that the Te Horo riding make a grant of £ls for the purpose of fencing and towards the cost of erecting conveniences.

The report was adopted, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Gimblett.

A Settler’s Action Appreciated

Mr. V. F. Cottle, Te Horo, wrote stating that, as it had appeared to him that the Council had finished with the site where No. 4 crusher had been situated, he had fenced it again, as his road fence had been badly in need of repair. He had used a piece of totara —about 14ft of 9ft by 6ft —for posts, etc.; if the Council thought he should not have used it, then the next best thing was to send him an account for it and he would pay for it. The Council were welcome to leave, as long as it suited them, the gear which they still had there; he had left a wide gateway,-so that it could be got out at any time. The chairman said he appreciated very much the action of Mr. Cottle at the time when the Council proposed to enter his property to obtain metal. Mr. Cottle was one of those settlers who had said, in effect, ‘ ‘ There are the stones; I want to get rid of them, and you can have them.” That gentleman had not only offered the use of the land for' this purpose, but had also given grazing for the horses and permitted the staff to cut the fences. While the land had been improved in consequence, the chairman felt compelled to express appreciation of Mr. Cottle’s attitude, and thought that if. he had used a bit of timber he was em titled to it. He moved that Mr. Cottle ’s action be approved. Cr. Eyder seconded the motion, and it was carried. Te Horo-Otaki Gorge Road. Mr. J. D. Avery, Otaki Gorge, via Te Horo, wrote regarding the suggestion that the engineer should meet him concerning the proposal to pipe the creek and make a solid road. If possible, he would like to be advised about a week before the engineer was to pay his visit, so as to enable the settlers to make arrangements to meet him. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Gimblett, the matter was referred to the engineer, with an instruction to meet Mr. Avery on the ground. Upkeep of Mangaone Road. Following an interview with the County Chairman, regarding the maintenance of the Mangaone Road from the point known as Monk’s Cutting to Baxter’s sawmill, Mr. W. Baxter wrote undeT date August 9th, stating that he had given this matter- his consideration and was prepared to maintain the above portion of road for £ls per annum, with the exception of the clearing of slips and repairs to bridges. He regretted that he could not see his way clear to maintain the road below the above amount, on account of the paired with gravel, road being in such a bad state as at present. If his terms were to the saty

isfaction of the Council, he would commence metalling'on August 12th. Writing on August 14th, in reply to a letter from the County Office, Mr. Baxter stated that two of his; men commenced carrying out repairs to the road on the 13th.

The chairman explained that Mr. Baxter’s communication of .August 9th had missed the Council meeting of last month, so he had advised Mr. Baxter to go ahead with the repairs. The engineer stated that the traffic from this mill had been responsible for the road condition complained of by Mr. Baxter in his letter, and the speaker thought that the Council, by the terms it was imposing, was doing the sawmiller a very good turn. The engineer was of opinion that the miller should be asked to maintain the whole of the road down to Monk’s Cutting. The chairman stated that originally Cr. Jensen, the engineer and himself met Mr. Baxter and it was agreed that if the latter would maintain the road satisfactorily from Monk’s Cutting to the sawmill, the Council would contribute £lO per annum towards that. Mr. ■ Baxter verbally agreed to the proposal* but afterwards asked the Council for a larger amount —a request which the Council refused. Later the chairman, with the engineer, was deputed to wait on Mr. Baxter, and they found the road in a shocking state, and the chairman told him that he was not prepared to agree to any variation of the offer previously made. This letter ;was a reply to that. It was for the Council to say whether they were going to adhere to the original offer of £lO or agree to the request for £ls. The 'obligation rested on Mr. Baxter to maintain that portion of roq.d, and he would then not bo maintaining as much as the Council were maintaining. It had become very expensive to keep m order, owing to the timber-lorry be-, ing on it. The mill at the other end of the Mangaone was contributing annually a certain amount to the lower portion of road and was wholly maintaining the top end leading to the mill. He was not going to suggest that the recommendation for £lO in the case of Mr. Baxter should be altered. On the section of road in qustion there were settlers, and they had' to get out with their cars, and cream had to be collected from their farms. The lower end of that portion 'of road Mr. Baxter had put in quite good order. Councillors agreed that the contribution should not be increased from £lO to £ls. The chairman: I presume that this £lO will be paid * at the end of the year if 'the road is kept in a satisfactory condition. The Couneil assented.