HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Shannon News, 17 December 1929, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

DECEMBER MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowlienua County Council was held on Saturday, in the County Chambers, Levin, there being present: Mr G. a. Monk (chairman), Crs Barber, Whyte, Rvder, Colquhoun, Gimblett-and ULIcv Mr F. 11. Hudson (County Clenc) and Mr J. T, M. Brewster ( County Engineer)- Leave of absence was granted to Crs Bryant and Jensen. As Ur. Bryant was laid up, it was decided to send him a letter wishing him a speedy ICCO ' C REGIONAL PLANNING. A circular was received from t-lio Minister of Internal Affairs, as chairman of the Town-planning Board, calling attention to Part 11. of the Townplanning Amendment Act, 1929, m which provision is made for the preparation of regional planning schemes. The immediate problem, the circulai stated, was to define the areas of the proposed regions, and in this connection the Board had decided to hold a series of piblic inquiries during February and March, 1930, at a number of centres in the North Island. ihe nearest of these centres to Lei’in is Palmerston North. ' . The Chairman made passing reference to town-planning,, stating that, while a good many people thought that it was fifty years ahead of the times, he recognised that it had to stait somewhere, and it was better to go ahead that distance in time than to rectify fifty years af bad work. The Department intended to call a conference of the local bodies in the district, with a view to discussing the whole matter of town-planning.. The. scheme now under consideration, besides relating to towns, embraced the area surrounding them and was not confined to the making of streets, laying-off of parks, and building of houses, but considered what the country’ was capable of producing, with an idea of where centres of population should be established and how they should be controlled.

It was resolved that when the conference is called, the County Chairman for the time being, with the Clerk and the Engineer, have power to represent the Council and give evidence

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS. A copy was received of the circular issued by the Minister of Transport (Hon. W. A. Veitch) to local bodies, ashing them to- communicate direct with liis Department in connection with any matters arising out of the administration of the Acts governing motor transport, insurance and taxation, and to consult the Department before taking any steps to pass traffic by-laws. _ The' Chairman remarked that this Council had already passed a by-law limiting the speed through the townships over which it had control, ana in doing so it had desired to see the speed limits made uniform throughout the country. He thought that the idea of preventing one set of by-laws being passed in one county and a different set in an adjoining county was a sensible one.

The request contained in the circular, insofar as it affected the Council, was agreed to. The Commissioner of Transport forwarded a circular in which lie. asked that local bodies would send to him such suggestions for the amendment, curtailment of, or additions + o the Motor ■ Regulations as practical experience of tlie regulations may have shown to be desirable.

The Chairman moved that this matter be referred to the Works Committee. He said that Cr. Jensen was very interested in the regulations and would probably huA’c a motion to propose at the meeting of the Committee. The Chairman’s motion Avas carried-

KAIRANGA BOUNDARY BRIDGE. Attention Avas draAvn _ in a letter from Mr H. A. Seifert, Miranui, to the condition of the boundary bridge betAveen the HoroAvhenua and Kaivanga Counties, the Avriter stating that it had sunk four inches beloAV the level of the bitumen and seemed to be sinking still further. The bridge Avas of a grey colour, making it hard to distinguish at night. He asked that Hie structure be given urgent attention, and stated that a copy of this letter had been sent to the Kairanga County Council.

The chairman stated -that the plans for a.ncAV bridge Averc sent to the Department some weeks ago and the matter was being treated as urgent. He moved that Mr Seifert be informed that the plans were awaiting approval, The motion Avas carried.

ROADING OF OPUHI BLOCK. A plan of the proposed subdivision of the Opulii Block, on the ManaAvatu River, near Foxton, Avas fonvnrded by Mr 11. R. Farquhar, surveyor, Palmerston North, Avho made .application for a road reserve, 40ft in Avidtli, running into the block. He stated that, as the traffic from nine farms, only, would use the road and it could noA'er liecome a through road oAving to the ManaAvatu River, a 40 ft reserve Avould be ample for the requirements of tlie settlers. Should the Council favourably consider this application, an Or-der-in-Council under tlie requirements of Section 117 of the Public Works Act Avould be applied for and a building line fixed at 33ft. from the centre line of the road reserve. In the event of the Council considering that a 40ft. reserve Avas insufficient, a 50ft reserve was requested. The Chairman said that apparently this Avas only part of -a scheme; Hie County Engineer thought '.uat, before the Council made a suggestion as to what these roads should be, the applicants should be required to submit tlie scheme as a Avho’e and not in part.

The Engineer concurred. He. suggested that Mr Farquaha :\ be Avr.-t ten to and asked to give tlie. scheme of the reading of this bl >*k from the* end

of Akers’ Road, which was under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Engineer’s suggestion was agreed to, on the motion of the chairman. WATER RACE TROUBLES.

Mr Jas. Challies, Levin, wrote with reference to the state of the water-race leading into his property on Buller Road. He stated that on many occasions lately the water had been in a filthy state, quite unfit for stock to drink. The Engineer stated that he had visited the locality, but could not find any trouble. However, he had arranged for Mr Challies to communicate with him by telephone the first time the offence happened again, when he would endeavour to ascertain just what the troublcwas.

The matter was left in the lu lids of the Engineer. Mr John Cameron, Tiro Tirp Road, wrote under date of November 28th, stating that for a week past there had been no water in the race supplying his property and that of Mr Holms.. Even after all the rain that had been experienced, the water was still not running. He asked that the matter be given attention, as their stock w r ere dependent on the supply. The Engineer reported that matter was being attended to. A letter was received from Mr M. E, Foster, Levin, drawing attention to the state of the cattle-stop on the north bank of the cutting on Kawiu Road, close to Mr W. Bell's house. He stated that the stop had been broken for some time, and, now that there had been considerable erosion of the north bank, any stock which might get up on to the remains of the bank would be in danger of railing on to the road, 12 to 15 ft. down, when being turned back to safety. >

The clerk explained that the contrivance referred to eras not a railway cattle-stop, but a short fence. Tlie letter was referred to the En eincer, with' power to act. WATER-PIPE ACROSS ROAD.

Messrs Mitchell and Hayes, Weraroa, wrote applying for permission to lay a lin. water-pipe across Arawhata Road. —The application was refered to the Engineer, with power to act. SEASON’S GREETINGS. The chairman took the opportunity of ex ten fling to the members of the Council, the staff and the Press the season’s greetings. He said it was Avith very great regret that he noted that Cr.' Bryant’s chair Avas empty, owing to his illness, but lie hoped that a good rest during the holidays Avould restore him to health. He trusted that all Avould have a happy time at Christmas and that tlie coming year Avould be a very happy and prosperous one for them.

Cr. Cat-ley reciprocated the Chairman ’s good Avishes. Cr. Ryder extended t-lie compliments of the season on behalf of the Council and staff to the chairman, and expressed the hope that the good feeling shown on this occasion Avould pre\ r ail as long as they AA T ere associated. Authority Avas given for the paying of Avages and necessary accounts, before the Christmas holidays,' subject to confirmation at the next monthly meeting of the Council, falling on January 18th. It Avas decided that the office be closed from December 24th to January 4th, inclusive, and that no meeting of the Works Committee be held in January.