Horowhenua County Council.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 February 1912, Page 3

Horowhenua County Council.

A meeting of tlio County Council was held to-day at the offices, Oxford street, Levin, Cγ. Venn presiding, ami tlie following members present : Crs. Richards, Prouso, Stepheenson. Freeman, Skennan, Kobbell, Monk and Watson, with Mr H. B. Lodge (county clerk) and Mr J. Malcolm (county engineer). MR. FIELD'S THANKS. Mr W. H. Field wrote convoying to the council his appreciation of their resolution of thanks for his efforts to secure the grant of the old Shannon Post Office to the people of Shannon for library purposes. The letter was noted. A VALUATION QUESTIONS A letter was received from the Valuer General, acknowledging receipt of resolution passed by the Council in reference to the valuation of improvements, and stating that he had already given instructions to discontinue the practice of. adding new improvements in counties, as injustices .arose through revision of improvements being incomplete. In country districts he was satisfied to allow the valuation roll as prepared on the general revision of the district to remain intact until the next general revision took place. In the case of boroughs the position was different, as the new improvements consisted almost entirely of buildings, a complete list of which was readily obtainable from the permit books kept in the borough offices. The chairman thought 'the letter was rather unsatisfactory, .because it left the council as it was. At the present time the county was unfairly valued. Cr. "Richards moved, and Cr. Kebhell seconded: That inasmuch as it is now over three years since tho last valuation, the Government be requested to have a. new valuation made of the whole county during the next financial year. The motion was agreed to. CULVERT WANTED. A letter was received from Mr J. Kent asking the council to authorise the roadman to fix a new culvert at his front gate. The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Monk to inquire into. MAIN COUNTY ROAD. Mr G. H. Harper wrote stating that Mr D. Judd was willing to pay the expenses of surveying a strip of his land fronting the main county road, 161 ft wide, at the rate of £200 per acre if the council was willing to pay the cost of moving the fence and re-erecting it on the new boundary. The following motion was agreed to: That Mr JmkVs offer to pay the expenses and survey and to furnish a proper plan of tho strip if the council will pay the cost of moving the fence wind re-erecting on the boundary be acceded to. ROSLYN ROAD EXTENSION. lihe Town Clerk to tho Levin Borough Council transmitted a resolution passed by the council to the effect that the County Council be asked if it line taken any steps to the Roslyn road through to ♦ tho Arapaepae road. Cr. Richards moved: That the Borough Council be informed that this council does not at present propose to extend the Roslyn road through to the Arapaepae, hut propose during the next financial year to construct a road from the Anapaepae on tho above route, as far as the northern end of Fairfield road, thus diverting a large portion of the travelling stock from Queen street crossing. This was seconded by Cr. Kebbell, and adopted. A SHANNON MATTER. "1 wisTi to ask your permission," wrote the manager of the Shannon Land and Sawinilling Company, "to continue the tramline on tho East Valley road for another thirty chains and around the bye-road at the corner 'by tllie .slaughter yards, as wo are leasing a section off Mr Kilsby to erect a planing mill thereon; wo will also shift the present timber yard around tho bye-road with your permission. Cr. Stepihenson moved: That the application of tho company to ex- . tend their tram to tho corner of Mr Kilsby's section l>c granted. €r .Venn seconded the motion, which was agreed to. MR ROBERTSON, M.P. Cr. Yonn moved: That all correspondence in connection with vesting section 232, Shannon, in this council be sent to Mx Robertson, M.P., with a request that lie use ihis"Tnfluence to bring about such vesting as early as possible. In moving the resolution, he said that tho Shannon people were very anxious for the council to get possession of the section. If the council had not some one to pusili the matter on it might bo delayed for a long time. Mr Robertson was now in tho position and they must make use of "him. Cr. Kebbell: He's your member now I Cr. Stcphenson seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr J. Malcolm) submitted tho following report:— Te Horo Riding.—All the roads in this riding are fairly good at the present time. The surfacemen at the southern end have just finislhed cleaning tho drains from the Paetawa swamp. Tho contractors for the Ngarara road extension Lave finished their contract satisfactorily. Good progress is being made with, the water-races on the Gear estate, the road formation is aleo progressing all right. An unfortunate position that will cost the ratepayers about £40 has arisen in connection with tho Hautere water-races. It seems the Railway Department have just discovered that half a chain of land along the east side of the railway line is their property and they are fencing it in; by doing so they are fencing in our waterrace, the main outlet, watering tftree or fatar properti*. ia

now an outcry about it, and the people lave no water. A new race must be made at once \ there ie about a mile of it, and very difficult to make, as it is very deep in places, and there are ono or two fairly big fillings. The oarpenter at the Taungata bridge should be about finished. It Jias been ia very slow tedious job. I could not put on more men as wo had not the gear. Ngatiawa bridge. The councillors for the riding and myself met Cr Ilowell, of tho Hutt county, and tho inspector, Mr Cudby. Wo met them by invitat'on at tho bridge site ,bnt what they wanted ue for I am at a- loss to guess, unless it was to tell us that they want to repudiate their liabilty for their share of the cost of the new bridge. Notico was served on tho Hutt Council about fourteen months ago that it was our intention to construct a bridge at this place, and , the council appointed their then member, Mr Lynch, to meet the councillors and myself. Tin's he did' in company with Mr Cudby the inspector; I submitted proposals for a certain kind of bridge, which, after discussion, was unanimously agreed to. It was agreed mutually that I should prepare plans in accordance with the class of bridge that had been agreed on and no question was ever raised about our county contributing more than the Hutt county. If the question had been raised it is not very likely that 1 would lliave gone to all the- troublo of preparing plans without first being advised by the council. I claim that the notice that was sent to the Hutt county. If the question had been raised it is not very likely that I would have gone to all tho trouble of preparing plans, without first being advised by tho council. I claim that the notice that was sent to the Hutt Council fourteen or fifteen months ago was sufficient notice within the meaning of the Act; it would be a pity to have to call in a commissioner to determine each one's share. Wo had some experience of it here, and know what it cost, and I think the money would bo much better spent on the bridge. Otaki Riding.—ln' this riding there is nothing to report on; some maintenance metal is needed on tho northern or Manakau end of the riding; tho southern end is being attended to.

Wirokino Riding.—ln this riding there is nothing being done but the usual maintenance, with the exception of the roads and water-races on tho Bullor estate. The water-races on tho eastern side will be finished about the middle of next week. It has boon a very difficult job getting through the green bush, but it has at last been done. I will go on with the races on the western side as soon as the others are done. I am also going to get the extension through Ohau put in (hand at once; the pipes for the intake were delivered on tho ground yesterday. I am keeping the Straker going on the Koputaroa and Foxton roads; there is plenty for it to do. The contractor for tho widening of the Gladstone road has now finished very .satisfactorily; it was inspected by the Government Engineer the other day, and lie oxpressed himself ns being well satisfied. iam sorry to say tho bridge that Cr. Kebbell proposed is entirely unsuitable for the stream ou the Muhunoa west road. I took the length and levels; I found tho water is 54 feet across, and even if you could lower the water by cleaning the stream 18 inches, it would still require 40 feet pf a bridge. T attach a plan that has been prepared for tho Kuku West road; till is plan would 'be suitable if it is possible,'to lower the water 18 inches. t estimate the cost of building such bridge at £100. I propose calling tenders for tho metalling of Tavistock road, to bo in at next meeting. I will provide for the fixing up of the formation in the contract for distrbuting the metal; the contractor sometimes loses a good deal of time wlhon the railway people fail to pick up the trucks; I think it will fit in well and keep the- contractor going. Wallace road deviation.—The fencing of this road is now in hand. I will got tho formation done as soon as possible. Tokomaru Riding.—The approaches to the Buckley overbridge aro now completed, formation only. I propose calling tenders for tihe metalling, to close in a fortnight, as the road will be impassable if there is any wei weather; the tenders can be dealt with by tho councillors for the riding. The main and district roads are all in fair order at present. The contractor for tfhe extension of Rowarewa street, Tokoma.ru, is getting on with tho formation and will finish in time. I regret I cannot compliment the Railway Department on the approaches to the overbridge at Tokomaru. I think if I had engineered them I 1 would never have hoard the Inst about them; they are not only unsightly but they are dangerous. The Engineer also addressed tho following letter to the chairman of the council:—ln re Mr Hugh Alcers' application that came before the council at last meeting to clean out and construct, certain drains on his property situated at the northern boundary of this county and which I was instructed to report on. I have not had time during the month to make an inspection of [his requirements, but I thing it is unnecessary? as it is outside the functions of the council to do anything for him; in fact, if this (request was granted everyone within the county with drains to construct and maintain, would have an equal right with Mr Akers to get the work done. I regret to have to report adversely as Mr Akers pays a large sum annually in rates; at the same time there are others similarly situated or nearly so who pay big rates and get very little in return. The only way that those people can get relief is to raiae loans and get their roads made; the council would then foe Forced to maintain them. The report was adopted.