Horowhenua County Council.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 March 1920, Page 4

Horowhenua County Council.

MAIICEL -MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Coun* cil was held on Saturday, the members present being the chairman (Mr Q. A. .nk), and Councillors J. McLeavey, S. A. Broadbelt, J?\ J. Ryder, F. v-oloy, J. 11. Whyte and H. Barber. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr W. H. Field, M.P., forwarded a "letter from Sir William Fraser, Minister of Public Works, in regard to the Council's complaint re damage done to main roads by increased motor traffic imposed on them by the curtailment of tho railway service last year. He had received several claims* made by local bodies on the same grounds, and would communicate again when he had decided what he could do in the matter. The chairman said that it had been decided, to push; .the country's claim now in order to got a settlement. Their claim, £1100, was a very moderate one. Tho letter was received. iThe District Engineer wrote with reference to road works being carried out by the Council under Government subsidy, it being desired that as many payments as possible in respect to these be made before March 31. Tin; Engineer therefore asked that claims 'be lodged so that the inspection be made and payment passed.—Reoeived, information to be supplied. The Shannon Borough Council wrote that there was a,, probability of a medical man commencing practice in Shannon if a sufficient sum as subsidy ooulrl be obtained. It was estimated that about £52 per annum would be necessary, and the -writer asked if tho Council would assist with a grant. ■-inting out that the services of :i doctor would, be of groat b-.-nefit to IT. settlers in Tokoniarn rifling. The chairman said if Shannon "was in the back country there might be some reason for making a grant, but Shannon was- adjacent to the railway and with half an honr by motor of either I#evin or Palmcrston North, ami in that case lie 'thought a grant was hardly called for. The letter was received,. G. R. Woodmasa and R. L. Tippler, of Shannon, drew attention to tho bad state of the drain along their Kara Road boondary, and asked, that it be | cleared out. —Referred to Cr. Barber jind tho Engineer to take action.

Messrs. Brandon, Hislop and Brandon, Wellington, wrote with reference to Mr Higginson's claim for ,land in Piaka Road, and tho Council's offer of £103 51. Their client was willing to take £145 with prejudice, and pay his own costs.—The Council unanimously decided not to entertain tlie ofh'r.

H. Smith applied for permission to orocfc a gat® across tlio newly-formed road in the Heatherlea estat.e— Granted during the pleasure of tu» Council. The Wellington Gas Company ro '■>» inoreaso in. the price of coke by 6/ per ton, making the price 39/ per ton.— ReceivedR. W. Booth, Waihoanga, drew uttention to the bad state of tho "Waihoanga- Road, and asked that something be done to improve it. The J£ngin<;er said it would cost from £20 to £25 to put the road in order. ,Cr. Coley considered that .the sum mentioned would not do the job. • The Engineer was instructed to attend to tho work at once. <3. Noble, of Otakij drew attention to the ?asfc river bank road, which was nothing more than a water hole right through tho winter. Metal could be got free -of charge) only a few chains away. Cr. Ryder eaiid the load was the boundary Vjetwtfen the Town Board and tho country, and these bodies should contribute, eqnal proportions to the-coat of tho work. On • the chairman's motion, Cr. 'Cycler and the Engineer were appointed to meet representatives of tho Town Board and consider what was best to be done, with power to act. Accounts for £1897 4/11 were passed for payment. HANGER'S REPORT. ■ The ranger (Mr Watson) reported that he had impounded 28 head of stock daring tha month, and several owners had been summoned and woulu appear at the next sitting of the Court. Ho suggested that the Otaki by-roads he now closed to stock for the winter months. Cr. Harkness drew attention to the stray stock nuisance in Bruce Road, where a team of horses had been grazing every night for the pa»t month.

The ranger said the owner was ono of those summoned. The ranger addsd that the collecting of the native dog tcx ivaß going 'on satisfactorily. On the chairman's motion, the ranger Tvae instructed to impound all st wandering on the Otaki, Tc Horo ar"? Tokonfiaru Roads after Alarch 20. GENERAL, The siocounfc of J. Anderson for extras to the Tokomaru \.otta<;e amounting to £13 14/8 was passed for payment. An acoount for lo I expenses incurred by Cre. Ryder and. Coley for tlio infection of tho, "Waihoanga. Road and ho old Cemetery Road wsis passed for payment. On the motioc of Cr. Coley, it decided that the seal of tho Council be attached to vha agreement with G. 'liillips in refenenco to the Manakn* pound, and that tho chairman and Cr. Rydor sign on:, behalf of tho Coun- [ oil; Tho chairman apd treasurer were authorised to deal 'with any necessary accounts which it i ih advisable to square up before the en d of the financial year, any such acc Bunts to be reviewe3 at next mooting. The Council ap jreed to the ealo of ■•■"jei car now used by the Engineer for £140, and that tho chairman, clerk and engineer be a committee empowered. to purcl lasu a five-sea, ter Ford on the eonditiorfls as cout-aiued in t3w> otter from J. C Milnes '