Horowhenua County Council.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 February 1921, Page 3

Horowhenua County Council.

AfcONlflLY MiIiETINU.

The usual meeting was held on Saturday, the members present being: Crs. G. A. Monk (chairman), J. McLeavey, A. ii. Knox, J. it. VYhytc, H. G. Bryant, H. .Barber, S. A. Broadbc.it, 0. J. Harkuess and 'ii\. J. Ryder. COiUtF^PONDENCE.

Miss J. S. Cameron, town clerk, Shannon, wrote siaiing that work ut a total value of about £IOO was to be carried out "in the cemetery, and the Council would bs glad to receive tiu, the gram ol £25 which the County Council had placed on the estimates tor the cemetery. The chairman said) the Council was empowered to make ' giants of the kind up to £3O per year, but in this case the money could not be paid till after March 31.

It was decided to inform the Shannon Council accordingly. Mr J. F. Carroll, roadman, Manakau, protested against the Council, stopping £2 out of last month's wages as rent of the Council's cottage. There was no agreement between the Council and himself as to what the rent should be, nor were the promised! repairs carried out to the house. When the re-

pairs were carried out, and ths amount decided on, it would, he considered, be time enough to arrange about payment.

The clerk explained that Mr Carroll had been in the cottage for about four months, during which time nothing had) been paid, and as interest was accruing, he had made a deduction from Carroll's last wages, as payment would have to be made some time. The chairman stated that the clerk's action was quite in order, and the matter was left in the- cl-rk's hands to come to an agreement with Mr Carroll.

Miss A. M. Oldfiekl, Manakau, offered to lease the road leading to her property.—Left in the hands of Cr. A. Bryant.

CONDITION OF GLADSTONE ROAD. Mr J. Howard, writing from a private hospital in Palnierston North, asked that the Council make payment for the work he had carried out on Gladstone Road.

Cr. McLeavey said, in company with Or Harkness and the engineer, he visited Gladstone Road a fortnight ago, and found it in a, very bad condition, and personally the speaker would not be in favour of paying anything.

The chairman said Mr Howard had refused the offer previously made by the Council, and as regards payment, he would, not favour anything being done till after March. Cr. Harkness said he could bear out all Cr. McLeavey said about Gladstone Road, as it was practically destroyed. There were large: holes in it everywhere, and the surprising thing was how Mr Howard had managed to drive over it at all.

Cr. McLeavey moved, and Cr. Harkness seconded, that no action as regards payment be made. This was carried.

The engineer said he had notices posted up along the road stating that the Council would not be liable for accidents. Cr. McLeavey: It will cost £SOO to put the road in reasonable repair.

The chairman: Wc should take action in seeing that no further damage is done.

TOKOMAIIU VALLEY" MATTERS.

A deputation was introduced by Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., consisting of Messrs. J. L. Nash and Roberts, waited on the Council, andi asked for the lease of county road reserves in the Tokomaru Valley. The property was not used, and was in a rough condition, and of no use to anyone else. They only ■asked to be allowed to remove improvements as the Council wished to resume possession.

Cr. Why to moved, and Cr. Barber seconded, that the two pieces of road in tho Tokomaru Valley be leased L x> Messrs. Roberts and Nash during the pleasure of thej Council at a rental of ID/ per year, the lessees to have the light to remove, improvements. This was carried). Mr J. A. Nash also referred, to a road in Tokomaru Valley about which ho had .approached the Council previously. The work was not going on it all satisfactorily, and he hoped the Council would do something to push it on.

The chairman said that the Council would do its best in the matter.

Mr J. McDonald, Stout Street, Shannon, wrote objecting to the method) 01 inspection of the -metalling contract Le was carrying out in Tokomaru Valley. Tho inspection should be rortnighnly, s;> that payments could bo made :o proportion to tho work done.

Mr McDonald waited on the Council, and asked if the Council would oay up to 75 per cent of the work doa* lie wanted to be sure on that point, as he maintained he had donei •£'/> worth of work and had only received £4.0.

The chairman pointed out that the specifications of the contract made it plain enough that 75 per cent of work would be .paid for as progress payment. The full payment would > e made at the conclusion of the work, when it had been passed by the engineer. On the chairman's motion, seconded. by Cr Ryder, Mr McDonald was given seven days in which to continue his contract, work to go on to the satisfaction of the engineer, failing this the contract to be terminated. RESOLUTIONS.

Oji tho motion of Or. Barber, seconded by Cr. Whyte, it was decided that the Council donate £SO towards enlarging and) clearing of the drain along tho Makorua Road after the completion of this work, the drains to be taken over by the Makerua Drainage Board, and all responsibility oi the Council ceases, the work to be carried out under the supervision of the. county engineer. * On Cr. Broadtbelt's motion, it was resolved that the Piaka Road fence J *o offered the settlers interested for the sum ol 1 80/ per chain, this offer to be final, and to be accepted before) next meeting. If tho offer is not accepted the fence to be removed. GENERAL.

Accounts passed for payment amounted to £1661 10/4. The chairman said the engineer had referred) to the want of a team for the road grader, and thftt opened up the