HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 September 1933, Page 6

HOROWHENUA COUNTY.

SEPTEMBER MEETING OF COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was hold on Saturday, in the County Chamber, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: 'Mr G. A, Monk (Chairman), Crs. Best, \Vhyte, Ryder, Atkins, Colquhoun, ■Gimblett, Catley and Jensen, Messrs F. H. Hudson (Clerk) and J. T. M. Brewster (Engineer). Mrs Barber and family, Shannon, fox-warded an expression of their appreciation of the Council’s sympathy with them in the death of ex-Cr. H. Barber. They also expressed their thanks to Mr Brewster for his kindness and help at the time of the funeral, and to those Councillors who had acted as pall-bearers. LOAN CONVERSION, A communication was received from the Government Life Insurance Department, inquiring whether the Council proposed to take advantage of the provisions of the Local Authorities Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Act and convert its £IB,OOO loan to a 4i per cent, basis. If so, the Department would be pleased to consider a conversion for the unexpired term of the present loan, and it would be willing to apply the accumulated sinking fund in reduction of the amount owing. In the event of the Council deciding on the conversion, it would be advised as to the premium required to convei-t the loan from the rate it was paying to a 4£ per cent, basis. The premium, if desired, could be added to the loan. Cr. Jensen moved and Cr. Ryder seconded, that the matter be left to the Finance Committee. The Chairman stated that arrangements- were proceeding, in the hands of the Clerk and himself, and they hoped to submit a comprehensive scheme to the next meeting. The motion was carried. DRAIN ALONG ROAD FRONTAGE. The Mukapai Flaxdressing Company, Makerua, wrote stating that they intended to put a drain along their road frontage near their woolshed on the main road, and they de- | sired permission to put the drain outside the fence. On the same block there was a pipe drain crossing the road, which would need to be dropped down about 18 inches to allow for efficient drainage on the top side of the road. A visit by the Engineer was suggested. The Engineer said he thought it was almost a policy of the Council that the constructing of drains was not to be allowed on the road. The Council had a legal opinion that the agreement might not hold good with sue-" cessors to the property. Cr. Jensen: There is also a danger to stock. On the motion of Cr. Rydex-, seconded by Cr: Best, it was resolved that the request be not granted. USE OF LAND DESIRED, Mr E. Gingell, Shannon, wrote with reference to a small triangular section of land —unfenced on two sides—at the intersection of the ShannonFoxton Road with the Main Drain, He asked if the Council would let the section. —Referred to the Engineer for a report. * A DRAINAGE MATTER. Mr Charles Guerin, Kingston Road, Shannon, writing on September 4th, stated that no attempt had been made to stop the drainage nuisance, which he had referred ;to the Council about a month before. ■ The Clerk explained that the previous letterHiad arrived too late for the August meeting, but had been dealt with since. The matter had been one for the Health Inspector and he had looked into it. The party about whom the complaint had been made had been seen and he had undertaken to remedy the defect. The communication was received. APPLICATION FOR DRAINPIPES. Mr J. Whiting, Levin, wrote stating Ithat, on account of the lowering of the water-table at the entrance to his home in Tiro Tiro Road, he would be pleased if the Council would provide she drainpipes required; and he could put these in to the satisfaction of the Council. —Referred to the Engineer, to confer with the Borough Overseer, ARATANGATA DRAIN AND ACCESS. Mr R. A. Speirs, Koputaroa, the 'owner of land on the bank of the Manawatu River, adjoining the Arabangata Drain, wrote applying for the material for a bridge over that drain, tto enable him to gain access to his property through his neighbour's land. His only legal access was along the Aratangata Drain to the KoputaroaFoxton Road, and if the Council would put this road in a passable condition, he -would much prefer this access. “Rather a peculiar thing, to ask that we construct a bridge on another man’s land,” the Chairman remarked. ■ ' - r ’ . Cr. Catley stated that the applicant had spoken to Cr. Gixpbffitt and himself on the matter. It hatT been before the Council on a previous' occasion, and the Council had decided not to do anything with regard to it. However, Mr Speirs had land to which his only access -was through private property, and it cost; ,him ; £9 or £lO a year for upkeep. , , It,,wps impossible for the Council,to,,giyd,J}i^r^gaKopu-tarqa-Foxton Rot>s a£s^ t , the circumstances. As»t^ l( Ara|ang§ta was a public drain, the speaker thought that the request"‘itfftwSld be granted. Mr Speirs would provide the stringers if thfe Council 'vyo'UMbSfippty'the decking.' '■' i>i: '■ '•'lyV'J ■ 1 ‘ .■':••■ Cr.-’ ; GimbtefiF r 'sa'icl ;l . that, owing - to phst j atibdivMdh& of the late Mr John Daviefc’ estate, a'' position - had been

created for which he did not think the Council was exactly responsible. In the first case, there had been a dedicated road, accepted by the Council, along the Aratangata Drain. There had been several subdivisions of land throughout that block, creating the present position. Mr Speirs was one of (the men who had purchased some of the land that had caused the subdivision and created this position. Now he had practically not got access to it without trespassing on another man’s land. Cr. Gimblett moved that the request be referred to the Councillors for the Wirokino riding and the Engineer, with power to act; and that Mr Speirs be asked to place his case before them. Cr. Ryder seconded the motion. At the suggestion of Cr. Jensen, the provision “with power to act” was withdrawn in favour of ai> instruction to the committee to present a report; and in this form the motion was •carried. APPLICATIONS FOR CULVERTS. Mr J. R. Moody wrote applying for a culvert for the water-table fronting his property on Schwass’s Road, Tokoniaru. He stated that it was impossible to take a loaded dray over without first filling-in the water-table. — Referred to Cr. Whyte and the Engineer, with power to act. Mr Alexander Campbell, Tokomaru, wrote stating that he required a wooden culvert at the entrance to his section in Rata Street, Tokomaru; also that the two culverts downstream from his place required lowering, to give more drainage. —Referred to Cr. Whyte and the Engineer, with power to act. , Writing with reference to the drain )dug by the County on Kuku Soldiers’ Road, Mr A. H. Holden applied for a wooden culvert for a gateway leading into one of his paddocks.—Referred to Cr. Catley and the Engineer for an ■inspection, and with power to act. DRAIN COMPLETED. The Councillors for the riding, to whom bad been referred at the June meeting Mr A. H. Holder’s application for a drain on Kuku Soldiers’ Road, reported that the work had been completed.