COUNTY MATTERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 July 1938, Page 3

COUNTY MATTERS.

HOROWHENHA DISTRICT. MEERUT© OF COUITCTL. The ordinary monthly meeting of the IJorcmhcniKi County Council avus hell at Levin on Friday, the chairman (Mr. If A. Monk) presiding. ■ There Avere present: Crs. L. 11. Best, J. H. P. Biggins, A. M. Atkins, D. K. Guy, A. J. Gimblett, A. M. Colqnhoun and C. P. Jensen, Also Messrs. F. IB Hudson (clerk) and J. T. M. Brewster (engineer). Beave' of absence was granted Cr. F, J. Ryder. District Highways Council.

The chairman of the District Highways Council advised that formal approval had been given to the council’s nomination of Mr. Monk as its repressentative on the District Highways Council.—Received.

Transport Tariff Problem. The Manawatu branch of the Road Transport Alliance forwarded a copy of a tariff schedule for motor transport in the Packakariki-,Shannon area, and which it had made application for. The Ho. 2 Transport Biceusing Authority advised that a meeting would be held in the Bevin Courthouse yesterday for the purpose of considering the schedule, and invited interested parties to attend and make representations.

The chairman said the schedule did not affect the council to any great extent, whereupon the communications were received. Subsidised Labour.

The B'nipioynient Bureau (Shannon) wrote enquiring if the council could place some of the men on the unemployment register in full-time employment, and offered to subsidise their wages to (he full amount of award rale.

• It was mentioned that thirty men were at present being employed under the scheme and all the councils’ transport facilities Avere engaged. However. Cue matter was referred to the engineer

Banger to Pedestrians. The Tokomani School Oommitto ■? wrote sto.ting that many motorists considered the highway Ihrough Tokomarn as a speed stretch and asked that protection lie given school-children by the establishment ot a pedestrian crossing at the school corner.

The engineer said he had taken the matter up with the local traffic inspector, but his department was opposed to pedestrian crossings in rural areas. There wore notice boards on each side of lire school and warnings were painted on the highway. By regulation, motorists were compelled to reduce r-'ccd to lo m.p.h. \vhen passing schools between the horns of S a.in. and 5 p.m. The matter was referred to the engineer to take up with the inspector. Drainage Trouble. A letter was received from Mr. P. A. Osborne, Shannon, complaining of drainage trouble on the Slmnnon-Eox-ton Road. —Referred to Cr. Best and the engineer with power to act. Appreciation. Mr. W. E. Ivilsby, Koputaroa, wrote expressing appreciation of the work done by the council in widening and metalling Kukntauaki Road. Collision With Cow.

Mr. •P. R. ' Catley, Ohau, wrote informing the council that one of its employees travelling north by car had .struck a cow owned by him, injurin'.'' her to such an extent that / she had to be left in an adjourning paddock and then brought homo by lorry. The writer said lie was holding the council responsible when the extent of the damage or loss to him had been determined. The engineer told the council that the full facts of the accident had been given to the insurance companies, together with a copy of Mr. Catley’s letter, It was decided to ask the writer lo make his claim so that it could be forwarded to the insurance company. Metalling* of Road. - A deputation consisting of Messrs. J. Bowling, E. Lewis, ,T. Ryder and C. Heremaia waited on the council with a request for the metalling of Kuku East Road extension. It was stated that the settlers in the locality had formed the extension, a length of 24 chains.

The chairman said the council was sympathetic to those settlers who did not have roads and were anxious to get them. This particular one was an old question, and the deputation was aware of the position in regard to rate collection in the area. Payment of rates had been better recently, but there was still room for a great deal of improvement. While this was not a bar to the council agreeing to carry out any work, a good payment of rates was of considerable 'assistance to it in making a decision. The speaker mentioned that some time ago the Native Development Board had offered to 'make five men available to assist with the metalling of this section of road, and he wondeted if that offer still held.

After the deputation retired the matter was referred to the works committee to inspect the refad and report t 0 the council. The chairman considered that the committee and the clerk should take the question of rates m> w-th the settlers at the same time. This suggestion was adonted. 0 Trees On Main Highways. A circular letter from the Main Highways Board dealt with tree planting fii main highways, for beautification purposes. It considered that the rights and snfetv o" traffic were paramount and it could not agree to tree planting where traffic would be affe'’ted J nor where the growth of trees was likelv to interfere •with power or telegraph lines. Howevcts subject to certain conditions, the boiitd would give favourable consideration to any request for planting but it would not contribute to the cost of any such v/ork. The letter was received, the chairman

commenting that great care should be taken in planting trees along main high ways. Ctaki Elver District. A letter dealing with the proposal to abolish the Otald River District was received from the Department of internal Affairs.

Civ Jensen expressed the opinion that it was most unfair of the department to sanction the abolition of the district, which would result in the Otald River Board’s liabilities being handed on to ether local authorities.

The meeting decided that a sub-com-mittee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Jensen and Gimblett, together with the clerk, prepare a protest against the abolition.

■Condition of Eoads. Mr. A. H. Akers, Fit/.herbert West, wrote drawing the council’s attention to the condition of the road between Opiki School and the corner leading to the approach to the suspension bridge. —Referred to the engineer.

Mr. J. Swiudlehurst, Levin, enquired if any progress had been made with the metalling of Stern’s Road (Shannon), as access to his property was difficult during the present wet period. Cr. Best and the engineer wme appointed to interview the settlers and endeavour to overcome the difficulty of fencing the land in tin locality. Mr. G. F. An van requested that some metal lie placed on Pretoria Avenue.— The engineer was authorised to cuim out Iho work. Mr. C. C. Holmes, Otald Railway, advised that Raimi and Waitohu Valley Roads wore badlv in need of metal.— Referred to the engineer with power to M't .

Mr. 11. A. T.mnsden, To lloro. wot--drawing attention lo the Upper .Tan r ; .oiu> Road.— Left ill the engineer's hands.

I Maintenance of Bridge. I '! h<> Hatt County Council wrote stat|inf! it understood that the conm-ii was ! «.jlVrti ng repairs to tin 1 Iforuwhenm: join! of tlio Xgutiawa bridge. The letter ! enquired if the council would maintain | the entire bridge ami 'debit Hntt | Countv frith any charges incurred in j tlie maintenance of its section.—The I engineer whs ashed to report on the ad | visabiiitv of Liking over the maiatenj a.ucc of the entire bridge. { Health Inspector’s Report. I The"'health inspector (Mr. \Y. -I, 1 Guinan) submitted a report on hi' ! work for the month of dime. Two case 1 ! of typhoid fever and one of diphtheria J had been investigated. Inspections had. [been made of three habitations, nine food-sellers’ premises and eight plumb-

iug and drainage jobs. Six requisitions had been served.

“There has been one death from typhoid fever and the ten contacts of the other case have now been inoculated,” continued the report. “Xinc swabs have been taken of the contacts of the diphtheria case. Several enquiries regarding measles have been attended

to. A butcher who was caught smoking in his shop while cutting up meat for sale was warned to cease doing so. Com plaints about the conveniences at the Ohau Schol have been attended to and

improvements asked for. The lay-out of a new motor camp has been approved. Two Maori tangis have been visited and one was broken up because of very wet weather. Complaints about ducks have also been attended to.” The report was received by the council. I