COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 196, 18 July 1928, Page 9

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

HOROWHENtIA COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in Levin on Saturday, Cr. Monk presiding. There were also present Crs. Barber, Whyte, Ryder, Bryant, Kilsby, McLeavey, Catley and Jensen. CORRESPONDENCE. From the district engineer Public Works Department, giving the conditions of subsidies to local bodies for unemployment relief. —The chairman moved that the letter be received. He stated that the council did not propose to raise a loan for unemployment relief. They were anxious, however. to push on with some of the main highways work, and when this was possible lie thought that it would afford all the relief required in the district. The motion w.as carried. From the Opiki School Committee, asking for warning signs for motorists and also for a grant towards putting the grounds in order. —The engineer was instructed to erect the signs and the clerk was instructed to reply that no grant could he made. From the Highways Board, agreeing to a £1 for £1 subsidy up to £65 towards the cost of maintenance of tlio detour noad in connection with the erection of the Kara Stream on the bridge main highway near Shannon. —Received. From the Poroutawhao School Committee, asking the council to move the culvert in front of the school as it is two chains too far north. —Referred to the councillors fipr the riding and the engineer with power to act. From Mr P. H. Harper, on behalf of Mr James Frew, stating that the latter’s property was not adequately supplied with water. The letter stated that' there was a water trough on tho property, to which water was pumped by a ram from a water-race, but this trough supplied only one paddock and was insufficient for the requirements of Mr Frew’s stock. The writer understood that the existing water supply was under tho control of tho council, and wished to know whether the council would be prepared ho allow him to extend the present supply of water to a second trough to he erected b.v him on the property—Tho matter was referred to Cr. McLeavey and the engineer, with power to act. From the Levin Borough Council, agreeing to the County Council taking qver the responsibility for the maintenance of the whole length of the Levin-Hokio Highway, the borough contributing one-fifth of the cost of maintaining the first 39 chains from No. 1 Highway. From Messrs Kilsbv Bros., asking for alterations to be made to two culverts adjacent to their property. — Referred to the councillors for the Wirokino Riding, with power to act. From Mr R. Lf Tippler, Shannon, stating that, owing to the new work at tho Kara Bridge, lie was unable to use his entrance with safety, as there was a drop of three feet on to the bridge over he drain giving access to his property. —Cn. Barber stated that the ramp had caused a drop on to the drain bridge. The only course was to move this bridge further south. The matter was referred to Cr. Barber an.d tho engineer, with power to act. From Mr W. H. Webb, making an application to hire the crusher that had been in use at Tiokomaru and the Otaki. River bridge, as he wished to crush a quantity of river metal and boulders.—lt was decided to decline the request in view of the possibility

( of coming to an arrangement with I the Highways Board whereby work will be resumed on the main high- / ways. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The report of the works committee was adopted, including the following recommendation: —That the road at present known as Mark’s Road be called Kukutauaki Road, and that the road leading to the property ot Messrs Short Bros, off the Koputa-roa-Heatherlea Road, be called Ivoliitane Road. The committee could make no recommendation with reference to the MeLeavey Road railway crossing. The dangerous nature of the crossing (the scene of a double fatality in February) was pointed out to the oouncil, in April, by the Ohau branch of the Farmers’ Union, which urged the council to ask the Railway Department to assist in the erection of an overhead bridge. After a brief discussion the matter was then referred to the works committee for full cionsideration. ESTIMATES AND RATES. The estimates wene passed, and the rates for the current year were struck. Only in the Tokomaru Riding do the rates remain the same as last year. In the other three ridings the rates are increased by the following amounts on last year:—AVirokino, I- Otaki, 3-16 d; To Horo, 5-32 d. General Rates. —Tokomaru riding, II- in the £1 ; Wirokino riding, 23-32 d in the £1 ; Otaki riding. 13-lCd in the £1; Te Horo riding, 31-32 d in the £l. Hospital and Charitablo Aid.—A rate of 7-32 d in the £1 on the capital value of all rateable property in the county. Senarate Rates. —A rate of 7-16 d in the £1 on the rateable property in the Horowhenua. water racq district; and a rate of l-3d in the £1 on the rateablo property in the Hautere water race district. • For purposes of comparison, the rates in operation in the two previous years are given below: 1926-27 1927-28 Tokomaru 11-16tlis 11-16tlis Wirokino 11-16ths 11-16ths Otaki |-ths fths Te Horo 10-16ths 13-16ths Hospital 11-64tlis 8-4oths Water Race Districts. Horowhenua 7-16tlis 7-16ths H.autere l-3rd l-3rd • MAIN HIGHWAYS. Further action in the direction of obtaining relief from the burden of excess expenditure incurred in connection with the main highways construction was taken, when a resolution was passed to declare the highways as main or county roads. This was carried against an amendment that such action be deferred and that the public works estimates be not passed until a favourable reply is received fnoni the Highways Board to the council’s request for money to complete the highways scheme. It was also resolved oil Cr. Jensen’s motion, to send a deputation to the Minister of Public AVorks, “to place'before him the injustice of the application of the petrol tax as it applies to this county ; also the working of the Highways Act; and that Messrs Linklater and Field, M.P’s., be asked to arnange the deputation.” AVlion the highways question was re-opened at the meeting, the chairman stated that the council had been able to submit an estimate to representatives of the Highways Board, which they hud accepted. It was

slightly less than the estimate mentioned at the previous meeting—£264,ooo for the whole scheme—as it had been reduced by £20,000. r J he board’s engineer, Mr Tyndall, would nenort to the board on the estimate, and it was expected that the matter would come before the board for decision on July 19th. It was decided to make a grant ol £lO to the Plunket Society. Mr R. G. McLean, of Paraparaumu, was appointed an assessor under the Land Valuation Act.