HOROWHENUA COUNTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 117, 14 April 1930, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held in Levin on Saturday, Cr. Monk presiding. Also present were Crs. Jensen, Catley, Gimblett, Colqulioun, Bryant, Ryder, Whyte and Barber. CORRESPONDENCE. An appeal from the committee of the New Zealand' Obstetrical Endowment .Fund was received. The New Zealand Counties’ Association forwarded a resolution asking local bodies to proceed with townplanning activities. —Received. Tiro same writers wrote asking for remits to be considered at the annual conference. The North Island Motor Union wrote stating that a protest had been received from the Wanganui Automobile Association against the practice of many contractors in road formation of leaving sharp ledges and sudden drops on the main road when excavating. In many cases no effort was made to grade the difference between the levels of the. two portions of the road and consequently the motorist at night often got a nasty bump.—Referred to tho engineer. The Main Highways Board wrote urging increased care in the maintenance of wooden bridges on highways'. In addition to tho ordinary maintenance, more attention was absolutely essential in removing grass and scrub from near abutments and piers. In addition to rot that was set m> by bridge timbers being continually damp, there was also a danger of firo in the summer.—Referred to the engineer. Authority was received for formation work on No. 1 highway between the threo and six mile pegs. It was pointed out that this work was for tho purpose of keeping tho paving gang together and it was not intended that additional men should be employed.— Received. The Public Works Department wrote asking the council to take over a mile of No. 60 highway from Shannon southwards. The road had been widened and metalled. —Referred to the engineer with power to act. Mr J. S. Tennant, of Wellington, made a claim for damages as the result of a collision between his car and the council’s grader on the bad bend on the Foxton Road. —It was decided to take no action and admit no liability. The Main Highways Board advised that the actual cost of the Manawatu Bridge, at Shannon and its approaches had been £24,136 16s Bd, the bridge costing £20,335 16s 3d. The board’s subsidy would be £13,916 4s lOd, and the local bodies concerned would have to find the following amounts. —Horowhenua County £6479 18s 7d: Manawatu County, £4405 3s 9d; Shannon Borough, £ll6B 17s 2d; Eoxton Borough, £BSO. —Received. The Makerua School Committee wrote asking for the entrance to the school to be improved, where it had been impaired by grading operations. —Referred to the engineer. ; ' Mr G. H. Stiles wrote .asking the council to give immediate attention to erosion occurring below tho new bridge at Tokomaru. A wring on the downstream side of the bridge was required. —The engineer considered that a wing wall would do little good as tho scour was in the direct line of the creek. The . engineer was instructed to interview Mr Stiles. Mr R. W. Taylor, of Shannon, wrote suggesting arbitration in the dispute betweeh him .and the council over the cost of erecting a boundary fence. — Tho chairman commented that arbitration was often the quickest way out of a difficulty. The fence had been taken down by tho Public Works Department and sinco then it had been discovered that it was actually on tho road reserve. Offers had been made by Mr Taylor and Cr. Barber, who, with the engineer, represented tho county; but neither side was prepared to give way. It would be an advantage if the fence was re-erected in the same place and, although he did not liko to over-ride Cr. Barbor, it appeared that there was little difference between tire two offers. —Cr. Barber stated that in view of the slight difference between tho two offers he was prepared to agree to Mr Taylor’s offer being accepted, and in view of Cr. Barber’s statement this s courso was adopted. Mr J. C. Cameron, of Shannon, wrote asking the council to take some action in connection with the demolition of the stop-bank at the site of the old Manawatu River punt.—Tire chairman pointed out that the work at that point had been done by the Manawatu County Council and it was decided to reply to this effect. The Commisisoner .of Transport forwarded suggestions as to local speed restrictions. —The chairman stated that nothing definite had been £ . received from the Government and the, council was anxious'that effective signs should be erected. . On his motion the clerk and engineer were asked to prepare a report on the matter. Messrs Knight Bros., Ohau, wrote asking for permission to fill in the drain on the road as it was too close on the road to deepen as was desired. Another drain would be required.— The matter was referred to the engineer. Applications for extension of the water supply were referred to the engineer for a report. ’ ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer, Mr J. T. M. Brewster, reported as follows: Tokomaru Riding.—The grader has been employed on tho unpaved portions of the main highway. The south end span of the Tokomaru River

Bridge has been strengthened and adjusted so as to conform with the grade of the road. Tire stone crusher is crushing metal in Mr. Kelly’s property for maintenance purposes on various roads in the district. The Main Highways Board is having a survey made of a proposed deviation at Makerua railway station. The construction of one and three-quarter miles of highway south of Shannon, being carried out by the Main Highways Board, is apparently nearing completion. The contractors are making satisfactory progress with the construction of Hume’s Drain culvert at the northern boundary of the county. In connec 7 tion with the road plans of the Opuhi Block subdivision, I asked the engineer to provide for curves of three chain radius. He states that two chain radius curves are the easiest that can be adopted now as the plans have been deposited at the Land Transfer Office, Wellington. It is now a matter for the council to decide if two chain radius curves will do. A fence approximately two chains in length has been erected at the end of Pretoria Road at its junction with the main highway. This in accordance with the finding of your committee set up to deal with the matter. Arrangements have been made to have the fence at the corner of Totara Street re-erected. Instructions have been issued to lengthen .the culvert, widen the road and bank the corner, at the end of Aslilea Road. An inspection of tho Makerua-Rangitano Roads was made on 24th March. Wirokino Riding.—Work is proceeding in connection with the construction of the second three miles of the LevinFoxton Main Highway. Metalling has been carried out on Lindsay and Kawiu Roads. This work was subsidised £1 for £1 by the Main Highways Board.as tho roads mentioned were used as a detour during the paving of tho Main Highway. Materials for tho bridgo on Tangimoana Road are on the site. This work will be completed at an early date. I have made an engineering survey of the . Oliau West Road from tho end of tho metal to the beach and estimate the cost of forming, culvertiug and metalling 114 chains of road to be £lOl4. Tenders were invited for tho three roads, and the figures were: —Ohau East Road, £2lB 16s; Mark’s Road, £322 10s; Paiaka Road Extension, £169 4s. The approaches at the curve at Heatherlea east corner liavo been made up and consolidated as requested. The easing of the corners of tho Levin-Hokio Road is proceeding. The work is being carried out by the Levin Racing Club in taking spoil for its track. Regarding the application of Mr James Heavey, Koputaroa, relative to fencing off portion of road, I have no recommendation to make. Permission has been granted an oil company to erect a benzine pump at Ohau. Otaki Riding.—The' old Waikawa River Bridge has been dismantled, general maintenance lias been carried out on various roads in this riding. A substantial fence has been erected on the boundary of land taken for road purposes. A tender of £9Ol Is 6d for the construction of Manakau Steam Bridge has been accepted. It will be necessary for a portion of land to bo taken near the northern • approach to the bridge before the necessary approach road can bo formed. Te Horo Riding.—General maintenance has been carried out on tho roads in this riding. The No. 5 crusher has been set up at Hautere and is crushing maintenance metal for the roads in tiro district. A bridge has been erected on the Mangaono Road, Reikorangi end. REGIONAL PLANNING. A communmation from the Minister of Internal Affairs dealing with regional planning was received. It stated that a special committee would sit in Palmerston North to define the boundaries of the region surrounding that centre, and tlxe council was asked to give evidence. Tho intention was to map out the natural resources of tho region, both developed and potential, and the means of transport. Tho seoond objective was to bring about tho co-ordination of the work of tho local bodies in the district. The chairman stated that he had not gone closely into tho matter, but he thought that the council should be represented at the sitting. It should first be ascertained whether Horowhenua was really in the region of which Palmerston North was to be the focal point. Legislation gave the Town Planning Board the right to level a tax, or rate, of l-50d in the £1 on the capital value to meet expenses. Cr. Ryder asked where this new legislation was going to end. If their chairman had to attend many more conferences and sittings they would need a professional chairman. Cr, Jensen asked how the taxing provision had crept into the. Act without being noticed by the Counties’ Association. The chairman: They can’t watch everything;. Cr. Gimblett did not like this provision. Regional planning might bo alright, but there were too many charges on the land coming into force. The chairman had better attend the conference to see that no more expenditure was involved. The chairman: I would like to have the assistance of the clerk and engineer. It was agreed that tho chairman, clerk and engineer should be a subcommittee to deal with the matter. The chairman commented that town and regional planning had its good side. The reason for the activity was that there was a board and a highly salaried official who had to justify their existence. Cr. Jensen remarked that townplanning would not affect Horowhenua; little ' townships like ManakaU and Te Horo wpuld not grow much. ' The discussion then lapsed.