HUTT COUNTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10822, 11 February 1921, Page 6

HUTT COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL DETAILS OF BUSINESS DISCUSSED The ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was held at ellington this week. Present: Councillors John Barclay (chairman), A. J. Mackay, M. \V. Welch, J. Whiteman, H. D- Atkinson, and A. It. Edwards. '-CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: . From Wellington City Council, inviting the chairman to attend a meeting, at which it was proposed to set up a distributing board in connection with the hydro-electric scheme. —Accepted. From A. H. itildenhall, asking what steps ’the council was taking in connection with the proposed Pareniata bridge and road through Plimmerton, suggesting the matter he given further attention.—Decided to take no action, as, the council had no funds From Sister-s of Mercy asking for the Waiwetu stream at Nai Nai to be cleaned; at present it was dangerous to health. *—Notice to be served on property owners to clean' the stream. From D. R. Tomkins, asking for permission to erect a dam at the river at Akatarawa for house purposes.——Granted. From Wellington Surf Association, making an appeal for funds. —Not entertained. From National Defence League of New Zealand asking the chairman to accept the as vice-patron to. the carnival project.—Accepted. A PARAPARAUMU MATTER. Mr D. D. Hyde waited on the council and urged the completion qf Matai road so as to enable him to oointinue the work to the beach for the purpose of further subdividing his property. The road, he said, through Maclean's had been done, and he had been compelled to secure the teams. If the council pushed on with the suggested work he could expediate his. The work through Raumate had long been delayed, but this, he considered, the fault of the council, under whose supervision it. was being done. Councillor Mackay saw no. reason why Mr Hyde should not be empowered to do the work, and on his suggestion it was agreed to* let him expedite matters, provided it was done to the. satisfaction of the inspector. RANGER RESIGNS. Mr Dick (county ranger), who was reprimanded laat council day for. alleged inactivity, reported that during the month he had seized forty-seven head of stock, impounded a number, but had issued no summonses. He stated that it gave him pleasure to lesign, he considering certain councillors had treated him unfairly, in fact two had not epoken to him for a year. This, he considered, was not playing the game, as it gave him no assistance in his duties.* He stoutly denied that he had failed to do his best, but admitted the district was far too large for one ranger. Any complaints he had received of wandering stock he had attended to. Several councillors considered Dick had failed in his action, and it was agreed to accept his resignation. USELESS MACHINERY. The engine-driver leported that during the month there had been no crushing done, as the damaged wheels had not been repaired. Councillor Welch asked was that all the enginedriver had to report on, was that what the council was paying 18s a day for; if so, it was scandalous and time the ratepayers called upon councillors to resign. He the plant was useless, and should be scrapped. Councillor McKay considered Councillor Welch was talking piffle, and pointed out that it was no fault .of the council's or the enginedriver's that the wheels had not been repaired. Ho asked why blame the enginedriver and make such a howl, and suggested that Councillor Welch should in future not waste the time of the council-by talking rot. "" The chairman, said it was certainly not the council's fault that the wheels had not been repaired, but considered the driver might have got the repairs in hand earlier. The position, he agreed, was not satisfactory, but the council coulddo nothing. The report was adopted. A NUISANCE AT PLIMMERTON. The of Public Health reported a nuisance' at Plimmerton, due t.-> the sanitary contractor burying nightsoil on the beach. They requested that the matter be given immediate attention. The inspector said he had visited the locality, had seen the contractor, who said the .trouble was due to the tide being in while he was on his round. The matter, he said, had been remedied. Tlfe chairman )said there had bcieu several complaints about the contractor, and yet in face of this he had asked for a rise in salary. The contractor (Proctor) attended, and pointed out that on the occasion under review he had been to blame. He would now, however, decline to do the work for .£5 a week, and if not paid more would resign. Resignation td be accepted at the end of three months, as per contract.* INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector (Mr J. W. Cudby) reported that the Hufct-Waikara road on the northern side of the saddle needed repairing; in some places the ruts were several inches deep. The difficulty to maintain certain, portions of the road was owing to the width of formation, which was not more than Bft, and in consequence the water could not be confined to the proper channel. He had given instructions to have the repairs effected as goon as possible. Maclean's road in the Wharproa Riding had been completed ho his satisfaction, and he ,re commended that dedication he accepted. Mr Maclean had undertaken to attend to * and be responsible for ©and drift, which might be caused through the making of the roads, for a period of twelve months. At the expiration of that period the ,banks wquld be so far healed that he anticipated little, if any trouble. The motor lorry had been sen t to Pakuratahi, and lie had decided to send the Austin, crusher to Waanui-o'-mata to prepare metal for the northern end of the valley. The engine was not yet available, but the crusher could be taken over while the days were long and the road% dry. He recommended all stock traffic, particularly cattle, be prohibited from crossing* the Pakurntahi bridge. A real good ford had been provided, and no inconvenience or expense would he caused to drovers. Report adopted. *