HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, 15 April 1929, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT MATTERS. The following business relating to the southern portion of the district was transacted at the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, held in Levin on Saturday:— Petrol Punip at Manakau. Permission was sought by the Atlantic Union Oil Co.. Ltd., tci instill a bowser for Messrs Atkins Bros, at Manakau. The County Engineer's approval having been given, the application was granted, subject to the conditions usual in such cases. Forest Lakes Road Extension. With regard to the Forest Lakes Road extension, Messrs Harper, Atniore and Thomson, solicitors, wrote that they wore instructed by Air. Simeox to advise the Council that he had now complied with the Council's requisitions, and he invito.l inspection by the County engineer of the work with a view to dedication at the earliest date. On Ike motion of Cr. Ryder, seconded by Cr. Whyte, it was resolved that the engineer inspect the work. Removal of Gravel from Wai.tohu Stream. Messrs Harper, Atniore and Thornsou, solicitors, wrote advising tho Council that they had been instructed by Henia to Ao and Tungia Tungia to draw attention to the fact that employees of the Council were removing gravel from the bed of the Waitohu stream at Otaki Railway, which creek tunned part of the property owned bv. those Natives. It was contended that the Council had 110 right whatever to remove the gravel, and notice was given that the practice must stop immediately. The. Natives further demanded payment for all gravel removed by the Council's employees. The writers therefore asked for a statement of the quantities which had boon taken. The chairman (Mr. (i. A. Monk) said he understood from the engineer thai the Council's authority for inking the metal was from the lessee of Ihe property. The metal concerned washingle for the Bevan deviation. Cr. Ryder: It is doing the creelgood, not harm. The matter was referred to the engineer to deal with. Disputed Title to Highway. Mr. .). Bruce Bonle, solicitor. Tauralign, wrote staling that lie had been instructed by one of the owners of Uukehou 484A18.!—t0 wit. Merewhina —to protest against the taking of portion of this land foi the purposes of a public road. The Native had received no official notice of the intention of the Council to lake this land, and had only reamed casually from the tenant, Mr" Geo. Bevan, that this was being done. If the Council insisted on proceeding, the Native presumed that the Council would compensate her. The writer asked to be informed as to the position. The chairman explained that the letter referred to a portion of the Main Highway, and it should be sent on to the Public Works Department, which was dealing with the question. This portion of the road had never been legalised. Cr. Oinildett: They must have had a good method of transacting business in the days gone by. 1 Laughter). The chairman: They finalised everything thev touched. U was'decided that the communication be referred to the Public Works Department. Rough Road at Manakau South.

Mr. .1. Corbett, Manaktui South. . wrote with reference to the road leading north from. the corner of Mr. . Monk's. Manakati South, stating that it . was in a verv bud state. He understood that the rates were due about the end of the present month. 11-.' would like to knew if the Council could . see its way to make an effort to have something" done for the good of the , The matter'wa* referred to the Coun- . eillors for the riding and the engineer, w ith power to act. Koad Access in Otaki Gorge. Mr. Arthur seed, in forwarding id.cheque for £2S .Is 7d for rate:- (plus exchange) on his property in Otaki Gorge, wrote that payment was made under the strongest possible protest to the Council. "On account of what HOW appears to be deliberate evasion of its obligation to provide road access t > my property, or even to consider assisting me in making such access.- He -tated that there had been no semblance of response or further actiou by the Council in the matter since las immediate replv to the query as to cost, contained in the Council letter oi .Timuarv r.'Sth, with consequent loss of all the best period of weather in whien to undertake the work. He wanted to know whv the Council retrained from even having the lino of this badly needed but "verv small read extension! pegged that he might proceed with the work of terming as opportunity and funds permitted. The chairman stated that ho ha i taken it on himself to reply to the letter. In doing so lie had pointed out that, while the rates were very heavy 'in the Gorge, thi v were chiefly special rates. The whole of the genera! rate had not been collected—there was the greatest difficulty in -citing some of it—and the amount received was not sufficient to pay what the Council had to disburse in maintenance for the Gorge Road. Cr. Catley: Cr. .Tensen and I ha i ir in hand." and, made a recommendation to the Works Committee, which will show that we are endeavouring to do something. On the recom:neiH]ation of the Works Committee, it was resolved that the engineer take the necessary steps to locate the portion of the Otaki Gorge Road referred to by Mr. Seed. - Cr. .Tensen: I take it that it will be done before the estimate- are framed. The chairman: Yes. Request for a Culvert. Messrs Jenkins Bros, wrote applying for a culvert at the entrance to their property, Addington Road. To Horo. They stated that there was depression in the water-table, and the storm-water lav there and caused them considerable inconvenience. They had brought the matter under the notice of Cr. .tensen. who advised them to make application to the Council. On the motion of Or, Jensen, seconded i.v Cr. Ryder, the request was referred to the engineer with power tc act. _ . Clearing of Drains. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, i Mr. H. W. Mackintosh, wrote stating •I that hi- field inspector reported that Mr. G. H. Clay was leaking ever.. ■ effort to keep the drains cleared near ' No. 1 Highway. The matter was referred to the en- " gineer tor an inspection. Water at Te Horo. Mr. B. L. Ellis, T Horo. wrote com-

plaining that the supply of water from the Mangaone had been very unsatisfactory this summer, and several times there had been none for considerable periods. He had approached the railway ganger in charge, who said he i-ou'ld do no more until'the dam and intake were improved. The writer asked the Council if it could point out to the Railway Department how primitive the work was and request that it

be rectified. Mr. Ellis also asked if something could be done to the leak in the water-race running through his property. Tho chairman stated that the subject arose as the result of an agreement which Mr. Ellis had with the Council concerning the disposal of flood-water at Te Horo. The terms of this provided that the Council could dispose of the flood-water through his property, provided that the Council gave him a supply of fresh water during the summer months when there was no water there. Tho Railway Department had agreed to supply that water from the Mangaone stream by means of a pipe into an open channel or barrow-pit. The water then ran down into Mr. Ellis' property. Mr. Ellis had complained to him that the method adopted by the Department for catching the water to turn it down the pipe was a very primitive one. If too largo a dam were put in, there would bo too greut an overflow of flood-water. Mr. Ellis thought that a little earth should be used for banking. The ehair}man suggested that the County engineer be instructed to get in touch with the railway authorities and discuss with him the question of improving the intake so that a better supply could be got next summer. The cause of the leak in the water-race should 'also be referred to the engineer. Such leaks were generally caused by small cravfish getting in behind the concrete. There had boon a bad leak for several vears. The Council had endeavoured several times to remedy it. but had only been partly successful. The iJa'ilway Department was responsible, because the Council had, taken the water and stopped the Hooding of the Te Horo railway station.

Cr. Jensen agreed that some attention should be given to the matter. He contended that" the Railway Department had got off very cheaply. There was onlv a liin pipe put through for a short distance, and a deep hole existed from which the pipe could 1". filled without the necessity for a dam being put iu. Levels should have been taken before flatting in the pipe. He would like to be present with the engineer to point out to the railway people vvlm* was wanted. He had never" boon satisfied utih the work they had put in there. Cr. Kvder -aid that no dam was needed i'n the crook: the small piece of pipe should be lowered. The engineer was instructed to act as suggestd by the chairman. Complaint Regarding Pigs. Messrs W. 11. and V. Weggery, Waimea. Waikiuiue. wrote calling attention to pig-killing and boiling-down opera lions close to iheir boundary. They had jus, built a new house on their section alongside the County Read, but found that it was impossible to live in it owing to the smell from the pigand slaughtering place. If the matter came within the province of the Health' Inspector, they would be glad if the Council vvould'send him along to them. It was decided to refer the complaint to the Health Department. Improvement of Mangoane Road. Tho Works Committee recommended thai notice be served .... Mr. Baxter, sawiniller, of Koikorang., to remove the disused tramway from the portion and that after the removal of same, ho be requested to restore the road 10 a reasonable condition. That Mr. Helton, who. it is understood, was interested in the Campbell Sawmilling Company, be called upon to remove the old tramway laid bv the company on the portic I the road giving access to Section 11, Block VII. Kaitaun S.D., and thai he also restore the road to a reasonable -tale ..;• repair. Thai after the tramway lias been removed, this Council lake steps to cut away some of the .-■■rub overhauling the road in tho loealitv. That Mr. Bolton be advised that there a good access to Section 12, Block VII. Ivaitawa S.D., by tho road from Te Horo. The clause was agreed to. Upkeep of Mangaone Road to Sawmill. The Council adopted .a recommendation bv the Work- Committee to approve "of an agreement with Mr. Baxter on the following terms: fa) Thai the Council mai.iluiL, the Mangaone K.oid to a point known as Monk-.- Cutti„n- at the north-eastern corner ol Section .74. Block X. Kuitawa S.D. (b) That .Mr. Baxter maintain the road from such point to the sawmill. (c) That, provided Mr. Baxter keeps the portion of road referred to in goo I • rder. and in addition maintains the bridges on the said length of road in a satisfactory .-late of repair, the Council pay to'Mr. Baxter the sum of £lO per annum as a contribution to such work, (d) That this agreement be entered into as from March Ist. 1929. Painting Otaki Bridge. The tender of Messrs A. Mitchell and Co- Otaki Railway, at £!*J. was accepted for the painting of the Otaki bridge (labour only;.