HAURAKI PLAINS NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4302, 10 August 1921, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS NEWS.

COLATI COUNCIL MEETING. The montnly meeting of the Haaraki Plains County Council was held at Ngaiea on Mpnuay. Owing tp indisposition the chairman, Cn J. C. Miller, was apsent. Tnere were pie sent: Crs.- C. W, Harris, G. Death, A. Chatfield, F. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, E. R_. Whitechurch, W. G, Hayward, C. W. Parfitt, the clerk, Mr E. Walton, and the engineer, Mr R.. J. Dillon. Cr. Harris, chairman of the finaa ;e committee, was voted .to the .chair. MAUKORO VALUATIONS-. Messrs F. Hart, Swee.ney, and G. Preston w.aited on the Cvuncil protesting against the valuations of the Maukoro Estate. Mr Hart explained tliat the value pf .the sections ha.i been put pp in sympathy with the valuations of adjoining properties, though the petitioners’ sections were largely unimproved. He had bought his 380 acr.es at £l6 per acre, at the boom period, but was now paying rates on values at £2O an acre.. .Land that had been sold nt £49 per acre was not paying more than lands which were bought for £2O. He had io pay 5s an acre on 386 acres, amounting to over. £loo'. TJie anomalies occurred when the recent subdivisions were effected. Cr. W. G. Hayward said there was a lo,t of injustice somewhere. He would move that .the petitioners be given thi;eie months’ grjace in which to pay their rates, and that the Council back up any petition ;the applicants made to. the Valuation Department with a view to having an adjustment made-. —Carried. HIKUTAIA QUARRY.

Cr. G. Death pointed out that since last meeting it had become apparent that men could not legally be employed in the Hikutaia quarry, which was general work, and to pay for the work put of Nethertpn roads loan. It was decided to rescind the motion on the books, whereby the quariy work was to be paid for out pf loan moneys. . -

Cr. Death said he had no objection to the men being employed so long as they were employed on roads loan metak ;'

Cr. C. W. Harris, reporting on the visit of councillors to the quarry, said it had be.en decided to ’move the hopper back into the face of the hill. The metal in the hopper had been sold to the Ohinemuri Council at 12s per yard. ; In respect to the creek, £5O or £69 aWould put the creek into such a position tha< metal punts could ee brought up to the bridge.—Decided to do>?he work, Cr. Death, the chairman, and the engineer to make arrangements. > RIVERS COMMISSION. The action of Cr. Death in appointing Mr E. W. Porritt to represent the Hauraki Plains County Council at the Rivers Commission was approved. FINANCE ACT, 1920. The Treasury notified that it was inadvisable at present to permit the transfer of balances of loan account t 0 the general account. He regretted the refusal, but certain conditions had arisen which necessitated refusal. WHAREPOA FERRY PHONE. The Post and Telegraph Department wrote stating that, owing to the line being overburdened already, it was impossible to permit a ’phone for the Wharepoa ferry ; in any case it would not be reliable at night time. •WAITAKARURU METAL. A settler of Waitakaruru offered to quarry and nap metal, to three inches, for 7s 6d per yard. PUKE BRIDGE. Mr R. W.> Evans, clerk of the Ohinemuri County Council, wrpte asking the Hauraki Plains County Council to support his council in asking the Public Works Department to lengthen the Puke bridge, in* order to give a greater waterway. HIKUTAIA-NETHERTON BRIDGE. The Thames County Council notified its willingness to hold a conference in respect to the ahovenamed proposed bridge. TURUA SURFACEM.-xN. The chairman and engineer .were authorised to engage a surfacemaa for Turua riding.