THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4411, 8 May 1922, Page 1

THAMES COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was (held at Thames on Wednesday.! Present: Crs. 11. Lowe (chairman), J., McCormick, W. Brunton, G. Blackett, R. Cox-, If. Niccol, P. Faithful, A, Alley, and the clerk, Mr H. T. G. McElroy. WHANGAMATA-HIKUTAIA. A request for repairs to the road between Whangamata and Puketui was made by Mr H. T. Wairepo. HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTION. The Thames Hospital contribution amounts to £970, necessitating a rate of %d in the £. The riding valuations are as follow: Talrua, £31,786 ; Puriri, £89,645 ;< Hikutaia., £88,990 ; Totara, £99,554 ; Hastings, £69,158. ROAD GRADING. The chairman advocated grading the side roads now, which would take the fescue off, drain the water away, and make the roads much more useful in. summer. All members supported. THE KOPU PUNT. Ths chairman advocated securing a decision quickly, one way o.r the other, on the Kopu punt question. It seemed strange to ‘him that the punt was constructed Without any flreeboard whatever. Cr. J. McCormick hought the punt and the whole structure was useless. It was agreed to have an inspection made by a competent man, in co operation with the Hauraki Plains County Council and the Thames Borough Council. HIKUTAIA RIDING. Foreman J. Hodge reported that during the month metal from the Omahn quarry had been carted as follows : Wharepoa Fenry East Road, 15 yards; Wharepoa Road, 10% yards® Hikutaia. main road, 6% yards.

During the month a trial had beei made with the grader on the Wharepoa Road, with a view to removing the fescue, with satisfactory results. All that was required was plenty of power, and the grader would do the work, In one day a mile of grading was dohe on either side of the Whare’poa Road.

Cr. Alley asked that some metal should be put on the Hikutaia footpath leading to the school, and that some metal should be placed in holes in the road near the creamery.— Agreed to. < r THE RATES. The following rates were submitted for the current year : Hastings rid-* ing, 3%d in the £—bringing in £950 ; Totara, 3d—£l2oo; Puriri, 2%d-.~ £1000; Hikutaia, 3%d—£1200; Tairua, 3d—£36o. The chairman strongly protested against three ridings carrying the. whole of the administration expenses of the other two ridings. One of the latter ridings had had £lOO more spent on it than any other, and yet did not pay a penny for, administration. If this -system was to be carried on. then the ridings should be -abolished.

Cr. Blackett considered 3%d too high for Hastings riding. The, Chairman: You may m,ake it lower.'but your riding required most money spent on it, and you will not get a penny-piece above your allocation.

Cr. Blackett: It is the Thames Borough and outside traffic on the Coast Road that requires the expenditure in Hastings.

Cr. McConmick thought the road from Waikawau to Hikutaia should be declared a main road.

The Chairman: And be compelled to keep the road up put of county’ funds ! Your road would then be paid for by the other ridings, mainly by three of them. A penny rate might pay for Hastings side roads. The ridings were paying for a dangerous and costly road, Waikawau to Hikutaia, out of riding funds.

The clerk (Mr T. T. G. McElroy) said the Hastings riding 'had £6OO spent on its roads, but contributed

only £4OO to the county fund. Its total contribution was £BOO.. the £209 balance having been used to reduce the riding debit balance., so that Hastings contributed nothing to maintenance.

Cr. Cox said there ought to be -1 toll-gate on the Coast Road. The chairman -said Hastings Had twelve miles of principal road, as against 14 miles by three other ridFinally, Cr. Cox gave notice of intention to move that the previous resolution on the books declaring the Coast Road a main road be rescinded. The matter will be ‘threshed out at next meeting, when, it seems likely, the whole road from WaikaWau to Hikutaia will be declared a main road. >