THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4428, 16 June 1922, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

TUB MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held in the Council Chambers at Thames yesterday, Mr. H. Lowe presiding. There were present Crs. R. Cox, P. Faithful, E. J. Niccol, W. Brunton, A. Alley, and JMcCormick. An apology was received for the absence of Cr. G. R. Blackett. Mr. W. J. Crah, Wharcpoa, drew the Council’s attentpn to the bad state of a drain. —Referred to the drainage board. Mr. E. Bertherton requested permission tc erect a bridge over the Mata, toki stream. It was decided that the work should be done. Mr. Fred Heaton, Matatoki, notified that the approach to his bridge was on the verge of collapse and required immediate attention. The letter was referred to the foreman of works. An applicaton by Mr. G. Asher, Hikutaia, for the renewal of his billiard saloon license was grafted. The Waimea County Council’s resolution to secure the necessary provision being made in the proposed Highway Bill, for an equitable allocation of the tyre tax between all counties and road boards was supported. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. H. M. Sheet, with reference to the acquiring of a.n area Qf Crown land to give access to the Kauaeranga bridge, advised that the Land Board would probably be prepared to consider an application to purchase the area in question.—Received. The tender of Messrs. Leary a,nd J., Hetherington was accepted for the felling of- trees near the KauaerangaThe Wharepoa-Omahu War Memorial Committee invited, the Council to the unveiling of a memorial at Wharepoa School on Sunday, June 25. —Accepted.

WHANGAMATA ROAD. Mr. N. A. Palmer, on behalf of the Whangamata Ratepayers’ Association, in a letter drew attention tc the large amount of damage done in the district during the recent heavy rains. In one place on the WhangamptaWaihi road, it was stated, the whole track had slipped away, with the exception of about two feet. There were no means of making a temporary deviation at that portion of. the road. A petition signed by 28 of the settlers on the Whangamata-Waihi Road emphasised the necessity for work being carried out on this road with all speed. The Minister of Mines had agreed to an expenditure of £3OO. The chairman thought means would be obtained to remedy this, Cr. Niccol supported the petition, saying the case was an exceptional one. Cr. Niccol was empowered to attend to the slip in the dangerous spot. A BAD TRACK. Mr.. R. E. Doyle, of Puriri, drew the Council’s attention to the deplorable state of the Oma.hu zig-zag track. It was dangerous in places, and almost impassable. Being aware of the state of the finances of the County he did not expect to have much work done to it, but ifi the holes were filled in and the water turned off there would be considerable improvement. Cr. Faithful moved that two men be engaged on that road for a week.

Or. Cox seconded, and the motion was carried. METAL CARTING. The Thames Borough Council confirmed the acceptance of) a price of 3s 3d per cubic yard for cartipg and depositing metal from the Tararu quarry between Burke Street and the Tararu bridge. The clerk stated that the work was in progress and the Borough Council was complying with the County Council’s conditions. The Turua Town Board asked for particulars regarding the cost of a punt-load of nietal chips from the Council’s quarry for footpath repairs. It was decided to reply that there were no chips at present at the quarry, but the quarry would soon be working, and that when the .chips were available the Council would be pleased to supply. A DANGEROUS BRIDGE. The Public Works district engineer, Mr. A J. Baker, with reference to the bridge adjoining the Hikuai suspension bridge, informed the Council that the condition of the small bridge on the Thames-Tairua Road wa,s in no sense the result of flood damage, but due to decay. An investigation was being made into the cost of replacing the bridge by fll|ling and culverting, which would involve a slight deviation of the road reserve. This work would really be maintenance, but it would be a help towards' obtaining some assistance for the Council in the matter if the Council indicated that it was prepared to find half the cost of the work and was willing to attend to what legalisation was necessary in connection with the deviation. Cr. Niccol said the bridge was in an absolutely bad state and in a dangerous condition. The proposal of making a deviation was a good one. The work should cost £l5O. My. Lowe said the Crown had filched £l9O of rates a year out of that area, and that should be pointed out to the Department. The Department. should not ask the Council to contribute to the cost of the bridge. The letter was received. A TARARU ROAD. Two Tararu settlers asked permission to work out their current year's rates on the road. There were landslips and washouts on the Tararu Creek road caused by the recent heavy rains. The clerk said there was a lot of work to be done in that area,, and somebody would have to do the work. Mr. Lowe said there was £25 on the estimates for that work and it would be a good opportunity of] getting the road fixed up. On the motion of Cr. Cox it was decided to put the two settlers at work on that road. VANDALISM. Mr.. G. G. Smith asked that as some persons were still destroying the piece of native bush on the Kauaera,nga Road, could the Council take steps to prevent this. Mr. Lowe said there seemed to be

some gross vandalism. The matter was left with Mr. Lowe to deal with. KOPU DRAINS. Mr. T. W. P. Williams drew attention to the bad state of the Kopu RpaJ drains, which were being blocked with weeds. Cr. McCormick admitted that the drains were in bad order. It was decided to proceed with the work of cleaning out those drains. AID FOR PROSPECTING. Messrs. T. Mclnerney and W. Woods applied for aid in prospecting for six months to enable them to conduct surface prospecting near Puriri. Mr. Lowe said that where there was opportunity they should give every support. The request was granted. APPRECIATION. A Wharepoa ratepayer wrote an anonymous letter of appreciation regarding the work which was now being carried out in his district. Mr. Lowe was pleased to see the sentiments expressed, though they were written anonymously. MATATOKI DRAINAGE. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Carh, Twohill, and Mills, of Matatoki, waited on the Council witn reference to drainage in their area. Mr. Clark said the continuation of what is known locally as the “Little Ditch” was required. Ever since Matatoki had been in existence it had suffered from the lack of drainage. The valuable land was going back to its original state as a swamp. The chairman understood that there had been some difference of opinion as to where the diain should go. Mr. Clark said the settlers were prepared .to carry out, the work to be reimbursed when the drainage area was constituted. Mr. Lowe, when the deputation withdrew, said the work was to be carried out for the benefit of two or three and be charged to the district as a whole. He realised there had been a great anfoun.t of flooding in the district the last few months, but one comprehensive scheme should be obtained. Cr. Cox pointed out that this scheme was for the benefit of a large area. Crs. Cox and Faithful were deputed tp meet the settlers on the ground and go into the matter immediately. HIKUAI. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, referring to stockyards and sheep-dip on the Hikuai Settlement, t dvised the Council that a report on the matter had been obtained, and it was suggested that the Council should agree to take over a large pen on the eastern side of the yard for use as a public pound by the Counicl accepting the responsibility for maintenance of the yards generally. The western portion of the yajrd, including a pen, branding race, and sheep dip, would be reserved for the use of soldier settlers at Hikuai. The matter was left with Cr. Niccol, who would shortly be in Auckland and would interview the Commissioner. WHAREPOA DRAINS. Cr. Brunton, with reference to drains at Wharepoa', said that some of the drains were in bad order. He suggested calling tenders for the cleaning of the Wharepoa north drain. Tt was decided to call tenders for the work. REFERENCE BOARD. The chairman thought, the Council should really have some interest in the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board. There should be at least one representative on the .Board, and he proposed Cr. Alley as the Council’s representative. Mir. Alley was duly elected.