HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4455, 18 August 1922, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held in the office of the clerk (Mr E. Walton) at Ngatea on Monday, when the following were present: Crs. J. C. Miller (chariman), O. W. Harris, W. G. Hayward, G. Death, C. W. Parfitt, A. Chatfield, T. McLoughlin, J. F. Mayn, and E. R. Whitechurch. The Auckland Provincial Agricultural Educational Committee asked the Council to be represented on the committee, whose object it was to improve facilities for agricultural education.—Received. A proclamation was received from the Public Works Department gazetting about half a mile of road off the Orchard East Road,.

Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that authority had been given him to dispose of a section of land at Tahuna for a depot. The price was fixed at £lO,O. The engineer was instructed tp report on the feectipn. In a communication to Mr T. WRhodes. M.P., who forwarded it to the Council, the Minister for Public Works wrote concerning the Council’s support given to the Waimea County Council’s resolution urging that the funds accumulated by way of a tyre tax should be allocated amongst local bodies and made available during the current year for ths maintenance ,and repair of main road used for motor taffic. The Minister stated that the tyre tax had been imposed for a specific purpose, and the money so raised had been specifically earmarked by the Finance Act for the Main Highways fund. The Minister could not immediately , entertain the proposal.—Received. The Minister for Public Works, replying to the Council’s application for sufficient money to be placed on the Estimates for the completion 05 the Mangawara Road, stated that lie would give the matter every consideration when the Estimates were being prepared. The Health Inspector, Thames, advised that a Ngatea farmer had been instructed to remove the nuis.anci complained of by the Council, failing which he would be prosecuted. Tenders for removing a cottage in Waihi to Waitakaruru were received, but were considered too high. It was decided to endeavour to sell the house.

The Thames County Council drew (attention to the bad state of the road from Turua to the west landing of the Kopu ferry. It was anticiaptei that a permanent running of the ferry would be commenced shortly. It was decided to thank, the Thames County Council for the report. The engineer was instructed to report on the road-

Writing with regard to the proposed telephone extension to Mangatarata the district telegraph engineer (Auckland) advised that authority would be given for such a connection on condition that the County Council gave a guarantee that it would make up any deficiency on the working of the proposed telephone office. It was derided that the Council could not. accept the proposal.

Mr Hallyburton Johnstone made a request that the drain near his property should be widened. He was one of the largest ratepayers, and got nothing in return. The application was favourably considered, and the engineer was instructed to report. The clerk was Instructed to apply for £2OOO on account of each ofj tne Tahuna and Netherton road loans. It was decided to call tenders for quarrying and delivering metal from the Tahuna quarry on tp the roads in that area.

Cr. McLoughlin reported on the bad state of the road along the Piako River at Ngarua, and moved that the resident Lands Department engineer be asked to complete .the Porua-Tore-hape Road. The motion was carried. Cr. Harris said the Council had often used Cr. Hayward’s car., and he thought the Council should reimburse Cr. Hayward. That course should be adopted with any councillor giving the use of his car to the council A resolution was passed on the lines suggested by Cr. Harris. CATTLE TICK; In 0. report of a conference of local bodies to discuss the proposal tc erect cattle dips on the Coromandel Peninsula, forwarded by the Thames County Council, was a copy of a resolution. that the contribution to the dips should be: Coromandel County £lOO, Thames County £lOO, Ohinemuri County £5O, Hauraki Plains County £5O.

Mr Walton said Mr Costello had stated that tick would not come to the Plains.

A councillor thought the Council should not support a dip at Tapu. Cr. McLoughlin did not think the Plains was endangered. Cr. Mayn took exception to the Plains County Council contributing to a dip outside its boundaries. Cr. Parfitt thought the Council should make some contribution. It would afford the county some protection. He suggested the Council should conrtibute £5O towards the erection of the Tapu d’p.

Cr. Hayward was against the contribution to the Tapu dip. There were many other sources than via the peninsula through which the tick could come into the district. He did not ti.ink the tick could live on the Plains, but if a dip were necessary they should not contribute to any except on the Plains.

On the motion of Cr. Mayn, secended by Cr. Hayward, it was decided that no contribution be made. Cr. Parfitt wished his vote to be

recorded against the motion. HIKUTAIA QUARRY.

It was mentioned that the sum of £lOOO had been charged up to the Hikutaia quarry, and this must be adjusted by being charged to the different ridings. The clerk and the engineer were instructed to go into the matter and report at the next meeting. PUKE BRIDGE APPROACH.

The Ohinemuri County Council drew attention to the very great damage being done to the approach to the Puke bridge on the 4Ohinemuri side by the heavy carting being carried out by the Plains County Council. The damage was so great that it rendered the road almost impassable, and would be quite so if the carting were continued without something being done to counteract the damage. Unless the Plains Council could see its way to repair the damage done the Ohinemuri Council would reluctantly be compelled to enforce the by-flaws and stop all heavy traffic. Cr. Death said the bridge extension was just about finished now, and the road would soon not be required. Also it was not the Council that had done the damage. It was the Public Works Department.

Cr. Death was deputed tp confer with the Ohinemuri County chairman.