TAHUNA’S SECESSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4470, 22 September 1922, Page 3

TAHUNA’S SECESSION.

FROM PLAINS COUNTY. ratepayers agree TO COUNCIL’S PROPOSALS. A meeting of ratepayers in the Tahuna riding, held in the Tahuna Public Halt yesterday, almost unanimously decided to . accept the proposals pt the Hauraki Plains County Council With regard to" the secession of their riding -from the Hauraki Plains County. The meeting was a large one, and was presided over by Mr E. R. White- 4 church (Tahuna riding member on the Plains County Council). There were also present Messrs F. J. Mayn, T. McLoughlin (councillors), J. Higgins (engineer) of the Hauraki Plains County Council, and F. J. Walters (chairman). O. Glynn (councillor), and N. Ray (clerk) of the Piako County Council. . The chairman said that the Hauraki Plains County was willing to let Tahuna secede conditionally that they would be relieved from th® bridge ’responsibilities if Tahuna vzould bear half the cost of the Maukoro bridge. Tahuna would have the whole 'of the Tahuna Roads Loan area, and would take its share of assets and liabilities of the County and have its share of the machinery loan credited to it. The meeting was called to discuss whether the Tahuna ratepayers would be willing to bear half the cost of the Maukoro bridge or not. Mr Mayn said there were a number of ratepayers in the Tahuna roads loan area who objected to being left out of the Hauralci Plains County. He could not commit himself to favour their exclusion. Mr McLoughlin thought the Maukoro deviation question was a little bi.t obscure. He maintained that the Maukoro deviation was to be borne equally by- the Patetonga and Tahuna ridings. This had been decided oy the Council before Tahuna had made their application for secession.. Th? Council had to pay for the legalisation. The meeting was concerned with the bridge, which, he said, would give an outlet to a lot of country. “If you don’t put up bridges,” he said, “you will always be behind. If Tahuna wishes to go out, of the Hauraki Plains County we won’t put any opposition in your. way. If you had gone two years ago it would have simpli-t fled matters.” The chairman pointed out that since .all bridges had been made county matters the cost of the’.Maukoro deviation Would be borne by the whale of the county. BRIDGE BENEFITS. Mr F. C. Hart said the Tahuna riding seemed to have no connection with the rest of the county. Mr Mayn said the community jf interest would come when the PaeroaPokeno railway was put through. When the Lands Department’s drainage scheme was finished the map may be altered completely. The Hauraki Plains County Council wps trying to give Tahuna a fair deal, but it did not want Tahuna to be the first to frustrate its bridge policy. The Patetonga ratepayers considered that the West bridge was necessary. .Tahuna’s interest in that bridge was considerable. Mr H. 0. Clothier said the Hoe-b--thinui district would not benefit by the bridge. jtfr Mayn said the Hoe-o-tainui settlers would use the deviation. The Chairman: I think Hoe o-tai-nul has an. interest in the deviation, but not in the bridge. Mr Mayn agreed with the chairman. Mr G. Preston: It seems to me that the Tahuna people are a little bit selfish, anyway. They wanted to get the bridge, and to get the settlers lower down to help to pay the rate. Mr SHcock alleged that proposals in the loan had been altered. The chairmap denied this allegation. COST OF THE BRIDGE. Mr Higgins said he had not yet made estimates or taken soundings for the bridge, but he would propose that it have a centre span of 45ft and twp other spans of 25tt. He favoured ferro-concrete piles and . concrete abuttments.' Instead of building hardwood strutts he would suggest rolled steel joists. The cost, he considered, would be £5OOO, including metalling of 4% miles of road 10ft wide and 9in deep. NEGLECTING TAHUNA. Mn R. Newton said the Hauraki ' Plains County was neglecting Tahuna. Mr Mayn replied that, the neglect had been the fault of the former engineer. The Council had treated Tahuna very fairly. The chairnian said Tahuna’s share of the bridge would be about £lOOO and- of the deviation £6OO, the total being approximately £l6OO. They would have to raise a loan for that amount to cover it. It would cost about one tenth of a penny for rate. Mr McLoughlin, said the Hauraki Plains County . Council wanted the matter settled quietly, and would meet the Tahuna ratepayers in every way possible. Mr Walters said it was an absolutely fair deal for Tahuna to pay half the cost, but for the bridge he did not think it a fair deal for Tahuna to pay half. Patetonga was greatly interested in the bridge. The fairest thing would be a rating area to erect the bridge, including a portion pf Patetonga, with' a Government subsidy, and Tahuna to take on half of the deviation. Mr Clothier considered what Mr Walters proposed should be good enough for them all. He moved that the meeting agree with the suggestion. Mr Speedy seconded. Mr Walters said the rate for the bridge be £ll9 for Tahuha’s share of the bridge. ONE DISSENTIENT. . Mr Hart moved that the Hauraki Plains Couhty Council’s offer be accepted. Mr Murphy seconded. The chairman considered the amendment was a fair proposition. Mr Mitchell was opposed to leaving the Hauraki Plains County. The amendment was carried with One dissentient. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr McLoughlin thanked the Ta-

huna people for the spirit in which they had carried their resolution. Mr Mayn also expressed thanks, and said the deviation would be the main highway to the river. Mr Walters said the meeting had done quite right. He was pleased that they had taken a broad view. The chairman said they should get to work straight away, get a petition signed by 75 per cent, of the ratepayers and save the expense of a poll being .taken. Mr Mayn : The Only way tp get th 3 deviation is to sign the petition. Mr Glynn expressed thanks for the manner in whidh they had accepted the condiitons of secession. • He was more than pleased that Tahuna was to go into the Piako County, because they would pay towards the upkeep of the road to MonrinsviHe. A hearty vote of thanks to the chair, fo the councillors of the Hauraki Plains County Council and to Mr Walters concluded the meeting. The chairman promised that the matter would come before the next council, meeting.