OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4476, 6 October 1922, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the above council was held in the County Chambers, Paeroa, on Thursday afternoon. Mr A. R. Robinson, ch,airman, presided, and the following were present : Councillors S. H. Morgan, W. FJohnstone, A- McGuire, J. Johnson, H. M. Corbett, and the county clerk, iMr R. W. Evans. The engineer, Mr E. Shaw, was also in attendance. FORESTRY. A letter was received from the Forestry Department advising that Mr P. W. Page, the Forest Extension offi cer, expected to visit Paeroa towards the end of November, and would be pleased to meet representatives of the County Council, and was prepared to inspect proposed reserves and give advice generally. No charge would be made for this, but the Council would be asked to provide means of transit to the reserves. MARATOTO ROAD. The assistant engineer, of the Public Works Department in Paeroa wrote advising the Council that his Department approved of the county engineer’s request to have the amount granted of £loo', issued under the Mines Department, expended by day labour, subject to the ruling rate of wages. The assistant eng’neer also wrote asking the Council to forward plans for the expenditure of the £5O and to show the proposed access that is to be given to section 30, Waitawheta. The engineer was instructed' to complete and forward plans and proposals as requested. LOCAL BODIES ACT. A circular was received from the Hon. the Minister of Internal. Affairs with reference to a county’s power! to borrow money outside the country for the purpose of providing relief work. —The letter was received. BEACH ROAD, WAIHI. A letter was received from the town clerk of Waihi advising that the Mayor and councillors were quite agreeable to meet representatives from the County Council at Waihi to discuss the question of improving the Beach Road. It was resolved that the chairman, county engineer, and Cr. Corbett go to Waihi and see what steps should be taken in improving this road. The town clerk, Waihi, to be thanked for his letter, and the date of the visit of the county representatives to he advised him. WAIHI HOSPITAL BOARD. This board sought information from the Council as to the amount of hospital rates paid by county ratepayers residing on the Waihi Plains taking Rahu Road as a boundary.. It was explained that this information was necessary to enable the Hospital Board at Waihi to come to some arrangement with the Thames Hospital ' Board regarding the fees of patients who were outside the particular hospital board’s dis.trict. r and yet received treatment. The clerk was instructed to suppl v the desired information to the Waihi Board. HIKUTAIA CREEK. The Hauraki Plains County Council wrote advising that that body intended clearing the willows from the banks of the above creek, and cleaning up t'he bed generally. As this was going to directly benefit th'e ratepayers of this area from a drainage point of view, the Plains council asked if the Ohinemuri Council would be prepared to contribute the sum of £4O towards the cost. The chairman pointed out to the meeting that it was undoubtedly a step in the right direction, and would certainly prove very beneficial from a drainage point of view to have this creek cleaned out. The land in the vicinity of this creek was flooded three times last year, causing considerable damage by washing away road meta), and ratepayers’ property and thereby putting the settlers to heavy expense, which meant that through the extra expense thus borne by them they were not in a position to meet the rate demands sent them, and in consequence the Council had to allow them furth'en time in which to pay them. The chairman said he had no 'hesitation in saying that the small sum of £4O th'e Council was asked to contribute would be money well spent. This v'ew was supported by several councillors, and it was decided to contribute a sum of £4O t.o be expended on this work. MANGAITI CROSSING. The Mangaiti branch of the Farm'ers’ Union wrote drawing the Council’s attention to the danger at t'he railway crossing at, Mangaiti by the high fence which surrounded the tablet porter’s house, blocking t'he view of traffic approaching. This corner was a very dangerous one, as two r'ght angles had to be negotiated in crossing the railway line. The Council decided to .approach the Railway Department and ask that steps be taken to have the fence considerably lowered, or else pulled down and have substituted a post and wire one so as traffic would have a better view, and that the work be carried out in the interests of safety. RATES OWING. A letter was received from A. and V. Davidson, of Tauranga Road, Wa'hi, with refer-nce to the rates owing by them and pointing out that as the county had done so little for them they be allowed to forego the amount provided their son does work equivalent to t'he amount owing. Cr. Corbett said he knew the circumstances of these people, and was in sympathy with them. After some discussion it was decided to go into t'he matter with the Davidsons when the county representatives are hi Waihi, on the Waihi Beach 1 Road business. APPLICATION FOR WATER. A letter was received from Mr E. J. White applying for t'he use of free water from the Mackaytown supply for the purpose of driving a 9in Pelton wheel for the working of a stamp battery. In asking t'he Council to grant this application Cr. McGuire said there was a good supply of water at Mac-

kaytown, and if prospecting was helped along it would undoubtedly benefit the county. It was decided that Mr White’s application be granted for the use of free water for a term of twelve months, at the expiry of which time the matter would aagin be consideredHEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC. Mr F. M. Strange, representing the Dried Milk Committee at Waitoa. waited on the Council tn connection with the carting of milk in the Mangaiti riding, and asked if the Council would meet his committee In connection with the taking out of a license for the dried milk lorry. Mr Strange pointed out that, the Piakp County Council was not charging on the 3ton lorries which are driven by electricity at a fixed speed, and in starting the motion is so gradual that there is no tearing or gripping damage done to the roads. The lorry would only be using about six chains of road in the Mangaiti riding under the control of this county. The lorry would come down empty from Te Aroha, pick up the milk at the depot opposite the Managiti station, cross the bridge, and return ;tp Waitoa on that side bf the river. Ifi the Council could not see its way clear to grant his committee the concession asked for the alternative would be to move the depot across to the other side of the river. By doing this, Mr Strange asked the Council to consider the amount of wheeled traffic .twice a dav on the road and crossing the bridge, which he contended .would do far more damage to the road than the electric Jorry. After-some discussion and due consideration the chairman informed' Mr Strange that the Council was agreeable to accede to his committee’s request and allow the lorry to run on the road without a license, provided the dried milk committee was prepared to cart gravel and assist to repdir any portion ofl the road that might be damaged by the lorry. Mr Strange thanked the Coupcil for granting the concession, and said his committee would, be prepared to help the Council as far as possible to make good any damage to .the road that might be caused by the electric lorry. The Glaxo Manufacturing Company, of Te Aroha. advised that owing to a break down on their one-ton truck they 'had been compelled to put on a heavier motor truck for a few days for the purpose of conveying milk from the depots to the factory, and asked the Council tlhat, in view of the circumstances, the company be not charged the amount of the heavy motor traffic license. Tn view of the heavier truck only being on the roads a few days and had since*been replaced by a one-ton truck the letter was received.