OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4487, 3 November 1922, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting the above council was held in the County Council Chambers yesterday. Present : Councillors A. R. Robinson (chairman), S. Hi Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, J. Johnson, and H. M. Corbett. Mr E. Shaw (engineer) and Mr Rx W. Evans (clerk) were alsp in attendance. The chairman apoolgised for the absence of Cr. A McGuire, occasioned by sickness’, and stated that that worthy councillor was at present in a private hospital. WAIHI BEACH ROAD. Cr. Corbett reported that he had accompanied the chairman and engineer to Waihi and had conferred with the Mayor and town clerk pf that borough on matters pertaining to the above road.. The Waihi Borough. suggested that they should control half and the County Council ths other half of the road, but this proposition did hot appeal to the County at all. Waihi Borough contended that the only use their ratepayers made of the Beach Road was in the summer time, and at that time ’of the year the road was passable. Cr. Corbett said he considered that the county ratepayers certainly had a grievance, as the County Council was collecting the rates, and it must be prepared to improve the road, and he suggested that the fairest way to Overcome the difficulty would be tp erect a toll-gate. By so doing each •and all would be contributing a fair share towards the cost of upkeep. The speaker then mioved the following resolution : “That this County approves of a toll-gate on thie Waihi Beach Road, and that a joint application from (this Council and the Waihi Borough Council be made to the Minister for permsision to erect same.” Seconded by the chairman, and carried,.

Cr. Corbett also suggested that a committee consisting of three members from each council be set up to obtain the necessary authority to erect the toll-gate,-and to allocate such moneys 'collected, arid tp be expended equally over the whole portion of the road. ALEXANDER’S DRAIN.

A letter was received from the assistant engineer pf the Public Works Department asking if the Council was prepared to contribute £162 towards the cost of the above drain.

The chairman said that some time ago the Council decided to contribute £Bl towards the cost of .this Work, the ratepayers agreeing, to find the balance, but in the interim the ratepayers had been passing through bad times owing to the drop in the price of butter-fat and loss occasioned by floods, and he was doubtful if the money would now be so readily forthcoming. However, he would call a meeting of the ratepayers concerned and see what could be done. It was decided to hold the matter over for a month. By that time the work would be completed. ’ MINING PRIVILEGES.

The clerk of the Coromandel County Council wrote saying that his council would be prepared to contribute towards the cost of getting a Supreme Court ruling on the question of mining privileges and collection 'ST rents on such land.—Received. The clerk was instructed tp interview the member for the district and obtain further information on the subject. " •

The Thames County clerk wrote advising that his council was not prepared to take action in the matter of freehold mining district leases.—Received.

WAIHI BEACH ROAD UPKEEP. The Waihi town clerk wrote asking the Council to supply a statement of the amount of rates payable and collected since 1911 on the area of the Plains' Reserve tp Beach Road, to enable the borough, council to consider the requirements of the upkeep of the Waihi Beach “Road and the respective local bodies’ contributions thereto. It was decided tp supply information for the past two or three years, and point.out the difficulty of going back 11 years. WAIKINO LIGHTING.

The Waihi Gold Mining Ca, Ltd., Auckland advised that the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was now the recognised authority in the Ohinemuri district for the distribution of electric power. The company was most anxious not to contravene in any way the authority of the Board, and decided tb refund payment received by it for this year, and also advised that for the balance of the year the company was’ prepared to supply electric lighting without any charge sb as to allow the Council time to arrange with the power board for future requirements. A cheque for £ll 5s was enclosed, covering a period from January 1 tp September 30, and tlie company suggested that the Council arrange to pay the cheque to the power board. It was decided to thank the company for the bheque and power supplied. ROAD WORK. A letter, signed by L. G. Leopold, H. C. Morjton, and H. Hoaey. was received, asking for the formation of a road to give access to their properties in the Mataura Valley, Waihi. The letter stated that although the road was shown on the plan of the Ohinemuri Survey District no formation work had ever been done, and they suffered great inconvenience through lack of proper access. They were prepared to help, and suggested that the engineer consider the possibility of their doing the most necessary pare Oif the rpad in lieu of rates. —Referred to engineer for report.

J. Din.an, Whangamata, asked fbr something to lie done to WhahgamataWaihi Road, and pointed out that numbers of fishermen were quite unable to place their fish on the train for distribution to the tpwns owing to the state of the road.

The contract lias been let for this work, and it was decided tp start as 1 soon as possible.

A letter was received from the secretary of the Whangamata Settlers! Association thanking tjrn Council for

the efforts put forward and the action taken by the Council in the matter pf improving the Wfrangamata Road. —Received.

Cr. Corbett suggested' that the Council prepare ja scheme for future use. and that the engineer be asked to 'draw up data and estimates as- to the apporximate cost of forming and metalling the following roads : Franklin, Ford, Waimata, portion of Old Tauranga, and portion of Trig roads-, and on receipt bf this information a , meeting ratepayers be called and suggestions made as to creating a special rating area. On the motion of Cr. Johnstone it was decided that tlie engineer be instructed to call tenders for the completion of the work on Mill Road. TENDERS. The following tenders were received: Contract No. 5075, for supplying and delivering 600 cubic yards of metal for the Paeroa-Te AroW Road.—-J. Robinson, £550; G. Smallmah, £497 17s 6d; Brenan and Co., Ltd.-, £450 ; P. Baine. £415 (accepted). Contract No. 523,. formation of 10ft. road to give access to section 30, Waitawheta.—W. Bellamy,'£4B 17s6d ; A, J. Cox, £47 19s (accepted). Contract No. 524, forming and metalling and general repairs to Waihi-Whangamata Road.—H. Park, £96; S. Merry, \£l4s; J. Douglas-, £204 ; W. Ross, £B5 (accepted).

HEALTH INSPECTOR’S SALARY. The District Med’cal Officer for Health, Auckland, advised that it would be necessary for the Council to consider an increased contribution from £5O to £72 per annum towards the salary of the Departmental health inspector, and that the rate should be increased from July 1, 1922.

It fcas resolved that the Council protest against the increase, and that if necessary .to combine with, other local bodies concerned and take a definite stand against the increase. GENERAL. W. H. Roberts, Waitete Creek, Waihi, complained that a fence had been erected across the borough rpai leading to his homestead, and. asked the Council’s permission to erect a gate beyond the creek on the county road until fencing was completed. It was decided tb allow the swing gate to be erected as' suggested, ■ subject to the engineer’s approval.

The District Engineer pf Railway's advised that the question of the levelcrossing at Managiti was being looked into. —Received. A letter was received from Mr H. Poland, M.P., enclosing a clause in the recent Washing-up Bill dealing with the Waihi Beach reserve.—Received. NEXT MEETING, It was decided that owing tb the approaching general elections and holidays the next meeting of the Council be held on Friday, December 1 1, 1922. ;