OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4499, 4 December 1922, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COWCII* The usual monthly meeting of the above body was held on Friday last. The chairman, Mr, A. R. RpbinsOn, presided, and the following councillors were present: A. D. McGuire, W. F. Johnstone, J. Johnson, H. Ml Corbett, and S. Morgan. The county engineer, Mr E. Shaw, and the clerk, Mr R. W. Evans, were also in attendance. CLEARING HIKUTAIA CREEK. The clerk of tbfe Hauraki Plains County Council, in acknowledging a letter from the Ohinemuri County, stated that his council was very pleased to learn that the Ohinemuri County Council, had decided to cooperate in the abovementioned work, which was now in hand.—Received. RENT OF MINING PRIVILEGES. The Coromandel county clerk wrote stating that to try and bring the above matter to a head the Hon. the Minister for Mines had been written tp and asked to assist in devising the means of obtaining a Supreme Court decision. The member for the Thames district, Mr Rhodes had also been asked tp assist to this end. Cr. Morgan moved that similar, action be taken through the member for Ohinemuri.—Carried. PAEROA-POKENO LINE. The chairm,an pf the Auckland Railways and Development League wrote urging the council to make an effort to get the £5OOO voted for the Pokeno-Paeroa section of line spent before the vote lapsed on March 31 next.

The chairman considered that it was a move in the right direction. Cr. Corbett said that he would, hot advocate any railway, but if it was a, toad he would. Cr. Johnstone considered that they should support the movement, and moved accordingly. Cr, Morgan seconded, and spoke strongly in favour pf the matter. The resolution was carried, Cr. Corbett opposing it. • CONTRACT. The following tenders were received for gravelling 30 chains of Mill Road, Paeroa: J. Handley, junr., £5B- - (accepted) ; F. Hehnalh, £BB 13s; Brenan and Co., £94. CLEANING DRAIN. It was, resolved to contribute £162 towards the cost of cleaning put Alexander’s drain. -. RATARUA BRIDGE APPROACH. T. Leach applied to the council for a piece of land of about half, an acre adjoining the road And his property, section 22, block 12, Ohinemuri survey district. —Left to the County engineer to arrange. WHANGAMATA ROAD. A request was received from the Whangamata Settlers’ Association to push on with all reasonable and possible speed all bridge contracts. and other work in .the Council’s area. If this were done the road will be. available for light traffic fr ( omi Parakiwai during the coming summer. It was decided to write and state that t'he Council was doing all In ite power to have the work pushed, forward. KAI,MANAWA ROAD. A complaint with reference to the bad state of this road was left to the engineer to attend to. WAIHI PLAINS. A. Davidson wrote advising on which road he wished the subsidy spent—Left to engineer to attend to. WAITETE ROAD. H. Harley wrote objecting to a gate being put across this road-—No action taken. ' RIDINGS. A resolution confirming the special order revoking the resolution dividing the county into six ridings and dividing the county into seven ridings with nine councillors was confirmed. REBATE ON RATES. It. was decided that a rebate of 5 per cent,, be allowed on all rates paid within 30 days pf tihe due date thereof or within 30’ days of notice of this resolution. WAIHI PLAINS SPECIAL RATING AREA. The following estimate for putting the roads on the Waihi Plains west of Waihi-Tauranga Road in good order, as prepared b t'he engineer, was submitted to the Council: FRANKTON" ROAD. 96 chains formation at 20s’ 96 0 0 96' chains metalling, 12.22 cub yds to chain (1174 cub yds) at 9s — — 528 6 0 £624 6 0 OLD TAURANGA ROAD. 102 chains formation at 20s 102 0 1 0 . 102 chains metalling, 12.22 cub yds to chain (1247 cub yds) at 10s — — 623 10 0 £725 10 0 FORD ROAD. 54 chains formation at 20s 54 0i 0 20 chains formation at 40s 40 0 0 74 chains metalling, 12.22 cub yds to chain. (905 cub yds) at .9/6 — — 429 171 6 .£523 17 6 WAIMATA ROAD., 38 chains formatiojn at 15s 28 10 0 38 chains metalling, 12.22 cub yds' to chain (464 cub yds) at 10s — — 23'2 0 0 £260 10 0 SUMMARY. Frankton Road — — 624 6 0 Old Tauranga Road — 725 10 0 Ford Road — — —> 523 17 6 Waimata Road — — 260 10 0 Contingencies — — 127 0 O’ Total £2261 3 6 Cr. Corbett said that the only thing was for the chairman tp meet the settlers, and he t'hbught that it would be carried. He moved that the engineer make arrangements for a -suitable date for the settlers to meet the chairman. Seconded by Cr. Morgan a.nd carried. The clerk was instructed to notify

the ratepayers of the date,, which was subsequently fixed for Saturday the 9th ihst. HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. The hon. secretary of the Northern Counties wrote with reference to the hospital contributions as follows : ■ “The present method of collecting these contributions from county councils is extremely unfair, because- the contributions are assessed on land values only, apd no payment is asked in respect of the number of- people who may use the hospitals. “The method adopted regarding representation of the districts on hospital boards is that half of the voting power should be in respect of property and half in respect of population. The result is that not only do the counties suffer from having to pay contributions, but. the control of the funds of the hospital boards is in’the hahds of men who are elected on a different basis to that on which the, money is provided. “The result is' that in Canterbury the city-and the boroughs in the district, with a population of 79,000, contribute £23,350, whereas the counties, with, a population oC 51,405, contribute £45,135 to the North Canterbury Hospital Board. “Based on the morbidity rate for the Dominion, the counties pay £45,135 for treatment of 2056' patients, while Christchurch! and the boroughs only pay £23,350 for treatment pf 3160 patients.” The writer suggested putting the following questions . .to every candidate : “(1) Will you undertake, if elected, to insist on the necessary steps being taken to remedy this injustice by levying the hospital contribution on one-third population and twp-thirds capital value ? “(2) Failing obtaining satisfaction from'the Minister, will yott, with other country members, join in introducing legislation for the above purpose ?” Crs. McGuire and Morgan botn spoke in favour of the matter, and it was decided tp act in accordance with the request.

NEXT MEETING. The next meeting was fixed fox Thursday, December 21.