THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4501, 8 December 1922, Page 4

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, The Thames County Council met on Wednesday, when there were pres’ent Mr H. Lowe (chairman), Crs. G. RBlackett, W. Brunton, A. Alley, J. McCormick, E. J. Niccol, P. Faithful, and R. Cox. The Minister of Public Works, regarding the subsidy for giving access to sections south of Kauaeranga Stream wrote stating that an item jf; £lOOO (£1 for £1) appeared on the estimates, and pointed out that owing to on oversight his promise of January 17 to give a sum of £2OOO (£1 for £1) had been overlooked in compiling the estimates. However, the promise stiff held good and authority would be issued accordingly. The Public Works ‘ Department, Pa.eroa, advised that it had already carried out a fair amount of repaid to the Tapu-Gumtpwn Road. The traffic on this road was 'from the Tapu storekeepers to the main Coast Road, and under these conditions, the Department was unable to admit .and liability as to excessive traffic. Advice was received that Messrs Ellis and Co. had cabled the Council’s' order for 40 tons of asphalt and that Messi's Nixon and Co had railed a spraying machine. ' Messrs Buchanan Ltd., Pipiroa, requested to have have formed' about a mile of the' Hikutaia-Whangamata Road from’ the foot of the Hikutaia stream. The writers were prepared to provide a team and plough, if the Council would dp the grading.—The request was granted. Mr W. A. Pulleine, Puriri, called attention to the rough, state of the road in the vicinity of his place. —The foreman was instructed to report on the request

The Thames Chamber, 'of Commerce congratulated the Council on the satisfactory settlement in connection with the water supply, and expressed an opinion that the increased harmony between the Coiincils in working for the common interests of the district was 1 fully appreciated by the business people of the town. A tender of £4O was accepted for the reconstruction of the Hikutaia wharf, Mr N. Hand being the successful tenderer. WHARF. The Whangamata Settlers’ Association, writing in connection with the Public Works Department’s refusal to approve tlie plans for the proposed wbar';, suggested that a landing stage and gangway should be built as far as the money available would go, the setller,s to take what steps they considered advisable to complete the gangway and put up a shed.. The Council’s assistance was asked to urge the Public Works Department to reconsider the matter. The necessity for a wharf had been efnphasised over and over again, and it was considered that it was the department’s duty to assist the settlers in the building of a wharf for such a large and scattered area. Or, Niccol was authorised to confer with Mr Baker, of the Public Works Department, who would be in the district shortly. DANGEROUS HIKUTAIA ROAD. The chairman said the road at Hikutaia outside the post office was in a shocking state, and that outside the '.hall it was a deathtrap. Cr. Alley said that outside the hall one Evening recently a lady stepped from a motor car into the drain, and had to be taken to the '.hospital. Cr. Alley and the foreman were authorised to have the necessary repairs to the road carried out.