HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4503, 13 December 1922, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. Plains County Council met at Nga ( tea on Monday, the 'following' attending: Councillors J. C. Miller (chairman), W. G. frayward, E. R. Whitechu'rcilr, C. iW. Par/itt, H. Hare, A. Chatfield, T. McLoughlin, F. J. Mayn, and C. W. Harris. The engineer was authorised to obtain metal for the Ngataipua road and for the approach t'q tlhe Kopii ferry. The engineer was instructed to obtain plans for the Tahuna-Waiti road and call tenders for formation. Mr G. J. Coxhead'Sj. tender of £3 7s 6d per chain for formation Work on Miranda Road was accepted. It was decided to -hold a special meeting on'January 24. Mr W. H. Taylor’s tender for the construction of Waikumete Stream bridge for £439 was accepted. The matter of getting a load of metal from Hikutaia quarry this week by way of the Hikutaia. stream was left with the engineer. The council endorsed tihe engineer’s arrangements for a right-of-way from the Hikutaia quarry through Mr Alley’s property, and also to thank Mr Alley l . - ’

The Bank of New Zealand, Thames, advised that the antecedent liability may stand meantime, pending adjustments. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote for further particulars re the council’s desire to borrow £2OOO for the. purpose of discharging its liabilities in. regard to the Hikutaia quarry. The Prime Minister advised that he was arranging for the council’s application to borrow £2OOO to have early consideration. , ’ The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of the award made by Mr Meek between the Hauraki Plains County Council and the Turua Town Board, ,and stating that the award was final. The engineer was instructed to put in hand plans and specifications for the Waitakaruru-Miranda ro,ad and the Waitakaruru-Maramarua road. ft was decided to ask for a progress payment on the Miranda, road. Cr. Harris moved that the council urge on Mr May, of the Public Works Department, Paeroa, the* necessity of the erection of leading lights at the mouth of the Waitakarurit stream forthwith, pointing out that they were expecting a regular boat service being run from Auckland, and the boat would work the stream often at nights.

The motion was carried. Cr. Mayn said tihie arrangementsJfor feeding stock at the Patetonga pound were not suitable, .and it was’ decided that the poundkeeper be advised on the position. The engineer was instructed to report on the matter) of patching the old road from the Puke bridge to Netherton.. ■ Cr. Hare said th© bridge near Neth.erton school was very unsafe for traffic. x Cr. Hare and the engineer were deputed to inspect the bridge and make it safe for traffic. Cr. Hare said there was no Surfaceman in the Netherton riding. The one 'previously working there was now iin hospital.—The matter w,as left with, Cr. and,the engineer. The Lands Department wrote stating that the site at Ngatea near the Loan and Mercantile saleyards, and required for a pound site, was vested in the Crown, and they could not see how it could be handed' over, to the council, but recommended the council to apply direct to the Commissioner of Crown Lands. It was decided tb communicate with the Commissioner of Crown Lands.

TURUA ROADS. Solicitors for Messrs Bagnall Bros, wrote giving details of r # oa.d formation in the Turua township. It was decided to "approve of the. proposed metalling with broken metal and blinding with metal chips if obtainable. SIDING FOR PIGS. The Railway Department wrote stating that the probable traffic re loading pigs at Kopu did. not warrant the department providing the accommodation .of' a loading yard. The shortage of funds had also to be considered. It wag, decided to further communicate with the department and remind it that a great number of .pigs were reared in this district, and submit that the superintendent has not had the necessary data before him on account of there being no siding there, and the council is of the opinion that the district warrants the establishment of the depot, as requested, Nind to, ask him to reconsider his decision.' HEALTH INSPECTOR’S WAGES.The Health Department, replying to the council’s request as to ihow the district health officer’s salary was made up, stated that the contribution was based on a'pbpulation basis, the salary and expenses amounting to £478. The expenses and feSlatleS should be paid by the local authorities in the district. The local bodies were supplying between them £358. The letter was received. PERMANENT zROADS. Messrs Ellis and Company, Auckland, wrote that they were pleased to learn of the resolution that was passed by the council, and they agreed with the suggestion that several strips of union asphalt road should

be laid down in the various ridings, as this would no doubt give better satisfaction to the ratepayers. It would be necessary tp have the crushed metal ready early in January. It was decided to put dp.wn five chains of bitumne road in the Turua riding between the post office and the factory, providing the town board contributed 25 per cent, of the cost. . WILSON’S ROAD. The Public Works Department advised that a £ for £ grant of £5OO, on account of £l5OO, had been provided on this year’s Estimates for metalling Wilson’s Road. The general position regarding this road had 'recently been under consideration, and the Minister had approved o,f the vote of £5OO (£ for £)' being made available for expenditure. If the council submitted satisfactory proposals to the District Engineer authority, for this amount would be issued in the irsual way.

The engineer was authorised to have this money lifted. It was decided, on Cr. Chatfield's motion, to urge the Public Works Minister; to make the whole of the grant available on Wilson's Road. ■ ■ PATETONGA ROAD EXTENSION. Mr E. Taylor, drainage engineer, ■Kerepeehi, wrote stating that t|he council’s proposal that the Crown should extend the lower Patetonga road to junction with \.the Kailiere road, was one he could not rebornmend. THE COUNTY CAR. Messers D. McL. Wallace, Ltd., quoted £5O for repairing and overhauling the county engineer’s car. The firm could supply a new one for. £224, allowing £75 on the old one. Cr. Mayn: It would be a cheaper proposition to get a new car. That car has cost us of pounds for repairs. Cr. McLoughlin: If. someone stole that car, would’ you put the police after them ? (Laughter.) The chairman said that if they did rut the police after them the thieves would not get .away with the car. PIPIROA BRIDGE. The Minister for Public Works regretted that’plans had not been furnished for the Pipirpa bridge, and promised to have the matter looked into without delay. ASSISTANCE FOR ENGINEER. Cr. Mayn said that it appeared that the engineer was entitled to temporary assistance as there Was a great deal of work to do during the summer, <n’d moved that the engineer be authorised to obtairi temporary assistance, not exceeding six months, ami Ebe' salary not to exceed £4OO a year. The engineer said he could not carry put the work on time without assistance. The motion was carried. CHAIRS FOR Cr. McLoughlin said that it was j time that chairs were bought for the council. They had been sitfing on hard forms and whisky boxes long enough. He moved that the Couh'ci*buy chairs. Cr. Hayward said it. was time the i council had a little furniture, and lie seconded the motion.

During the discussion the chair- . man, ip attempting to rise from liis 1 seat, found that tTie sun shining through a window had softened the varnish on .it, and he was nearly stuck to his c,hair.." The councillors indulged in a! hearty laugh. Cr. Mayn : We have sat here in discomfort long enough. ' It was decided to purchase a dozen chairs. FINAL RATE NOTICES. - It was decided that final rate notices be sent out and that a penalty be added on rates unpaid after January 31. . - Cr. Whitechurch, who wished the time extended until February 25, requested that his vote he recorded against the resolution. •BAHUNA ROADS. Or. Whitechurch said there was yet no suhridy for Tahuna road work, an.l . urged that the council apply for it. Only £4OO had been given during the ■last four years on £6OOO spent. The engineer said that authority another subsidy had just been re ceived. d< cided to let a tender for *metaHing on the Morrijn'sville-Tahuna road as ft on as the money came to hand. THE HOUSING PROBLEM. Cr. Harris said he was ashamed to face the Wuitakaruru people and surfaceman as nothing had been done in the provision of a house for the surfaceman at Waitakaruru. It was decided to ask Mr Clare to prepare rlans for a standard hbus'e for the coitfnty surfaceman, the price not to exceed £5OO. It was resolved to make application for sufficient money to build a hotrie at Tahuna and one at Waitakaruru. , '■ The housing committee was asked to dispose of a house at Waihi.