OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4534, 2 March 1923, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The Ohinemuri County Council met yesterday. Present: The County Chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson), Crs. A. D. McGuire, W. F. Johnstone, S. H. Morgan, J. Johnson, and H. M- Corbett. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported for the period ended February 28 Works, under grants, have been laid off and plans and specifications forwarded for approval for the following : Raiarua Road (access to Magnussen and others), £3OO, free; forming and sanding portion of Rotokohu Road, £5O subsidy, £ for £.' Victoria Street Bridge Approach.— - 1 interviewed-the District Engineer, xMr Baker, when in paeroa re the above, and explained that the Council was not in a position to assist in the approach, and that the estimate submitted by the Department was excessive. I also explained that the Council could carry out the work for . less money. It was then arranged that I interview Mr May, the local Public Works engineer, and confer with him and submit a price for tho work. I interviewed Mr May on the matter, and when he has time at his disposal' we will visit the locality. Bridge on Golden Cross Road^ — These bridges have been completed, namely: Waitekauri bridge, under subsidy £5O, £ for £; Junction ahd Murlands bridge, under Mines .grant, £2OO, free. The work of repairs was carried out on wages, and the timber, iron work, etc., was supplied by your Council. The rolling of metal on the PaeroaTe Arolia main road (P. Baine’s late contract) has been completed, and the machine is at present at the Rotokohr. swamp on Old Te Aroha Road completing the unfinished portion left over on account of the wet weather last year. The same will be finished at the end of this week. In company with the chairman, and at. the invitation of the settlers residing on the Waihi-Whangaqiata road, I met them at the residence of Mr Otto Byerring on the 16th. ult., there being ten settlers present. The matter of improving the above road from the Majaoro bridge for a distance of about 2% miles northwards was discussed. The settlers, are willing to provide teams, etc. There appears on this year’s Estimates the sum of £350 free money for this road, and I would recommend that the Department be asked to have this grant expended on this end of the present road, and also that the settlers’ offer may be pointed out when applying, which may help in securing the grant. The scheme for the expenditure of accrued thirds ending September 30, 1922, has been returned approved from the Commissioner of Crown Lands Office. .An index map of the County showing the present ridings and the proposed new ridings was prepared at the request of the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs for their information. The suspension footbridge at Chappell’s Crossing over the Waitekauri River is in need of attention. The head stock on the eastern side and one of the main stays want renewing. Mr G. Buchanan’s Application for Opening and Closing of Road. —We have gone into the matter, but are awaiting* a report to ascertain what action the Paeroa Borough Council 1? taking in the matter, as it more seriously concerns them than if does this Council. A bridge on the Waitawheta Roal is in need of repair, and I would recommend that it be replaced with 36in concrete pipes. Portions of the Old Tauranga Road are in need of forming up on the north and south sides of the Ohinemuri River. This work is on the boundary of the Waitekauri and Waikino ridings. On the motion of Cr. Morgan it was decided to endeavour to get authority to spend £350 of a grant on the WaihiWnangamata Road on the lines indicated by the settlers. The chairman said the settlers were prepared to do a. considerable amount of work, and he thought the matter was one that should be attended to. The road was an important one. The county could anyhow lend the settlers a grader and otherwise assist. The council was undoubtedly entitled to a grant. A petition was also received from the settlers, and it was decided (on the motion of Cr. Conbett) to lend them a grader. The report was adopted.

OLD TAURANGA ROAD. The Public Works Department wrote reagrding a request for a Government subsidy of £SW for forming and metalling 55 chains of the Old Tauranga Road and 96 chains of Frankton Road, pointing out that £69 was available for authorisation for the former ; while the vote of £l5O for Frankton Road was already fully authorised. The question of providing a subsidy of £5OO (£ for £) would, therefore, have to stand over until next year’s Estimates were being prepared, when the council’s representations would receive further consideration. » \ WAIHI MAIN ROAD. The Waihi Borough Council regretted its inability to at present pay its contribution to the main road. That body was, however, anticipating relief duty, and the county’s account would contributions to the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers account from gold from the Government in the matter of then be one of the first to be paid. Cr.'Johnstone said the Waihi council should pay the money and mee: its moral liability. The letter was referred to the chairman and clerk, with power to act.

DRAINS. H. Henton and others asked for a contribution towards cleaning an outfall drain from the railway line to Puke Road. This, and a similar application from Kennedy Bros., was referred to the member for the riding and the engineer. MINING. The Waihi School of Mines applied for the usual subsidy of £3O. The grant had been agreed to in April last, and payment was therefore authorised.