THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4538, 12 March 1923, Page 4

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The 111011II1I.V iiiet'l Inn of Um TlmiuttH County Council wiiii hold In the County Chiunlxti'H, Thuinou, 011 Wednesday lust. Present,: Crs. 11. Lowe (chairman), R. Cox, I’. lOilthful, E. J. NicBlackett, W. Brunton, and the clerk Blacgetl, W. Brunton, and the clerk (11. T. G. McElroy). LOAN. The Bank of New Zealand, Thames, wrote offering 1.0 place a loan of £8232 in terms of previous letters to clear off the antecedent liability.—Received, PURIRLTAIRUA, ROAD. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrcrt,e stating that he had asked Mr May to get in touch with the Council so that a joint inspection could be made with a view to the submission of proposals. Cr. Faithful said that if £2OO was spent on the road from Mcßeath’s to the>. bridge it would make a perman-; ent road. , Mr Lowe said that though the council was pledged to main roads he thought their first duty was to give back-block settlers an outlet, and suggested spending the money available. Cr. Cox moved that plans be obtained for the work, with a view to getting a subsidy. KAUAERANGA BRIDGE. The District Engineer Public Works Department, wrote asking the position in respect, to legalising the road deviation upon which the bridge was to be erected, -and when the matter would be completed so that the erection of the bridge could be proceded with. WHANGAMATA WHARF. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote stating that after an inspection of the* locality he strongly advised against the proposal to erect a wharf either where suggested or elsewhere, and that the matter could be met, by the provision of a punt, with possibly a small shed for storage purposes.—Received. The secretary of the Whangamata Stettlers' Association wrote in regard to the above wharf, and stated that the settlers had decided that the only alternative was a pontoon scheme, and they had taken steps tp get a Government subsidy. Until further information was obtained the matter had better be left in abeyance. On the chairman’s motion the matter was left as suggested. REPAIRS TO BRIDGE. The Town Clerk, Thames, wrote conveying a resolution from the Borough Council to the effect that the Thames County oCuncil be informed that the 'feordugh Council understood that the amount expended recently on repairs to the Kauaeranga Bridge would place the bridge in a satisfactory condition for 10 1 years. The Borough Council was of the opinlion that, if the bridge was unsafe' the loads should be restricted. 1 The chairman explained that the bridge was in good order except the decking, which has been knocked out. The original cost of £ll,OOO was cut down to £3OO, and sufficient work was not done. Cr. Faithful moved that, the Borough Council be informed of the true position. KAUAERANGA SOUTH ROAD. T. Cox and others wrote asking the Council to make an early start on the Kauaeranga South road. The chairman explained, that everything was in readiness for starting except the declaration. Cr. McCormick moved that the declaration be signed. I Cr'. Cox seconded, and the motoin was carried. HARBOUR SCHEME. The secretary of the Thames Harbour Board wrote string that the board had decided to take the first step in the harbour improvement scheme, and asking for a list of ratepayers. t It was decided to supply the information. A (further letter requested the Council to take the necessary steps to con-

duet a poll in the combined districts of Thames, Ohinemuri, and Hauraki Plains counties for, the purpose of electing two members to the Harbour Board. POWER BOARD ELECTION. The Thames Valley Power Board wrote advising the date of the election of representatives to the Board, and stating the qualifications of those eligible to vojte. REDUCTION OF FARES. The secretary of the Kppuarahi Cricket Club wrote asking for a reduction for the team when, travelling over the Kopu ferry. The chairman said they could not make any concession unless requested by the other local bodies concerned, as at a recent conference on ferry masters it was decided that no one be granted a concession; A motion in accordance was carried. WATERING OF STOCK. The Nethertpn Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the Council to have a, trough erected at the Hikutaia railway yards, and enclosed a copy of a letter apeparing in a recent issue of the “Gazette.” It was decided to forward the letter on to the Railway Department, to • getlier with a recommenda|tion tc have the trough erected. PURIRI FERRY ROAD RATEI . G. Cribb, on behalf of the ratepayers of the Puriri Ferry road, asked to be relieved of the injustice of paying the rate on that road, as there was no ferry, and not likely to be one. He thought the County should t,ake over the road and the loan. The matter was referred to the works committee. POWER FOR COUNTY. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board forwarded a quotation for power for the Kauaeranga quarry, lights pn main road, lighting of Kopu ferry and ferryman’s cottage. Members were of the opinion that it would not pay to have the power installed at the quarry, ' and that, lights on the main road were not justified at present. It was decided’to have the neces-' sary lights installed at, the ferry, the ferryman’s cottage, and at three points on the road to the ferry. KOPU FERRY. Plans of the proposed improvements to the Kopu ferry were submitted by the engineer. Cr Faithful suggested that the

ramp was too long, and that a better job would be made if some of the piles were drawn and the entrance made befl-moutjied. The matter was left to the Chairman and Crs. Faithful, Cox, and McCormick. COAST ROAD. Cr. Blackett asked that the horse and cart be used for a month on the Coast Road. The chairman said that the riding account permitted the building of bridges or the repairing of the road. The matter was left to the works committee. SIGNBOARDS. Crs. Cox, Faithful, and Niccol advocated fingerposts at all corners, and particularly in the Kauaeranga-Tai-rua district. It was decided that a signpost be erected at the corner on the Tairua road. METAL FOR ROAD. Cr. Alley moved that several loads of metal be put on the read to the Hikutaia factory.—-Carried. CLEANING DRAINS. .Cr. Brunton moved that tenders ue called for the cleaning of Elliot’s south drain, Wharepoa Road drain, Cryer’s Wharf Road drain, and Townshend Road drain.—Carried. TOLL-GATES. The clerk reported that while in Wellington he had interviewed the Minister for Public Works in regard to having the toll-gate on the Coast Road erected nearer the borough boundary. Mr Coates suggested than it might be possible to get a clause permitting this inserted in the Wash-ing-up Bill next session. The chairman said that it might be better to wait and see if this could be done, as the gate would not be used much during the winter, and the Council would get more revenue as it could be collected from the people using all the bays. COAST SANITATION. The clerk suggested that a ruling be obtained as to whether the Health Department was right in granting permission to construct septic tanks where the Council’s service was in operation., Cr. Blackett moved that the matter be left t.o the sanitary committee, and that the Health Department be urged to refrain from granting permission -for tanks where the service operated.