HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4549, 11 April 1923, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

« MEETING OF COUNCIL. The usual monthly meeting of the members of the Hauraki Plains Coun- j ty Council was held at Ngatea on i Monday. There were present Conn- | cillors J. C. Miller (chairman), A. j Chatfield, T. McLoughlin, C. W. Har- i ris, H. Hare, W. G. Hayward, C. W. | Parfitt, F. Maym The clerk (Mr E. Wa’ton) and the engineer (Mr J. Higgins) were also in attendance. During tjhe finance meeting the clerk explained that the Council had adopted a wise policy by paying the antecedent liability out. of current account, and not by raising a loan. The financial report proved that the finances of the Council were very buoyant, and in the opinion of several members reflected great credit on the clerk. PURIRI CREEK. The clerk reported that the chairman, the engineer, and he had interviewed Mr. Faithful, who had agreed to give the Council the rights to metal, subject to the consent of Mr Tasker. Subsequently ah agreement of tod a yard for one year for one year, with the right of renewal for 10 years, was reached. For the sum of £lO the right-of-way to the quarry was obtained. On the motion of Cr. Harris, seconded by Cr. McLoughlin, the report was adopted. SINKING OF PUNT. The engineer said the cause of the punt sinking at Turua was that the ground where it, lay was not level, causing the timber to become strained. As punts had been berthed there previously it was thought that the berthage would be suitable. The site had since been improved and the punt repaired by caulking. HIKUTAIA QUARRY. The engineer reported that the metal in the quarry had dipped, it was impossible Ito forecast this without prospecting, and he said that had he had the purchasing of the quarry he would have prospected more. Some very tough metal, suitable for foundations or blinding, had been discovered. He suggested continuing the drive right through the hill ,so that both surfaces could be worked. The drive could be utilised for tipping useless metal. Cr. McLoughlin suggested that th.? engineer should be given authority to push right through if he thought it advisable. Cr. Harris moved in that direction. Cr. McLoughlin seconded, and the motion was carried. MAHUTA ROAD111 reply to Cr. Harris the engineer said he saw no reason why the metalling on the Mahuta road should be continued. Cr. Harris moved that shelling bo continued from Bennett’s gate to the top of the hill, as the surfaceman was available. Cr. Parfitt seconded, and the mol.ion was carried. WAITAKARURU BRIDGES. The engineer reported that, the second bridge on Mahuta Road could be made safe for ten years at. a cost of £250. but repairs could be done for £lOO. Cr. Harris moved, and Cr. Hare seconded, that the repairs be effected. The engineer reported that £B5O, as provided by the Public Works Department, would be ample for the replacement of the temporary structure at the intersection of the canal and Mahuta Road. On the motion of Cr. Harris, seconded by Cr, Parfitt, it was decided that the engineer prepare plans and specifications for the bridge and lift the money. OHINEWAIKA'IHERE ROAD. Cr. McLoughlin moved, and Cr. Parfitt. seconded, that tenders be called for this road as soon as the plans were returned. NGARARAHI STOP-BANK ROAD. In reply t.o the chairman the engineer said he had interviewed the settlers and suggested that they should sign a contract stating that they would carry out the work for £6OO. NETHERTON ROADS. The engineer suggested in his report that 50 yards of metal from the Paeroa dump should be placed on the road from Netherton school to the bridge. Cr. Hare suggested that the road should be scarified, as there was a lot of metal on one side of the road. The engineer suggested that, contracts be let for cartage by dray, as owing to inefficient workmen the working of the trucks and the doing of the work by the Council was very unsatisfactory except under constant supervision.

Cr. Hayward brought up the question of the road at Troughton’s. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Hare, the matter was left to the engineer to attend to as quickly as possible. EXTRA HOPPERS. Ci', Hayward suggested that extra hoppers should be erected, say, at Turua and at Wharepoa. The present high cost of metal was largely caused by the waste of ,tjme in loading. ORCHARD EAST ROAD, The engineer reported that the lack of metal prevented the work on this road being proceeded with. He suggested that a contract be let for the spreading of meltal as it arrived. This was agreed to on the motion of Cr. Parfitt, seconded by Cr. Hayward. PIAKO RIVER WHARVES. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Department of Lands and Survey, Auckland. wrote stating that the present wharfage facilities on the Piako Rivor

were the property of the Crown, and no revenue was being received tor their use. The time had now come when they should become self-sup-porting, and the river traffic controlled. The question arose, should the Department or the settlers themselves, who provided the revenue, control the position. It seemed that, local government was the correct and proper procedure, and it would hot be satisfactory from the settlers’ point of view to have an outside body in control. The river traffic had now grown to such an extent that these wharves could be made self-support-ing. Most of the coastal counties controlled wharfage facilities, and collected the necessary revenue ny means of wharf and ship dues, or otherwise by leasing the wharves to the shipping companies. He asked that the Council go carefully into the question and forward its views to him. It was decided that the matter should be deferred for consideration by the new council. USE OF RED METAL. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote complaining of the use of red metal for road formation work. It was pointed out that the main condition under which the loan was carried was that nothing but good blue metal should be used. Cr. Hayward suggested that the association should be advised that the red metal would ojnly be used as a last resort, providing blue metal was not, available, and that present indications were that sufficient blue metal was available to put on six inches, and a further three inches at. a later date.

PAEROA-POKENO RAILWAY. The Paeroa Chamber of Commerce wrote forwarding a resolution passed at a recent meeting to the effect that in view of the early completion of the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway, the Minister of Public Works be asked to decide on details of the route proposed for the proposed Paeroa-Pokeno railway and to push on preliminary work and plans with a view t.o letting a contract at. an early date. Cr. Harris moved that the Council endorse the request and forward it. Seconded by Cr. Hare and carried. METAL-CPUSHING PLANTS. Mr John Spicer, representing John Burns and Co., Ltd., attended and submitted a tender for supplying and erecting stone-crushing plants for Hikutaia quarry and Puriri creek. The cost for the Hikutaia plant would be £3241, and for the Puriri creek plant £2236. After discussing the question of the, need and IJie cost of the Puriri plant from the tea adjournment until after eleven o’clock, it was decided,, on the motion of Cr. Mayn, seconded by Cr. McLoughlin, that the matter be left fo a committee consisting of the; chairman, the clerk, the engineer, and Crs. Hayward, Parfitt, and Harris to investigate and report to a special meeting on Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m. OUTSTANDING RATES.

The chairman of the finance committee reported that he had gone through the rate accounts and found that several small amounts outstanding were caused by deficient remitances, inaccurate rating, and cases where land was not owned. A. second class was made up of those owing by persons unfinancial, and whom it would be a hardship to force to pay. A third class was those who could but would not pay. On the motion of Cr. Parfitt, seconded by Cr. Mayn, the matter was deferred for discussion at the special meeting.

PERMANENT ROADING. Cr. Chatfield asked that the engineer supply estimates for bituminous roads in Kerepeehi district to the special meeting. HOPAI WEST ROAD. Cr. Parfitt suggested that steps be taken to approach the Lands Department for a half-chain sfy'ip of land to make the Pouaoura Road a chain wide. He moved that the clerk be instructed to ask the settlers concerned to forward a petition to the Council, which would take the matter up. GENERAL. Mr James Marshall, Waitakaruru, again wrote asking the Council for certain information. After much discussion Cr. Mayn moved that Mr Marshall should be advised that the Council deprecates his reference to the clerk, and that nothing could be gained by continuing the correspondence, but that if he desired any information Cr. Harris has been deputed t.o supply same. Seconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried.

The Thames .Valley Electric Power Board wrote in regard to the election of members and stated that the qualification for an elector of a county was that he must be a ratepayer, and under the circumstances only ratepayers would be able to exercise .1 vote. —Received. Cr. Mayn proposed that Ci’s. Mayn and McLoughlin be a committee ‘o discuss the Maukoro ...deviation and bridge with the Piako Council. Cr. McLoughlin seconded, and suggested that, the committee wait upon the Piako County Council or the iPako County chairman. —Carried. The New Zealand Insurance Co. (Te Aroha agency) wrote asking for a share of the Council’s fire and accident. insurance business.

The Government Life Insurance Co. (Turua agency) also wrote asking for a share. On the motion of Cr. Harris it was decided to insure the Council’s houses with the Government Life Insurance Co.

L. Le Noll, Orongo, wrote asking to hire one of the Council’s draught horses for a month or six weeks. The clerk was instructed to inform Mr Le Noll that the horse would be required within the next few days, Cr. Harris proposed, and Cr. Hayward seconded, that all available horses should be sent to Waitakaruru to cart metal from the quarry.

The Assistant Under'Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, wrofe forwarding an extract of the N.Z. Gazette containing a copy of the special order made recehtly by the Council altering riding boundaries and adjusting representation. The question of altering the boundaries between the Hauraki Plains and the Piako counties was being dealt with separately, and it was hoped that the necessary proclamation would be published within a few days.—Received. Mr Hallyburton Johnstone, Ngatea, wrote offering to enlarge the drain from Johnstone’s wharf to Parry’s coiner, 140 chains, for £BO. Cr. Hayward moved, and Cr. Mayn seconded, that Mr Johnstone should be subsidised to the extent of 10s per chain, subject to the conditions contained in his letter and subject to the approval of the engineer.

The offer of the Railway Department to lease a site for a metal depot at Paeroa was accepted. Cr. Chatfield stated that a section of land was available at Kerepeehi suitable for a surfaceman’s cottage, and he moved that it should be purchased.—Seconded by Cr. Parfitt and carried.

On the motion of CL McLoughlin, seconded by Cr. Mayn, it was decided to purchase any tram-lines that may be suitable from Mr McCowatt.