OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4559, 4 May 1923, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Ohinemuri County Council met yesterday. Present: Crs. A. R. Robinson (chairman), A. D. McGuire, WF. Johnstpne, S. H. Morgan, J. Johnson, H. M. Corbett, and the county clerk, Mr 1 R. W. Evans. The engineer. Mr E. Shaw, was also in attendance. MARATOTO ROAD. The Under-Secretary for Mines advised that the Department had received the Council's application for a grant of £2OO to repair, the damage done by slips during the recent storm on the Maratoto road, and stated that a report on the damage done to the road was being obtained and the Council would be advised of its decision as early as possible.—Received. MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS. The Town Clerk, Te Awamuto, wrote with reference to the establishment of municipal abattoirs in Te Awamutu, and asking the Council if it had found the undertaking a success from a financial point of view. The clerk was instructed to supply the information. TIMBER REVENUE. The county clerk, Taumarunui, advised that, to prevent the matter being “side tracked,” his Council was communicating with the Prime Minister on the 22nd of each month until the commission promised on February 22 was set, up, and asked the Ohinemuri County Council to take a similar action. This step had been suggested to the following counties: Rotorua, Thames, Coromandel, Ohinemuri, Waitomo, Kaitieke, Ohura, Otorohanga, Rangitikei, Waimarino, and the South Island counties. It was decided to comply with the request. HIRE OF ROLLER. The Town Clerk, Waihi, made application for the hire of the Council's road roller and scarifier for use in Waihi, and asked the cost of same. The chairman said that at the present time there was ample work to be done on the Council’s own roads. The matter was left in the hands of the incoming council to attend to. HOSPITAL BOARD DUES. The Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board advised that in accordance with the provisions of the “Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909,” they would require from the Council the sum of £893 3s 2d as contributions, payable by quarterly instalments during the financial year, the first instalment being due on June 30 next. —Received. The chairman said that it was gratifying to note that the Council’s contribution to the Hospital Board this year was nearly £3OO less than last year. ST. JOSEPH’S ORPHANAGE. The secretary of the St, Joseph’s Boys’ Orphanage, Takapuna, wrote appealing for assistance to rebuild and furnish the new home for orphans at Takapuna. The Council, on the motion of Cr. McGuire, seconded by Cr. Johnson, decided to donate £5 ss. APPLICATION FOR WATER. E. W. Porritt applied to have the water laid on from the main on Thames Road to t.he boundary of h's property at the end of Raroa Road. The matter was deferred for one week to enable further particulars to be obtained by tjie engineer. KAIMANAWA ROAD. McCormick Bros., of Hikutaia, asked if the Council could see. its way clear to spread a few loads of metal on the Kaimanawa road. The road, it was stated, was in very bad disrepair at present,—Left to the en gineer. WHANGAMATA-WAIHI ROAD. The settlers on the WhanganiataWaihi road requested the Council to push on with the repairs of that road as soon as possible. It was stated that the Public Works Department was about t,o put in hand the uncompleted portion of the road lying in the Thames county.—Received. OBJECTION TO RATE. ® Mr H. G. Hoye, Waihi, wrote advising the Council that he derived no benefit from the loan raised for improvements to Frankton Road, and objected to his section, No. 37, being included in the rating area. The letter was received, the chairman remarking that the writer was too iat,e .with his objection.GOLDEN CROSS CREEK. Cr. Corbett reported that the creek at, the Golden Cross was in need of repairs. It would not be an expensive item. He would like to have a groin made by means of cyclone netting. The engineer was asked to attend to the matter, with the assistance of the settlers in the vicinity. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £438 5s 4d were passed for payment. COUNTY STAFF. It was suggested by the chairman that the engineer and his staff should be thanked for the work done during the recent floods. The staff had worked loyally and strenuously, combating the flood and putting the roads in order as quickly as possible, and with very little delay to the travelling public. On the motion of Cr. McGuire, seconded by Cr. Johnstone, the Council unanimously agreed to award extra pay as compensation to the men thus engaged. The engineer was instructed to arrange to carry out the Council’s wishes. MOTOR LICENSES. Cr. Corbett moved that no heavy traffic licenses should be renewed until such time as the new Council could meet and discuss the subject. Cr. Morgan seconded, and the motion was carried. APPROVAL OF PLANS. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Corbett, seconded by Cr. Morgan, that the Public Works Department should be asked to expedite its approval of the plans and specifications submitted for repairs to the Victoria Street bridge, and also the WaihiWhangamata road. It was stated that the Department’s delay was seriously hampering the Council’s work on these-two undertakings.