OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4583, 6 July 1923, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING* The usual monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Councillors A. R. Robinson (chairman), SH. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. U. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, P. Corbett, H. M. Corbett, G. H. Vowles, and J. Johnson. The county clerk (Mr RW. Evans) and the engineer (Mr E. Shawj were also in attendance. . MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT. The Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department wrote attaching a schedule showing the grouping that 'was proposed under the Main Highways Act, giving areas, populations, valuations, amounts of States collected, and lengths of roading. There were some 18 districts grouped together under the terms of the Main Highways Act, 1922, including: Manukau, Franklin, Waikato, Raglan, Waipa, Coromandel, Thames, Ohinemu’’i, Hauraki Plains, Piako, Kawhia, ‘ Matamata, and Otorohanga. -The total number, of square miles "was shewn as 6598, the population given as 63,920, . capital value, £39,012, "i and rates collected £173,566. ’The number of miles of metalled roads was 1331, unmetalled 2748, and J 596 miles of tracks and unformed roads. The schedule was laid on the table for perusal by the members. HEAVY TRAFFIC CONFERENCE. The Town Clerk., Paeroa Borough Council, advised that his council had. passed the following resolution ;• — “That in view of the vital importance to all local bodies of controlling heavy traffic, and the many difficulties of the problem, an invitation to meet in conference be extended to the Ohinemuri Counity, Hauraki Plains County, Thames County, Piako County, Thames, Waihi, and Te Aroha Boroughs to consider: (1) The question of modern traffic iii relation to the roads of the district, with a view to uniformity of regulations to control same, the object being to protect ratepayers’ interests and at the same time endeavour to meet present-day needs. (2) What steps can be taken to secure adequate consideration of the districts’ reasonable claims Upon the Main Highways Board now constituted. (3) Any other matter of mutual concern which such conference may wish to discuss.” B, was suggested that two representatives from each local body should attend the conference. The chairman and Cr. W. F. Johnstone were appointed to represent the Ohinemuri County Council.

WAIHI SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION. The secretary of the Waihi Settlers’ Association wrote expressin? the dissatisfaction of the association at the way the Council carried out the road maintenance work. He also inquired what were the duties and hours of the Council’s surfacemen. Cr. P. Corbett moved that the engineer should investigate the matter Seconded by the chairman and ear- , ried. MANGAITI COTTAGE. A. Crawford, county foreman, wrote . asking the Council to install electric light and a sink in the county cottage. at Mangaiti.—Left in the hand of the engineer. BOUNDARY DRAINS. ’ . ' M A. Devcich, Hikutaia, wrote with reference to the cleaning and deepening of drains along the boundaries of his property on the main and Maratotn roads. He was prepared to do . the necessary work if the Council would pay him. or deduct such payment from his rates.—-The engineer to investigate and report. ROAD CROSSING. The same writer applied Ito have a. piped crossing put down at the encrance to his farm on the main Hikutaia road.—Engineer to go into the matter. WAIMATA ROAD. Mrs W. D. C. Smeaton, of Waihi, wrote asking the Council to repair the Waimata road. The letter stated that owing to the heavy traffic on this particular road it had become particularly bad, making it almost, impossible to cart on the road. The engineer stated that the foreman had been instructed to drain the water off, and also to give a reasonable access to the property. Fas- • cines were also to be provided. An application for £lOO had been made to the Mine's Department, and until the money was forthcoming little permanent improvement could be done. A DENTAL. Mr Fitzgerald,. Mangaiti, advised that he had not done any heavy carting on the Council’s roads for oyer three months. • Ir. Johnson said that Fitzgerald had been carting sand along the bottom end of the road some time ago. A military waggon and five horSes had been used. No canting had been done recently.—Received. CADMAN ROAD. On the resolution of the-chairman, seconded by Cr. Johnstone, it was decided to draw the attention of the Public Works Department to the unsafisfactory condition of the temporary bridge erected by the Depart- -« ;mcnt on Cadman Road. The construction of a bridge on this road had been made necessary by the Public Works Department opening up the road rto get its dredge through, and the Council considered that the Department should bridge the drain with a permanent structure. . FORD ROAD. Cr. P. Corbett asked when the £lOO would be available from the Public Works Department for expenditure on repairs to- Ford Road, The engineer said that he had the matter in hand. The chairman suggested that the matter of obtaining and expending the £lOO should be left in the hands of the engineer and the riding member. Cr. P. Corbett. OLD TAURANGA ROAD. j Cr. P. Corbett asked if the engineer would report on the matter of placing new culverts on the Old Tauranga Road east of Ford’Road. it was stated that the water was overflowing the road on one portion of it. This was agreed to.