NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4584, 9 July 1923, Page 4

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION, A meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was held on Thursday evening. Owing to the wet weather the only ratepayers present were Messrs T. Vowles, W. Morrison, K. Dean, and T. G. Johnson. Crs. J. C. Miller and J. H. Nicholson, and the County engineer, Mr J. Higgins, were present by invitation. Mr Vowles presided over the meeting, Mr C. J. Miller explained the machinery loan which the Council propoied putting before the ratepayers. He explained that the new loan was to supplement, the previous one, which was itemised, and some of the items could not be availed of. in the new loan punts were provided. These were an absolute necessity 1,0 brmg metal to the Plains. Four lor-ies were provided by the old loan, but the Council decided that during bad weather lorries would do much harm to the roads. Rails and trucks would be better, but the Council could not use the money available for lorries to purchase rails and trucks. Quarries were also necessary. and the Council had investigated many, but had not found any of them suitable till (the Maukoro quarry was discovered. This was very handy to the river and at present was being prospected. By using rails to the river metal would be available as long as the present members at least would be concerned. From the river bank punts would be required. The present, punts were not sufficient. To. unload punts derricks and hoppers were required. Locomotives, trucks, and rails were necessary <to deliver metal on to the river. A slip on which punts could be inspected and repaired was an absolute necessity, and a paying proposition, as at present punts had to be sent to Paeroa for overhaul. A roller was a necessity for the formation of roads particularly tar or bitumen. A roller could not be shifted like a motor, and as several jobs would be on at the same time another .wa,s a necessity. A tar sprayer was also required. Housing for machinery was also a necessity. The total cost, including th<= first year's interest and sinking fund, was £22,000. The loan proposals would not be itemised, so that the Council could purchase whatever implements were required. These would only be purchased as and when they were required. One poll and one loan would therefore take lt.he place of several small loan proposals. It would probably be years before some of the money was raised. The total had been cut down as low - as possible, and represented the lowest amount to purchase what was required. 1 n reply to Mr Vowles Mr Miller said that the loan was a county Aoan. The. carrying capacity of the new pilots would be 45 to ,50 yards. The capacity of the stonecrusher would be 60 yards a day. The Council had considered horses instead of locomotives, continued the speaker, and had decided that the locomotives would be far cheaper n. the long run. The Lands Department had always used locomotives in preference to horses. The .rails and trunks for delivering metal on to. the roads would be paid for by the riding requiring them, and provision for these had not been made in the loan. Several ridings would not require rails for years. By having rails a regular service could be maintained,, so there would be no stoppage at the quarry or on the river. Rails could be laid in twelve feet sections to facilitate removal. Up to thirteen chains could be shifted a day by a couple of men. > In reply to Mr Dean Mr Miller said that, three locomotives were included but the second and third locomotives were for the delivery lines and would only be purchased when the first riding got its rails. In reply to the same questioner, the engineer said that it would take ten years to do 150 miles of road if two jobs were kept going continuously, and the plant kept fully occupied. There were over 200 miles of roads on the Plains. WILSON’S ROAD. Tri reply to Mr Vowles the engineer said that the drain on Wilson’s Road had not yet been passed, but before this was done the levels would be all right and the drain would function properly. Mr Dean contended that this would not be so. ’ . Mr Vowles said that when Netherton was in the Ohinemuri County that body spent £3O or £4o' a year in cleaning drains. The Plains County had not spent a penny on cleaning.' Mr Miller said that farmers would like the Council to keep drains dry so that they could use them as outlets. The Council only used the drain t.o drain the road. If the drain was causing damage to the road it would be attended to. Mr Vowles moved that it be a recommendation from the meeting that the Council instruct the engineer to clean the drains from the school to Puke bridge. Seconded by Mr Dean and carried. Mr Dean said that the Public Works Department shotlid be urged to give an outlet for the drain along Wilson’s Road, and suggested that the county engineer interview the Public Works Department engineer. Mr Vowles asked whether the. council intended to put some of the burden for the main road from Paeroa, through the Netherton riding, to the Plains on to the' rest of the county. Mr Miller replied in the negative, and asked whether Netherton would contribute towards the cost of the road to Pokeno through the Waitakaruru riding. Mr Vowles asked what chances were there of getting some metal for the road between the two bridges on 'the old Paeroa road. This section was the worst on the roads.

The engineer said thait he would inspect the road ancl report to the Council.

Mr Vowles moved a vote of thanks to the councillors for attending and addressing the meeting on such an awful night. Seconded by Mr Dean and carried.