OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4593, 3 August 1923, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday. The chairman (Mr A. R. Robiason) presided. There were also present : Crs, S. H. Morgan,, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, J. Johnson, G. H. Vowlc-s, H. M. Corbett, A. D. McGuire, and the clerk (Mr R. W. Evans) and the- engineer (Mr E. Shaw). ’ CADMAN’S ROAD. A telegram was received from the Minister of Public Works with regard to the reinstatement of the grant for Cadman’s Road. The Minister advised that the Council’s request would be considered when the Estimates were being prepared. The local office of- the Public Works Department also advised that it had constructed a temporary bridge over the Tirohia drain on Cadman’s Road. VERDICT AT INQUEST. „ The Under-Secretary, Department of Justice, wrote forwarding a copy of a rider t.o the verdict of the jury at the inquest recently held at Morrinsville in the case of A. C. Peebles, who was drowned in a drain. The rider stated: “T-he jury are of opinion on the evidence submitted that the scene of the accident needs the special attention of the governing authority in the shape of posts or some method of plainly marking the roadway as a guide co travellers in time of flood.” The chairman said that some method of marking the road in flood-time would have to be considered. The fatality had not occurred in the Ohinemuri County. The Council decided to keep the matter in view until next winter. RIVERS IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT. The Treasury forwarded a statement of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account for the financial year ended March 31. The additional amount required from the Council was shown as £44 0s 4'l, which amount would be deducted from the gold duty payable to the Council. Or. Morgan said he did not think that, the gold duty should be a charge on any one particular riding. He thought it was not a fair thing. Th.e amount should be taken out of the general funds of the Council. The chairman said that the gold duly was diminishing each year. If there was no gold duty, then there would be no levy for the upkeep of the river. , The letter was received, and Cr. Morgan's protest recorded. MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD. A circular was received from the Main Highways Board with reference to the grouping of counties into highway districts. — VALUATION OF LAND. A letter was received from the Valuer-General advising that information must not be given as to valuations of properties, but that applications must be referred to the Valuer-General. COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION. The secretary of the Counties’ Association, Wellington, wrote advising that the annual conference would commence in Wellington on August 8The chairman said that Cr. Johnstone would be going to Wellington te represent the county. HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES. The town , clerk, Paeroa, wrote enclosing a number of resolutions which had been passed by the conference of local bodies held in Paeroa on July 20. The chairman said that copies of the resolutions were being prepared and would be placed before councillors for their perusal next meeting.PAEROA LIBRARY. The secretary of the Paeroa Public Library applied to the council for the annual grant towards the maintenance. The chairman said he would like to donate a little more money this year, but unfortunately not permit. The usual yearly ’grant would be willingly given forthwith. LOAN FOR ROAD. L. G. Leopold, of Mataura Road, Waihi, advised the Council that the settlers in that, vicinity had agreed to the raising of a loan of £4OO for the purpose of putting a. bridge across the river, and further formation of the road, such loan to carry' a Government subsidy. The chairman said that the Council was anxious to help those settlers, and he was of the opinion that the Lands Department should be urged to send an engineer to confer with the county engineer at an early date. The clerk intimated that an endeavour had been made to arrange for a representative from the Lands Department to visit the locality and confer with the engineer. SLEDGING ON ROADS. T C. Higgins, Waikino, wrote protecting that his sledging firewood was not detrimental to tne county roads. He pointed out that the greater part of the road which he sledged over was unmotalled, and that no damage could be done, as the sledge had runners four inches wide. The engineer said that the matter was as stated in the letter. HOUMANGA ROAD. D Leach and nine others wrote petitioning the Council to give its assistance in repairing the Houmanga Road on the Waihi Road. The chairman moved that the Public Works Department should again be urged to expedite the repairs to the road in question, and that a copy of the petition should be forwarded with the request.—Seconded by Cr. Corbett and carried. TREATMENT PLANT. S. A. Shaw applied for permission to erect a treatment plant near the traffic bridge at Karangahake. Tho plant was tp be used for treating and storing 1 material on the site. Cr. McGuire moved that permission should be granted subject to the supervision of the engineer. Seconded by Cr. Morgan and carried.

THAMES ROAD DRAINS. W. H. Wight applied to have the drains on either side of the gate leading to his property oh the Thames Road attended to at once. The writer pointed out that on sale days drovers and stockmen experienced great difficulty in getting their stock out of Xc drains where they became bogged. The chairman said the drains at that locality certainly did require attention. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer with power t,o act. QUEEN OF WAIHI PLAINS. Miss Pearl Owens, of Waihi Plains, wrote advising the Council that sha had been elected queen of the Waihi Plains at the carnival recently held for the purpose of raising funds for the hospital. She applied to the Council for a donation towards the funds. The chairman said that the individual members of the Council had already subscribed. There was no county fund from which a donation could be given. A subscription was then taken up among the councillors, which resulted in a guinea being collected. TIMBER ROYALTIES. The chairman stated that in company with the engineer he had attended the recent sitting of the Royal Commission on timber royalties, held at Thames. After the manner in which the engineer had given uis evidence at the commission, and the sound case that he had put up on behalf of the county, he was quite hopeful that the Council would be con.sidered in the future. He said that the Council’s thanks were due to its engineer for the fight he tad put up to have the question of royalties adjusted. His evidence had been very telling. MAIN HIGHWAYS. The chairman and Ci> Morgan gave a brief report of their visit to che conference in Hamilton which was called on July 24 to discuss che grouping system, as set out in the Main Highways Board. He said that although his amendment to have the present, grouping system altered so as to give a close community of interest had been defeated, he was pt tbe opinion that the Council had been well advised to send its delegates. Valuable information had been obtained at the conference. District Councils of the Highways Board be set up in the near future, whev. each county council would be given direct, representation. TENDERS. The tender of C. Frendrup was accepted for the forming of 42% chains on that portion known as Patterson's Road, Waihi.