WAIHI BEACH RESERVE.

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

WAIHI BEACH RESERVE.

DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL. CUTTING-UP SCHEME APPROVED A deputation from the Waihi Borough Council, comprising the Mayor (Mr W. M. Wallnutt), Town Clerk (Mr J. J. Ritchie), and. the borough foreman (Mr J. Slevin), waited o> the Ohinemuri County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday. Mr Wallnutt said he wished to thank the Council for according his body an opportunity for meetijng them The first- point asked for was the county’s formal approval of the plaJ produced, to cut up certain areas on the Waihi Beach reserve so as to enable sections to be taken up during the coming season. It was pointed out that the Borough Council had to maintain the beach reserve, and they thought that they should have the necessary authority tp cut up the reserve to the mutual advantage of che two bodies concerned. Mr Wallnutt asked the Council to expedite the repairs to. the Waihi Beach road, and also to let the Waihi Borough have the use of tne grader and a driver. He was of the opinion that by doing that, repairs and main tenance could be carried out more expeditiously than by waiting for a loan to be raised. The Waihi Borough was very anxious to have the road immediately placed in repair,, and he hoped that the county would give all the assistance possible. In dealing with t,he scheme plan for Waihi Beach Road the Town Clerk said that some of the streets shown on the plan were 50 feet wide.- The plan had been approved temporarily by the Lands and Survey Department in Auckland. A site had been set aside for a school. Improvements had also been suggested for the creek The Waihi Borough Council was very anxious to obtain the Council’s approval to the general scheme plan, so as to enable the scheme to be proceeded with. The chairman (Mr A. R. Robinson) said he was of the opinion that there would be no difficulty in approving of the plan. With regard to the use of the grader and a driver, the Council would consult its engineer on che matter. As to having the beach reserve vested in the Waihi Borough Council, the chairman -said that the intorests of the ratepayers concerned would have to be considered. r-r. H. M. Corbett said that once the property became vested in tbe Waihi Borough it no longer remained a rateable area so> far as the county was concerned. So long as the ratepayers’ interests were in no way jeopardised he thought that the transfer might be effected. The point had to be considered that rateable property thus vested would have' to return sufficient recompense to the ratepayers. He was of the opinion that the Waihi Beach was a wonderful health resort, and benefited not only the people of Waihi and the Ohinemuri County, but New Zealand as a whole. Cr. Morgan also spoke in favour of the project. After further discussion the deputation withdrew. On the motion of Cr. Morgan, seconded by Cr. Corbett, the general scheme plan was formally approved of by the County Council. Some discussion took place as to the loan of the grader to the Waihi Borough, and it was finally decided that the grader should be loaned as soon as the engineer could make the necessary arrangements.