HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4600, 12 September 1923, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council wag held at Ngatea yesterday. Present: Crs. J. C. Miller (chairman), W. G. Hayward, H. Hare, C. W. Parfitt, W. Madgwick, F. J. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, C. W. Harris. The clerk, Mr £ Walton, and the engineer, Mr J. Higgins, were also in attendance. Cr Nicholson was granted leave of absence. NETHERTON ROADS. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the Council to instruct the engineer to prepare estimates for a roading scheme for the Netherton riding., so that the ratepayers could discuss the raising of a lorn for the purpose. The Council was also asked to consider the use of metal from the Paeroa quarry. A further resolution stated that the Netherton ratepayers were strongly i opposed to the Council incurring any liability for the construction of bridges without taking a poll of the ratepayers. EXTENSION OF DRAIN. The Lands Drainage Engineer, Kerepeehi, wrote stating that providing financial arrangements could be made tp do the work it was proposed to continue the drain on the south side of the Orongo-Kopuacahi road through the Ngatiapua block to the boundary of Orongo Settlement. This would provide a through connection for the road drain to the Ferry Outlet. on the Waihou River, and would improve the drainage of the road and the adjoinnig lands. The ’oad drain was being deepened through Orongo Settlement, but the drain on the section of road through the Ngatiapua block which had always been under the control of the Council was in places only 2ft deep,, and the estimated cost of enlarging the drain to average dimensions was £9O- If the work was done before the road was metalled the spoil could be used to raise the crown. The Council was asked if it was prepared to contribute towards the cost, of enlarging this portion of the drain. Cr. Miller moved that the county contribute £25. Cr. Hayward seconded, and the motion was carried. MANGATARATA ROAD. Mr H. P. Whittaker, Mangatarata,' wrote calling attention to the stat® of the clay roads between Mangatarata and Waitakaruru. The roads had been badly cut up during the winter by heavy traffic,, and needed grading to make them fit for traffic. Cr. Harris moved, and Cr. Mayn seconded, that the writer; be informed that the Council had the matter in hand—Carried, BUILDING PERMIT. "Mr A. Zeigler, Newman’s Road, Turua, wrote asking permission to extend his cowshed seven feet on the north end for this season only. It was his intention to build a new shed for next season about eight chains from the road. The present shed was near the road.—Referred to Inspector. WATER SUPPLY CHARGE. A petition bearing the signatures of forty-five ratepayers of the Waitakaruru riding protested against the Council making any charge in respect of the report on the WaitakaruruPioiroa water supply scheme on the grounds that the scheme was not re quired for their district. Cr. Harris said that 37 of these men were already getting water or could easily do so. The rest could easily get water from the canal. They were not adverse to the water supply but to paying for the report. CARTAGE CONTRACT. A. M. Mjclnnes wrote applying to be relieved of his contract to carry metal from the Hikutaia quarry to Hikutaia stream. He found that there was not enough werk to keep his lorry employed. The engineer said that the man had been held up owing to the lack of punts to empty the hopper. Ct. McLoughlin said that the contractor had obtained a man to take over the contract Cr. Hare suggested that a wages man be put on to replace the present contractor, who desired to he relieved of his contract This man coull chock the amount of metal. Three men, all contractors, were handling the metal, and it was to their benefit to give short measure. A tally between the crusher and the hopper would be preferable to the present tally at the other end. On the motion of Cr. Harris, seconded by Cr. Harris, the matter was deferred for a month. DRAINAGE RATE. The Minister of Lands wrote notifying the drainage rate to be struct for the present year. Cr. Hare moved that the Council enter an emphatic protest against the drainage rate struck for .the year. Seconded by Cr. Harris and carried. TENDERS. The tender of W. Mclnnes of £378 for forming and widening 319 chains of road at Kaihere and the laying and carting of pipes was accepted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £1551 Is were passed for payment. These included . Machinery loan, £3B 19,s 3u; TuruaNetherton Roads Loan, £74 7s 6d ; County Fund account, Kopuarahi Riding, £2 18s 4d; Horahia Riding, £25 15s 3d; Turua Riding, £37 8s ®d Kerepeehi Riding, £22 8s sd; Netherton Riding, £3B 8s; Pipiroa Riding. £lB 15s 8d; Waitakaruru Riding, £2l 16s 3d; Hikutaia Quarry, £199 6s 8d Inheres accounts, repairs to plant, etc.. £lO7B 17s 2d. PATENT GRAB. Cr. Hayward stated that he had inspected a patent grab working in Auckland. He had interviewed the inventor, who was willing io make a grab suitable for use in the county. He was willing to submit a price, and if accepted was prepared to instal a grab and demonstrate it at no obligation. The engineer endorsed Cr. Hayward’s remarks and said that the quote would be received shortly.

MACHINERY LOAN. After discussing the matter for an. hour Cr. Hayward moved that a ma j chinery loan of £25,000 be put before the ratepayers. Cr. Madgwick seconded, and the motion was carried. HORAHIA ROADING LOAN. Cr. Hayward moved that the Hora-, hia Riding roading loan be placed before the ratepayers on the same dateSeconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. HIKUTAIA QUARRY. The chairman said that owing to the fact, that punts were not available metal was not being taken away as rapidly as the contractor was crushing it. The contractor was asking for an increased price to compensate him for his forced idleness. The engineer pointed out that there was a clause in the contract to protect the Council. However, the delay had been much more than had been expected, and the contractor was haying a bad time. He had given the contractor much extra work, such as prospecting, to fill in time, but more work was not available. This prospecting was done for much less than it would have been done for by anyone else. The contract price for the quarrying was below his estimate. The contractor was satisfied with tho price, provided the metal was removed as it was available. After much discussion Cr. Hare moved that the engineer be authorised to give the contractor an extra contract for 1600' yards at an extra Is a yard. Cr. Parfitt seconded., Cr. Harris suggested granting a bonus to compensate the contractor for his lost time, the bonus to be payable at the end of the term of ths contract. ; Crs. Madgwick and McLoughlin opposed giving the contractor any concession. It was pointed out that the new contractor for punting,might be mwe satisfactory.Cr. Mayn also opposed, contending that the contractor had nothing to complain of. Cr. Hare agreed to withdraw his motion, and the opinion was that the matter could be discussed a month hence if the position had not improved. GENERAL ’ " Ur. Harris suggested that a suitab'e stone-crusher should be acquired immediately for the Miranda quarry, and he moved in that direction. —Carried. It was decided to erect a small hopper at the Miranda quarry, the cost to be met out of quarry equipment. Ci; Harris moved that the contractor for the erection of the pound site at Waitakaruru be made a progross payment on the engineer’s certificate.—Carried. Cr. Madgwick moved that the’contractor be made a progress payment, for work done at the end of Newman’s Road.—Carried. < On Cr Harris’ motion it was decided to paint the surfaceman’s house at \ynitakaruru. ’ It was decided that the matter of a further gate at the worker’s house section be left in the hands of the engineer and riding member, and that the house and pound be insured to th* full insurable value. Cr. Madgwick moved that plans be prepared for the Turua Roads Loan and submitted to the Public Works Department for subsidy.—Carried. Cr. Hare’s motion that the road from the Netherton school to the store be fixed up as soon as possible was carried. ' ■ Cr, Hare moved that as soon as the engineer had prepared estimates for the Netherton Roads Loan a meeting be arranged at which members of the Council would be present to urge a riding scheme, and if agreed to at the meeting that steps be taken to nold a poll.—Carried. it was agreed on Cr. motion to instruct the engineer to . get estimates for metal from Thames for Ngatiapua Road.