TURUA CITIZENS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4609, 3 October 1923, Page 4

TURUA CITIZENS.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Turua Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association was held in the Turua Buildings on Monday evening. Mr P. R. Henry occupied the 1 chair, and there were present, about 20 ratepayers and citizens. Mr Henry said that at the annual meeting of the Turua Ratepayers’ Association it had been decided to enlarge the scope of the association to include non-i’atepayers. The executive would comprise six ratepayers and three non-Tatepayers. He called for nominations from the citizens, and Dr. Bathgate and Messrs E. C. Stewart and G. J. Walker were nominated and duly elected. Mr P. R. Henry was elected president, and Mr J. Newman secretary. KOPU WHARF. The Thames Harbour Board secretary wrote stating that the matter of the Kopu wharf would be discussed after an nispection of the structure which was proposed to be made in a few days, Mr McMillan said that the tour of inspection had been made. The Board had decided to defer consideration for two months. That period was up and if the meeting decided he would bring the matter up at the board meeting. The cost of the floating suggested pontoon would be roughly £5OO. Mr W, Madgwick urged that something should be done. The present facilities were positively dangerous. Mr Henry said that the association should keep the matter before the board. Mr Sutton moved that the Harbour Board be asked to provide a floating pontoon at Kopu. Mr J. Schmidt seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. WHARFINGER AT TURUAMr Truelove asked what had been done in regard to the provision of a wharfinger at Turua. Mr G. McMillan said that trouble had occurred concerning the Harbour Board, and consequently the inspector tion of the wharf by members of the board had not eventuated. The matter, however, would come up again, and he would push to see that some change was made. In his opinion Turua was entitled to have a man in charge of the wharf. POSTAL HOURS. The Postmaster, Turua, wrote acknowledging receipt of a request that the private box lobby be opened from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 P-m--to 6 P.m. on Sundays, and stating that the request had been agreed to. In regard to the request that the post office be kept open on Saturday afternoons, attention was drawn to the fact that if this was granted the present hours of attendance between 7 p.m. and 8 P-m. on Saturdays would be cancelled. This would mean that .the public, other .than private box holders, could not obtain their mail until Monday, nor could they send telegrams on Saturday evenings. If the association so desired, in view of the foregoing, the request would be forwarded for consideration. Mr Henry said that under the circumstances it would be advisable to let the matter drop. This was agreed to, and it was decided to thank the postmaster for the information. STREETS IN TOWNSHIP. Mr Truelove asked what was the procedure in regard to getting the watertables along the streets of Turua opened up. He was paying rates to the Drainage Board, and was being flooded. Mr McMillan said that the function of the board was ,to provide outlets only. Mr Madgwick said that it was for the Town Board to move. ‘ Mr A, P. Gardiner said that the Town Board and Drainage Board • might work together. Messrs McMillan and R. H. Baker said that the Drainage Board could do nothing. Outlets could not be provided for each quarter-acre section in the town area. If this were done the rates would be increasd enormously. Mr A. Walker said that the drain near the school had slipped and there was a dangerous hole near the road. He asked if it was for the Drainage Board to remedy. Mr McMillan said that the function i of the board was to keep the drains open. The board would remove the slip, but would not fill in the hole. % Mr» Madgwick moved, and Mr True** love seconded, that the Drainage Board be asked to attend to the matter. Mr Baker moved as an amendment that the Town Board be asked to repair the -damage, but pn being put to the meeting it was defeated on the chairman’s casting vote. SHIPPING. The secretary reported that the manager of the Northern Steamship Co, had been interviewed in regard to the provision of an extra cargo trip, it had been pointed out that another company was. prepared ‘o start on the river if sufficient inducement offered. The matter was deferred until the opinion of the two factories and other shippers had been! ascertained, the chairman and secretary being empowered to act. STRAYING STOCK. Dr. Bathgate asked who collected the grazing fees for stock on the roads of the Mr Madgwick saisl that the County Council was not to blame, as it had handed over contrbl to the Town Board when the ranker was appointed. Mr A, P. Gardinelr said that alt the last meeting of tile Town Board it had been decided ’to ask the county inspector to act im the board’s area. Dr. Bathgate ’-suggested that a pound be gazetted In Turua. The chairman Suggested that one of the pens in Messrs Buckland and Sons’ yards be gazetted. Members pointed out that t] iis had been mooted for years. Mr Madgwick sjaid that tie Council would not entertain the idea, but if asked the council miight erect a pound, in or near TuruaMr, Henry roofed tfoat the Town

Board be requested to take up the matter with the County Council, with a view to getting a pound erected in Turua. Mr D. G. McMillan seconded, but contended that there would be great trouble in getting a poundkeeper. Mr Gardiner said, it would be more satisfactory to have the district constable stationed at Turua and have offenders prosecuted. The motion was carried. TETHERING OF HORSES. Dr. Bathgate brought up the matter of the tethering of horses on footpaths in the township. After discussion it was decided itha* thp County Council be asked to prosecute in cases of straying cattle and the tethering of horses on the footpaths. • Tt was also decided to ask tol Town Board to provide more hitching posts. ' BUILDING PERMITS. In reply to Mr Urquhart Mr Madgwick said that he knew of no way of getting around the county by-laws. The specific case was discussed, but the association decided to take no action in the meantime. BEAUTIFYING TURUA. Dr. Bathgate asked if members could suggest any method of beautifying the. township. The chairman said he thought the idea was a good one, and should be taken up by the association. A fund for the purpose could perhaps be established. Mr Gardiner suggested that an esplanade could be made along the waterfront. Mr Madgwick suggested that a stare be made on the school ground, Mr McMillan supported the idea of beautifying the waterfront. Mr Henry said that trees could be planted along the sides of the steets of the township. Finally Mr McMillan moved that Bagnall Bros, and Co. be approached and asked if they would approve of the planting of trees on their property on the river frontage. Seconded by Mr Henry and carried. KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. Mr Gardiner asked of an expression of opinion from the meeting as to whether members were favourable to the proceeding of the Kirikiri bridge under section 119 of the Public Works Act. Tn view of the lateness of the hour it was decided to defer the matter until the next monthly meeting. It was alsp decided that the whole bridge question be debated at a public meeting in a fortnight’s time.