HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4613, 12 October 1923, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held on Tuesday last. There were present: Crs. J. C. Miller (chairman), W. Madgwick, J. H. Nicholson, W. GHayward, C. W. Harris, C. W. Parfitt, H. j. Hare, F, J. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, the clerk (Mr E. Walton), and the engineer (Mr J. Higgins). MAIN HIGHWAYS. : The executive officer of the District Highways Board wrote notifying the names of the counties in the No. 2 Highways District and asking for the name and address of the gentleman nominated .to represent the Council on the district council, The clerk was authorised to send the name pf the chairman, who had been appointed at a previous meeting. DRAINAGE RATES. The Minister of Lands wrote stating that the rates levied were based on the estimated cost of the maintenance of drainage works only. The clerk said that this was in reply to the Council’s protest. STREET LIGHTING. The Kerepeehi Street Lighting Committee notified that Messrs G. A. Avey, A, J. Innes, J. Kidd, R. Connor and J. H. Nicholson had agreed to become guarantors for the payment of the lighting scheme, and that Mr JH. Nicholson was authorised to act on behalf of the committee and arrange payment. The clerk said that .the Power Board would not undertake the lighting of the township unless a local body guarantees the ' payment of charges for five years. Cr, Mayn moved that the Council give the guarantee on receiving a bond from the s&ttlers. —Carried. CROWN LAND ROAD. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, wrote stating that the occupier of section 19, block 1. Waihou S.D. had communicated with him in respect to road access to his section. The Commissioner asked whether arrangements could' be made by the Council to have the roads in. the locality placed in repair. The clerk said that the road was still under the control of the Lands Department. WHAREPOA FERRY. Mr J. L. Hanna wrote on behalf of. Mr E. C. Dally asking the Council to consider reducing his client’s tender for running the ferry to half, or as an alternative tp cancel the epntract and pay the ferryman £5 a week for running the ferry. ■ He pointed out several extenuating features that had reduced the earning power of the ferry since the contract was entered into. • The clerk said that the extenuating circumstances were as stated. Crs. Hare and Nicholson supported the reduction of the tender. Cr. Parfitt moved that in view of the altered circumstances the arrears be written off, Cr. Hayward seconded, and the motion was carried. Cr. McLoughlin suggested that the cuttnig out of the ferry be discussed. Cr. Harris said -that while he was opposed tp the reduction of facilities to the travelling public, if the ferry was a white elephant the. Thames County should be consulted in regard to cutting it out. Crs. Madgwick and Haie opposed this, as the ferry was serving a big number of ratepayers. Cr. Mayn said that the public conveniences should be maintained, but the County should not be made to pay. Cr. Hayward said that the charges were very low compared with other ferries. They were not paying propositions to the Council. He suggested that the charges be raised. Cr. Nicholson said that ne used the ferry a great deal. It had been built by the settlers and was the outlet for a big area. The management of the ferry was the reason for the loss of trade. He was opposed to closing it down. Cr. McLoughlin said that the pontoon would shortly have to be. replaced, If the ferry was a paying proposition it should ■ be maintained and the County foot the bill, but if it; was not he was of the opinion that the County should not be asked to contribute to the cost of a new ferryCr. Hayward moved that'a committee be appointed, to go into the mattre with the Thames County Council. Seconded by Cr. Harris. x Cr. Parfitt said, that an alterationtp the Wharepoa ferry charges would affect the Netherton ferry. Cr. Hayward suggested a conference with the Ohinemuri . County Council also. Cr. Nicholson said that a meeting of settlers called at Wharepoa by Cr. Brunton, of t»he Thames County Council, had passed a resolution unanimously supporting the continuance of the ferry. The resolution was carried unanimously, and Crs. Miller, Madgwick, Nicholson, Hare, and McLoughlin were appointed the committee. HOPAI WEST ROAD. The Chief Drainage Engineer wrote stating that the matter of the continuation of the Hopai West Road to Pouar.ua Road was for the settlers themselves or the Council to deal with. The Department} would carry out the necessary surveys and legalise the road if the land was given free of compensation and tbe Council would accept dedication. There was no reason why the Department should go further than this. The clerk, said that) he had notified the settlers of the letter and had written notifying the Lands Department that the road was still in the department’s area and that at one time the Drainage Engineer had made proposals to have the work done. METAL SUPPLIES. The Paeroa Quarry Co., Ltd., ‘wrote offering to supply metal of any size and quantity. The prices quoted were 9s for 2%in metal and 9s 6d for 2in metal in the hopper. The engineer reported having inspected the quarry and finding that

it contained some Very good matiL| The hopper was too low to load japJ truck, and shovelling would be sary. The company was preparedJjjjj pay half the cost pf tthis Cr. Hare said that some metai would have to be procured to replace? that borrowed. 'He moved that ahj order for 1000 yards of 2%in. metal' be given, and that a quote for cart-, age on to the road be obtained, j. Cr. Hayward suggested that the en-. gineer be instructed to go into the’ question. Cr. Hare withdrew his motion, and-: Cr. Hayward moved, and Cr. Harris? seconded, that Cr. Hare and the gineer be authorised to obtain uplSji 1009 yards of metal from the Paeroa' Quarry Co. if a satisfactory price and: arrangements could be made. -'i MAUKORO QUARRY. ; In reply to a letter from the en-.; gineer the Commissioner of Crown; Lands wrote in respect to the acquisition of land for a quarry, and stated that from the information supplied: i’tj would appear to be a favourable/ arrangement to secure Mr interest over the whole area. 'Kie Land Board would no doubt be prepared to give the most favourable consideration possible to any proposals. submitted on these The matter was discussed in commi'tee, and it was left in the hands of Crs. Mayn and McLoughlin to deafc with Messrs Pateman and Hart in gard to the price. . ROAD-MAKING PLANT. The Whakatane Town Clerk wrote; stating that hi® council was desirous: of selling a Garrett steam road roller., Cr. Harris moved that particulars i be obtained. —Carried. STRAYING STOCK. *• The Turua Ratepayers’ and Citi-/ zens’ League. wrote suggesting that*, the county inspector be instructed to! prosecute .the owners of stock and? horses straying on the roads in and around Turua.* It was decided to instruct the 11?? spcctor tp prosecute if necessary. Cr. Madgwick said that a pound? was required in Turua. A suggestion.' had been made that a pen of saleyards should be utilised. '7 In answer to Cr. Nicholson con-; cerning the inspector’s power tojleal’ with stock on the stop-banks, the ok rk said that the drainage engineer was going into the matter, but so far. nothing definite had been done. HEAVY TRAFFIC. Cr; McLoughlin brought up the matter of the carting of coal to the dairy factories on the Plains. This was likely to cause great damage to the roads. -* Cr. Hayward moved that the Dairy Co. be asked to discontinue the cartage of coal on the Netherton-Ngatea road on account of the excessive damage caused to the road. —Carried. ACCOUNTS. Accounts passed for payment were’ made up as follows :■ — Mahcinery loan, £lO3 2s sd; Netherton road, loan tramline bust peuse account, £163 17s lid; ton roads loan, £l3 6s ; housing loan, £lOO. County Fund Accounts : Waitakaruru riding, £76 5s lOd; Pipiroa riding, £75 4s 7d; Kopuarahi riding, £Bl 12s 4d ; Turua Riding, £156 8s 7d ; Netherton riding, £2l «2s 6d; Ngatea riding, £6 18s 7d; Kerepeehi riding, £8 15s 6d; Patetonga riding, £23 12s 6d Hikutaia quarry, £3OB 9s 10dGeneral Account, £683 6s lOd. OTHER BUSINESS. Mr R. Baker, Turua, was granted permission to put| pipes under Huirau Road subject .to the engineer’s apr proval, The special orders confirming the Horahia-Opua special drainage and the noxious weeds resolutiortj| were carried. The clerk reported that reply/ had been received in respect to when the proposed Rawerawe canal wpuld be commenced. it was decided to meet the cost of the two new punts purchased hire purchase system by a, gentral charge on all the metal carted on the Council’s punts. : The matter of rental to be charged for the surfaceman's house at Waitakaruru was left in the hands of the, clerk to go into and report. On the motion of Cr, Harris, see-, onded by Cr. Mayn, it was agreed to call applications for the position ofc poundkeeper at Waitakaruru. ; J: In reply to Cr. Harris the said that he was. making inquiries for a second-hand crusher for the work; of crushing metal for the back; Miranda Road. On Cr. Maya's motion the engineer was instructed to prepare a list show-; ing how thirds were allocated, ' Cr, Madgwick moved that the Orchard East Road metalling be done be-? fore the Tur.ua-Netherton Hoad*—Carried. i As the settlers on Waitakaruri Stream Road could not agree in regard to the cleaning of the roadside, drain Cr Harris moved that theW e ”; posits be returned. —Carried. The engineer reported that the Public Works Department had returned the plans of the canal bridge for amendment. * Cr, Mayn moved that a legal ppinior be obtained as to the agreement, between the Plako and Haura® Plains county councils in regard to: the Maukoro bridge.—Carried. . j; It was decided, on Cr. Parfitt’s mo?, tion, to acquire the land and take' preliminary steps to build a workman’s cottage at Patetonga. It was decided to shift the moton from Netherton when npt required, there to Gumtown to work the hoist. In reply to Cr. Nicholson the engineer said that timber had been or-< dered for the gates of the Wharepoa, ferry. C. Parfitt moved that ‘ the Lands Department be asked to metal Moe.r hau Street, Pipiroa, and the PipiroaRoad from the wharf to Marshall’?, gate; also from Paul’s wharf to Rawerawe Road. —Carried. & It *was decided to erect] imffi>diate| ly a surfaceman’s house in hia riding. The engineer was instructed? to grade Pukahu Road and Awaiti Road/; in the Netherton riding, and KereS peehi Road and Kopuarahi Road In the Horahla riding. -J