OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4632, 30 November 1923, Page 4

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

, MEETING OF COUNCILThe monthly meeting of the Ohinemvri County Council was held yesterday morning, when there were pre- ~ sent : Crs A. R. Robinson (chairman), S. H. Morgan, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, C. E. Mace, P. Corbett, H. M. Corbett, G. H. Vowles, the clerk (Mr R. W. Evans), and the engineer (Mr E. Shaw). WHANGAMATA-WAIHI ROAD. The chairman said that he had inspected the Waihi-Whangamata road and was agreeably surprised with its state. The road in the Thames County had not been formed, but he under-: stood that something would be done. The settlers in the Thames County were making Waihi their centre, and ivould use the Ohinemuri County roads. It could not be said that the Ohinemuri County was to blame if the settlers could not get out. METAL FOR WAIHI ROAD. Cr. H. M. Corbett moved that tenders be called for the delivery of 100 yards of metal, to be delivered where required by Che engineer near the Karangahake tunnel. Seconded by by Cr. Morgan and carried. Cr. McGuire moved, and Cr. Robinson seconded, that the engineer be empowered to have some metal placed on the road near the other end of the Karangahake tunnel. —Carried. CATTLE DIPS. The Director-General of the Department of Agriculture wrote stating that the matter, of the erection of a cattle dip .on the boundary between .the Tauranga and Ohinemuri counties ,was being gone into, and that a further reply would be sent to the Council’s letter. A NEW ROAD. The Chief Surveyor,, Department of; Lands and Survey, Auckland,, wrote forwarding tracings of portion of a ror.d proposed to be taken under section 11 of the Lands Act, together with a declaration from the lessee, D. G. Spence; consenting, and asked that the seal of the Council be affixed. It was agreed that the document should be signed and sealed. BOROUGH BOUNDARIES. The Assistant Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs forwarded an extract from the “NZ. Gazette” calling for objections to the proposed alteration of the boundaries of the Borough of Paeroa. ? The chairman said that he had conferred with the riding members and had decided to make no recommendations. to the Council. Cr. H. M. Corbett said that the county might be involved m a big expenditure at-some time in the future in raising the road to above flood level. He realised that rural land should not be in a borough. It was decided to take no notion. MOTOR LICENSES. ■-The Auckland chief traffic inspectot wrote seeking a reciprocal arrangement! in connection with the cancellation of motor drivers’ certificates. The chairman said that the county was not concerned. WATER SUPPLY. The Plains County Council wrote asking whether the Council would meet it in conference in Paeroa to discuss a proposal to go in for a water supply scheme from Waitawheta Stream for the two counties and the borough, with a view to allocating the cost. The chairman said that the county had a very fair supply, and could eassupplement it. Under the circumstances he did not favour committing the ratepayers to a huge expenditure. Cr. Morgan moved, and Cr. Robinson seconded, that the Plains council be informed of the Council’s attitude. GOLDEN CROSS RESERVE. Mr W. M. Jackson, solicitor, Waihi, wrote stating that Mr H. M. Hodges had made application for an area of 12% acres of land at Golden Cross, WaHekauri. It had been found that this area was a recreation reser,ve, but as it was overgrown with blackberry, and the township was now nonexistent, the mining warden had suggested that the Council should be approached with a view, to Laving the reserve nullified. He requested the Council’s views on the matter. Cr. H. M. Corbett said that undec the circumstances it would be advisable'to grant the request, and he moved to that-effect. Cr. Morgan seconded, and the motion was'carried. REQUEST FOR DRAIN. E. E. Gillman, wrote requesting on behalf of Mr J! Murdock that the Komata North drain be deepened for about 20 chains, so that efficient house drainage could be obtained. He also asked permission to cross a; road. with pipes.—Left to the engineer to report on. ' . WORKING OUT RATESi L G. Leopold, Waihi, wrote asking if he and other settlers could work out their rates on their road. Nothing had been spent on the noad for seven or eight years, and settlers had to trespass on private lapd to get to their properties owing'to the state of the road. The chairman said that the roai was not yet legalised, and he moved that the request be declined. Cr. H. M. Corbett said that there ■ was a culvert that should be repaired. The matter was referred to the engineer. WOODSTOCK ROAD. W. G. Marsh wrote drawing attention to the state of Woodstock Road, and asked that it be attended to. The engineer was empowered to do whatever was required. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The formal resolution dealing with noxious weeds was confirmed. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s report was read as follows - '* The following works were laid off and sent for approval: Metalling and forming 24 chains <of Paeroa- Te Aroha main road at Waitoki, forming and metalling 59% chains of Puke to

Hubbard’s Road, metalling approximately 28 chains, of the south end of the Paeroa-Te Aroha old road at Mangaiti. All the above are under subsidy, the amount required to meet the half cost by your council being £570 10s. Up to date none have been returned approved, but I am assured by the district engineer, Mr Baker, with whom I had an interview, that the authorities will come to hand shortly. Owing to a reduction required to be made in the 1922-23 ES" timates the resident engineer, MiMay, asked ine to meet him and decide which grants may be cut for the present, as it was necessary to make a reduction of 14 per cent, on the present Estimates, including all authorities issued since the 31st March last.. This being done, proposals may be Sent in for the balance.

“ The following works have been completed :—Maratoto Road, £2OO ; Kom'ata-Maratoto Road, £5O; Rotokohu cutting on Old Te Aroha Roa<l> £so', £ for £; and flood damages amounting to approximately £419, for which £l7O subsidy is available. The metalling of Robinson’s Road and 14' chains of Paeroa-TeAroha main road, under £ for £ subsidy, is completed, with the exceptioin of the rolling, which will be done at an early date. “In company with Cr. Mace that portion of the Old Te Aroha Road was inspected; and it was decided where the £lOO, £ for £, grant should be spent. While there we visited Mr H. Evans, re working out his rates on Pevreal’s road, and it was, decided that he lay down two chains in length at a place to be selected for the purpose of making a test of the county rock he has available as a substitute for metal. Also, in company with the Paeroa riding members, Cr. Hubbard and Cr. Johnstone, I inspected that portion of the Old Te Aroha. Road near Rotpkohu for the purpose of selecting the most suitable portion of the road where the grant of £lOO, £ for £, is to be spent. “ The contractor for metalling portion of Ford Road has made a start, and it is well under way. Brenan and Co.>, Ltd., started on the 27th inst. with their contract to deliver metal on the Old Tauranga Road under the Frankton Road loan. That portion of Old Tauranga Road at the south end has been made suitable for wheel traffic. I am having that portion of the Paeroa-Te Aroha road which it was decided to metal reconstructed and widened, so as to have it in readiness when the metalling starts. I propose calling tenders for metalling Frankton Road and Paeroa Road, returnable at your next meeting on December 20.

“In company with the chairman an I the member for the district, Mr Poland, I visited the Waihi-Whanga-mata road for the purpose of an inspection of same, and for the chairman to become acquainted with the district.

“Leopold’s application for road acC3SSi —m company with the riding member for Waitekauri, Cr. H. M.. Corbett, and also Cr. Mace, Mangaitiriding, I inspected the various sites, but after consultation ivith Mr Leopold the matter stands in abeyance for the present. Cr. Corbett will explain the reason. i “With regard to the . estimate for forming the unirietalled portion; of Kaimauawa Road between the railway and Walters’ deviation., which is 25% chains, thi s would cost approximately £3O. • i

“As requested at your last meeting, I have had two notices posted at Waikino drawing attention of the travelling public that a school is in the vicinity.

“The application for assistance to-wu’-ds metalling the Waihi main road has been turned down by the Minister of Mines. As there is metaDrequired between the east end of .'the railway .tunnel and Waikino I would ask your Council if this work is to be gone on with.”