OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4641, 21 December 1923, Page 4

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. Ihe regular meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday, when there were present: Crs. A. R. Robinson (chairman), W. F. Johnstone, S. H. Morgan, F. C. Hubhard, A. D. McGuire, C. E. Mace, P. Corbett, G. H. Vowles, H. M. Corbett, the clerk (Mr R. W. Evans), and engineer (Mr E. Shaw). COUNTY ROADS. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, forwarded a copy of an Order-in-Council declaring Beckman’s Road, in the Ohinemuri County, to be a county road in terms of the Public Works Act. A similar notification was received about Ryall’s Road. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The inspector of Noxious Weeds sent a notice instructing the council to take effective measures to cope with the gorse and blackberry growing on the county areas. CATTLE DIP. The Diretcor-General, Department of Agriculture, wrote replying to the council’s recommendation that a cattle dip should be erected on the boundary between the Tauranga and Ohinemuri counties, and stated that after giving the matter careful consideration he was of the opinion that there did not seem to be any necessity for a dip at present, as it would only be used for travelling stock, which were few in number. The leti ter pointed out that at Katikati, six miles from the boundary, there was a dip owned by Mr G. Alley which answered all requirements, and the fee charged, Is per head, was a very reasonable one. The chairman said that as a keeper had been appointed the position should be satisfactory. McBRINN’S CREEK ROAD. The Under-Secretary for Mines wrote with reference to the application for assistance to the extent of £250 for Mcßrinn’s Creek Road, Maratoto., in order to assist the Majestic Gold Mining Company in its development operations, stating, that the depaitment was s prepared?, toy m*kß a grant of £5O, £ for £, the money to be expended in scrubbing,., clearing slips, widening and rewewing cutverts, subject to the condition that; the manager of the company could .satisfy .the department that there was sufficient money on hand- to. carry; out the extensive development work proposed on the lode from Adam’s low level in Mcßrinn’s Creek. It 1 was decided to/ defer the matter pending further consultation with ,the mine manager. INCREASED WATER SUPPLY. The Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the council to arrange for representaotion at a conference proposed to be held between local bodies to consider a proposal for obtaining a high pressure water supply from Waitawheta Valley. The chairman said that in view of the fact that the present water supplv could be increased by 30 to 35 per cent, at a very small cost, he was of the opinion that it was unnecessary to put the ratepayers to the expense of shouldering a part of a burden of a costly water supply scheme. * Or. Morgan thought the council should be represented at the conference, It was realised that the Hauraki Plains settlers needed to do something to secure an ' adequate supply, and it would not be necessary to commit the council in any way. : Or. P. Corbett did not see how the council could be interested in a water supply for the future. He was opposed to blocking any scheme,, but thought it was unnecessary for the council to be represented. Cr. Johnstone agreed with the last speaker. • The chairman remarked that the present supply was adequate for probably the next 25 years. It Was decided that a reply accordingly should be sent to the chamber. REQUEST FOR ACCESS.

Mrs M. D. Shaw wrote requesting the council to prepare a road for vehicular traffic to her property in th 2 Puemanuka block, Paeroa-. She had been paying rates for a number of years, and had no road entrance ,to the property, which she was (now desirous of leasing. * In reply to the chairman the engineer said that it was an unformed real, running off'Mill Road for a distance of 24 chains. The matter was deferred until, the January meeting to enable an inspection of the roiad to be maJe by the riding; member. APPLICATION FOR GRANT.

L. G. Martyn, Hikutaia, wrote asking for a'grant of £l5 towards the cost of repairing the Waihi-Paraka-wai road between the WaihareKeikei stream and Mr Ross’ house so as to make it fit for vehicular traffic. The road had been closed as dangerous for upwards of two years, and he was prepared to do £3O worth of work if the grant was authorised. The chairman stated that the Public Works Department had granted the council a reinstatement of £l5O to proceed with the deviation on the road.

Cr. P. Corbett said that the settlers were deserving of help, and he would like to see some action taken. The matter was referred to the engineer, with power to act, a sum not exceeding £lO to be • spent on the road. PAEROA-WAIHI ROAD.

The Hon. Minister of Mines wrote stating that he regretted not being able to grant the application foe £3OO. £ for £, on-Ahe Paeroa-Waihi main road, as he could see no justi-, flcation for the subsidising of the work by the department because the council h’ad ample powers under the Public Works Act to protect itself against heavy traffic on the road. STONE CRUSHER. Cr. Johnstone favoured the purchase of a stone-crusher if flnawcespe'?mitted, and contended that a: crusher could be used with advantage' in several parts of the county. The chairman favoured a portable crusher, which could be tMvern by .

the road roller. The engineer was instructed to go into the matter and secure quotations, to be submitted to a meeting of the council at its first meeting after March 31 next. WAIHI-.TAURANGA ROAD. Cr. H. M. Corbett stated that the main Walhi-Tauranga road was in need of immediate repair, and in view of the fact that the Public Works Department had nearly completed its heavy carting, he asked that the engineer go into the question of necessary repairs. VEDDER’S ROAD. On the motion of Cr. Vpwles, seconded by the chairman, it was decided to procure 40 yards of metal for Vedder’s Road, Kaimanawa. riding. TENDERS. The following- tenders were accepted : Contract No. 415 a, for the supply and delivery of approximately 2000 cubic yards of metal on Frankton Road, Waihi, I. I. Birch, 6s 3d per cubic yard ; Contract No. 538, for the suoply of 376 cubic yards of metal on the Paeroa-,Te Aroha main road at Waitoki, Brenan and Co., Ltd., £291 Bs. Cr. H. P. Corbett thought that the deposits should be returned to the tenderers for contract No. 542. He was of the opinion that the council ; should utilise its motor lorry for the i carting of metal on main road con- ? tracts, even if it was necessary .to put an extra man on, as he thought the ■work could be done far cheaper than by contract. Cr. Morgan agreed with the last speaker, but was against any heavy expenditure being made to keep main I roads in repair while the sideroads were ,so urgently in need of repair. He thought the matter should be referred j to the engineer, and that the work I should be carried out when coni' -venient by the council’s own lorry, j This was Forced to.