THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4647, 11 January 1924, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY.

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held at Thames yesterday, when there were pre :ent: Crs. H. Lowe (chairman), F. J. McMahon, W. Brunton, A. Alley, R. Cox, G, H. A. Cribb, J. McCormick. An apology was received from Cr. Niecol. The county clerk, Mr H, T. G. McElroy, and the cojunty engineer, Mr Hooley, were in attendance. METALLING OF ROAD. Mr E. M. Goodwin, Omahu, wrote asking that Onetai Road should be metalled, as unless this was done it would be impassable again next winter. Cr. Brunton .said that there were about 20 chains of unmetalled road. Two persons would be served. Secondclass metal could be used, and the wo”k could easily be done by the CcmiciFs staff. The engineer was instructed to report. STATUTORY HALF-HOLIDAY. The Department of Labour forwarded a circular asking what day sh- uld be declared the statutory hallholiday for shops in the county. The chairman said that if nothing was done in the matter the Minister would declare the same day as at present, and this was agreed to by the Council. GRUBS IN TIMBER. The Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, Wellington, forwarded a circular with reference to timber grubs in Australian hardwood timbers, and urged that definite and stringent instructions should be issued to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the plague, as the insects caused very great damage to forests and to fences, houses, railway sleepers, etc. In Australia the damage was estimated at millions of pounds.—Referred to the engineer. KAUAERANGA RIVER BRIDGE. The Public Works Department’s district engineer, Auckland, wrote asking for a further payment of the sum of £5OO in connection with the erection of the abovementioned bridge. The chairman moved, and Cr. Cribb seconded, that the amount be paid.— Carried. MINING SUBSIDY. Mrs M- Hayward, Waitakaruru, licensee of the Tui S Q.C., Waiomio, applied for aid towards the cost of driving 200 ft through hard rock to intei sect and test the reef. The chairman said, that this seemed an application '-.rom the right class of prospector, and should be encouraged. He moved, and Cr. McMebon seconded, that the application be forwarded and supported. Carried. A. DANGEROUS CROSSING.

The Turua Ratepayers’ dissociation wruto asking that the hedge obscuring the view at the tram crossing .it Totara point should be removed, as it constituted a danger to the travelling puolic. It was decided that the owner of the hedge should be asked to cut it, as it obscured the view of the roa<l at the corner. It was pointed out that there was no danger from oncoming trains, as a man with a flag was always stationed on the road when a train was near. TALLY OF TRAFFIC. The clerk reported on the traffic on the Thames-Hikutaia main road from December 24, 1923, to January 2, 1924, as follows; Motor-cars, 1020 , gigs, 273 ; bicycles, 157 ; motor-cycles, 81 ; mptorbuses, 67 ; spring carts, 14On the Coast road south of Thornton’s Road the traffic during the same period was 1102 motor-cars, 83 gigr, 79 bicycles, 159 motor-cycles, and 13 spring carts. The report was obtained at the instigation of the chairman, who represented the county on the District Council of the Main Highways Board. DOG REGISTRATION. Considerable discussion took place on the subject of the fees for dog registi ation. Councillor's expressed that the fees for dogs other than genuine working dogs should be made so high that the worthless ones would be destroyed. The chairman quoted several cases of sheep worrying. • Finally it wals decided that the fee for genuine cattle dogs -should be 2s 6d. and for all other dogs £l, and that tenders be called for the position of registrar. The registrar would be paid a larger sum for eacn “fancy” dog registered. PURIRI WHARF ROAD. Cr. Cribb presented a petition from the settlers on the Puriri Wharf road asking that the road be improved. The chairman said that according i to standing orders the petition mustlie on the table until the next meeting, In the meantime the matter would be thoroughly looked into. FINANCE. .Accounts totalling £647 15s on the county fund account, £237 3s 6d on the roads loan account, and £2l 15s on the Matatoki Quarry loan account were passed for payment.