OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4659, 8 February 1924, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held in Paeroa yesterday, Cr. A. R. Robinson (chairman) presiding. There were also present: Crs. S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, C. E. Mace, G. H. Vowlcs, H. M. Corbett, P. Corbett and Messrs R. W. Evans (clerk) and E. Shaw (engineer). COAL HOPPER. 'Che Public Works Department resident engineer advised that the suction dredge was about to commence stop-banking the left bank of the river between Mangaiti and Tirohia, and asked for permission to crept a coal hopper on the north side of the eastern approach to the Mangaiti bridge. —Consent was given. MAINTENANCE GRANTS. In answer to the Council’s request that the Mines Department should grant a subsidy for maintenance wont, on the Wiamata, Pukewera, and Hotimanga roads the Minister advised that the Department would not admit any liability on the part of the Mines Department to maintain the roads, but under the special circumstances would assist the council in putting these roads in repair. Regarding the Waimata Road, ‘t was understood that the worst portion was from the end of the metal for a distance of about three chains. Thi,s required a large culvert, and metalling estimated to cost £lOO, and in this instance the Minister was prepared to authorise the sum of £33 (£1 for £2) for the work. In the case of Houmanga Road, that part which required regrading—about one mile —at an estimated cost of £350, it was understood that the worst places be reformed and remetalled for £lso', and the Minister would authorise £so' (£1 for £2). Regarding Pukewera Road, which required metalling and reforming in places at an estimated cost of £lOO, the department was prepared to authorise £33. The engineer was instructed to report on the matter. CLOSING OF A ROAD. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, forwarded a proclamation for the taking of a road through portion of section 23, block. V., Aroha Survey District This road runs through Fitzgerald’s property and connects with Willows Track. WAITAWHETA BLOCK. The resident Public Works Department engineer wrote in connection, with the proposals received for giving access to the Waitawheta block, and stated that the Department had issued authority for £lOO, which .was to be expended in giving aecesls to Mi’ C. J. Birch’s section. The Department in-qu'-ied if the Council desired to proceed with the access to this block, and, if so, whether some less important item could be nominated which could stand down in the meantime. NETHERTON-AWAITI ROAD. The Public Works Department district engineer advised that authority for £3OO (£ for' £), which had been •issued to the Council in lespect to the Netherton-Awaiti road in 1919. had been cancelled and reissued to the Hauraki Plains County Council. BARK ON POLES. The Public Works Department forwarded a circular drawing attention, to the necessity of ensuring that all bark removed from haijdwood timber and poles that showed signs of- having been affected by pests be burned as soon as possible. PUKEKAURI ROAD. The Public Works resident engineer wrote stating that the fencing on P’lkeknuri Road was a matter that should be arranged between the council and the owner (Mr Yearbury). It was pointed out that as Mr Yearbury had made the original sub-division, he should do the fencing as well, as the money provided in the appropriations was for construction or metalling, anJ did not allow for legalisation or compensation charges. The engineer said that as Mr Yearbury was prepared to give the land for tin. road to give access to other he agreed that it was not fair that Mr Yearbury should be called upon to pay for fencing.. Or. Morgan considered that the cost should be paid by the Government, as it had placed the settlers in the back portion. It was resolved to ask the Department to reconsider the matter. STATE FOREST SERVICE. The Conservator of State Forests forwarded a list of the stock being raised for the 1924 planting season, and advised that a price list would be issued in March. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. The Under-Secretary of the Department, of nlternal Affairs advised that a commission, comprising Messrs J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. (chairman), W. I’’. Marsh (Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland), and W. F. Wallis (district valuer, Morrinsville), had been arranged to consider the alteration of boundaries of the Borough of Paeroa at a date to be arranged. NGAHINA BRIDGE. The Hauraki Plains County Council advised that it had agreed to contribute its share towards the cost of the extra decking for the Ngahina bridge at the Puke. WARNING NOTICES. The Mangaiti School Committee asked if the Council would erect notice boards in the vicinity of the school warning motorists to drive carefully. Or. Mace said that in the interests of the schoolchildren the boards should be erected. The chairman supported, and it was decided to have two notices displayed. METAL ROAD DEMANDED. A firm of Thames solicitors wrote requesting the Council to enforce the bonds given by Messrs Miller and Killgour, Komata, for the metalling of a strip of land between the two properties so als to give access to M. Davidson’s property.—Referred to the engnieer. BUILDING PERMIT. J. H, Farmer, WalMno, applied for

permission to erect a shed on the edge of his property on the main road at Waikino. Cr. Morgan said he could not recoiu-j ment the permit for the building on. the site specified. The matter was referred to the engineer. REQUEST FOR A GATE. C. Everitt advised that he had taken up a block of lan d near the TiioIlia bridge, and requested tnat a gate should be erected across a blind road tlEOUgh his property. Cr. Mace stated that the road referred to was the old road to the Tiruhia station, and was practically unused. The matter was referred to the engineer. REDUCTION OF RENT. P. McConnell and Party, Waihi, applied for a reduction of rent on Dixon’s S.Q.C.. situated at Maratoto, as the claim was not paying. It was resolved to reduce the present rent by one half. p Franklin, Waitawheta, drew attention to the road from Waitawheta mostly unmarked. ’ which, in addimost impassable. —Engineer to report. STRAYING CATTLE. The secretary, Whangamata Settlers’ Association, requested that arrangements be made between the Ohinemnri and Thames rangers foi joint action in respect to the number of stray cattle grazing on the roads in the vicinity of the boundary of the two counties. It was stated that the cattle included about twenty bulls, mostly unmarked, which, in addition to being a possible source of danger to travellers, damaged the road by horning the banks in the side and blocking cuttings. Mr O. Bjerring, of Waihi, also drew attention to the straying cattle nuisance, which was, he said, becoming worse. He asked that the cattle in question be impounded. Cr. P. Corbett said the position was becoming very serious. The chairman remarked that the cattle were damaging the Crown lands. It was decided to write to the Crown Lands Department and ask that action be taken immediately. Cr. Macc drew attention tp the increasing number of stock to be found wandering on the county roads a? night, especially on the Paeroa-Te Aroha road. It was decided to seek the co-opera-tion and assistance of the Piako County and Te Aroha Borough rangers in abating the nuisance. COMPLAINT OF CROSSING. W. M. Dean, Waikino, wrote complaining of the crossing over the tramway on Dean’s Road, Waihi Plains, and stating that his motorcycle had been damaged to the extent of £5 in crossing, which amount he asked to be reimbursed. It wa,s decided to inform the writer that the council accepted no responsibility in the matter. - HUBBARD’S ROAD. Or. Hubfiard asked that the Public Works Department should be approached again and asked to supply about 30 yards of metal to be spread on Hubbard’s Road, which had been damaged by the department’s lorries carting coal.—Agreed to. REPAIRS TO ROAD. T. H Evans. Mangaiti. waited on the Council and asked that a portion of his rates should be spent on the road tp the hills at Mangaiti leading to his property, and offered to supply metal sufficient to cover the work. After some consideration it was decided to spend £5O tc. the best advantage. CLEANING OF DRAINS. The engineed was instructed to take the necessary steps to have the drains in the Paeroa and Kaimanawa ridings cleaned out. * DANGEROUS BRIDGE. A settler on the Waihi Plains wrote advising the Council of the dangerous condition of the bridge crossing tfie swamp on Waimata Road, and stating that two planks were broken, revealing a hole about 2ft -square.—■ Referred to the engineer. WAIMATA ROAD. The same settler asked if the £lO9 authorised for Waimata Road could be expended before the winter. If this could be done he stated that the settlers were prepared to assist by providing labour.—Engineer to report. WAIHI-TAURANGA ROAD. Arising out of the engineer’s report with reference to the Waihi-Tauranga road, it was moved by Cr. P. Corbett, seconded by Cr. Morgan, that the public Works Department should be asked to contribute a portion of the sum of £6OO, estimated to be required to' metal portion of that road, in view of the damage done by the department’s carting operations to the railway works. TENDERS. The tender of Mr O. Cummings, £B9, was accetped for the further formation and metalling of Deam’s Road, Waikino.