THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4660, 11 February 1924, Page 4

THAMES COUNTY.

meeting of COUNCIL. The regular meeting of the Thams? County Council was held on Thursday last, there being present Crs. R. Cox (acting chairman), J. McCormack, F. J. McMahon, A. Alley, Q H. A. Cribb, W. Brunton. The clerk, Mr H. T. G. McElroy, was also in attendance. PURIRI WHARF ROAD. Twenty-three settlers of- the Puriri riding petitioned the council urging the necssity of improvements to the Wharf road before winter. Or. Cribb said that now was the time to do the metalling. The matter was deferred until the special meeting to be held in a week. COAST SANITARY SERVICE. Several residents of the Thames Const Road wrote complaining of the sanitaiy service: The contractor wrote stating that he had given up the job. The clerk said that the service had never been workable. It was only required during the summer months when carters had so much other work that they would not take the job om

The council had, however, forced the* ’people- to purchase pans, and were bound to. provide a service. If the service were abandoned the money should be refunded. The contractor could be prosecuted for breaking his agreement, but could not be compelled to carry on. After much discussion it was left to the chairman; Mr McMahon, and the Health Inspector to make the most satisfactory ari;angemnets possible MINING RENT. Miilei- and Sons, Thames, wrote on behalf of Mr J. M. Agnew asking for a reduction of rent on the Tairua Golden Hills S.Q.C.—Refused. TAPU FLATS ROAD. The chief surveyor, Department of Lands, wrote stating that as new titles'were about to be issued to the Native land on Tapu flats, whicn would cut off the locality from access to the wharf, he would like to be informed whether the legalisation of the. road to the wharf was to be gone on with. The clerk said that the matter had been deferred pending the proposed acquisition of the land as a recreation ground. It now seemed' that the only way to get the road would be to purchase the land. The may require a loan being raised. It was left with the chairman and the riding member tp confer with the people of Tapu. AID TO PROSPECTING. Richard Dovell, Thames, applied for aid to prospect in the Renown mime, Karaka Creek, Thames. —Decided to assist as much as possible. GRANT FOR ROAD. Richard Dovell, licensee of the Renown S.Q.C., Karaka Creek, wrote asking the Council to make application for a grant from the Mines Department to enable the road to the mine being put in order. —Decided to recommend this to the Minister. GRAZING. The Hauraki Plains County Council wmte asking permission to graze several Itorses on the Puriri Wharf road. —Deferred. REGISTRATION OF SALEYARDS. The Farmers’ Auctioneering Coy. worte applying for registration of their saleyards at Hikutaia and Tapu. —The request was granted. Cr. Brunton asked if the company 'ever paid license fees to the county. The chairman said that these were paid in Hamilton. It was decided to ask the company to give the county a share of. the license fees. DOG TAX. Cr. Cribb asked if it was legal to make :i charge of £1 for dog registration. It was found to be illegal to charge over 10s, and it was decided to rescind the former resolution and fix the the charge for cattle dogs at 2s 6d, and for all other dogs 10s. MATATOKI ROADING. Mr Melsop, representing the settlers of Bond’s Road, Matatoki, waited upon the council and asked when this road would be metalled. There were six settlers on the road, and if something was not done it would be impassable next winter.. The clerk said that there was a Government grant of £250 on the estimates, but the-trouble was to gee the metal. It was decided that application be made for the free grhnt immediately, and that .tenders be called for th’? work. PURIRI DRAINAGE. J. Clark, representing the settlers of the Puriri drainage area, waited upon the council and asked that the railway outfall drain be cleaned. The chairman said that the Railway Department had been approached and had that it had been the practice ami had advised tht it had been ths practice ni the past for the settlers to do the work. However, the council would not take no for an answer. Mr Clark agreed to this,’ and urged that the rating area -should be enlarged, as water from a distance came to this outlet. The chairman said that the Council expected the money in before the work in the drainage area commenced. The county finances were not. in a good state, but the CouiicU realised: that the work must be done, and would push on -with it. It was decided to set up a committee comprising the chairman and the riding members, to attend to the matter. KAUAERANGA ROAD. Three settlers of Kauaeranga Road waited upon the Council in regard to the upper part of that road. It was said that the road was in a deplorable state, and impassable for motor traffic, though all the settlers had done a great deal of work on it. In some places it was overgrown by, gorse, and was quite impassable for vehicles. This road was the outlet for many settlers. The deputation asked the councillors to inspect the road. The chairman promised that the

matter would receive due eonsideration. Mr Mack stated that fort the past four years the settlers had been given pre mises, but nothing had been done. Cr. McCormick moved that the engineer report on the matter, and that the riding members inspect the road. Seconded by Cr. Cribb and carried. ACCOUNTS. \ccounts totalling £967 13s 3d on the county fund and £397 Is 6d on the roads and bridges loan were passed for payment, and it was decided to issue summonses to collect all currcn< rates outstanding at February 1. 1924. MAIN ROAD. Cr. Cox brought up the matter of the condition of the road near the Konu Hotel. The metal needed breaking and blinding. Cr. McCormick supported. The engineer stated that the work of blinding had been stopped because the men were required on the permanent road work. He promised to have th;! road attended to. MATATOKI WATER SUPPLY. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. McCormick, that the engineer prepare an estimate for providing an efficient water supply for the Matatoki district. Councillors pointed out that settlers at the end of the drain were' now getting no water whatever, as those settlers above took more than they were entitled to. RESIGNATION. Cr. E. Niccpl wrote resigning his sent on the council as he could not find time to attend the meetings. Ho thanked the chairman and councillors for their assistance to him, especially when he was absent from meetings. The acting-chairman said he regretted very much having to receive Cr. Niccol’s resignation. Cr. Niccol had always been of. great assistance to the council He moved that it be placed or. record the council’s appreciation of Cr. Niccol’s services. The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to fill the vacancy.