NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4661, 13 February 1924, Page 4

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Netiierton Ratepavers Association was held in the Ho JI on Saturday evening. Mr T. Vow les presided over an attendance of about twenty members. Mr C. Stembridge was appointed secretary. The chairman stated that he had received a letter from the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association inviting the members to be present at a meeting in Kerepeehi to discuss the business methods of the county council. He had conferred with Cr. Hare, and found that members of the county council had not been invited to the meeting. He therefore decided *not to inform the members, as it was not right to criticise the council behind its back. Mr Heappy said that the meeting at Kerepeehi was to appoint a deputation to wait upon the council. He did not think there would have been any harm done by attending. TOWNSHIP ROAD. The chairman said he had written to the Farmers’ Union Trading Co. asking the company to do something to improve the road side in front of the store.— It was also decided to write to the chief postmaster at Thames askingfor a grant of £5 towards the cost of metalling the road in front of the post ’ office. • Members pointed but that the county council should do the work, and it was decided' to write to the council asking that the work be done and pointing out that the Postal Department Mad been asked for a grant. TELEPHONE FACILITIES.

Mr H.'Hare brought up the matter of the delay in getting telephone communications ffbm the local office. It was not the fault of the local officer, but was caused by the number of other offices on the same wire. Apparently another wire was required. Other members spoke on the same matter, pointing out that there was usually a very long wait. It was suggested that ■ the Chief Postmaster should be ■'written to on the matter. It was also considered’advisable to' ask that the weekly half-holiday be changed from Saturday to Wednesday. At present the half-holiday was very inconvenient. A member, suggested making a request for a rural delivery service. This woiild be-much preferable to the present, system of private letter boxes. After discussing ■ these matters: at length it was decided to ask the Chief Postmaster to change the half-holiday to Wednesday, and provide better telephone facilities KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. In reply to'the association’s protest against the Kifikiri bridge beihg built under section .119 of the Public Works Act, thereby making ridings that would receive no benefit pay for it, the county oedncil having made bridges county matters, the Minister of Public Works wrote stating that the association’s representations had been noted, and would receive careful consideration. ■ The chairman thought it should now be pointed out to the Minister that the establishment of the railway was another reason why the bridge was not required. A member pointed out that the only flaw in the letter to the Minister was that only the Netherton riding was mentioned as being against the proposal. There were many other ridings that had equally strong views. The chairman suggested that a deputation- should-be sent to -the combined meeting of the Turua and Kere? peehi Ratepayers’ Associations at Turua cn Monday, February 18, to ask their co-operation. Cr. Hare said that if the Hauraki Plains opposed the bridge the Thames County and Thames Borough could force it upon them. The only thing to do then would be to have the Netherton riding cut out of the rating area. It was decided that the association should be represented at the Turua meeting. FINGER-POSTS. Mr Daley thought there should be finger-posts at the ends of Wilson’s Road. Cr. Hare said he would bring the matter up at the next meeting of the council. WILSON’S ROAD. rhe clerk, Hauraki Plains County Council, wrote stating that at the last meeting of the council it was resolved to recommend to the ratepayers of Netherton the necessity for’ raising sufficient money to complete Wilson’s Road. He asked that the matter be brought before the association and a reply forwarded to him as early as possible. The chairman, said that he had written inviting the, county chairman, clerk, and engineer to attend a meeting, but had received a reply stating that the date suggested was not suitable. He had then invited the engineer to be present that evening, but Mr Higigns was indisposed and could not attend. Cr. Hare said that had he known that the engineer would not be present he would have obtained all the figures available in connection with Wilson’s Road. The chairman intimated that Mr Reid had Spoken to the engineer on the telephone, and he had offered to meet the settlers at Netherton on Thusrday next at 11 a.m.

In reply to Mr Heappy Cr. 'Hare said that as far as he knew it would require £3OOO to complete Wilson’s Road. There was a quantity of metal available out of the old loan, but not sufficient to complete the job. He had continually urged that the work should be put in hand and completed before winter, but funds were not available. For that reason it had been suggested that a fresh loan should be raised.

Mr Heappy asked if the cost of forming the road the second time had been charged against the loan. Cr. Hare said that this Satter would be adjusted. The accounts had not yet been paid. Mr Whisker asked if it was advisable to put down a permanent road,

considering that it would become a main highway. The Highways Board might pull it up : and lay down a better class of road. The chairman stated that he had spoken to settlers from all parts cf the riding, and they were favourable to the raising of the loam provided it was not for too great an amount. Cr. Hare said that Mr Baker, of the Public Works Department, had suggested the use of as a foundation coat for the road, and had offered to supply the sand practically free for the carting. Mr H. Taylor pointed out that the cost of the sand and metal would be about £4OO. The loan would therefore have to be for about £3OOO. Mr Whisker said that a loan of less than £3500 would be supported by the ratepayers.

Cr. Hare said that if the ratepayers went to the council and asked -o have a loan proposal put the council would want to know whether it was intended to bitumen seal the road.

The chairman said that it was no business of the council, who were servants of the ratepayers, to demand bitumen sealing.

Mr Heappy said that it was a case of saving the ratepayers from themselves.

Members thought that more work should be done by contract, and that other sources of metal than Hikutaia should be investigated. Cr. Hare said that there was a quantity of metal at the Paeroa Quarry awaiting delivery to the county. He intended bringing up the matter at the next meeting. The council did not have the money to pay for carting.

It was decided that Messrs J. Reid, H. Taylor, B. Whisker, C. Stembridge, T. Vowles, and H. Hare be the deputation to meet the county engineer on Thursday. Cr: Hare said that the meeting should ask the council to prepare for the ■ taking of the poll immediately, without waiting for the next council meeting. Mr T. Vowles moved that the Council be asked to take a poll of the ratepayers on a proposal to raise a loan for the purpose of finishing the metalling of Wilson’s Road. Seconded : by Mr R. Lock and carried.