HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4674, 14 March 1924, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The regular meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held at Ngatea on Tuesday. Mr J. C. Miller presided over a full attendance ot councillors. The clerk, Mr E. Walton, and the engineer, Mr J. Higgins, were in attendance. COUNTY ROADS. The chairman, No. 2 Main Highways District Council forwarded a copy of a resolution for consideration as follows “ That in view of the necessity for a sound and strong financial position in respetc to all roads to be declared main highways, the council for No. 2 Highways District recommends the various county councils concerned to declare such roads to be main county roads under section 131 (d) of the Counties Act, 1920

This matter was discussed with the subject matter of-the following letter.

POKENO-WAITAKARURU ROAD. The Minister for Public Works wrote replying to the deputation that waited on him in Thames recently requesting assistance towards metal - ling portion of the above road in the Hauraki .Plains county. The matter had been investigated, and it had been found that the cost of metalling: 43/1 miles (12ft. x 9in.) would be £B5OO. If the county council would be prepared to take what seems the proper action to declare the road a county main road and raise the necessary loan the Minister would be pleased to give the question of a £1 for £1 subsubsidy further consideration. The chairman said that the main roads on the Plains could not be made county roads.

• Tn reply to Cr. Madgwick, the clerk said that unless the route of the main highway was declared a county roal the cost of the highway would have to be borne by rating areas.

Cr. Mayn said that the main highways scheme was little better than the system of Government grants' foroads which it replaced. It would, bo unreasonable to expect Kaihere and Patetonga settlers to contribute towards a main highway, as their highway (the Waitakaruru-Morrinsville road) would not be constructed for perhaps 20 years. Cr. Harris said that the Waitakaruru riding could not he expected to pay for the 4% miles of main, hignway going through it.. Most of the area traversed was a scenic reserve paying no rates. Cr. Parfitt said that it was obviou? that this road would eithe’’ have to be a county or a Government road. Cr. Mayn moved, and Cr. Hare seconded, that the policy of this council is opposed to main highways, being a county charae at present.—Carried. HAMILTON’S ROAD. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, Auckland, wrote in reference to, the council’s reque-jt as to whether the department would subsidise the £5O subscribed by the settlers towards the formation of Hamilton’s road, off Orchard East road, stating that he regretted that he could not recommend the application, as he considered the cost of providing road access to these private subdivisions was entirely a matter for the owners to arrange. w. L. Hamilton and K. Fox waited on the council and asked that if the settlers cleaned the drains of Hamilton’s road and removed the stumps would the council permit the road to lie graded so that it would be better during the coming winter. ■The engineer said that the average price ot grading was about £35 a chain. , Mr Hamilton said that the settlers could not make any contribution so had offered to do this work. Mr Hayward said the settlers were willing to help themselves, but the work would eat up more of the rates than the area was entitled to. It was decided that the riding member ard the engineer report to the special meeting of the council, WILSON’S ROAD RATING AREA. Messrs Simpson, Jamieson, ami Tonwsend, on behalf of. the settlers concerned, wired as follows: —‘‘Your council having given us assurance we would not be included in any special rating area which would not be of advantage to this area we would ask to have Pukahu and Stopbank settlers excluded from special loan, Wilson’s road.” Or. Hare said that since then the settlers had arrived at the conclusion that a comprehensive riding scheme would be preferable. He pointed' out that the council had promised to dis-

cuss the matter at a public meeting., The chairman said that he believed the aiea should be cut out. Cr. Hare gave the opinions of the Ratepayers’ Association and the Stopbanl: settlers. It was agreed that the council go into committee. NETHERTON ROAD. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Associaation forwarded a letter from the Farmers’ Union Trading Co. stating that it was willing to have the work of metalling the roadside outside its store done provided the cost did not exceed £7. MANGAWHERO ROAD. The Drainage Engineer, Kerepeehi, wrote stating that, while the Mangawhero road has been considered a county road the department will complete the formation, as the road was proclaimed for the purpose of giving access to Crown Lands. HOROHIA DRAINAGE. The Lands Drainage Engineer, Kerepeehi, wrote asking that the council pass a formal resolution accenting the department’s offer to carry out the drainage improvement works in Horahia special rating aiea, and tc give an indication when the loan money would lie available. It was decided that the Lands Department he requested to do the work and that the council pay the loan money, when received, to the department. SOLDIERS’ RATES. The secretary N.Z. Counties’ Association wrote requesting information in regard to the council’s experience with the rating of soldier settlements, and also the council’s experience in regard to the workings of the Finance Act. 1920, and the Local Bodies Fi' -nance Act, 1921-22. The clerk was instructed to reply. PEKAPEKA ROAD. The chairman, No. 2 Highways District Council, wrote .stating that 'f the Highways Board declared the Pekapeka Road part of the main highways it would he possible to get arrangements in. train at once for the formation work. He thought the council would be quite safe in putting proposals to the ratepayers, and as soon as the finance was available, to submit the usual proposals to the District Council. The county chairman said that 50 per cent, of the cost* of construction would be forthcoming from the board, but a bigger rating area than the riding should be declared. The estimates could not be made until it was known what class of metal would be accepted by the District Council for the main highways. It was decided to have the matter discussed by the ratepayers at the meeting on the 24th inst. MAHUTA ROAD. Mr L. Mackenzie, Mangatarata, wrote to trte engineer reminding him of his promise to do .something to his road.

The engineer said that there was r. fair amount of grader work required to be done.

The clerk pointed out that more work was being done than the amount of rates justified. The engineer was authorised to inspect the road and to employ Mackenzie, the money to in liquidation of his rates.. NETHERTON ROADS. A petition from the settlers of Fisher’s School, arid Munro's roads wn-,5 received asking that a poll for a loan of £2500 to complete the roads be put. It. was decided that tnc matter would come up at the Netherton meeting on the 22nd inst. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations t>y the finance committee were adopted : That the royalty on Puriri metal be paid ; that the accounts be passed fo>- payment, and that the engineer investigate the complaints against Mr Tarry and Mr Cochrane with power to act GENERAL. Cr. Harris moved that the clerk prepare a statement showing what the rate would be, spread over the whole of the Waitakaruru Riding, for forming anid metalling the Stream road to the county boundary, and the Miranda road to tlie county boundary. —Canied. It was decided to ask the Thames County Council to allow councillors ami council employees to use the Orongo ferry free of charge while travelling on county business, Cr. Hare moved, and it was carried, that 250 yards of metal be delivered /along the Old Paeroa Road for patching purposes during the winter, to bo paid for out of next year’s rates.