OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4710, 11 June 1924, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The adjourned statutory meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday morning, Crs. A. R. Robinson, S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, H. M. Corbett, P. Corbett, R. R. Morrison, and C. E. Mace being present. Mr R. W. -Evans, county clerk, occupied the chair and called for nominations for the office of chairman fot the ensuing year. On the motion of Cr. W, F. Johnstone, seconded by Cr. F. C. Hubbard, Cr A. R. Robinson was nominated for the position. Cr. H. M. Corbett said that he had been placed in rather an awkwaid position, but he looked on the meeting as a business proposition, and he was prepared to do his duty. With all due respect to Cr. Robinson, he moved that Cr. S. H. Morgan be chairman. Seconded by Cr. P. Corbett. There being mo further nominations the names were submitted to the meeting and Cr. A. R. Robinson was duly elected for the ensuing term. Cr. Robinson took the chair amidst applause and briefly retuirned thanks for the honour done him in his reelection to the position, and stated that, as in the past, he would continue to do his duty to the best of his ability in the interests of the ratepayers. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the council was held following the election of the chairman. OVERHEAD BRIDGE. The district engineer of N.Z. Railways, Auckland, wrote in reply to a request from the council, and stated that the matter of providing an overhead bridge over the railway on the old Tauranga road had been considered some four years ago, when the Department considered that the council should offer to contribute towards the cost of providing the bridge, which it was estimated would cost £536 to erect. • The engineer said that he failed to see where the council’s liability in the matter came in. It was decided to write direct to the Minister and point out the dangerous nature ofi the crossing and ask That the necessary steps be taken. - WAIHI-TAURANGA ROAD. In answer to a request from the council to the Public Works Department for a grant towards the cost of repairs and maintenance of the Waihi-Tauranga road, the Department replied that it could not grant any further , assistance, and pointed out that a portion of approximately two 1 miles over which the Department had carted materials for the WaihiAthenree railway had been put into repair, and that a tally of the traffic on the road, taken over a period of 97 days, showed that only 10 per cent, represented usage by the Department ASSESSMENT COURT. The Valuation Department wrote advising that as certain assessments in the district had been revalued this year it would be necessary- for the council to appoint an assesor to act on the Assessment Board. It was decided to ask Mr G. Buchanan to act on the board. BOROUGH BOUNDARIES. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of the report of- the Commission which was set up to consider the petition of ratepayers for the exclusion of their property from the Borough of Paeroa and the petition from the borough council for the inclusion of an area within the borough. The report recommended that the petition of the borough council be not granted, and that a portion only of the area referred to in the ratepayers’ petition be excluded from the borough and included in the Ohinemuri Cpunty. The Department suggested a conference between the borough and county councils to arrange a .suitable date from which the -alteration of boundaries should take effect. The clerk reported that he had conferred with the town clerk, as suggested, and an agreement had been reached that the boundaries should become operative as from April 1, 1925. ACCESS WANTED. L. G. Leopard, Waihi, wrote advising that in the event of the owner near tne Willow Road bridge, Waihi Plains, fencing off his property the writer and another settler would have no reasonable outlet from their holdings. A request was made for the council to form a road in as early as possible. Cr. H. M. Corbett said he thought that the bridge should be utilised to the best advantage. . He was not in favour of building a new bridge. The engineer stated that it owuld take a special rate of 3d in tile £ to metal the road and build a new bridge. A £ for £ subsidy had been applied for, and the council was now awaiting a reply. The total cost to carry out the work was approximately £2300. If the subsidy was forthcoming the rate would probably be reduced to about OVERFLOW FROM DRAIN. G. Hoye, Waihi .wrote stating that the council had caused the road to be raised near his property and had filled in the natural watercourse, causing the water to flow through his grass naddock as a consequence, and he asked for relief. Cr. P. Corbett stated that the property was on Franklin Road. He .was of the opinion that there was ample fall for the water, but suggested putting in a small culvert and Ipwering the water-table. ■■'he engineer said that the matter was a small one, and would have been attended to sooner had the work not , been delayed by floods. KAIMANAWA ROAD. R. D, Mens wrote drawing attention

to the bad state of the Kaimanawa . jad leading to his farm near Hikutaia, and requesting that immediate repairs be effected. The chairman said there was no doubt that the road was in a bad vtute, but the engineer and staff had been engaged on more urgent work hi connection with flood damage. The engineer was authorised to procure twenty yards of metal for this road. Cr. Morrison said it was of little use authorising metal to be procured unless it was actually obtained nad I't-c on the roads. Tne chairman explained that it was not always possible to get metal, even though the council had authorised it. Cr. Johnstone maintained that once metal was authorised by the council for certain roads the work should be carried out. He thought that the engi reer should procure the metal as i.isti acted, and let the council face the financial side of the business. Ur. P. Corbett said he was satisfied that the engineer was doing his best under very adverse circumstances. Several other councillors spoke in support of the action of the engineer in hi.', endeavour to cope with the metal problem. QUEEN CREEK BRIDGE. Mrs M. A. Tierney, Waihi North, wrote asking for repairs to be carried out to Houmanga Road. She also pointed out that the Queen Cieek bridge was in a dangerous state of disrepair. The chairman said that the bridge was under the control of the Waihi Borough Council. The road would :>e attended to as soon as possible. OLD TE AROHA ROAD. J. Costello, Rotokohu, wrote stating that the Old Te Aroha Road had become blocked by slips and washouts, preventing him getting into Paeroa with a vehicle. He offered to assist in clearing the debris. Cr. Johnstone moved that Mr Costello be engaged for a week on the road. Se. ended by Cr. Morgan and carried. A BLOCKED DRAIN. Three residents of Irishtcwn, Karangahake, forwarded a petition requesting that steps be taken to have a drain at the rear of their residences cleaned out, as in its present state it was a menace to health. —Referred to the riding member and engineer for investigation. REPAIRS TO BRIDGE. C. Burt, Waihi, requested the council to have repairs made .to the bridge over the Mangakiri stieam near Corbett’s property. The engineer was authorised to make the necessary repairs as soon as opportunity offered. ' USE OF ROLLER. It was decided to hire the road roller to the Paeroa Borough Council at a fair rental. VICTORIA STREAM BRIDGE. The Public Works Department’s resident engineer, Paeroa, wrote intimating that a reply had been received from the Waihi Borough Council to the effect that it was agreeable to the cpunty having control of the Victoria Stream bridge, Waihi. If the council agreed with the proposal the question of maintenance would be a matter of mutual arrangement between the two councils. —Control accepted. MAIN HIGHWAYS. The chairman of the. No. 2 District Council advised that the Thames-Pae-roa road would be included in the roads shortly to be declared main highways The roads which included that length would appear under the headings of Paeroa-Kopu and PokenoTauranga Road to Coromandel. The chairman said that as a result of his endeavours the District Council at its last meeting had agreed to recommend that the road fro.m Paeroa to Hikutaia should be brought under the Highways Board. Cr. Johnstone thought the position was very satisfactory. A scnedule showing the cost of putting roads down in permanent materials, cost of expenditure, and maintenance was tabled for perusal. The chairman mentioned that the chairman of the district council was prepared to visit any particular locality and report and decide on the class of road to be put down. He also intimated that at the last meeting of the district cpnucil the outlook for finance was much brighter. In answer to Cr. Mace the chairman said that the county council could find enough money to back up its recommendations in so far as the Pae-roa-Te Aroha road was concerned. It was decided to invite the chairman of the District Council to visit the county and advise on the class of roads that would be suitable. HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTION. The Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board advised that the contribution required from the council for the ensuing year amounted ‘o £713 4s 2d, the first instalment being due on June 30, 1924. The chairman said it was satisfactory to see that its contribution to the board had slightly decreased during the past two years. Owing to the meetings of the Thames Hospital Board clashing with the meetings of the District Highways Council the chairman intimated that he was reluctantly compelled to resign from the Thames Hospital Board. No action was taken pending the board’s formal acceptance of the resignation. Tn answer to Cr. P. Corbett the chairman said that he could not state the views of the board in regard to the acquisition of Waihi Hospital. McBRINN’S CREEK ROAD. The manager of the Majestic Gold Mining Co., Auckland, jvhich is at present carrying out extensive development work at Maratoto, wrote asking that further money be spent on Mcßrinn’s Creek road, Maratoto, failing which the company would have to suspend all operations until the spring, as the road in question was not in a fit state to stand heavy carting on it, despite the fact that £5O had been spent by the council and a

further £5O by the company in an endeavour to keep the road in order for machinery to be carted to the site of the mine. The chairman said there was no doubt that the company' had done considerable work on the road, but the carting carried on was exceptionally heavy. ■ It was decided to advise tlie company of the heavy traffic by-laws of the county. VEDDER’S ROAD. Cr. Morrison drew attention to the unsatisfactory state that Vedder’s Road, near the entrance to his property, had been left in by the Public Works Department, and stated that the pipes put in ■ were not large enough to cope with the water, and also that the filling was continually falling and blocking the outlets. After some discussion as to the advisability of having bridges erected, it was decided that as little or no satisfaction could be obtained fiom the Department the Minister should be communicated with. POUNDKEEPER. It was decided to appoint Mr W. Tavlor poundkecpcr’ in the Mangaiti riding, in conjunction with the Piako County Council, vice F. Corncs, resigned. GOLDEN CROSS ROAD. Cr. H. M. Corbett stated that there were several small bridges which required attention on Golden Road, and asked that the surfaceman be instructed to replace the broken planks where necessary. MANGAITI TRAFFIC BRIDGE. Cr. Mace asked what were the intentions of the council in regard to the traffic bridge over the Waihou River at Mangaiti. He stated that the bridge had now been closed to ail traffic. The engineer said that the council was waiting for the Piako County Council to move in the matter, but at the present time the river was too high’ to permit of anything being done. He believed the foundations if some of the piles had been washed out. and that the bridge had gone down some 18 inches.