TURUA RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4716, 25 June 1924, Page 4

TURUA RATEPAYERS.

ASSOCIATION’S SMOKE CONCERT. PLEASANT EVENING SPENT. The Turua Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association held its annual smoke concert on Monday evening, Mv P. Henry (president) presiding over an attendance of twenty-four members. In proposing the toast of ‘ The Ratepayers’ Association” Mr Henry said that during the past year it had been active in many matters of local interest. " It had been the means of creating a fund for the purpose of beautifying the township, which fund had been handed to the Town Board to expend. Through the efforts of the association! the steamer service from Auckland had been improved, and freight charges on certain lines had been reduced. It had also been the means of inducing a dentist to visit the township weekly and a barber to open a shop. At the request of .the association the Hospital Board had sent an ambulance stretcher to Turua. Qne of the most ard turns duties of the association had been to persuade the Thames Harbour Board that a wharfinger was needed at Turua. However, its efforts had been rewarded and a wharfinger appointed. Many minor items- had been attended to with gratifying results. In responding Mr J. C. Miller, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council, said he felt that the duty of responding should not have been given to him. He congratulated the association on the results it had achieved, and said that those successes proved that the requests had been reasonable ones. An energetic ratepayers’ association could be of great assistance to a local body, the members of -which were men who gave their time for the benefit of others. Any encouragement or constructive criticism offered them was greatly appreciated. He hoped that the small attendance that evening was not an indication that the membership was falling off, and concluded by wishing the association success in the coming year.

The toast of ‘‘Sport’’ was proposed by Mr Chapman, who said that Turua contained many sports. He was sorry that sport was not progressing as it should do in Turua owing to the lack of suitable grounds. However, the Town Board had the matter in hand, and it was hoped that things would soon be remedied.

Mr F. Truelove responded, and said that the least said about the present state of sport in Turua the better. He stressed the importance o£ securing another football ground before further matches were played. The toast of “Local Bodies’’ was entrusted to Mr H. C. Luke, who d.welt on the trials and difficulties of members, whom he characterised as fools for taking office. Mr J. Mules, chairman of the Turua town Board, speaking in reference to the proposed domain, said that certain work on the ground had been done by men from outside the town board area, and to those men the thanks of the community was due. It had oeen suggested that a domain board should be created, but the members of the Town Board were of the opinion that it would be better to have ’he area administered as a recreation ground. Legal advice was being otbained as to whether this was possible. The state of the ground, at present was certainly bad, but it could hardly be otherwise, considering

the weather experienced recently. Mr D. G. McMillan, member of the of Thames now took little interest in ratepayers from outside the Borough of Thames no took little interest in the doings of the Harbour board. When the present board was appointed the position was very strained, but tilings were now running smoothly. It was right that most of the business should be left to the Thames members and the chairman. He was sure that every opponent to the scheme now wished Thames every success in its undertaking, in regard to the Turua wharf,' he pointed out that metal had been landed free of charge until recently, when it was found that this was causing excessive damage. The board had decided that it would be only right to impose a small charge. However, tenders had been called for the replanking of the structure, and when .this work was completed all classes of vehicles could use the wharf.

Touching on drainage board matters Mr McMillan said that the whole future of the Plains depended on the work of drainage boards and the Lands Drainage Department. Unless the position was grappled with and overcome the Plains would cease to be a wealth-producing district. A new drainage board was being formed to control the area between the two river,s outside the Hauraki Drainage Board’s district. He realised that two board could hardly work harmoniously, and thought they should unite. He would heartily support the amalgamation, and was sure the ratepayers of the Hauraki Board would be protected. It was quite possible to adequately drain the whole of the Hauraki Plains provided the position was grappled with, and he urged settlers to attend the meeting in Ngatea on Thursday, as it appeared to be a step in the rjght direction. The advantages of farm life were dealt with in an interesting maamer by Mr J. T. Davies when proposing the toast of "The Farming Community.” Mr J. Newman briefly responeded. Other toasts honoured included “The Ladies,” “The Chairman,” and "The Press.” Owing to the fact that a piano could not be obtained there were only a few musical items. The function was brought to a close before midnight by the singing of “AJuld Lang Syne.”