OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4720, 4 July 1924, Page 4

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The regular meeting o£ the Ohiuemuri County Council was held in Paeroa yesterday afternoon, there being present: Crs. A. R. Robinson (chairman), S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, P. Corbett, H, M. Corbett, R. R Morrison, C. E. Mace. The clerk, Mr R. W. Evans, and the engineer, Mr E. Shaw, were also in attendance. MANGAITI RIDING. Arising out-of the engineer's reporton work that required to be done in the Mangaiti riding Cr. Mace stated that about 30 chains of road had yet to be metalled between the Mangaiti station and the Old To Aroha road. He asked that the work be proceeded with, and also that portions of the top road be metalled and put in order before next autumn. The chairman said that with Crs. Johnstone and Mace and the engineer he had attended a meeting of the ratepayers in the Mangaiti riding, it was agreed to carry out the work near the railway station and on the Old Te Aroha road before next autumn. The speaker said that the councillors had been enthusiastically received by the ratepayers, and when he had explained the work done and the money expended in the riding over a period of years a vote of confidence in the administration of the county was unanimously passed. The chairman said that it was pleasing to report the high esteem in which Cr. Mace was held by the ratepayers of that riding. There would be no further talk of secession from the county provided the work was done, he concluded Ur. H. M. Corbett: Not a bad way to ge ( work done hi a riding—threaten to secede. MAIN HIGHWAYS. The chairman of the No. 2 District Highways Council wrote stating that he would visit the county on a date to be arranged and discuss with the councillors matters in connection with main highways in the county. BITUMEN WORK. The No. 2 District Council advised that the Main Highways Board had decided that in connection with bitumen work to be carried out by contribution from the board it had been resolved at the last meeting of the board to make it a condition of approval of expenditure of the board’s money that any such work was to be carried out under the supervision of experienced men, and it was further decided that a condition to that effect should be contained in all specifications. The chairman said that it was certainly desirable to have experienced men te do the work, in view of theie being some seven or eight kinds of bitumen, and it was necessary to know what kind was suitable for local conditions and the classes of metal available VICTORIA BRIDGE. The resident engineer, Public Works

Department, acknowledged the council’s decision to accept control of the Ohinemuri River bridge over the Vic-' toria Stream at Waihi, and asked that inquiry be made of tlie Waihi Boiough Council as to the proportion of maintenance to be borne by that council. The chairman said it appeared that the ci unci] would share one-half of the cost of maintenance of the bridge and approaches. A resolution to that effect was carried. SANITARY INSPECTOR. The Auckland Medical Officer of Health wrote stating that it was necesoary for a sanitary inspector to be legally appointed. He requested that the council should formally appoint Mr B. A. Franklin. —Agreed to. LOCAL BODY LOANS. The Waitomo County Council, Te Kuiti, forwarded the following resolution ami asked the council Io support it: "That the Government be urged to take into consideration the necessity of amending the existing legislation so as to enable local bodies to obtain sufficient loans from the State Advances Office for the purposes of the Main Highways Act and other development work.” The Horowhenua County Council also forwarded a circular dealing with the same matter. The chairman said that the District Highways Council had already gone into the question of asking the Government to raise a huge loan for the purposes of loaning money out again to local bodies for road construction. It was decided to support the Waitomo and Horowhenua county councils in their representations to the Government. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. The School of Mines, Waikino, applied for a grant to enable it to carry on. Or. Morgan said lie understood that the council had contributed something like £l2OO to the school, which was doing good work ni the district. He supported the request. Cr. McGuire said that the institution -a as deserving of support from the council. Free assay’s were made for any legitimate prospector. It was decide dto grant £3O. IMPERIAL S.Q.C. C. N. O'Neill, solicitor, Paeroa, applied on behalf of Messrs Lloyd, Sheehan, and Bunting for a reduction for a further term of the rent payable in respect of the Imperial special quartz claim. The letter stated that arrangements were being made co float a company to work the claim, which had shown good prospects. A reduction had been granted twelve months ago of 2s 6d per acre per annum, and an extension for a further six months was asked for.—Granted. FLOOD AREAS. Cr. Hubbard intimated that a meeting of settlers in the Thames Road, Komata Strea, and Puke areas had been held to consider means of flood protec ion. The land was mostly adjacent to tlie borough boundary, ami tlie trouble appeared to be that a large volume of water came from the

hills by four streams and lodged on | the flat areas behind the stop-banks, j There were several Hood-gates, but | the outlet for the water was totally j insufficient, and the water could only I get away’ when it rose higher than | tlie river. He understood that the Borough Council and settlers intended to approach the Government with a view to having the streams tapped and an open canal constructed. He thought the County Council should accord its moral support to the proposals, and moved in that direction. The chairman seconded the motion, saying he was aware of the parlous plight of the settiers, and agreed that the logical scheme was Io tap the streams.

AIOTOR LORRY MAINTENANCE Cr. P. Corbett asked if the charges for repairs and maintenance of the motor lorry would be charged to eacn riding in proportion to the work done in the riding or equally divided between tlie whole of the ridings. He contended that each riding should pay in proportion to the amount of work done.

Tlie chairman stated that the initial cost of the lorry had been paid out of the general fund. The clerk and engineer were working out a system of charges on an equitable basis for the ridings. ACCOUNTS. Acciunts totalling £1307 Is 3d were passed for payment.