OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4747, 5 September 1924, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The monthl meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday, Cr. A. R. Robinson (chairman) presiding over Crs. S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. Hubbard, C. E. Mace, R. R. Morrison, H. M. Corbett, and P. Corbett. The clerk (Mr R. W. Evans) and engineer (Mr E, Shaw) were also present. GOLDFIELDS REVENUE. A telegram from Mr H. Poland, M.P., notified that the Mines Department had instructed the Treasury to pay out goldfields revenue to local bodies .which had bene held up owing to various claims by freeholders. The chairman said that a burning question would be cleared up, he hoped for all time, when the money came to hand. McBRINN’S CREEK ROAD. The Mines Department advised that as a result of representations made by the managing director of the Majestic Gold Mining Co’., Ltd., the Minister for Mines had approved of an additional subsidy of £lOO, £ for £, for the purpose of widening and metalling McBrinn’s Creek Road, Maratoto. Tiie chairman said he believed that the company intended to spend something like £20,000 or £30,000 in connection with the claim, and he moved that the council do all in its power to assist the company, and that the council subsidise the Government grant. Seconded by Cr. Morrison and carried. AN OVERHEAD BRIDGE. The Minister for Public Works wrote acknowledging the council’s offer to contribute £lOO towards the cost of erecting an overhead bridge at the Old Tauranga Road level crossing and advising that the matter was being considered. SCENIC RESERVE. The Minister for Lands advised that due consideration would be given to the council’s request for a small area of land at the junction of Hill Road and Kaai ngahake-Rotokohu Road to be reserved for scenic purposes. RAILWAY LAND. The Minister for Internal Affairs forwarded a copy of a communication which had been sent to the Paeroa Borough Council, relative to the proposal to include certain railway land in the borolgh.—Referred to Crs Hubbard and Johnstone, with power to act. HILL ROAD. The Under-Secretary lor Mines wrote with reference to the council’s request that the subsidy of £5O, £ for £, should be converted into a grant of £5O free money for repairs to Hill Road, Karangahake. The letter stated that the matter' had been carefully reconsidered by the Minister, but he could not see his way to give effect to the request. It was pointed out that the general practice of the department was to make all. monetary grants on a £ for £ basis in respect of repairs to flood damages, and the Minister considered that there was not sufficient justification for departing from such general ■ rule. GOLD DUTY. The Tauranga County Council wrote stating that it did not consider the taking of any steps to have the existing legislation with reference to the rating of mining property and gold duty altered was advisable. WAITETE BRIDGE. The Waihi Borough Council advised that the ■ Public Works Department was prepared to. undertake the reerection of the Waitete bridge, on the main Paeroa-Waihi road, which was washed away in the last flood. It was also stated that the department would find half of the estimated cost of £7OO. Tiie county was asked to pay its she re, of the cost, amounting to £175, into the Public Account as soon as possible. It was decided to notify the Borough Council that the council would pay its share on receipt of advice that the borough had done likewise. KARANGAHAKE FIRE-BELL The, Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote asking if the council was prepared to sell a fire-bell at present situated at Karangahake.—Referred to the riding member. DRAIN WANTED. P. E. Pippen, Rotokohu, wrote asking for permission to put a drain in along Old Te Aroha Road. Permission was given, the work to be done to the satisfaction of the erf-*, gineer. WHANGAMATA ROAD. Otto Bjerring, Waihi, forwarded particulars of a proposed deviation of the Waihi-Whangamata road, and offered to carry out the necessary work within three years at a cost of £2OO, provided the present road was given to him in exchange, for the land taken for the deviation. The fencing of the road would be borne by the council, and the writer given the right’ to reserve the timber on the land to be taken for the deviation. The engineer said he was satisfied that the deviation could be made, and he favoured asking the Public Works Department to have a trial survey made. Cr. H. M. Corbett thought that the road would be an important one as it would open up a large ared of land that was now lying idle. The chairman suggested that the Lands and Survey Department might be approached and asked for a grant to assist in opening up the road, thereby developing the land.—Agreed to. FLOOD PROTECTION. J. Cashiporc, Komata, wrote drawing attention to the way the Komata Creek was overflowing its banks near Prices’ and flooding all the low-lying farms below it, doing considerable damage. The chairman said he was conversant with the details and viewed the overflowing of th© creek with some concern. He agreed that it was necessary to take steps to protect the ratepayers’, property. Cr. Hubbard concurred, and it was agreed to make representations to the Public Works Department tor pro-

tectivc works to be erected along the creek S'iATION ROAD, MANGAITI. Cr. Mace asked when the metalling of Station Road, Mangaiti, could be proceeded with. The engineer said that he was waiting f.o> authority: from the ratepayers concerned to proceed with the work, and, in any case, it had not been possible to obtain sufficient metal. VEDDfeR’S ROAD. Cr. Morrison stated that the metalling of Vedder’s Road had not been completed, and he asked if the road could be given attention during the dry weather.—Referred to engineer. CLOSING OF DRAIN. Cr. Morrison asked that the engineer make representations .to the Public Works Department for the drain on the Komata North road to be closed.—Agreed to. MANGAITI BRIDGE. Cr. Mace asked what steps were being taken by the council to have repairs effected to the Managiti traffic bridge. The chairman replied that the Piako County Council was the controlling body, and he understood that matters were well in hand. It was agreed to ask the Piako County Council to expedite matters." ACCOUNTSI Accounts totalling £712 17s lid were passed for payment.