HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4750, 12 September 1924, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The . monthly meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held at Ngatea on Tuesday last, the chairman (Cr. J.. C. Miller) presiding over Crs. W. G. Hayward, W. Madgwick, C. W. Parfitt, J. H. Nicholson, T. McLoughlin, F. J. Mayn, and H. Hare. The county clerk (Mr E. Walton) and the engineer (Mr F. Basham) also attended. FINANCE. The financial position as disclosed by the clerk’s report showed that the riding balances at August 31 were as follows : Kopuarahi £732, Turua £l4OO. Horahia £933, Kerepeehi £583, Netherton £lO4l, Patetonga £747, Ngatea £440, Pipiroa £603, Waitakaruru £BB3, all debit balances. The amount by which the general rate has been anticipated is £7362. The balances in the loan accounts at the same date were: Netherton roads loan. £6O, Kopu Ferry approach roads £l5, Puriri Ferry approach roads £l3, Ngataipua East road loan £341, debit balances; Housing loan £3543, machinery loan £5313, TiiruaNetherton roads loan £6668, Tahuna roads loan £339, credit balances. The receipts for .the month of August totalled £153 0s 4d. The debit balance as per cash-book of the county fund account at August 31, 1924,- was £5321 9s 7d. UNMETALLED HIGHWAYS.

The chairman of the No. 2 District Highways Council wrote stating,.that the Highways Board’s policy was to endeavour, to arrange for .the metaling of unmetalled gapts on main highways, and careful consideration had been; given, to the question of the three breaks in the metalling of the Pokeno-Waihi main; highway and the board was sympathetically disposed towards declaring those gaps,Government roads. If this was done - the board could vary the statutory rate of contribution with the object of providing a greater contribution by the board.* That, body, was desirous of knowing, in< the event of such declaration being made,., what, proportion bf cost- the council would be able, to make'towards>the<metalling of 3 miles 10 chains of road; from the county boundary to Haley’s corner and the one mile 60 chains of road from Haley’s corner towards Pipiroa. The-clerk stated that apparently tfie tiiree gaps.: referred to were the one-'mentioned; Pekapeka -Road, -and Wilson’s Road. The council had made representations to have the road- beyond: Waitakaruru, declared a Government road.'(■ ;Cr. Hayward moved,- and Gr.. Parfitt seconded, .that the Council contribute half-of-, the-cost of that part of the road’.to theiMangatarata Road corner, and that the Highways Board pay the balance.—Carried. HIGHWAY ROUTE DECLINED.

r The 1 chairman of the No. 2 District Council wrote stating that the- council’s -application for the declaration of a highway in the western section of the * county .from Waitakaruru<io * Patetonga; Hamilton, and TeAroha, had been considered by the board and- the request could not be acceded'to. Cr. Mayn said that this could not be -taken as final. ' The highways scheme was a ’ ridiculous one. He moved that the District Council be advised that- the route of the main highway as defined'by: that-body was an impossible' proposition, as from Ngarua to the Maukoro Landing road oivthe line-of the WaitakarurU-Mau-koro Canal road the highway ran through deep- peat; which would for many yearn be-subsiding, and over the’wnole. district would have to be faScined and clayed many-times ; also that it traverses the Lands Departm’ent’s ponding area, and was under water'during: the winter period. The proposal submitted: for a deviation is, in'the opinion of the Council, the only feasible route, and that the Council requests 1 further consideration of the proposal; Seconded ■by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. T AHUNA' SECESSION.

Lengthy communications were received from; the Piako County Council in reference to the award made between the i two ■ counties in connection with the’transfer of the Tahuna riding from; the Hauraki- Plains County to the Piako: County. Certain moneys were payable*by both bodies, and the Piako Council was very anxious to secure the Hauraki Plains County’s cheque for £986 Ils sd. The Piako County had to -raise a- loan- for its payment of over- £l5OO, but it was not known' when this' would be available. As there were Other matters that complicated the position the Plains County was desirous of a conference, but-to this the- Piako County would not agree. The letters and the clerk’s replies were read and approved'bf, and it was moved by Cr. Mayn that the cbuiicil would settle the award by setting off the two sums against each other and

paying the difference; also that the

councils’ powers under the award in ' regard to the Maukoro deviation be ‘ delegated to the Piako County Council provided the cost to the Plains County did not exceed £550, and that the Piako County supply plans and specifications for the approval of the county engineer. Cr. Hayward seconded. Cr. Madgwick, on being informed that the £550 would be a charge oh the whole county, moved that the question be deferred until the council knew whether bridges would become a charge on the whole county. He said that the deviation and the Man-

koro bridge were combined, and if the Empowering Bill did not go through Parliament this bridge would be the only one that would be a charge on the whole county. The chairman said it would be a breach of faith if the council went back on its bargain. 1 Cr Mayn said that if the Maukoro bridge was held up the Patetonga ratepayers would strenuously oppose the Kirikiri bridge. At present they were opposed to the county bridge policy but realised the futility of opposing Kirikiri; Cr. Madgwick’s amendment lapsed for want of a seconder and the motion was carried, Cr. Madgwick dissenting. A committee was apponited to meet the Piako County Council with a view to reaching finality in the matter. USE OF PUNTS. The Turua Town Board wrote asking the council to hire it four metal punts for the purpose of bringing metal to Turua for the'permanent road. The board had called tenders for the supply of metal; .and for the towing, and if; accepted these would have to be to. the approval and satisfaction of' the council ‘ and its engineer; also that diie ; responsibility would have to : be taken for the punts. The chairman intimated that the punts would be'idle while the Hikutaia quarry plant was being remodelled Cr. McLoughlin opposed the closing of the Hikutaia quarry even for a short time.' The> crusher could be kept going *until the -new one was installed. ■ The engineer said he understood that the committee had already granted the use of the punts, for the town board was already using them. Cr. McLoughlin objected to the fact that the whole council had not been consulted. He asked why two new punts had been ordered while there, was no work for four others. Cr. Hayward said that the punts could - not- be - employed because there was no money available to pay for the crushing, and transportation of metal. Under .these conditions the punts had been lent to the. town board until required. Cr. Madgwick said that the Committee had I found that the punts were being used to transport metal to Carter’s cornel without authority from the council. The work was stopped as soon? as the committee discovered what was happening; the punts being thus rendered idle. The committee’s action in lending the punts was approved. AWAITI WEST ROAD. Mr G. R. Nisbett, Awalti West Road Netherton, wrote stating that the settlers of that road were about to ask the council to regrade the unmetalled portion. His property was'ls or 16 chains farther down, and the road had never been formed. As he wished to cart cream, he asked the council to form the road. He would be willing to contribute towards the cost, and ho doubt other landowners would also assist. Cr. Hare stated that the Government had formed .the road to give an outlet to the last Crown settler on the road, but had not continued it to the boundary of the Crown land. He moved that the Lands Department be asked to complete the formation of the road. Seconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. A BORROWED WHEELBARROW. . At previous meetings of the council letters have been received from Mr H. Whittaker, Mangatarata, in reference w a wheelbarrow borrowed from him.oby the county surfaceman and not returned. On Tuesday a letter was received-claiming one shilling a week from the time the wheelbarrow was taken away until it was returned. A postscript was as follows: “It is a nice .attitude your servants arrtaking up.‘ Your teams have been but" to the bridge s eight times and/were not allowed to bring the wheelbarrow back.” A previous resolution of tb’e council was to the effect that Mr • Whittaker be informed that the surfaceman acknowledges no liability, a,s the wheelbarrow was taken and r’,ut in its present position without y.fs instructions. The matter was referred to Cr. Harris, the riding member, for attention. TOREHAPE ROAD. A petition from six ratepayers on Torehape Read was received asking that the caweil endeavour to secure a GoveinmeM gr&nt of £2so' for the purP<Ase improving Torehape Road from. Waitak’aruru-Morrinsville Road to Section 3. It. was decided, to endeavour to get a grant put on .the. supplementary es- ! timates. '■ . / MANGAT EXPENDITURE. Mr R. C. Sextoiy, as instructed by a meeting of Mangatarata ratepayers i and landowners, wrote asking for certain information concerning the expeJidjiture of /money around Mangatarata. It was also pointed out that the riding surfaceman lived at the extreme end. of the riding, and to get to where most of his work was he had! to Tide ten. miles. It was therefore suggested that the surfaceman’s I eottag»e be shifted to somewhere near i Haley - s corner. The letter was deferred until next! meeting for the council to hear the ] riding member’s views. KEFSEPEEHI POUND. The Commissioner of Crown Lands I Advised that the Hon. Minister for' Rands had approved of section 4 block VII., Kerepfeehi; township, being set aside as a "pound site. The mecessary i papers giving effect to same 'would be prepared as soon as possibleORONGO ROADS. The Public Wojrks Department forwarded a copy of the N.Z. Gazt itte containing, >an Order-dn-Council declaring Opani.. Heenan’s, and Ryan* is roads, Orong/a Settlement to be counity roads. > TIMBER R OYALTIE 6. The Taumarunqi County * Council wrote seeking supj >drt in re; presentations to secure the, return of |he pay-

ment of timber halves to, counties. — Endorsement agreed to. TOP ROAD, .PATETONGA: The Paeroa branch,, secretary of the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. wrote, drawing 'attention to the state of Top Road, Patetcnga.—Referred to the engineer for a report. LICENSES. Mr T. Burgess applied for permission to erect a slaughterhouse at Patetonga. —Granted, subject to the usual conditions. Mr F. N. Truelove, Turua, and Mr J. Terrill; Ngatea, were granted renewals of billiard-room licenses. THE QUAKKIES. On Cr. iviayn’s motion the engineer was instructed to submit a uetaileu i eport on cue Maukoro quarry, anu a.so to ascertain from the Lands De-paitment-and the-Piako County Council their probable metal requirements ii-uin Ine quarry. .

Cr Mayn ,also moved that £4OOO ot the No. 1 machinery loan be kept intact, until it. was known what would be done in regard to the Maukoro quarry

Several members objected to this, as it would-possibly hold up the improvement 01, the plant at the Hikucaia quarry.

In reply to Cr. Parfitt the engineer said that the Hikutaia quarry improvements would cost about £l2OO. Cr. Parfitt said that there was therefore ample funds in the No, 1 machinery loan to earmark £4OOO for Maukoro and pay for the Hikutaia quarry.

The motion was seconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. In reply to Cr. Hare the engineer said that- at the present time the Hikutaia quarry was idle because there were no funds available. If it was left to him he would not accept any more metal crushed by the present plant as it could not crush- metal properly.

Cr. Hare said that the matter would therefore not be left in th© engineer’s hands, and moved that when the money came, to hand metal be" supplied to the Netherton riding. On the position in regard to the riding roads loans being explained Cr. Hare altered his motion to read that no authority be given the engineer to dismantle the Hikutaia quarry machinery until the allocation of the Netherton roads loan money had been considered, and that Crs. Hare and Nicholson, the engineer, and the clerk consider the allocation of further instalments of the Netherton roads loan. Seconded by Cr. Nicholson.

Crs. Parfitt and Madgwick thought that the council should not accept metal against the engineer’s advice. If he did not think it was good enough the council should not order that it be accepted. The work on some of the roads should be carried out to Public Works Department requirements, and Hikuthia metal as at present crushed would probably not come up to the standard. The metal at Carter’s Corner dump required knapping or recrushing.

Cr. Hayward pointed out that the old etusher need not • be 1 dismantled, but ..it need not be operated for the time being. In the meantime the new plant could be installed. The motion was carried, Crs, Parfitt and Madgwick voting against it. Cr.» Hayward moved, and Cr. Hare seconded, that the engineer be given authoi ity to proceed with the new crushing -plant; at Hikutaia provided

satisfactory arrangements could be made in regard to the site. —Carried.

GENERAL BUSINESS. Ur, Haic moved ifiat the Minister for Luiius ue reminued or tne request inane, to mm by the deputation in regard to me metaiimg of tne roans in me nwani block and asked for a definite reply at an early date as the matter ot a loading scheme loan was being held up pending hip decision; also mat it be pointed out to the Minister that Wilson’s Road was the outlet for the Awaiti block. Seconded by Cr. Nicholoson and carried. On Cr. Hare’s motion the engineer was instructed to look into the completion of the stop-bank road and the question of■■ regrading the road before sanding. Cr. McLoughlin moved, and Cr. Mayn seconded, that the clay portion of Orchard West Road be disced and graded In reply to the chairman the clerk said the expenditure for the future was governed, by the receipts. When the overdraft limit was reached the bank would cease to honour cheques, and tn at position would shortly arise. Ths motion: was carried. Cr. Parfitt asked for the loan of a grader. The ratepayers on Hopai West Road had offered to fix up the road if this was granted.—Granted. Cr. Madgwick moved that the road from the Wharepoa ferry corner towards Kerepeehi be scarified, graded, and lolled when the plant was available, the cost not to exceed £lO. Seconded by Cr. Mayn and carried. On the chairman’s motion the. expenditure of £5 on discing Ngataipua Road was authorised.

Tfie- discing' of’ Awaiti -West Road and the southern portion of the Awaiti -main' road was authorised on Cr. Hare’s motion, provided the cost did not exceed £B.

The engineer was instructed to purchase a new winch for the Wharepoa ferry and a cogwheel for the Netherton ferry ,winch. Cr. Hare raised an* objection to the chairman and clerk proceeding to Wellington to give evidence before a Committee of the House in favour of ,the Crunty Empowering Bill. He did not consider the expense was warranted and Patatonga ridings were opposed to the measure, and. in view of this he was. of opinion that the council should adopt a neutral attitude.

Cr. Hayward pointed out that the more strife raised over the Empowering: Bill the more opposition there wouljd 'be to Kirikiri bridge.

Cr. McLoughlin said that by now the whole county had become resigned to Kirikiri bridge.

' Cr. Madgwick disagreed, and said that the opposition had not ceased* by any means. Netherton-was very emphatic on the matter. The chairrtian said it was a county proposition to get the Empowering Bill

Cr.-Hare said that .it would appear peculiar If he went to Wellington to oppose the Bill. l He had teen asked to do so, but had declined. He was sorry to> :be' against the? rest of the councillors, but it was the wish of hi;s riding. As it was 1.15 a.m. members began to go home and the matter was dropped;'