TURUA RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4761, 8 October 1924, Page 3

TURUA RATEPAYERS.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The first meeting of the Turua Ratepayers' Association and Citizens’ League since July last was held in the Turua Buildings on Monday evening. .there being present: The Rev. D. C. Stewart (chairman), Messrs J. Mules, R. H. Baker, R. H. Heappey, W. Madgwick, H. C: Luke, F. N. Truelove. and J. Newman (secretary). CLEANING WATER-TABLES. Mrs K. Zeiglar .wrote asking that the association bring before the responsible body the matter of cleaning the water-tables in Raratuna Street. This was deemed a matter of necessity in view of their filthy and disgraceful condition, which was likely to cause illness, especially to school children. The chairman said that the water in the drain wap stagnant and he agreed that the menace was serious. There was an obstruction at the gate to the church, where some pipes had not been placed low* enough. Mr Madgwick moved that the attention of the Turua Town Board be drawn to the matter. Seconded by Mr Baker and carried. THE SMOKE CONCERT. The secretary reported that there was a debit balance of 13s 2d on the account for the recent smoke concert. It was decided to hold the matter over until a- later meeting. THE FACTORY OUTLET. The chairman brought up the matter of the objectionable state of the drain near the Turua factory. The refuse from the factory was carried along the drain and caused a bad. smell. Mr Baker, member of the Hauraki Drainage Board, said that the boar’! had taken , up the matter with the factory directors on numerouts occasions and had been promised that the drain would be repaired and kept clean. On the chairman’s motion, seconded by Mr Madgwick, it was decided to jjraw the attention of the factory directors to the matter. COUNTY METAL. Mr Heappey said that he would like to know the position in regard to the large dump of metal at Carter’s Corner. It had been intended foi* Captain Cook Road, but this road had been built of big boulders and only required scarifying and knapping and a top course of fine metal to make it a good road. The metal at the dump varied in size from 2 inches to twelve inches, and was therefore useless, tor a top course. There were only six settlers on the road, and a small amount only of loan money was available. The metal required knapping, just as the metal on the Turua-Neth-erton.road had had to be broken, and this was a costfly matter. He suggested that the Council should utilise the metal elsewhere, or sell it to the farmers, who could use it for their gateways. Cr. Madgwick said that the position was an unfortunate one. The metal liad been dumped without direct authority from the Council. Metal had been ordered for the Netherton riding, but no funds were available to pay for it, r :o it was allocated to Captain Cook Road, on which work there was loan money available. He had strenuously opposed the acceptance of such metal, which was absolutely unsuitable for anything but a mottbm course. He had also protested against it being dumped at this place. The 360 yards had already coist about 16s 8d a yard, so there was little left out of the £4OO for knapping. The new engineer had suggested that the metal could oe used as the bottom course on Pekapeka Road, but this was opposed by the Kerepeehi representative on the score of the extra expense . It was •not fair to the Turua riding or the settlers on Captain Cook Road. Mr H. C. Luke’ remarked that apparently the County Council overrode the wishes of the riding member. Cr. Madgwick said that all he could do was to have his vote recorded against the action. Memberjs thought that as the Council’s servant had been at fault the cost should not be charged to the f Turua riding or to a loan, but should be spread over the whole county. Mr Heappey moved, and Mr Baker seconded that the association enter an emphatic objection to the metal having been jumped at Carters Coiner and charged to the Captain Cook Road loan. —Carried. HORSES AT THE SCHOOL. The fact that there was no water in the horse paddock at the school was brought up by Mr Baker, who pointed out that the summer was approaching. It was decided to draw the attention of the school committee to the matter. SCHOOL WATER SUPPLY. Mr Truelove said that the school children called at his shop for a drink of water as in their opinion* the scAoO’l, water was not fit to drink. The tanks had not been cleaned out for a very long time, and the children would not drink the water. There was no filter of any sort, except a bucket on top of the tank. This caguht the dirt, and the rain water had to percolate through to enter the tank. Other members said that their children had said that they did not like the water. It was decided to draw the attention of the schooj committee to the matter, members considering that though there might be nothing in the complaint, the matter was of such a serious nature that there should be no doubt. NOXIOUS WEEDS. In response to a question Cr. Madgwick said that the county inspector had been appointed to administer the -Noxious Weeds Act. He was sure of this, as he had had it done. Members pointed out that noxious weeds were increasing rapidly on all parts of the Plains. It was decided to bring the matter

before the County Council. STOCK ON ROADS. The serious menace of the large number of stock and horses allowed to wander on the roads of the county at night was brought up by several members, and many instances of accidents and narrow escapes were quoted. It was decided to again lay the position before the County Council.