HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4776, 14 November 1924, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. Tiic moutlily meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held on Tuesday last, the chairman, Mr J. C. Mi Her, presiding over a lull attenaar.ee. HORAHIA RIDING. The decision of the ratepayers of the Horahia riding in regard to the reading scheme, tus published in the “ Gazette,” was communicated to the council by the clerk. On the motion of Or. Hayward, seconded by Cr. Madgwick, the council decided to comply with the ratepayers' requests. ROADSIDE DRAINS. The clerk reported on the conference with the Hauraki Drainage Board in reference to the damage done to roadside drains, as already reported in the " Gazette.” The recommendations were adopted by the council, AEREPEEHI-WHAREPOA ROAD. The Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association wrote drawing attention to the state of the Wharepoa-Kerepeehi Road, and expressing the hope that the council would attend to the matter. Cr. Nicholson stated that repairs had been commenced. FBaX AND TIMBER ROYALTIES. The Minister of Lands wrote stating that the council’s representations in regard to timber and flax royalties was leceiving the consideration of the Government. The Prime Minister and Mr Poland, M.P., also wrote promising support. MINISTERIAL VISIT. The Hon. A< D. McLoed, Minister of Lands,'wrote thanking the council for its invitation to visit the Plains, and stating that it wa<s his intention to do so during the recess. The date would be communicated to the members representing the area. ROAD GRANTS. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, Auckland, forwarded a list of proposed ro,ad grants which information was supplied at the earliest possible moment to enable the council to arrange its programme early so as to avail itself of the summer reason, for the carrying out of the works. The matter was referred to the chairman, Cr. Harris, and the engineer to report to the council. RATE of interest. Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., forwarded a le.tter from the Hon. W, Massey, Minister of Finance, consenting to the payment of interest at a rate not exceeding 6¥2 per cent, on the councils loans” of £3OOO for the Turua-Orongo road, &4000 1 for Turua district roads, £6OOO for machinery, and £6OOO for Horahia, which proposed to be borrowed from the Bank - of New Zealand on the authority of hypothecated debentures. In connection with the rate of interest proposed to be paid on the machinery loan No. 2, and the Horahia riding loan, consent to the payment, of interest at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent, was given. AWAITI WEST ROAD. The chief drainage engineer wrote advising that the machine now r working up the Await! canal will do the work of forming the continuation cf the Awaiti west road when that point is i reached. It will probably be next summer before the spoil won from side ditches will be sufficiently dry to complete the formation. Cr. Hare moved, and it was carried, that a letter of thanks be forwarded. The chairman of No. 2 District Council forwarded the deed ofi delegation of that part of the Highways system traversing the county. TIMBER FLOATING. A letter was received from the Waitawheta Timber Company in reference to its application for a timber floating license in the beadwateis of the Waitawheta stream. An inspection of the site of the proposed working had been made by the Ohinemuri County Chairman and engineer, also tne Inspector of Mines and a representative of the Public Works Department and the company had reason to think that all concerned took a favourable view of the position. An invitation was extended to a representative of the council to visit the bush and learn the facts. A statement of the case was given for the information of the council. Cr. Hare pointed out that only two. members of the Ohinemuri County Council were favourable to the granting of the license. The position had changed since the Waihi Company were operating in that the stopbanks had been erected. Cr, Hayward reported that that the Crown Lands ranger had inspected the area and had satisfied the Land Board that more damage would be done to the company’s own property if more than two dams were tripped at once than would be done to the publicly owned bridges. Cr. Hare said that during the recent flood the water was up to within eight inches of the top of the stopbank. The council should protest against the issue of the license to protect the ratepayers of the Netherton riding.

Cr. Harris moved that the county chairman, Cr. Hare, and the engineer should confer with the representative of the Timber Company, and if necessary enter an objection. Cr. Madgwick seconded. Cr. Hare moved as an amendment that an objection be entered at once--This was strenuously supported by Cr. Nicholson, who spoke from per-

soual knowledge of the Wuitawlieta. stream. It was finally decided that the chairman, Ur .McLoughlin, and the engineer inspect the site and report to the council. MAUKORO QUARRY. Arising out of a letter from the owner of the land adjoining the Maukoro landing road, the council decided to request him to dedicate the half chain of road he offered when the council proceeded with the Maukoro quarry, and that the Lands Drainage Department be asked to form the road with spoil obtained by dredging. REDUCTION IN RATING. Seven soldiers settlers of Torehape, .whose sections had recently been revalued/wrote asking that the council take the steps necessary to get a proportionate adjustment of unimproved vaiue. The clerk istated that the matter had already been taken in hand. NOXIOUS WEEDS INSPECTOR. The Director-General, Department of Agriculture wrote regarding the council’s request to have Mr W. J. Clare appointed a special inspector for the purposes of the Noxious Weeds Act. The conditions under which these appointments are made are as follows (1) That no salary will be paid by the Department; (2) that the inspector’s powers will be strictly limited to the district for which he is appointed : (3) that this department’s inspector will still have full power co enforce the provisions of the Act in the county should he consider it necessary to do so at any time. On receipt of advice to the effect that the council was agreeable to the appointment under these conditions further action will be taken. —Agreed to. MAUKORO BRIDGE. Mr H. Poland, M.P., wrote stating that he would, with pleasure, do what he could to assist in having a subsidy of £1 for £2 for the Maukoro-West road bridge placed on the Supple mentary Estimates. PURIRI CREEK. Mr G. Cribb, Puriri, wrote complaining that he had not been consulted with regard to the removal of. spoil from the riverbank on his property for the purpose of improving the berthage of punts at the new hopper. The engineer reported having coma to an amicable arrangement with Mt Cribb, and had coiiflrmed it in writing. Part of the arrangement had been ’hat the council would guarantee that the stream would be left in such a condition that no permanent damage would result. The agreement had been drawn up by Mr Cribb himself. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer. . MAIN HIGHWAYS. The chairman of the No. 2 District Council, forwarded circulars in respect to the examinations for foremen and overseeiis supervising work on highways, the accounting system to be adopted in connection with the expenditure of the subsidies and when applying for subsidies for maintenance clone, and a list of grants transferred from the Public Works Department to the Main Highways Board. MAUKORO DEVIATION.

The Minister for Public Works wrote with reference to the scour that had taken place at . a bridge on the above deviation. He stated that further investigation had been made and nothing had been brought to light to necessitate an alteration of the allocation of the responsibility from the council. In the opinion of the department’s engineers the damage was directly attributable to the drain cut by the council’s contractor, and

the statement that the department’s

contractor had shortened the stringers was not correct. HIRE OF TRUCKS. Mr G. Kehely, the council's contractm at Puriri, wrote offering to hire one or two of the council’s motor trucks on certain conditions. The application was refused. PIG DEPOTS. The N.Z. Bacon and Meat Packing G.)., Ltd., through its local agent, wrote asking the council to metal the approaches to it® pig-receiving depots as they were a benefit to the settlers of the district. ' It was decided to meet the company to the extent of half the cost. MANGATARATA MATTERS. Mr R. C. Sexton, on behalf of the Maagatarata settlers, wrote thanking the council for its explanation in regard to the Waitakaruru riding surfaceman’s house and stating that the position was now fully appreciated. However, they desired to bring before the council the necessity, as an alternative, of appointing a roadman for the clay roads with power to attend to any necessary work without having to await instructions from the Waitakaruru surfaceman, as at present. There was a man already employed, and it was advisable to give him widei discretionary pbwers to attend to urgent and important work Cr. Harris said that the portion of the riding referred to was only entitled to an annual expenditure of £6O. A permanent man could not he paid. ROADSIDE DRAIN. The Hauraki Drainage Board applied for consent in accordance with the Act to carry out improvements to the roadside drain from the Willow drain to Orchard East Road.—Referred to the engineer. AUCTIONEER’S LICENSE. - McKay and McKay, Ngatea, wrote asking the council to consider the matte! of applying to the GovernorGeneral to declare the Hauraki Plains a special district for the purpose of granting auctioneers’ licenses. If this was done Mr S. McKay would take out a license and conduct sales in Ngatea, but would not 4o so if it was not done and the fee was £4O for the Whole of New Zealand. Cr. Harris advocated that the request be given effect to, and moved in that direction. Seconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. general business. Cr. McLoughlin asked that the engineer visit the Patetonga-Waitaka-ruru road within his riding and go into the matter of grading and forming the road. Cr. Hare asked that the engineer consider grading certain roads in Nether ton riding. Cr. Nicholson moved that portion oi the Turua-Netherton road in Kerepeehi riding be scarified, the boulders knapped, and the road rolled when the machinery was available, the work to be paid for out of the TuruaNetherton roads loan. Seconded by Cr. Hare and can led. Cr. Harris urged that the contract for the cleaning of the roadside drain at Waitakaruru be gone on with. The, council had agreed that, where the cleaning of a roadside drain benefited a road the council would contribute half the cost. In this case the land-, owner had done his half of the drain and it was necessary for the council to do its share.—Agreed to. J5l accordance with a notice of motion the resolution giving Mr Cameron sole charge of the works in the Turua southern area was rescinded. Cr. Madgwick said that this was necessary to define Mr Basham’s position.

Cr. Harris thought that when the electric power arrived at Waitakaruru electric street lights should be erected, at each canal bridge and paid for out Of the riding funds. He mov-

ed that the Power Board be instruct-

ed to mstal the lights.—Carried. Cr. McLoughlin moved that two of the Ngatea lights be paid for out of the riding funds. —Carried. Crs. Nicholson and Hare were also granted two electric lights, in Kerepeehi and Netherton ridings, respectively.