THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4786, 8 December 1924, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The regular meeting of the Thames County Council was held on Thursday last, the chairman, Cr. H. Lowe, presiding over Crs. R. Cox, F. J. McMahon, G. H. A. Cribb, J. McCormick, W. Brunton, A. Alley, the clerk (Mr H. T. G. McElroy), and the engineer (Mr J. Higgins). WHAREPOA DRAINAGE. A deputation of Wharepoa settler*, comprising Messrs J. Bailey, H. JHarris, and J. Bax, accompanied by Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., waited upon the council. Mr Harris stressed the importance of drainage to the district and asked the council when a dredge woul,d be. available. The chairman said he had interviewed the Public Works Department and had been informed that a dipper dredge would be available very shortly. He would remind the deputation that the drainage area was indebted to die council for a couple of hundred pounds, and that before work could be commenced a loan would have to be raised. Mr Harris said that the scttlcih would be able to pay their rates if the diainage works were completed. Mr Rhodes said that there was a prospect of a dredge being available at no distant'date. It was necessary for the county engineer and the Public Works Department engineer to contei. The deputation desired the council to push the matter as mucn as it was able. The chairman assured she deputar lion that this would be done. LOAN FOR FLOOD DAMAGE. The Minister for Internal Affairs wrote authorising the council to borrow an amount not exceeding £260 for the purpose of repairing Hoot damage in the district during the current financial year. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand wrote advising that the sum was available on overdraft providing the. ccuncil took the necessary steps -to‘raise a loan to repay it. CREAM STANDS. The branch secretary of the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. wrote at the request of .the Matatoki suppliers asking for permission for them to erect cream can stands outside their gates on the Matatoki and Bond’s roads.—Granted. TIMBER ROYALTIES. A letter was received from the Taumarunui County Council conveying its thanks for the assistance rendered m securing the return of royalties payable tc local bodies from the sale or timber. COAST ROAD LOAN. • The chief accountant, Public. Trust department, wrote acknowledging ieceipt of the debentures totalling £3OOO for-the Coast Road construction loan stating that the loan had been granted subject to the advance being made at- the convenience of the Public Trustee. At the present time fimds were not available, and no defiinte. date could be given as to when payment could be made. A DEAL IN BITUMEN. When the council first contemplated bitumen-bound roads it purchased a ■quantity of bitumen supposed to be suitable for the purpose, but later found, that it was of no use. At the same time the Te Awamutu Borough Council also secured some bitumen from the same source, and at a recent meeting of the Thames Council the clerk was instructed to communicate with the Te Awamutu Council asking how it had fared. A repb was received at Thursday’s meeting stating that the bitumen' had’ not fccen used, and if the Thames County desired to purchase it the council would be glad to sell, at cost price, losing all interest that had accrued in the meantime. The chairman said that the bitumen cost'£ls a ton, whereas proper road bitumen now cost £lO a ton. ORONGO FERRY. Miller and Son, Thames, acting on behalf of R. P. Gibbons, Ltd., wrote submitting suggested alterations in the l ( ease of the Kopu-Orongo feuy, frtiich the company would take over ou December 1, 1924, The company desired the right to renew the lease on the same terms for a further five years from the expiration of the term. Other suggestions were: The rental of £75 per annum to be paid half-yearly in advance; the ramps to be kept in a ‘‘sound and safe” instead of a ‘‘safe and clean” condition. Also, the company shall not be liable for rates or rent for the ferry cottage, and desired permission to vary the timetable, having regard to the necessities of increased or decreased traffic. The matter was referred to a committee, comprising Crs. Cox, MeCor»ftick, and the chairman. LAND VALUATIONS. The Hikuai Progressive League wrote stating that the Revaluation Board had reduced the capital value of sections in the soldier settlement by about 70 per cent., which now made the unimproved value higher than the capital value. The council was therefore asked to have a readjunstment made. The chairman said that a certain sum had to be raised, so it the rateable valuation was reduced the rate would have to be increased. FINANCING HIHGWAYS. Tin. Main Highways Board forwarded a copy of certain clauses inserted in the Finance Act, 1024, in relation to the financing of main highways : “Any local authority may raise a special Joan for the construction of such roads and may pay the cost of repair and maintenance out of the general rate of the whole county or of any riding or ridings ; or, in addition to any other rating power, may, by -special order, make and levy for the purpose a separate rate over the whole county or any part.” TAPU RECREATION RESERVE, if The Minister for Lands wrote asking whether it was intended to pro-

ceed with the acquisition of the land on Tapu Flat proposed to be taken under the Public Works Act for a recreation reserve.—Referred to the finance committee.FINANCE. 1! was decided to pay the chairman £4 4s a meeting as travelling expenses to the meetings of the Highways Council. Accounts totalling £629 on the General account, £127 17s on the Loan accounts, and also £1 17s on the Omahu Cemetery account were passed for payment. WORKS IN THE COUNTY. The supervisor, Mr J. F. Riley, reported on the works attended to du Hi ing the month. From the Omahu Quarry 250 cubic yards of metal had been won by two men working 25 days each at a cost of 2s lid a yaid. The seal coat on the bitumen road in the Totara riding had commenced to bleed and chips had been spread. Two men had been employed with horse and dray repairing the Coast road from Lough\in’s Bay to as far north as Puru. Very little work had been done at the Matatoki quarry. The steel stringers for the bridges had arrived and had been assembledThe portion of the road between the borough boundary on the Coast road to where the borough contractor got sand from the beach was in a very bad state and needed repairing, if possible before the Christmas vacation. The engineer also reported that fescue was .overgrowing the Matatoki road, and he suggested engaging a mowing machine to cut it back. The report was adopted. OMAHU QUARRY. Two tenders for the lease of the Omahu quarry reserve of 41 acres for seven years were received, and it was decided that neither tender be considered until a report had been received as to the value of the land. COAST SANITARY SERVICE. The matter of the Coast sanitary service was brought up by the cl.erk, who said that the camping season had arrived and something should be done. The council should make a statement as to whether it would insist upon the service being performed or not. It was decided to notify the contractor that he must commence carrying out his duties within seven days PENALTY ON RATES. It was decided to enforce the 10 per cent, penalty on unpaid rates after February 1, 1925. NEXT MEETING. It wan decided to hold the next meeting of the council on December 18 1924. PURIRI WHARF ROAD. Cr. Cox stated that the Hauraki Plain.- County had been removing a considerable quantity of boulders from the Puriri creek, leaving some good shingle suitable for patching the Wharf, road and others nearby. He suggested that the engineer look into the matter. GENERAL BUSINESS. The engineer was instructed to look into the matter of the drainage of the road leading to the I’opu ferry, and also the state of the bi idge at the corner of the same road.