OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4807, 6 February 1925, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

monthly council meeting.

The regular meeting of the Ohine.muri. County Council was held at Paeroa yesterday afternoon, the chair-

man, Cr. A. R. Robinson, presiding over the* following: Crs. S.H. Mor-i ga.ii, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, P Corbett, H. M. Corbett, R. R. Morrison, and C. E. Mace. The’clerk . (Mr R. W. Ev.ans) and the engineer (Mr E. Shaw) also attended. GOLDFIELDS ROADS. ' The Mines Department advised that the amounts available for authorisation upon the roads serving mining districts in the county, were: Toumanga Road, £1 for £l, £5O ; Pukewero . Road, £1 for £l, £33. Application for —authority to expend the money would have to be made to the Mines Department. HEALTH PRECAUTIONS. A letter and telegram from the Public Health Department was received with reference to precautions to be taken to check- the spread of infantile paralysis. SCENIC RESERVE. The State Forest Service wrote with reference'to the pipposed scenic reserve ■ near -the Karangahake township, stating that the request to have the area reserved under the Scenery Preservation Act could not, under the circumstances, be given effect to • without special legislation, and as the Forest Service was particularly interested in the protection of all permanent and. provisional State forests from destruction by fire or otherwise the wishes of the-council would be amply safeguarded by retaining the land under its present reservation. PAEROA HOSPITAL. The Thames Hospital Board wrote in' connection .with its decision io erect a maternity and casualty hospital at Paeroa, and submitted a statement of moneys in hand for the purpose. The amount to be levied on contributing- local authorities was - .shown as £3000; on which subsidy was payable. - The board intended to spread the levy over a period of two years,. arid the approximate rate on the rateable capital value would oe l-16d in the £, tlie council’s contribution being £l7B 6s for the year. -••• The chairman said that a consider- . able portion of the money would be found by the Borough of P.areoa. Of ■ the total cost of £9OOO only £3OOO was ; asked for from local bodies, and he thought’ that no exception could possibly be taken to finding so small a sum in view of what had been done. Cr. P. Corbett objected to the levy, and said that a good deal of money had alread been found by the county. ■ He was not in favour of the levy: ‘‘As the- Paeroa people had the money t hey might as well keep it," he con- . eluded.-. < The levy was agreed to. * ACCIDENT TO WORKER. The N.Z. Government State Fire Insurance Office wrote stating that while it was considered on the evidence furnished in'eonnection with an accident to a council employee the accident had not arisen out of the workei’’s employment, the office was prepared to admit liability and pay the claim provided the accident occurred during the time the worker was being .paid by the council. 'The decision in the case was not to be re.- - garded as a precedent. After the engineer had explained how the accident had occurred members expressed surprise at the attit title taken up by the company, especially- as the accident occurred during v.orking hours. It was decided to write and ask the company for a clearer definition of its covering proposals. EROSION BY STREAM. Mr C. H. Price, Komata North, drew attention to the erosion by the Kot ’ niata Stream adjacent to his property, and stated that nothing of a practical nature had been done by the Public Works Department. The council was urged to take remedial measures as soon as possible to avert, a repetition of last year’s inundation from that ■source. The matter was left with the chairman and engineer to take up with the Public Works Department. The coun- » 'cil would accept no liability for the erosion caused by the department’s action. LIABILITY FOR FENCING. A Warman, Tirohia, wrote reminding the council that it had not yet undertaken about 40 chains of fencing on the new road abounding his property, and requesting that the work be completed. Cr. Mace said he wais under the impression that the fence had been erected by the landowner at his own expense. The matter was referred to the riding member to investigate. GLAXO MILK STAND. The Glaxo Manufacturing Co. wrote in regard to a complaint about its milk stand at Ruakaka, stating that it would be removed as requested as early as possible. RENT OF CLAIMS.,, W. P. Phillips, Waikino, applied for a reduction of rent on the Maybelle Success mining claims in view of a considerable sum of money having been spent in developing the"properties. Cr. Morgan said that there had been a considerable amount spent, so far without any return. The full rent of 7s 6d an acre was being paid. He moved that the rent be reduced to 3s 9d an acre. Seconded by Cr. McGuire and carried. KAIMANAWA ROAD. Mr E. J. Walters, on behalf of a number of settlers, wrote asking for assistance in improving and metalling . the unformed portion of Kaimanawa ir Road. The writer asked that the ■ work should not be further delayed, owing to the convenience, it would be to the settlers on the settlement road going to the wharf; The chairman said that there was a .previous resolution authorising £3O for grading the road, and he moved

that work to that value be carried out on that road. Cr. Morrison doubted if there was sufficient traffic on the road to warrant any expenditure at present. Cr. Hubbard seconded the motion, which was carried. RANGIORA ROAD DRAIN.

A request was received from W. R. Jones, on behalf of Komata North settlers, to have the Rangiora Road drain attended to without delay.

Cr. Hubbard suggested that some help should be received from the Public Works Department. There was no doubt that the drain required immediate attention. The matter was referred to the chairman and engineer to take up with the department. ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. The owners of the Great Norther J Waihi mine, situated five miles from the Prakawai Crossing on the WaihiWhangamata road, sought assistance to the extent of £5O for improving the road and making it fit for traffic to and from the mine. Cr. H. M. Corbett suggested that the engineer prepare a report on the matter. —Agreed to. CADMAN ROAD DRAIN. Jn connection with the deepening of the Cadman Road drain Mr J. A, Endean, Auckland, advised that he was willing to finance the scheme up to £lOO. Cr. Johnstone explained the position and stated that in addition to the £lOO two other settlers had promised £25 provided the riding found about £5O. He moved that a grant of £so' be made and the work put in hand as soon as the other money became available. Secnoded by Cr. Mace and carried. McBRINN’S CREEK ROAD. The Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., applied for : a grant of money sufficient to widen and repair the- Maratoto Road near Mcßrinn’s. The writer pointed out that recently he had accompanied the Minister for Mines over the road, and in conversatoni had learned that an application for a grant from the Council to the Mines Department would be favourably considered. It was also pointed out that the company was extending operations, and contemplated taking steps to reach the stage of bullion production, and it would then be necessary to have the road in a, suitable condition to carry machinery. It was resolved to make application to the department for a grant. MAIN OUTFALL DRAIN. A number of residents applied for the usual subsidy granted towards the cost of cleaning the main-outfall drain, Paeroa.—Referred to the riding member. OPUKEKO DRAIN. Seven Paeroa residents applied for a grant towards meeting the cost of cleaning the Opukeko drain from Thames Road to the Waihou River. — Refererd to the riding member. CHANGE OF COUNTIES SOUGHT. , The following letter was received from Mr N. A. Palmer, Whangamata: "I have been requested to lay before your council a proposition involving the transfer of a portion of the Whangamata district, Tairua riding, Thames County, to the Waitekauri riding, Ohinemuri County, and a portion of the Waihi riding to the Waitekauri riding. A small area of the Hikutaia riding would also be included in the proposed transfer from Thames. The settleis ,in these districts —Whangamata and Mataura Valley—wish to ascertain as far as possible your council's attitude on various matters so that they will know exactly .where they stand should th ese proposals be carried into effect. The area of the Thames County involved is shown on the attached sketch plan, and'comprises properties of an unimproved value of approximately £BOOO. The owners in the Waihi riding who desire to transfer to the Waitekauri riding are Messrs Radford, Larsen, Leach, Fitton, Bjerring, and possibly one or two more. It is suggested that rating on the unimproved value would be more equitable than on the improved value, and that the net amount of general county rate collected in Mataura and Whan-, gamata districts (after deduction for, administration expenses) be allocated for expenditure in those districts in a manner indicated by a committee set up by the settlers' for that purpose. This method would give every satisfaction to the ratepayers and relieve the council and its engineer of a considerable amount of work in an outlying district. Experience of a similar scheme in Whangamata has proved that it works out well in practice. Your decision will be placed before a meeting of settlers, who will tncn go fully into the matter.”

The chairman said that it was a difficult matter to handle, and the, propci- procedure was for the settlers to take it up with their riding member of the Thames County. He thought there was a greater community of interest with the Ohinemuri County, and was quite favourable io the suggestion and would like to see the matter amicably arranged. If necessary a commission might be set

up. Cr. H. M. Corbett agreed that the settlers could very well come into the Oihnemuri County, but it was for the settlers to make a move in the matter. The Waihi-Whangamata road required development, and the community of interest should be considered. 'Waihi was developing into the centre of the Ohinemuri County. The matter was deferred until the settlers had discussed the proposal with the Thames County, and it was decided to meet the Thames County in conference if necessary. TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted :— Supply and delivery of metal on Waimata Road, Waihi: H. Ashby, 9s 6d a yard. Forming and culverting portion of Trig Road, Waihi (north end) : O. Cummings, Waihi, £9B. Forming and culverting 119 chains of Waihi-Whangamata Road (west end) : R. Sutton, £224.