THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4807, 6 February 1925, Page 2

THAMES COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames County Council was held yesterday, Cr. H. Lowe presiding over Crs. W. Cox, G H. A. Cribb, H. Cory-Wright, F. J. McMahon, W. Brunton, A, Alley, and J. McCormick, the clerk (Mr H. T. G. McElroy) and the engineer .(Mr J. Higgins). PAEROA HOSPITAL. The secretary. Thames Hospital Board, wrote informing the council of the board’s intention to erect a maternity and casualty hospital at Paeroa. Formal notice was given the council of capital expenditure additional to that contained in annual estimates for the current year. The approximate cost was £9OOO, and the board had cash in hand amounting to £3293 6s lOd. The amount to be levied on the contributor}- bodies was £3OOO, on which subsidy was payable at £ for £. The board intended to spread the levy over a- period of two years. The approximate rate on the capital value would be l-16d in the £, and the Thames County’s contribution would be approximately £153 13s 4d for the year. The form,al notice enclosed stated that the levy was made under section 8 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, and that the work would be proceeded with, subject to the Minister’s consent, if no objection was received from the council within five weeks from February 3. The chairman said that the present seemed an unfortunate time to go in for a big expenditure for hospitals. The county had the greatest difficulty in collecting the present hospital rate, or even the ordinary county general rate. There was a good hospital .it Thames, .and the board was proposing •to erect a hospital at Kerepeehi, and possibly at other places. The county could not find the money, and, in fact, had to pay interest at the present time on overdue levies. He thcueht it was time for the local bodies to protest against a big hospital expenditure. No objection would be made if the county could afford the

money. Cr. Cribb suggested bringing the matter before the neighbouring local bodies at the forthcoming conference. The local bodies had to Eve within their incomes, though they did not want to cause any suffering by lack of accommodation. The chairman said it ivas a question of where the matter was going to stop. Every little place desired an hospital of its bwn. The rate of l-16d oh the capital value would mean a rate, as the county was rated on the unimproved value.

It was decided that the matter be brought up at the forthcoming conference of local bodies. The chairman said he did not deny that Paeroa had a just claim for an hospital, but the question was whether the present was the right time for a big expenditure. Cr. Cribb said that when Paeroa got its hospital other places would ask for one. The riiatter had to stop somewhere. MOTOR REGULATIONS. An acknowledgment was received of the council’s letter favouring the proposed motor lorry regulations. The Minister for Internal Affairs forwarded draft regulations dealing , with the licensing of motor drivers for the council’s information and comments. The chairman said he had discussed the proposed regulations with the Maoyr of Thames, and it was suggested that a conference of the neighbouring local bodies be held to discuss the various aspects of the case. It wps necessary for a system of composite heavy traffic licenses to be arrived at, as for lorry owners to have to taka out heavy traffic licenses in every county and borough would cause an undue hardship. Mr Rhodes had agreed that a conference on the subject would be desirable. It was decided that in the event of the Thames Borough Council calling such a .conference the county would be represented. The county engineer was appointed examiner for motor drivers’ certificates of competency. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations of the finance committee were adopted' “That the Tapu Flat be taken under the Public Works Act for the purpose of a recreation park. “That accounts totalling £1095 3s 4d on the County Fund account and £4 14s 10d on the Matatoki Quarry Loan account be passed for apyment.” ENGINEER’S! REPORT. The county engineer, Mr J. Higginjs, reported, inter alia, as follows : — “Considerable delay was experienced in getting suitable fine shingle for the seal coat of the Kopu-Parawai bitumen road, but a supply was eventually obtained from Morningside and the job completed. “1 would like to suggest that tne council endeavour to provide better arrangements for heating the bitumen. A portable heater would cost £375. I would suggest .that in order to expedite the laying -down of bitn men next season I be given authority to undertake the initial work when money becomes available. The work includes reforming, grading, filling holes with metal, and rolling of the road from Kopu to Hikutaia. “In my last report I referred to damages effected by Mr G. Kehely’r metal carts on Puriri Wharf Road, and I have to now 1 report that up to the time of writing nothing of a permanent nature has been done to restore damages. During the month the same contractor; while operating on the metal, damaged a small bridge on the main road near Neavesville Road corner, and the repairs had to be done by the county foreman. Complaints have also been made that the contractor's teams have been driven along the footpaths, and T would suggest that the matter be again taken up with the Hauraki Plains County Council. ’

Cr. McCormick urged that repairs should be effected to the first portion

of the- bitumen road laid down. There were several depressions in which the water lay.. He moved that the eu- - gineer attend to the matter. —Carried. In regard to the acquisition of a portable bitumen heater, the opinion .was expressed by several councillors that the matter should be left in abeyance, 'as it was probable that the remainder of the work would be let by contract. In reply to Cr. Cox the clerk said that he had written to the Hauraki Plains County Council on three occa- . sons and had numerous conversations in regard to the indemnity for damaegs done by its contractor. Cr. Cox said that the council did not want to take drastic steps, but unless (something 'was done it wouldhave to do so. He moved that the Hauraki Plains County Council be in- . formed that unless the indemnity was " forthcoming within 15 days steps would be taken to stop the heavy traf- ' flc. . Cr. Cribb objected, contending that ' the move was too drastic, considering that since the report was - made the contractor had done a considerable . amount of work on the road. Teams 'and graders had been employed for; days at a time. He did not wish to see the contractor hampered •at this -- season of the year when road work could be done owing to some fault of the Hauraki Plains County Council. The road was in a bad state prior to the heavy traffic commencing, as was evidenced by the fact that tenders had been called for repairing another portion of the same road. Cr. Lowe said that the matter .had been left to a committee, in conjunction with the engineer, to take wha; action was thought fit. The committee still had power, and should take action if thought necessary. - In reply to Cr. Cox Mr Higgins.said that were he the engineer of the Hauraki Plains Conuty he would not consider it fair to the Thames County to, let the road get into the condition it had. Cr. Cox’-s motion having lapsed, Cr. •Lowe moved that the Hauraki Plains County Council be written to asking that the execution of the indemnity be expedited, and that the road oe maintained in proper order. Seconded by Cr. Cox and carried. . TENDERS. Five tenders were received.for the grazing rights of the Omahu quarry ~f. reserve of 42 acres for a, period of 21 years, and that of Mr H. A; Cory-' Wright at £l2 10s per annum was ac-1 - cepted. r 4 For tlie metalling of Bond's Road • four tenders were received. That of Mr C. D. Clark’s, 9s 6d a yard, was the lowest, but as only about half the money required was available the . chairman and engineer were empowered to act. The contract -for the metalling of r the Puriri Wharf road was let to Mr Q D. Davies for £96 15s. The estimate was £9B. Four contractors submitted tenders. Mr J. Crosby was let the contract # for cleaning the Wharepoa middle or central drain at 6s 3d a- chain, the estimate being 6s 6d a chain, and also . the Wharepoa Road north side drani. at 7s a chain (same as estimate), and ; the Wharepoa Road north side drain at 4s 2d a chain, being 7d below the estimate. Four contractors tendered for these drains, and two submitted prices for the cleaning of Slliot’s Road drain. The tender of ,Mr R. Darrow, 6s a chain, was accepted, being Ik 9d under the estimate. It was decided to call tenders for, the cleaning of Fenton’s and Bax’s drain, the chairman, engineer, and clerk being empowered to accept’the lowest. MATATOKI QUARRY. Mr F. McKenzie waited upon the council and asked for payment for work done on the instructions of the late county engineer, Mr M. T. E. Hooley. The chairman replied that Mr Hooley had no authority to let thecontract. Mr McKenzie contended that the engineer had submitted recommendations to the county chairman. The chairman said that some recommendations were submitted by Mr Hooley just prior to his departure. At the time Mr Hooley was not in the n: council’s employ. Mr McKenzie pointed out that the job was given to him some time ago, and he finished it a few days after Mr Hooley departed. No (specifications were made, as the work was to be done under the engineer’s supervision. . i Mr McKenzie claimed that the council should pay him about £lOO for the -jm work done, failing which he would : * have to take legal proceedings to recover it. The chairman advised Mr McKenzie to go ahead and take legal proceedings. ’' 'f; It was finally decided that no ab tion be taken, • -