DISTRICT NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4819, 6 March 1925, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS

NGATEA. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. . The monthly meeting o£ the Ngatea District High School Committee was held on Tuesday evening, Mr W, McDuT presiding over Messrs C. W. Schultz. W. Clark, and the Rev. E.H. Drunker, secretary. PROPOSED DENTAL CLINIC. A letter was received from the Education Board’s architect enclosing a plan of the Avondale South dental, clinic, which was to cost £3OO. It was not a pretentious building, but it would be cheaper to build at Ngatea. The surgery should >be enamelled white.

A further letter asked the amount of local contributions, and whether his plan submitted would meet the committee’s requirements. On receipt of these particulars the board would make application to the department for a grant to cover the cost of the clinic less the amount of the honorary contributions. The chairman reported having interviewed the dentiist who visited Ngatea. He had recommended that a detached building should be erected rather than a lean-to alongside a class-room. Members expressed the opinion that a detached building would be preferable. The timber already obtained would be suitable. It wtts decided to erect a separate building 18ft by lift. Two sides and the back wall would be vertical boards and the front ordinary wea-tlmr-boarding, and a gable roof. The cost was estimated at £loo’, of which an effort would be made to raise £3O by local subscriptions. ’ ' TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS. The action of the chairman and secretary in recommending the tender-of M- B, Farrell at £1 2s 6d a day Tor trainsporting pupils between Ngatea and Waitakaruru was confirmed. Other tenders received ranged up to £1 16s a day. MANGATARATA. COUNTY MATTERS. Many matters concerning the expenditure by the County Council of the thirds of the rent derived from the land round Mangatarata were discussed at a meeting of settlers on Tuesday afternoon. Mr L. McKenzie presided, and Cr. Harris, the county clerk, the engineeer, and assistantengineer were present by invitation. Complaints were voiced that the thirds were not spent adjacent to the sections from which they were derived.

The apsistaait engineer ,explained that the spirit of the Act was that the money was to be spent to give access to the sections. It was of little, use spending the money near the sections if the outlet road was utterly impassable.

Ratepayers contended that they should be considered in regard to where the money should be spent. ’[■he clerk pointed out that this was a matter for the riding member. Mr McKenzie contended that thirds should not be spent on repairing Hood damage. In his opinion £lOOO would not make the road known as Coxhead’s Filling a permanent job. Cr. Harris stated that £BOO had been applied for as a free grant, but the best offer received was a £ for £ subsidy up to £5OO. Obviously it was impossible to raise £5OO out of revenue. The council was doing its best. Mr McKenzie contended that the council was not doing its best for the dis! rict. The graders were sent tp the district only when of no us elsewhere.

The engineer said that the grader had been in the riding since Christmas, and would remain for some considerable time. He had advised the council to obtain another grader and tractor, so that a greater amount of; work could be done out of funds In regard to Coxhead’s Filling, he would report on the matter at .the next meeting. It might be possible, to utilise the timber from the bridge over the Waitakaruru stream on tne Fokeno road. He would suggest that a committee of ratepayers be appointed to go into the requirements of the whole district with the riding member and engineer.

Mr Walton, said that there wag no hope whatever of! doing all that was required on the bridges of the district odt of general rates or thirds. The question of a loan should be considered.

Ratepayers’ stated that they could not afford to pay additional rates. Mi\Walton pointed out that unless Would could; be done but of funds available', and if ratepayers could not afford to pay more, then they would have to go ; without their requirements.' Mr Harns said that applications had been made for free grants, arid the-requests would be renewed. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the representatives of the council for being present. '