OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4820, 3 April 1925, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held in Paeroa yesterday, the chairman, Cr. A. R. Robinson, presiding over .the following: Crs. S. H. Morgan, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, P. Corbett, R. R. Morrison, and the county clerk (Mi* R. W. Evans) and the engineer (Mr E. Shaw). PUKEKAURI ROAD. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, advised that an additional £lOO for Pukekauri Road could not be granted at present but that amount would be placed on the current year’s estimates. Cr. Morgan asked that the matter be kept in view, and the department requested to make an endeavour to secure the mondy as early as possible in view- of the approach of winter. CONSENT TO LOAN.

An Order-in-Council consenting to the raising of a special loan of £ll5O for the purpose of forming, culverting, and metalling a portion of the WaihiWhangamata road wajs received. In answer to Cr. Corpett the chairman said that the work cou(d not be proceeded with until such time as the Advances to Settlers Office advised that the money was available, but lie did not anticipate that the information would be long in coming. MARATOTO ROAD.

The following letter was received from the Ohineinuri Gold and Silver Mines Co., Ltd., in reply to a letter from the council advising that the Minister for Mines had refused any further assistance in connection with Maratoto Road:

"The road under discussion is, as yo<? are fully aware, the main connecting link between Waihi, Waitekauri, and Maratoto, and I regret that the Minister hats overlooked that fact. I had no idea that the Minister would find it necessary to review the development works of this company when considering such an application, or I would have gone to some trouble to supply him with accurate information respecting the results of oru operations from .the expenditure of an amount approaching £40,000. The Minister’s reply, taken from his own phraseology, could have no other than a depressing effect on those who peruse it.

“It is true, that this company its driving to get under a chute of ore of considerable length existing at number 2 level, but the omission to record that from 1500 ft to 1600 ft northward and 200 ft deeper than that point a chute of highly payable ore was exposed, and that at various depths along the drive southward high-grade ore was met with. As the reef is one of considerable size, ranging in width from 25ft to 78ft, crosscutting alone is an expensive undertaking, and .has been postponed until the driving is completed. I merely mention these, facts in order to disabuse the minds of your members regarding the Minister’s pessimistic pronouncement, which is both uncalled for and inaccurate. In the face o'f the Minister’s attitude it. would be little good renewing the application. We will probably find in a few months’ time that the instalment ot further plant will be made difficult by the condition of the road. My directors are extremely grateful .to your council for the efforts it has made.” In answer to Cr. McGuire the chairman said that he Was quite in favour of the Minister being approached again and requested to reconsider his decision.

Cr. Morrison doubted that the width of the drive was as much as the company had stated.

It was agreed to approach the Mines Department again and request assistance in view of the importance of the road, not only to the company, but. to 'the district generally. RANGIORA DRAIN.

W. R. Jones wrote on behalf of the Komata settlers advising that they were prepared to find the sum of £2O towards the cost of cleaning and deepening the Rangiora drain; provided the council expended a sum of not less than £lOO on the work. If any sum less than that amount was expended the contribution from the settlers would be. reduced pro rata. The chairman stated that after consultation the Public Works engineer had undertaken to recommend a grant of £5O, provided the settlers were prepared to contribute towards the cost. Cr. Morgan thought that the request was a reasonable one. Cr. Hubbard said that the settlers concerned were prepared to help themselves, and even if the money was not forthcoming from the department lie was of the opinion that the work should be proceeded with and relief from flooding given to the settlers.

It was resolved that provided the Public Works Department, contributed £5O and the settlers found £2O the council would contribute £3O and. give instructions to have the work carried out as early as possible. METALLING FORD ROAD.

Mr F. W. Malyon, on behalf of the Ford Road settlers, Waihi, forwarded £45, which had been raised by the settlers towards the cost of metalling that road. In view of the Mines Department having granted £lOO, £ for £, the council was asked to contribute £55, and that the £200 : be spent on the road before this winter.

The engineer said that an application for a free grant had been made to the Mines Department, and he believed that the Public Works Department had expended something like £lOO on the road during the last twelve months.

Cr. P. Corbett said that the repairs were, urgent, and he would like to see the matter pushed to its utmost

On the motion of Cr. Hubbard it was agreed that the Mines Department be approached again and asked for assistance.

In seconding the motion Cr. Corbett asked if plans could not be prepared and the engineer authorised to proceed with .the work.

R was also resolved that the council contribute £55 to bring the sum,

together with the grant to be applied for, up to £2OO.

Cr. P. Corbett said, it was -gratifying to c-ee that settleis in the Raima!.awa and Waihi ridings were progressive, and wer not backward in putting up money to assist the council.

- KAIMANAWA DRAINS. -.J’’. A. Hanlen, Hikutaia, wrote on behalf of the settlers in the Kaimanawa riding requesting the council.to enlarge the Komata North drain, and - also to deepen Robinson's Road drain for a distance of about twenty- chains. A Gubb also wrote asking for the - drain from the canal to Robinson’s Road north to be deepened and widened for about forty’ chains, and also the road drain along Hanlen’s boundary to be deepened for about eighteen chains.

Or. Morrison said that the requast, to deepen the drains was all right, < < but he suggested that the drains be only cleaned out in the meantime. He - thought that if that was done, with the canal which had beten nearly completed by the Public Works Department there would be sufficient > - fall given to allow flood waters to escape.

In reply to Cr. Corbett the chairman said that the work was unquestionably the liability ot the council, and now that the canal was through relief from flooding should result. The completion of the canal would relieve the council of a considerable sum annually for' cleaning drains. The matter was referred to the engineer and riding members concerned, with power to act.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £l5lB 18s lOd were authorised for payment. OVERHEAD BRIDGE. Jr. Morgan asked what • the position was in regard to the erection of the overhead bridge on the old Taurauga Road. . The chairman replied that the council had paid its share to the department, and it would again approach the department and urge that the construction be carried out. OLD TE AROHA ROAD.Cr. Hubbard drew attention to the drainage that was urgently- needed on Old Te Aroha Road from a point near the Waihi railway line eastwards. The matter was referred to the engineer and riding members, with power to act. METAL FOR ROADS. On the motion of Cr. Morrison it was resolved that the engineer procure 35 yards of metal for the Hikutaia wharf road, and 'also for Vedder’s Road. kfAUNGAKIKI BRIDGE. At the request of Cr. Corbett it was resolved to spend a sum not exceeding £35 on repairing the Maungakiki bridge. Old Te Aroha Road.