THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4849, 6 July 1925, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames County Council was held on Thursday last, Cr. Lowe presiding over the following : Crs. F. J. McMahon, R. Cox, G, H. A. Cribb, A Alley, W. Brunton, W. McCormick, the clerk (H. T. G. McElroy), and the engineer (Mr J. Higgins). INSTALMENT OF LOAN. The Public Trustee advised that the Investment Board had resolved to grant the ecuncil’is loan of £15,009 at 6 per cent., plus 1 per cent, sinking fund, for a term of 36 years, subject to the sufficiency and legality of the security and also at. the convenience of the office. MEMORIAL TO MR. MASSEY. Several circular letters were read from the town clerk, Auckland, relative to the proposal to raise funds by voluntary subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a National Monument, to the late Prime Minister at Point HalswcU, Wellington Harbour. It was agreed that subscription be circulated throughout the county and the fact advertised. The spirit of the movement was for small and numerous contributions rather than a few large one's. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION, A request for financial assistance equal to a sum that would be raised by a rate of l-50d in the £ was sought for the purpose of providing a suitable court to represent the Auckland province at the forthcoming exhibition at Dunedin. It was decided that the county could not contribute as it had no funds available. LICENSES. Applications were received for renewal of -slaughterhouse licenses 'it Hikutaia and Hikuai, and for permission to erect a slaughterhouse at Wharepoa.—Granted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations were brought down by the finance committee and adopted by the council “That the matter of the appointment of an assistant for the engineer be referred to the chairman and engineer, with power to act. “That .the communication from the Audit Department regarding travelling expenses be referred to the clerk to make further representations. "That, accounts totalling £621 3s 3d on the county fund and £65 Is Id on the Matatoki quarry account be recommended for payment.” PIPIROA FERRY. Mr A. E. E. Dodd, Kopu, wrote asking if the council would permit the pontoon at present lying idle at Kopu to be installed at Pipiroa. The new punt had been found quite adequate to deal with the traffic at Kopu on all occasions, and the absence of the county’s punt would not, therefore, impair the service at Kopu. In the event of the punt not being available he could not take any further interest in the Pipiroa proposal, and would have to notify the Hauraki Plains County Council accordingly.—Granted. STRIKING OF RATES.

The formal resolutions striking general rates for the coming year were carried, and it was decided that a rebate of 5 per cent, be given on those paid within 3d days. Tlie general rate was 4%d in the £ in the Hastings riding and 3%d in the £ in all the other ridings. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer, Mr J. Higgins, reported, inter alia, that very little damage had been caused by the flood. The metal roads through the county were looking the worse for wear, for the reason that there was no metal available for patching. He recommended that when funds were available small heaps of metal ishould be left at intervale along the roadside. In connection with the Matatoai quarry machinery, a Hecla disc crusher had been ordered after investigation for £4'56. IB had been decided to. instal the breaking plant at the quarry and tram the broken metal to .the main road, where it would be elevated into a hopper by means of an electric hoist. Tenders had been called for the supply of sleepers for the tramline, and arrangements for the completion of earthworks, tramline bridges, and the erection of hoppers had been made. It would be necessary in the immediate future to make surveys of the road from Kopu to Hikutaia and prepare plans and (specifications for regrading where necessary for the bitumen reading scheme, 1 Inquiries have been made regarding the mooring of metal punts at the quarry berthage in the Kauaeranga Stream. The quarry manager had stated that th® anchorage was safe, and while he would take all care, no responsibility for damage would be taken. On June 11 he had accompanied Crs. Cox and Cribb over the roads affected by the carting of metal for the Hauraki Plains County Council. It was estimated that it would take 57 cubic yards cf gravel to recondition the road, and that £1 would be a reasonable charge for reinstating one culvert. The total cost was £l9 10s 6d. The reconditioning and metalling carried out by the Hauraki Plains County Council on the Puyiri Wharf road had been completed and wao now in fair order. Repairs had been done on the main road in the Hikutaia riding chiefly with metal gathered from the sides. The estimates for 1925-26 had been discussed with'the resident Public Works engineer, and the following preliminary proposals for work under the Main Highways Scheme had been forwarded : Hikutaia section, £4620 ; Puriri section, £4250 ; Kopu section, £8140; Hikutaia-Kopu, regrading, forming, culverting, aiid metalling first course, £7900; Tbnmes-Coro-mandel Road, £5OOO ; total, £29,910. In addition application for grants