THAMES COUNTY. THAMES COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4863, 10 August 1925, Page 1

THAMES COUNTY.

THAMES COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames County Council was held on Thursday last, Cr. H. Lowe presiding over the following: Crs. G. H. A. Cribb, F. J. McMahon, J. McCormick, A. Alley, W. Brunton, R. Cox, H. Cory-Wright, and the clerk (Mr H. T. G. McElroy) and the engineer (Mr J. Higgins). TRAVELLING EXPENSES. The Auditor-General wrote advising that the audit inspector had been instructed to arrange the basis on which travelling charges would be passed by audit, and an adjustment for the past would not be pressed so long sa the agreed upon conditions were observed as from April 1, 1925. In regard to the exception, it was regretted that in view of the fact a,t issue this must be maintained. RIVERS IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. The circular letter from the Mayor of Waihi urging the calling of a conference to consider the nationalisation of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme was merely received, members commenting that “there was np use in crossing bridges until they were come to.” KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. The district engineer of the Public Works Department wrote asking that the council pay into the Public Account at the Bank of New Zealand the sum of £lOOO on account of £6OOO for the Waihou River bridge at Kirikiri, in terms of the agreement. The clerk said that the money would be paid as soon as the other contributing local bodies had paid, their sharer The formal resolution striking the rate of 5-16 d in the £ over the. whole county on the loan of £6OOO for the Kirikiri bridge was carried. hospital LEVY. The Thames. Hospital Board forwarded notice of capital expenditure additional to that contained in annual estimates ofr the current year for an isolation block and steam laundry, estimated to cost £7OOO. The council’s contribuiton was £49 8s 7d. HOSPITAL DEFAULTERS. The Thames Hospital Board secretary wrote advising that the council s representative had entered a protest against the increased expenditure .of the Thames Hospital, and had requested a. hospital defaulters list. The board regretted that it could not see its way tp .supplying the list, but it had no objection to members of the council receiving any information at the board’s office. Or. Cribb observed that the position was very unisatisifactory. They were to pay when told and ask no questions. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Intimation was received that the Main Highways Board intended holding, a conference of executives of district highways councils in Wellington at an early date to consider matters appertaining to main highway estimates and amendments to the Act. The chairman reported having attending the conference, and a full report would be available later. CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS. The chairman of the No. 2 District Council wrote asking whether any portion of the main highway within the county was, to be permanently classified, and whether the use of any motor )orry under any condition was to be prohibited. Cr. McMahon stated that the Coast Road had been declard a (second-class road. He did not think the rbad could carry anything like eight tons. In reply to Or. Cribb the clerk said that no heavy traffic licenses had been issued.

The chairman mentioned that there was a likelihood of the scale Of license fees being .altered. At present a vehicle weighing 39cwt need not pay. a heavy traffic licence fee, but a vehicle weighing lewt more must be registered. The amendment wpuld overcome that. COST OF ADMINISTRATION. A circular letter was received from the Counties’ Association with reference to the action of the motor organisations in seeking an inquiry into the cost of administration of cbuntiep where it was considered excessive, thus wasting to spme extent the taxation from motor traffic. Information concerning the council’s accounts was desired so that a reply could be made to the allegations. The clerk said that he had worked out the cost of administration and had found it to be 15 per cent., of which 1% per cent was clerical expenses. ROYAL SHOW. A circular letter was received from the secretary of the Auckland A. and p. Association advising that the 1926 Royal Show would be held in Auckland. All farmers and breeders of stock were urged to become members. RATEPAYERS' ROLLS. The Puriri Ratepayers’ Association forwarded a copy of a resolution asking that a copy of tho county roll of ratepayers be exhibited in every store or post office where it was proposed to have a polling booth for at least one month before an election or polk The clerk said that the requirements of the law had been fulfilled, and it was very incnvenient to exhibit rolls; in any other manner but the one stipulated. Naples might be deleted owing to the non-payment of

(Continued from page J.) rates, anti these could not be shown on rolls deposited all over the county. WATER RATES. A. McLoughlin, Matatoki, Wrote asking to have his land excluded from the water supply area, as he would not derive any benefit from the scheme. The clerk pointed out that only those people who used water could be charged. It was not possible to strike a non-conisumers’ rate, and he would suggest a fiat charge on those who used the water and not strike a rate. A rate of l%d in the £ would have to be struck as security for the loan. A flat rate for domestic supply according to the size of the house and a, graduated scale according to the number of stock could be charged. It was decided that Crs. Cox and McCormick bring down a report to the next meeting on a method of charging for the water. PURIRI WHARF ROAD. Mr G. Cribb, Puriri, wrote offering to pay one-quarter of the cost of a drain to unwater Puriri Wharf Road. —Referred to the engineer. BRIDGE AT PURIRI. W. G. Bedford and six others wrote pointing out the need of a bridge at Mcßeth’s Crossing, Puriri, and offering to erect the bridge provided the work was started at once, and all material was supplied. : The engineer reported that he had inspected the site and had estimated the cost of a bridge in stone or concrete abutments at £4oo'. A secondclass bridge in New Zealand timber not designed to bear a Public Works Department subsidy could be erected for £2OO or under. LICENSE. J. Buchanan, Hikutaia, made application for a billiard-room license for premises situated at Hikutaia.— Granted, subject to a favourable police report. SANITATION. • On the motion of the chairman a vote of congratulation and appreciation was accorded Senior-inspector Franklin, who had been transferred to Auckland. Mr 'H. H. Martindale w.as formally appointed the council’s sanitary inspector. IN THE BACK-BLOCKS. Mr E. Niccol, chairman of the Ratepayers’ Association at Hikuai, wrote advising that increase in rates had been discussed, as even'in that remote part of the county the rates had been increased to meet the demands of the main highway and the council's contribution, towards the Kirikiri bridge. It w,as considered that the area should not be included in the.-rating area until such time as the settlers had access to the highway and proposed bridge. At present the only acceiss was by steamer from Tairua, as no one. could be expected to use the Pu-riri-Neavesville track unless compelled to do so. The writer , had been compelled to carry a. child on horseback oyer the track, 'and in places it was so overgrown that had he not remembered where to expect holes and washouts he would halve become lost The settlers wished to' point out that the roads and bridges!; in the riding were in an awful state, and they would like to know if the whole county would pay for the repairs to these, as it was not considered fair that the whole county should be called upon to pay for main highways and the Kirikiri bridge, to, which a great proportion had no access whatever unless the rest of the county came to their assistance to make the Tairua-Puriri road- or the Tairtia-Kauaeranga road a county road.

understand how the writer could send such a letter. He, being an ex-coun-cillor, should know that the riding had been carried on the shoulders' of the other ridings for some time. The riding had a debit balance of several hundred pounds, and had never been able to contribute anything towards administration or engineering expenses. Cr. Cory-Wright said that the ratepayers understood that, but objected to paying for the main highway. The chairman said that if the riding paid for its own requirements the other ridings would assist it to compensate. The ridings on the Thames side of the watershed would be glad to see the Tairua riding out of the county altogether. Cr. Cory-Wright contended that his riding had contributed to the office and engineering expenses just aS much as the other ridings, and had not overspent its. allocation to the extent that some of the other ridings had done. At present there was only about £l7O a year available to maintain over 100 miles of road. On" the motion of the chairman the letter was referred to the finance committee. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following recommendations of the finance committee were adopted: . "That accounts totalling £1054 Is 3d on the county fund account, £B9 3s lOd on the Matatoki quarry account, and £1 Omahu Cemetery be passed tor payment. "That inquiry be made from the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. as to the terms of the Kopu water supply, and that an application be made for a transfer to the council of the fees received. "That the quarry manager at Hikutaia be interviewed in regard to a, supply of metal for the main road. “That Cr. McCormick be fufrnished with information of the council’s electrical requirements in connection with the Matatoki quarry and so enable him to place same before the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, and that the engineer report on the cost of motive power by steam bn otherwise.” MATATOKI QUARRY. The formal resolutions establishing a sinking-fund in connection with the Matatoki Quarry special loan of £5OOO tor completing the work for which a loan was previously raised, and contributing £5O annually to the Public Trustee as sinking fund commissioner, were moved by Cr. H. Lb.we, seconded by Cr. McCormick, and carried, ais also were the formal resolutions authorising the raising of "he loans and the signing of the debentures. ENGINEER’S REPORT, The county engineer (Mr J. Higgins) reported, inter alia, as follows : "I have completed the engineering survey for the tramway between the Matatoki sheds arid the quarry. Tenders have been called for earthworks totalling 6000 cubic yards;. I have to report that an erosion of a serious nature has taken place under the concrete abutment at the southern end of the No. 1 bridge on Quarry Road. The abutments were not built on solid foundations, and until a proper examination has been made I shall not be able to estimate the cost. Repairs have been made to the main road, 24 yards of gravel being used in the Pu-

riri riding. The • Puriri Wharf road has been raked, the Puriri-Neaves-ville track cleared, and Station Road, Puriri Valley Road, Townsend Road, Goodwin’s Road, Wharepoa Road and the Hikutaia Factory road have received attention. I have completed an engineering survey bf the main road from Thamse to Hikutaia to within a short distance of Puriri. I find that it is impossible to make a satisfactory job of it unless the hilly, portions are regraded and certain deviations made to ease the grades and corners.”