PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4865, 14 August 1925, Page 1

PLAINS COUNTY.

9 MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. • The regular meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held at Ngatea on Tuesday, Cr. J. C. Miller presiding over the following: Crs. C. W. Harris, W. G. Hayward, W. Madgwick, C. W Parfitt, J. H. Nicholson, T. McLoughlin, F. J. Mayn, H. J. Hare, the clerk (Mr E. Walton), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). LOAN POLLS. The clerk reported that the Hau- . raki Plains West water supply scheme loan poll would be held on September 10 and the Netherton riding reading loan poll on September 14. KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. The Public Works Department’s district engineer at Auckland wrote asking the council to pay into the bank £2OOO on account of £12,000, its share of the cost of the Kihkiii bridge. The clerk reported having replied that application had been made to the Public Trustee for a loan. The Public Trustee had adivsed that it would be granted subject to the money being paid at his convenience. Until the money was received, the clerk said, it could not be paid into the bank. The district engineer’s request would be brought before the Public Trustee. PUKA’HU ROAD. A letter was received from the resident Public Works Department engineer at Paeroa advising that the question of providing a ramp over the stop-bank at the end of Pukahu Road to give the settlers access to the river had been deferred. ■ CAPTAIN COOK ROAD. A petition was received from seven isettlers asking that the Te Kauri (Captain Cook) Road be given some attention as it was in a bad state. . Cr. Hayward pointed put that the proposed stop-bank would be built on th a ro,ad. Cr/ Hare advocated scarifying and rolling. The matter was referred to the ridnig member and engineer. RIVERS IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. The circular letter from the Mayor of Waihi relative to the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme was merely received. WAIT AKAR URU CANAL ROAD. Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., forwarded a letter frpm the Minister for Lands in reference to what was considered a fair contribution by the Hauraki Plains County Council towards the metalling of the Waitakaruru-Mau-koro canal road. The Under-Secre-tary for Lands had conferred with the assistant Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department, who advised •that his-department’s engineers had been directed to make recommendations as to the- allotment of the various amounts .to local bodies and the conditions under which such subsidies would be granted. The engineers would meet in conference in August, and it wasi suggested that the county chairman consult with .the district engineer as to the quota for the canal rpad, and also ajs tot the subsidy conditions. . The clerk repprted that the chairman and Cr. Harris had proceeded to Auckland and had interviewed the district engineer, who was prepared to recommend a subsidy pf £3 10s to £l. ROADSIDE DRAINS. The Ngatea Farmers’ Union wrote asking the counci Ito draw the attention of the Lands Departmnet to the matter pf diverting the drain water from the Ngatea townshipi and filling in the drain on the northern side of the road as far as the saleyards cor r ner. Cr. Hayward said the condition was very acute. . The drains were slipping very badly, and the road was becoming very narrow. A drainage board would possibly soon be formed to administer the drains, in the area west of the Piako River, and the matter should be attended to before that happened. Cr. McLoughlin supported, pointing put that the water could be diverted. It was certain that something would have to be. done. The drains would have to be filled in, as .the township was growing very rapidly. Cr. Parfitt, one of the delegates who interviewed the Chief Drainage Engineer on behalf of the proposed drainage board, said that the matter had been discussed. The suggestion had been that the drains, be diverted, but Mr O. N. Campbell had expressed the opinion that it was hot a matter for the department. However, it would be looked into and reported upon, to-, ge.ther with the other requests of the proposed drainage board committee.. It was decided that Crs. Hayward, Parfitt, and McLoughlin be a committee to go into the question. PATETONGA ROADING.

The secretary of the Patetonga Ratepayers’ Association forwarded a communication received from the Minister for Lands in reply to the .matters put before him on his visit in January last as follows : —

"In your csae, and in view of the circumstances, I will be prepared to assist you in every possible manner in securing the most liberal subsidy, even up to £2 to. £l, when you bring forward proposals lor the improvement of your main roads under discussion,”

To enable the ratepayers to comprehend the future position it was necessary to have an estimate of metalling the roads, and also an estimate of the loan rate and future .maintenance costs. The .association therefore asked the council’s engineer to get out the- estimates and report

on the metal at Potoky’s iilace. The roads suggested to be metalled were : Lower Patcto-nga, Waikaka Tramway as far east as the canal, Maukoro Landing from Top Road to Lower Patetonga Road, Mangawherb from Top Road to the canal, WaitakaruruMorrinsville, and such portions of the Kaihere-Ohinewai road as were in the Patetonga riding.—Request granted. DAMAGED FLOOD-GATE. The Lands Drainage Engineer at Kerepeehi advised that the council’s offeit of £25 towards the coist of temporary repairs and replacement of flood-gates at Orongo damaged by one of the council’s metal punts had been considered by the Chief Drainage Engineer as inadequate. The attention of the late county engineer (Mr Higgins )had been drawn to the erosion and the risk of further damage. The estimated cost of repairing the damage at the time was £5O. Later on the punt settled on the outlet and caused damage which cost £73 3s lid to temporarily repair. The* estimated cost of permanent repairs was £l5O, and the total claim against the council was £224 3s lid, less £5O, the estimated cost of repairing damage not entirely due to the council’s punts. The department had no intention of constructing a new and enlarged floodgate. The council was asked to report to the Chief Drainage Engineer. The clerk reported having looked into the matter. The council was not responsible for damage done by its contractor unless his action was authorised by resolution of the council. The council, had forwarded £25 in final settelment without prejudice to its rights. It was decided to leave the matter to the chairman and clerk.

SANITARY INSPECTOR. The Medical Officer of Health, , Auckland, advised that Inspector Franklin had been transferred to Auckland and Inspector A. H, Martindale had taken over his duties. The council was asked to formally appoint Inspector Martindale sanitary inspector —Agreed to. CONFERENCE OF COUNCILS. The Taumarunui County Council forwarded a copy of'-'the minutes of the conference of county councils at Hamilton and asked that the resolutions be adopted and representatives made to local members of Parliament on the subjects. Matters discussed included hospital levies, main highways, motor taxation (petrol tax), Native land rating, councillors’ travelling allowances, and the formation of a Rural Counties’ Association. It was decided to endorse the recommendations. OVERHAUL OF PUNTS. The N.Z. Roads, Ltd., forwarded ; a letter from Bell Bros, metal puntage contractors, suggesting that as the Kauaeranga quarries were to be closed down for a few weeks, opportunity should be taken to overhaul the county punts, which were leaking badly.— Referred to the engineer for action. OFFER FOR PUNT. Mr L. Julian wrote offering £3O for the council’s old 30'yd punt. A similar price was also offered' by W. H. McCawatt. It was decided to . call tenders for the purchase of the punt. GENERAL RATES. With reference to the striking of the general rates lor the ensuing year the clerk reported having conferred with the county engineer. He had drawn up the following recommendations : — / “The roads generally are going back for want, of maintenance. “The.counciliin its efforts to assist Ratepayers to tide over a difficult time lias pared down the rates to. below the danger point. This appliep to both general and special rates. , “Now that* the council is undertaking more grant work and main high- ; way work it 1 is essential that.’it should ! have working capital in order to carry out these works and wait for the Gov- : eminent money. “That in order, to get the best value for money spent it is necessary to have the money in. hand in order to carry out the work in the . summer season, winter patching having proved expensive and not in any way economical. “That with increasing special rates which have to be met on due dates further calls are being made on the general account for advances, to meet interest accounts, j “That the only method of getting on a proper footing is to increase the special and general/rates to establish credit balance in. each account. “That the longer 1 it is left the harder it will be to get on this footing, owing to the.increasing incidence of special rates. ■ “These matters could be taken into consideration when the rates- are being struck/” In reply to a councillor the clerk said that since it had become known that the/council intended recovering overdiirC' rates through' the Courts he had received numerous requests; for time, ill: which to pay. These had been dealt with on their merits, and variou's arrangement had been made. The question of the amount of arrears owing, was not a serious one, and was not worth the prominence given in some quarters. AN UNUSUAL OFFER. ' The clerk reported that a man had interviewed him and offered to lend £2OOO on local body debentures at 6 per cent. It was decided to accept the offer on behalf, of the HoraJiia Roads Loan. • WATER SUPPLY SUBSIDY. On Cr. Parfitt’s motion the clerk was instructed to approach the Minister for Lands and the local member of Parliament .with reference to a subsidy for the proposed water (supply. PIPfIROA FERRY. In reply to Cr. Parfitt the clerk reporter! that no communication had been received from Mr A. E. A. Dodd, of R; P. Gibbons, Ltd., in regard to the Pipi'roa ferry. He understood that Mr Dcwld was at present very ill. ■PTPIROA BRIDGE. Cr. Pai’fitt moved that a committee '

comprising the chairman and Crs. Harris and Parfitt be set up to consider a rating area for the Pipirba bridge. Seconded by. Cr. Hayward aiid carried. PI AKO RIVER WHARVES. On Cr. Parfitt’s motion the clerk was instructed to write to the Northern Steam Ship Company and ascertain the amount of cargo to and from the Piako River, so that the amount o.f revenue, should wharfage be charged, could be ascertained. PARKING OF MOTORS. It was decided that the attention of the county inspector be di'awn to the practice of parking cars on the roadside through Ngatca township, as this was obstructing the traffic. Cars could be parked near the school, where the road was wider. MANGATARATA TELEPHONE. The clerk was instructed to apply to the guarantors of the Mangatarata telephone to make up the deficiency of £2l-odd which had been claimed from the county council owing to it having guaranteed, at the request of the settlers, to make up any deficiency. RAILWAY SERVICE. On Cr. Harris’ motion the clerk was instructed to ask the Railway Department to have the morning ThamesAuckland express stop at Kopu far the purpose of picking up passenger's from the ebunty. MIRANDA QUARRY. Cr. Harris introduced Mr A. Smith, of Miranda Road, Waitakaruru, who desired the council to reconsider its decision to reduce the payment for the cartage of metal through Mr Hill’s property from the Miranda quarry to the read to 3d a cubic yard. The old-rate was Is a yard. The matter was discussed at length, it being pointed’ but that no contract had been entered into by Mr Higgins, but a verbal arrangement had been come to and since then the conditions had changed. It was agreed that a royalty of 6d a yard should be paid for the metal already taken, and that fresh arrangements be entered into before any more metal was taken.