OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4873, 4 September 1925, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The regular meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held at Paeroa yesterday afternoon, Cr. W. F. Johnstone presiding over the following: Crs. A.-D. McGuire, F. C. Hubbard, S. H. Morgan, P. Corbett, H. M. Corbett, R. Morrison, C. Mace, the county clerk (Mr R. W. Evans), and the county engineer (Mr E. Shaw). Prior’to opening .the meeting a vote of sympathy with Cr. Morrison, who- recently suffered a bereavement in his family, was carried, members standing in silence. WELCOME. Cr. Mace was welcomed back to the council by the chairman. Returning thanks, Cr> Mace said that he had gained much information concerning local body work while in Australia. He had called on several shire members and secured informa*tion concerning ,tar;-sealing which he had given to the engineer. He had learned that local bodies were, granted £ for z £ subsidies for maintenance, and would urge the council’s, representative on the District Council of the. Highways Boand to advocate this. LICENSING OF DRIVERS, A circular letter was received from the Minister for Internal Affairs drawing attention to the need of tightening up the methods under which licenses to drive motor vehicles have been issued in the’past. Applicants were to be asked to declare whether any previous application by them had been declined, and issuing authorities were urged to inquire from neighbouring issuing authorities if licenses had been refused to any applicant who desired a license from a local body in whose territory he did not reside or have his motor vehicle. A stiffening of the examination of drivers was also urged. MOTOR REGULATIONS. The Minister for Internal Affairs forwarded for the council's information and comment, a copy of further draft regulations under the Motor Vehicels Act, 1924. The chairman said that hei had examined the regulations, and wais of opinion that they were- satisfactory. Cr. P. Corbett thought the Apt should be amended to include all vehicles that could use a road. Tractors were not included, and cases, had been recorded where excessive damage had been done to tar-sealed roads. Other councillors pointed out that a hardship might be caused. The matter wsjs referred to the chairman‘and engineer ,to deal with. TRUCKING OF SHEEP. In reply to the council’s letter the district engineer, N.Z. Railways, advised that the matter of providing facilities for loading and unloading sheep at W’aikino station, had been looked into and it was considered that the present or prospective traffic , did not warrant the improvements asked for. . Cr. Corbtet said that a low level yard had already been erected. The traffic was certainly not very great, but with ' present facilities sheep could only -be unloaded from twodecked trucks with difficulty, while it was practically impossible to lead into the top floor of trucks. . It was decided, on Cr. Corbett’p motion, to refer, the matter to the member of Parliament fofr the district. RANGIORA ROAD DRAIN. The resident engineer, : Public Works Department, Paeroa, wrote advising that the proposal to deepen the Rangiora Road drain had been approved, provided the council contributed £3O towards the cost. The department was arranging to collect the £2O which the. settlers had agreed to contribute. The work would be put in hand when the money was received. > It was decided to. pay the amount. * MASSEY MONUMENT. The secretary of the Massey Monu-ment-Fund wrote asking for the return of the subscription lists-, together with all monies. WHANGAMATA ROAD. Mr H. Poland, M.P., wrote stating that he would be glad to support the council's representations to have the Waihi-Whangamata road declared a Government road. He agreed that .there were unusual circumstances warranting this being done. TRAMLINE BRIDGES. Paykel Bros., Ltd., Auckland, wrote .stating that they had purchased the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Co.’s bush tramline, and before dismantling it would offer'the council the bridges, which might be of some use in giving access to various settlers. - / In reply to Cr. Corbett the engineer said he thought that portion of teh line was on a. county road. He could not say without looking up the old deedsIt w'as decided,, on Cr. Corbett’s motion, that the matter be referred to the chairman, clerk, and engineer to take what action was thought fit. EXTENSION OF COUNTY. Mr N. A. Palmer, secretary of the . Whangamata Settlers’ Association, wrote in regard to the proposed transfer of'portion of that district from the control of the Thames County to the Ohinemuri County, and stated that Cr/ Cory-Wright would bring the matter before the Thames County : at its next meeting. A sketch plan of the area concerned was forwarded. MARATOTO ROAD. Hamilton 'and Jones, Waipiheke, wrote offering a royalty of. 2d per 100 superficial feet on all kauri timber in their contract and to repair all bridges damaged. The work already done on the road was stated. MINE RENT. .Mr P. McConnell ,Waihi, wrote advising that the rent on Dixon’s S.QClaim was 7s 6d an acre, or £l9 17s 6d a year. He asked .the council to reduce this by half.—Granted. H. H. Adams wrote asking the council to agree to a reduction of rent on the Komata Reefs silver . quartz claim to Is an acre per annum, as he desired time to obtain sufficient. ..capital to continue development work. It was agreed that no greater re-

duction than to 3s 9d an acre could be recommended. ROAD REPAIRS WANTED. R. D. Mens. Hikutaia. wrote drawing attention to the state of the road to his farm and asking for repairs to be 'effected. Cr. Morrison said that, the road was through a swamp and nothing could be done. ’’The settler had another outlet, which was in good order. The engineer said it had been decided to metal the road.—Referred to' the engineer. FRANKLIN ROAD. F. C. Hollidge, Waikino, wrote on behalf of the settlers, of Franklin Road drawing attention to the is.tate of the road and reminding the-coun-cil of a promise made two years ago that it would receive attention. . Cr. Morgan moved that the engineer attend to the matter. —Carried. PUKEWERA ROAD. T. H. Roberts’ and W. Muir, Waihi, wrote drawing attention to the state of Pukewera Road, Waihi Plains. The engineer said that the road was one of the legacies of the Public Works Department. The council had authorised a culvert to drain the road but a settler had objected to the drain on his land. The matter was referred to the chairman and engineer for action. REPORTS. The magazinekeeper reported having issued 's4''cases) of explosives during the month. Fees received totalled £5 8s lid. During the month 86 cattle, 98 sheep, 6 lambs, 2 claves, and 6 pigs were Slaughtered at the abattoirs, the fees totalling £4B 13s sd. KAIMANAWA ROAD. Cr. Morrison urged that Kaimanawa Road should be attended to, and moved that iOO yards of metal be procured for the w'ork as opportunity offered. —Carried. WAITOKT ROAD. Cr. Mace said that the Waitoki Road should be attended, to. The time was opportune to call tenders for the filling,, so that the metalling could be done after Christmas. The engineer pointed out that the road was in better order*'than it had been in any previous winter. Much drainage was necessary before a good job could be done. He was of opinion that sanding would be sufficient for the time being. This was supported by Cr. Morrison, who said he would prefer to see a loan raised for a permanently surfaced road. 'Cr. Corbett advocated widening and culverting for the time being. Metalling was not urgently required. The chairman said that the council had agreed to metal the. road out of rates. It could be maintained in good .order at a small cost. Cr.z Morgan pointed out that the road was of little use to ratepayers of the county. It was . purely a through road, and when improvements were to be done they should be done with permanent materials. The council could not build a suitable road without a loan, and it was very doubtful whether ratepayers would sanction this.

Cr. P. Corbett said that Ins riding could not afford its share of the cost of the proposed work, and the road was of little or no use to them. The settlers of the ioclaity had turned down a loan proposal and he did not see why the rest of the county .should be called upon to foot the bill. Crs. Hubbard and McGuire pointed out that the motorists of the county were paying taxation, and it was for the council to expend money and collect the subsidy from the Highways Board.

Or. Mace, in replying, pointed out that while the Wai hi riding would be called upon to pay its portion it had in the past received much assistance from the other ridings. The ratepayers were continually asking when the road would be metalled. The rates would well cbver the sum re quired. He moved that the engineer obtain the necessary authority from the Highways Board and call tenders for the work of raising the level. On the casting vote of the chaii\ man the motion was carried. WAITETE BRIDGE The engineer reported that the Public Works Department’s engineer had advised that the erection of the Waitete bridge would be commenced as soon ais possible.