HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4883, 28 September 1925, Page 2

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. A special meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council. was held on Thursday last. Cr. J. C. Miller presiding over Crs. J. F. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, J. Nicholson, C. Parfitt, W. Madgwick, C. ,W. Harris, H. J. Hare, the clerk (Mr E. Walton), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. The several special ersolutions required by the Public Trustee in connection with the raising of the loan for the Kirikiri bridge were carried. RIDING BOUNDARIES. Part of the business for which the special meeting had been called was to consider the alteration of riding boundaries, as has been suggested by Cr. Madgwick at the last monthly meeting. The section of the Counties Act dealing with the matter was read and explained by the clerk. Cr. Madgwick moved that all that portion of the Kopuarahi riding included in the Turua-Orongo roads loan special rating area be transferred from the Kopuarahi riding to the Turua riding. Seconded by Cr. J. C. Miller. Cr. Madgwick explained that the object of the change was), to bring all bitumen-bound roads into the same riding, so that the low maintenance rate that would be necessary could be levied on those settlers only who were paying special road rates. If the change was not effected the Tu-rua-Orongo settlers would have .to pay the high rate necessary to maintain the macadam roads of the Kppuarahi riding.

The motion was carried. Cr. Mayn suggested that a portion of the Patetonga riding that ran up into the hills be transferred" to the Ngatea riding. It would include the Kaihere-Ohinewai road, which was the outlet for the Kaihere settlement. Cr. McLoughlin supported the suggestion, as the Kaihere settlers needed the road. The area was at the extreme end of the Patetonga riding and the road was of little use to the settlers of that riding. If and work was necessary on the road the settlers approached him, and it was difficult for him to have the work done because tile Pateonga riding would have to pay for it. He was agreeable to the change, as all. the settlers of the Ngatea riding in the locality were urging the transfer while the Patetonga settlers of that riding. If any work was area cut out of their riding.

Cr. Mayn moved, and Cr. McLoughlin seconded, that the area comprising the sections fronting the KaihereOhinewai Road be transferred from the Patetonga riding to the Ngatea riding.—Carried. STRIKING OF RATES. In accordance with his notice of motion Cr. Parfitt moved that the council reconsider 1 the general rate to be struck for the current year.—Carried. Cr. McLoughlin, in advocating a reduction for the Ngatea riding, said that it had not spent more than had been collected, and lie was adverse to a high rate to wipe out a bank overdraft. He moved that the rate be 2i/ 4 d. Cr. Madgwick opposed any reduction from that previously dcided upon. There was no doubt that the findncesl of the council should be put in a sound position, and the rate which had been adopted was an attempt in that direction.

Cr. Parfitt moved as an amendment that the general rate in the Kopuarahi, Kerepeehi, Horahia, Ngatea, and Pipiroa be. 2%d in the £. In support he pointed out that the amout of maintenance metal mentioned by the engineer was more than sufficient for one year. The work could be’ spread over two years.

Another amendment was moved by Cr. Madgwick, who pointed out that the matter had been very carefully investigated by the Engineer and clerk, and the recommendation was the lowest rate that could be struck to dp the work necessary and also tend to put the finances of the county on a sound footing. If the rate was thought to be too high it sihould be reduced by an equal amount in each riding. His amendment was .to the effect that the rate to be struck be y 4 d less than that previously decided upon.

The matter was discussed at great lengh, and sevrael motions and amendments-, were moved and abandoned. Finally it was agreed that the rates be as followbi: — Kopuarahi 23&d, Pipiroa Turua 214 d, Nethertou 2d, Ngatea. 2 1 4<L Waitakaruru 2%d, Pate tonga 2d, Kerepeehi 2%d, Horahia 2%d. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

Several councillors expressed dissatisfaction at the amount of Public Works Department subsidies, and the difficulty of reconciling the votes recommended on the Publie Works Department’s estimates with the sums promised and the applied for. It was decided, that Crs. Madgwick and Hare, with the enigneer, be empowered to proceed to Auckland to go into the matter with the Public Works and Lands Drainage Departments. WATER SUPPLY SCHEME. Cr. Parfitt moved that the Hauraki Plains West Water Supply Committee be empowered ,to take the necessary steps to raise the loan and carry out th scheme. ® Seconded by Cr. McLoughlin and carried. COMMITTEES. It was decided that the chairman of the council be a member ex-officio bf all committees of the council. QUARRY COMMITTEE. On the motion of Cf. McLoughlin a quarry committee was set up comprising thei chairman, Crs. Parfitt, Mayn. and McLoughlin. WAITAKARURU CANAL ROAD. Some time ago the council, appointed its chairman and Cr. Harris,, to interview the Public Works Department with reference to a grant for the metalling of the WaitakaruruMaukoro canal road. A letter has now been received from the Public Works Department’s residenhengineer

at Pacroa advising that the Minister.. * had agreed to increase the depart-1&: ment’s contribution of £l5OO, £ towards the cost of the road to £2ooo£jX. According to the Land Drainage gineer’s estimate the cost of would be £450'0. ■ The under the new arrangement Public Works i Lands Drainage and settlers £1000;