PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4891, 16 October 1925, Page 4

PLAINS COUNTY.

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. Parfitt, J. H. Nicholson, T. McLoughlin, J. F. Mayn, and the clerk (Mr E Walton) and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). PEKAPEKA ROAD. The chairman of the No. 2 District Council wrote advising that the Main Highways Board had considered the council’s request for a greater subsidy than £1 for £1 for the Pekapeka Road section of the .main highway and had been able to accede to the request. WAIRAU ROAD. The Minister for Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, wrote with reference to the council’s letter asking for a subsidy for the metalling of Wairau Road in addition to the £ for £ subsidy from the Highways Board and advised that all, subsidies for metalling purposes were now provided on the Public Works estimates. The representations made by the council had therefore been conveyed .to the Public Works Department. NGATEA ROADS. The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, for the Minister for Lands, wrote advising the council to endeavour to lift the £1 subsidy for the metalling of Rawerawe and Orchard Weet roads would receive consideration when a report had been received. ■

NETHERTON ROADS. The secretary of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the ocuncil to endeavour ,to lift the £lOOO, £ for £, subsidy on ‘■he south end of Awaiti Road and the £lOOO £ for £ subsidy on School Road. —-Granted. NGARUA BRIDGE. In reply to the council’s letter the Engineer-in-Chief and Under-Secre-tary, Public Works Department, stated .that the estimates for the Ngarua Landing bridge oyer the Piako River had been prepared by the Lands Drainage Department, which department was primarily concerned in the matter. The council’s representatios had been forwarded to the department. Cr. McLoughlin urged that (strong representations be made to get the bridge built as early as possible. The canal read would not be metalled durthe coming summer, and the settlers had been in the mud lor long enough. It was decided to ask the Lands Department to expedite the plans.

NGARUA FERRY. The Under-Secretary, Department for Lands, wrote in reply to. the council’s request to have a ferry installed at Ngarua that he understood the work was now included in ,the county’s main road scheme. ROAD SUBSIDIES. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister tor Lands, adviise.d that he would assist to his utmost-to have a £2 for £1 subsidy secured f6r.the council’s main roads. Regarding Moehau Street, Pipiroa, the most that the Government could be expected to give was £ for £, as the road'only gave access to three sections. ROADING SCHEME. The Patetonga Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the council to visit Patetonga at an. early date to explain the main roads scheme. It was decided to attend on Saturday, 24th inst. MANGATARATA BRIDGES. The Auckland district engineer, Public Works Department; advised that the item of £250 on a £ for £ basis for the renewal of the Mangatarata bridge had been deleted from the road estimates and included under a new item for the renewal of bridges. Proposals for the expenditure of the vote would be welcomed. LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. The Christchurch City Council submitted the following resolution for consideration :— - “That, the Christchurch City Council views with apprehension any suggestion by the Goevrnment to interfere with or restrict .the rights of the ratepayers of any local) body in. raising money for local purposes, the opinion of this Council being that local requirements are best known to local bodies and the final pronouncement in .the matter should be made by the persons responsible for the

charges upon moneys borrowed or the repayment of such moneys. “That this Council favours , the establishment of a board for the purpose of funding local bodies’ loan requirements with .a view to the stabilisation and equalisation q! interest rates and charges upon loans.” The remit was not agreed to and the letter was received. LOAN MONEYS. The Thames County Council wrote asking for a cheque for £565 9s, being interest and sinking fund on the Puriri Ferry, Kopu Ferry, and Kopu Ferry approach roads loans, which had been raised by the Thames County.—Authorised. WHAREPOA FERRY. The Turua Ratepayers’ Association wrote recommending that the Wh arepda ferry be closed and the Netherton ferry be brought up to date. Cr. Madgwick supported the request, and moved that a committee comprising Crs. Miller, Harris, and Parfitt be set up to consider the whole aspect. Cr. Nicholson opposed the suggestion of closing the ferry. Cr. Hare suggested referring the matter to the Ohinemuri and Thames County Council for their comments, the replies to. be considered by a committee comprising Crs. Mayn, McLoughlin, and Parfitt. He moved an amendment in that direction, and Cr. Nicholson seconded. After much discussion and other amendment’s it w,as decided that the committee be Crs. Miller, Harris, Parfitt, Mayn, and McLoughlin, and that they ascertain the’ views of the Thames and Ohihemuri County l Councils. KOPU TRAIN STOP. In reply to the council’s representations the district traffic manager, N.Z. Railways, advised that the express train could not be stopped at Kopu to pick up Hauraki Plains passengers tiavelling by the bus services, as the bus time-table was not suitable and would- not be altered. There was a bus service to .the train at Paeroa, Cr. Harris moved that the Railway Department be informed that there were passenger motor vehicles plying between the Plains and Thames and catching the 9.30 1 a.m. ferry, and the suggested stop at Kopu Would be greatly to the advantage of the passengers who at present had to travel unnecessarily to Thames to catch the train, which could easily be intercepted at Kopu.—Carried. COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION. The Rural Counties’ Association advised that the next conference would be Held, at 'Hamilton on October 22. - Cr. Hayward and the clerk were appointed delegates. BEA.CON FOR WAITAKARURU. The Secretary, Marine Department, wrote stating that from inquiries it would appear that' it was unnecessary to; go to the expense of erecting and maintaining a second beacon at the entrance of the Waitakaruru Stream, as there was only one launch a week from Auckland and very occasionally one from Thames. KEREPEEHI RATES. The secretary of the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the council to supply information concerning the pates collected and expended in the Kerepeehi riding; also the amount levied for the year 192425. The clerk was instructed to reply stating that the rate book was open for inspection. . HOSPITAL LEVIES:. The Minister for Health wrote advising that the representations of the Rural Cbuntiep’ Association backed - up by the council urging the revision of the hospital levies would be ■submitted to the next conference of hospital boards for consideration. MANGATARATA ROADS. On Cr. Harris’ suggestion the engineed was instructed to inspect a deposit of metal; suitable for use on the Mangatarata roads in conjunction with Crs. Harris and McLoughlin. WAITAKARURU CANAL ROAD. The clerk was instructed to raise the £lOOO loan for the council’s share of the metalling of ,the WaitakariiruMaukoro canal road. WATER SUPPLY. Mr N. Davidson, representing the settlers of Pekapeka Road, waited on the council and asked it to undertake the carrying out of a small, water supply scheme for the road similar to that in operation at Gumtown

Road. Two 1500;gallon tanks were to be erected on a tower at the river bank and pipes laid to the dozen farms. The cost was estimated at about £2300,. and: the council was asked to raise a loan for the purpose. The engineer was instructed to go into the scheme with the settlers and report to the council. PATETONGA ROADS. lOn Cr. Maytn’s motion the council decided to urge the department to rentove the stumps from all the roads handed over by the Government to the council in the Patetonga district. NGATEA BRIDGE. Cr. McLoughlin moved that the engineer report on, the advisability and cost of erecting bays on the Ngatea bridge.—Carried. DENTAL CLINIC. Cr. McLoughlin said that when in Wellington he had been promised that a dental nurse would be provided for the school dental clinic by Christmas. He moved that ,the clerk write reminding the Minister of his promise.—Carried. PIAKO RIVER BEACONS. On Cr. Parfitt’s motion the clerk was instructed to again write .to the Marine Department with reference to the use of electricity at the mouth of the Piako River.