OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4898, 2 November 1925, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. The regular meeting of the Ohinemuri County. Council was held on Thursday -afternoon, the chairman (Cr. W. jF.’ Johnstone) presiding over the following: Crs. H. M.-Corbett, P. - • Corbett, R. R. Morrison, C. E. Mace, * ■S. H. Morgan, A. R. Robinson, F. C. Hubbard, and A. D. McGuire ; also the ■ clerk (Mr R. W. Evans), and the en- : gineer (Mr E. Shaw). GOLD DUTY. The "Prime Minister wrote with reference to the gold duty paid ,to the . council on account of the upkeep o(f •the Waikino township, advising that the representations made. would receive consideration. PROPOSALS FOR METALLING. ' The district engineer, Public Works - > Department, wrote advising that, the 3 ,Hon. Minister would not in future authorise any Government funds for metalling until he received an assurance from the local body that it was_ in a position and willing to provide, annually, sufficient money to adequately maintain such metalling. The council was requested to arrange for a resolution to tha,t effect being passed in connection with all metalling proposals submitted for approval,. | The necessary resolution was moved by the chairman and seconded by Cr. Hubbard, covering the following roads: Waitawheta-Waihi, Pukewera, Farrelley’s, Chappell’s - Crossing, -Pae--—~roa-Thames, Old ’ Tauranga Road to - : Waihi, Pevereal’s, and Ryall’s. - MINING RENTS. A reduction of rent .to 3s 9d an acre for a period of 12 months on the ■ following mining privileges held by H. H. Adams in the Hauraki mining district was recommended by the Minister - for Mines: Komata Reefs, special quartz claim, 79 acres 1 rood 24 perches ; Te Aomarama special quartz claim, 63 acres 3 roods 19 perches ; Komata Creek extended river claim, 1 acre 2 roods. —Agreed to. ROAD AT MANGAITI. F. W. Manning wrote drawing attention to the fact that owing to the congestion at the junction of the roads -— near the Mangaiti store occasioned by farmers’ milk waggons and motor lorries receiving and delivering milk at the stand, on .the roadside the road should be.widened. In his opinion the necessary improvement could be effected j|y an expenditure of £5, and he offered to contribute half that sum if the council would put the work in hand. Cr. Mace considered that the work was -necessary. . ’ The matter was referred to the engineer. , DRAIN AT KOMATA. W. Watson, Koma,ta North, wrote asking permission to .deepen a drain facing his-boundary to a point near Mr Alexander’s property, on which the canal commences. 'T'" Cr. ■ Robinson said that some time ago the council had deepened the ... drain on ; the eastern?, and western sides, but the work had scarcely, gone ; \ far enough. The membeijs would remember that the settlers had petitioned to have the canal closed, but permission had not been given. The deepening of the drain by, the writer ? ■ concerned would throw no responsibility on the council, and he moved that permission to do the work be granted. Cr. Morrison,» in seconding pro - forma, said he could jnot quite realise why the settlers wished the block to be taken out of the drain, as when that was dqfrie the water could flow both ways. Cr. Robinson explained that the drain was an open one. -I 1 Cr. Morrison said he had misunderstood the position. The resolution was carried. ACCESS TO PROPERTIES. W. D. Keys, Paeroa, wrote on be- - half of fdur settlers, requesting that the sum of £5O be spent on the by- ' road leading to properties near Mill Road. He requested that the road be formed for about 15 chains, and the stumps and cabbage-trees removed. It would also be necessary to form a roadside drain for. the purpose of carrying storm-water into the Rotokohu canal. The settlens in the area had experienced considerable difficulty in getting in and out during the winter, and they hoped that the .work would be undertaken during the approaching summer. Cr. Hubbard said that there Was only a. track, and he thought the positidfri should be looked into with a view to the possibility of obtaining a Government subsidy. He agreed that some assistance should be afforded the settlers. • The matter was referred to the en- * gineer for a report to be presented at the next meeting. k TENDERS. ■ There was only one tender, that of Brenan and Co.’s, £215, for metalling 33 chains o)f Ford Road, in the Waihi riding. Cr. P. Corbett said he did not think the tender should be accepted. He considered the price (10s 9d) a yard too high. The haul was a mile and a quarter shorter than the Trigg Road work. He moved that the matter be referred to the engineer and riding member to arrange for the work. Cr. Robinson strongly objected, and said that in his opinion it was not fair to the firm tendering for the work, and it was not the correct way to handle public money. He was opposed to the resolution. ' Finally it was resolved that fresh tenders ffe called, returnable within 14 days. GARDEN NEAR CEMETERY. Cr. H. M. Corbett drew attention to a vegetable garden that was being maintained at the foot of the cemetery, and said that in his opinion it •was not in the interests of public health. He did not speak sentimentally on the matter, but thought that it was undesirable to be growing vegetables for human cnosumpticfn in such surroundings. The drainage from the cemetery would certainly j>ercolate through to the garden. The clerk explained that the ten-

ant had been granted a lease of the Land by the county, but the use to which it was toi be put had not been specified. * The matter was referred to the clerk to write to the Health Depart-’ ment for an expressino of opinion on the matter. USE OF ROLLER. Cr. Hubbard asked if the road roller could not do some scarifying and rolling on the Paeroa-Thames road and so fill in some of the worst potholes. Cr. - Morgan supported, saying that the only way to) effect a satisfactory improvement wais to scarify and roll the road. Cr. Robinson supported the previous speakers. He considered the road in question was .the worst conditioned piece of main highway in the county. The chairman drew attention to the state of the council’s, finances, nnd said that the expenditure already authorised was very heavy, and it would be necessary to undertake only works of an urgent nature at the present time. Cr. H. M. Corbett considered that it was a wise policy td keep the roller going. It was useless having it idle, when there were so many roads that required attention. Cr. Hubbard moved that the scarifying'of portions of Thames, Road be proceeded with at once, the position to be reviewed at the next meeting. Seconded by Cr. Morgan and carried. SERVICES RECOGNISED. On the motion of Cr. McGuire, seconded by Cr. Hubbard, it was resolved to record the thanks and appreciatio .of the council to Mr H. Poland, M.P., for the services Tendered by him not only to the council but to the whole district in his capacity of member for Ohinemuri. A similar resolution was accorded Mr L. May, resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, and it was decided to write and offer him hearty congratulatinos on his wellmerited promotiojn. METAL FOR REPAIRS. On the recommendation of Crs. Morrison and Robinson the engineer was authorised to procure metal for Wharf Road, Hikutaia, Vedder’s Road, Gubb’s Rtjad, Robinson’s Road, and Ferry Read, Komata North. In speaking to the resolution Cr. R. Morrison suggested that it should be the engineers duty tc/ inspect the roads requiring metal, or repairs, and not leave matters, to the riding members to introduce. The engineer would tnen be in a position to support or otherwise, the suggestions brought forward by the councillors, and he would also know that the councillors were not fault-finding or complaining unnecessarily. After the roads had been inspected the recbfcnmendations should be incorporated in the engineer's report and placed before the council each month. Several members supported the suggestion. NEW BOUNDARY SOUGHT. A petition signed by 19 ratepayers at Whangamata was read as follows : “We, the undersigned, being owners and occupiers of land situated in the Tairua’and Hikutaia ridings of the Thames County, hereby petition your county to take the necessary action to effect a transfer of the area wherein our properties are situated to the Waitekauri riding of the Ohinemuri Cojunty. The suggested boundaries are indicated on the sketch plan attached. “We are of .the opinion that the transfer would be of benefit to your council and to ourselves, especially with regard to the satisfactory maintenance of the Waihi-Whangamala road, which is the only road access, to the Whangamata district. “The matter of this petition is subject to no alteration being automatically made in respect to the license or status of the Whangamata hotel.” ' : Cr. Corbetts said it was eviednt that the matter should have been referred to the Thames County finst. He thought that only that portion of the area having a community of interest with Ohinemuri should be accepted. Cr.'Morrison thought that the council, would onily be loading itself with heavy expense if it .took over the area as delineated on the plan? It was not right that tlie Ohinemuri council should take over; any territory without the full knowledge and consent of the Thames County Council. The chairman agreed that the matter should be referred to the Thames body first. Cr; Robinson paid that it was only necessary for the committee set up to'report on the matter to ascertain whether the change would be of advantage to the Ohinemuri County. Further procedure could be decided on when the committee’s report was submitted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £702 4s 5d were passed for'payment.