PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4913, 9 December 1925, Page 3

PLAINS COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. ' The regular meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was field yesterday; Cn J. C. Miller presiding over ‘ the following: Crs. J. F. May’ll, T. ' McLoughlin, H. Ji Hare, J. Nicholson, W. Madgwick, C. W. Harris, the clerk (Mr E. Walton), and the engineer (Mr Pl Basham). THE CLERKSHIP. Thirty-seven applications for the position of clerk and .treasurer were - read and discussed in committee. - On standing orders being resumed it; w.as announced that the number had been reduced to three. After further inquiries the final appointment would be made at a special meeting on December 22. S" ORCHARD' EAST ROAD. ; The No. 2 District Highways’ Council wrote advising that the proposal ■ to treat the Orchard East section of the main highway with bitumen had been > considered, and it had. been decided that the most economical method, of maintaining the road was as a ■ ■? water-bound macadam road, using fine ' shingle top-dressing. The board was ‘ therefore unable to agree ,to the lay- . ing down of a penetration course of - bitumen as suggested. The clerk explained that the position was that .the proposal had been submitted months; ago The council had been misled in that the board .could have turned the method down -—within a week. The council had gone ’ahead and borrowed, the money .and : let ; a'contract subject to the proposal being sanctioned! The engineer pointed out that the ■.Highways Board .was, inconsistent. It had recently sanctioned bitumen work on the Pekapeka road new formation, ; yet on the only road suitable for bitu-men-sealing bitumen had been turned down. ' The clerk was instructed to write - on the matter. TIMBER FLOATING-. -'The Commissioner of Crown Landa advised .that the .application of the Parker Lamb Timber Co. for a flpating license in the 'Hikutaia stream --had been adjourned until a meeting had been held between the council - and the company. ./-■Messrs Smythe and Jones, officials of the company, waited upon the council and explained the method of operation proposed. The companj - proposed to employ Mr. Julian, the ■ company’s contracto r,-.to tow the logs . out as opportunity offered. The logs r would’ be transported by tram and r to a point on the stream below the road. There would be no driving. The chairman said'.that the posi-tion-seemed satisfactory 'from the ■?■... council’s standpoint. The matter c ouW very well be left to the ,en- ' gineer.- :' The chaiiman moved that the clerk be instructed fo x n&tify the Land Board <_that, the- objection would be withdrawn. . Cn McLoughlin opposed this, contending'that rigid regulations should . drawn up to be signed by the company. .-.The Thames County Council ’ had • found that verbal agreements / "with. this -company, were - unsatisfac- . iory. jf. ’■ ’ ' It. was agreed that the withdrawal of the'.objection'be sanctioned provid- - ed thet company agreed not to use the stream'bn more than two days a week, ■ andthat the..'council’s contractors be employed.' , ’ WATER SUPPLY SCHEME. N. S. Davidson and eleven other set- ■’ tiers of Pekapeka Road petitioned the . council to take- a poll on the *<to borrow £2OOO for the purpose of ‘ establishing a/water supply service on Pekapeka .Road- Two 1500-gallon iron * tanka were- to,;,be erected on a 25ft tower and-supplied with water by an electrically'driven reciprocating pump of sufficient capacity to draw 20,000 gallons from the river daily. An auto- . matic switch, 1 controlled by a float, was' to be fitted. -About 2% miles of ; 3in mains: would.be required.—Grant- //■/:■■/.'* . ■ POKENO-HIGHWAY.’ . The'resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa,’ wrote pointing out'that ho reply had been received 1 , to his; letter of October 20 asking the council to contribute £5O towards the —„cost of-maintaining.the main, highway from Haley’s. Corner to. the county - boundary. An early reply..was desjr- //■• ; " ’ It was decided to point out that ■ the road was a Government road. " NGATEA DENTAL CLINIC. The Minister for Health wrote in .. reply to the 'council’s letter and ad- . ..vised that the first dental nurse available would'be appointed to the Nga- ’ .tea’ dental clinic. DESTRUCTION OF BRIDGE. The Thames County Council intimated that it w.as investigating the - destruction of the old bridge .across - the Kauaeranga River at Paraw’ai, and Intended communicating with the Plains Council as one of the parties, interested. , .. PUNTING ON KAUAERANGA, ' - The Thames County Council advis- “ e d that it would not relieve the council of 'Responsibility for damage that might be' caused the Kauaeranga bridge by punts owned or controlled ? by the council and conveying metal / to .the Hauraki Plains! 'NGARARAH-I ROAD. ’ The Netherton Ratepayers? Associ.ation wrote urging the Council to have 'a drain constructed on the eastern side of the Ngararahi stop-bank road. —Referred to Cr. Hare and the en- • gineer for a- report. NETHERTON ROADS. The Public Works. Department’s district engineer, Auckland, wrote asking for the maintenance resolution for School Road, Netherton, and for .certain particulars for inclusion in f the proposals. T he resident engineer, Paeroa, also wrote with reference to the £250 £ for -£ subsidy on account of £lOOO for the Awaiti block roads, and asked that the. council pass and forward a copy of a resolution covering the future . maintenance and setting out the sum of money the council was prepared to

set aside annually for the purpose. Membersi stressed the need for adequate and regular maintenance, but expressed reluctance ,to enter into .a contract to spend a certain sum annually. The clerk was instructed to ascertain further particulars. Cr. Hare moved that the clerk write to the Minister for Public Works reminding him of his, promise concerning ,the provision of subsidies in connection with the recent Netherton roads loan. —Carried. CANAL ROAD. On the motion’ of Cr. Harris it was decided to request the Lands-Drain-age Department to immediately undertake the metalling of the Waitaka-ruru-Maukoro Canal Road. SURFACEMAN. Gi E. Perry, an employee of the council at Waitakaruru, wrotei apply.ing for .the position of riding surfaceman.—Granted. NETHERTON HALL. The engineer was instructed to look into the matter of piping .the drain in Netherton in front of the new public hall site ne.ar the teniiis courts. ' PATETONGA, SECESSION. The clerk reported on the committee’s visit to Patetonga and the conference with the Piako County Council and the, ratepayers. The committee .was authorised to carry on with the matter.' Cr. Mayn moved th'at the, -Ratepayers’ Association be informed that the council would be pleased .to consider any loan proposal it might have to put forward for the metalling of the roads of the Patetonga riding, and that it be asked to act quickly, as the council proposed going on with its main roads scheme. CONTROL OF TRAFFIC. . On Cr. McLoughlin’s motion the Ngatea bridgekeeper was appointed to control the traffic over the Ngatea bridge at the busy hours of the day. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. CA McLoughlin'moved that the as-sistant-engineer be given a testimonial on hin departure. He had proved a very efficient servant.—Carried.