OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4935, 5 February 1926, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

monthly council meeting. r The regular meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday afternoon, the chairman (Cr. W. F. Johnstone) presiding over the fol- • lowing: Crs. S. H. Morgan, A. R. Robinson, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, R. R. Morrison, . C. E. Mace, and the clerk (Mr R. W. Evans) and the engineer (Mr E. Shaw). TESTING ROAD METAL. The Main Highways Board advised that a number of local bodies had forwarded samples of stone to Wellington for testing, making the freight payable by the board. Also, in many : cases it had been necessary to arrange cartage of the metal from the railway station to the laboratory at Pipitea Point. The board required all local bodies to forward metal for testing only through a forwarding agency, otherwise all charges incur- . red would be claimed from the local body concerned. REQUEST FOR PETROL TAX. The Tauranga County Council forwarded the following resolution and solicited support:— “That with a view to raising sufficient funds to pay the whole cost of maintenance of main highways the Government be asked to institute a tax, making suitable exemptions for dairying and other indusries.” It was agreed that the principle was a good one, and the resolution was' supported. CLOSING OF ROAD. A Paeroa solicitor wrote in connection with the closing of ’a road through section 2, Block V., Arbha survey district, pointing out that there had not been an exchange of roa'ds as at first indicated. He explained that on April 9, 1897, the natives sold the new road to the council for £2 and signed an agreement to dedicate the. road to Her Majesty Queen Victoria as a public road. In due course, and by the agreement, the council undertook to form and metal the road free of expense to the grantors. There was nothing about the old roadi being closed and vested in the grantors, and it was understood that the road had not been .closed, although never used, andi w,as still a public road. MARATOTO ROAD. The Mines Department wrote pointing out' that poitions of Maratoto Road were in a bad state of repair, .and in order to enable the mining traffic to be properly served the Minister for Mines had approved of the amount of £2OO being authorised for expenditure on repairing the worst portions of the road, so that when traffic was again resumed the road would be able to: carry it without f difficulty. Plans' and specifications bf the work to be done would require tb be submitted. before formal authority, the expenditure would be given. The Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., also wrote drawing attention to the'bad state of the road and requesting that immediate steps be taken to remedy the existing state of affairs. The company stated that the grant of £2OO from the Mines Department would be insufficient to.make the necessary improvements!, and that it would support-the council in the event of it making an application for a grant for an increased amount. On the advice of the engineer it was decided to expend the. grant before asking for a further amount. GOLDFIELDS GRANTS. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, notified that authority for the Te Whariki-Parakawai Stream, £75, £ for £, whs issiued to the .council in February, 1923; also WaihiWhangamata Road, £l5O, free. The If/department advised that the authorities would be cancelled unless advice was received to the contrary from the council. It was resolved to reply that the first-mentioned grant could not be taken up owing to lack of funds, but a request would be made for the other grant to be kept on the list in'the meantime. PAEROA-WAIHT ROAD. The Waihi Borough Council wrote acknowledging the request for a contribution towards the upkeep bf the Paeroa-Waihi road and advising that the matter had been referred to the finance committee for a report. SETTLERS’ PICNIC. The Waihi Settlers’ Association forwarded an invitation to the council •to attend its annual picnic, to'be held ion February 20. 7 REPAIRS TO FOOTPATH. -A resident at Waikino forwarded a lengthy letter complaining of the state of the footpath in Queen Street, Waikino, and requested that • repairs be effected. Cr.' Morgan said that the street lyasi certainly in a deplorable state. Tli'e strip was ' about fou ' r chains in length/ a nd had not been attended to by the 'surfaceman for years. The matter was referred to the engineer for attention. CLASSIFICATION OF? ROADS. The Minister for Public Works acknowledged the council’s intention to classify the 'roads in. the*county, and advised that the matter was receiving consideration. TENDERS. The following tenders were received :— For carting metal from Tirohia to Ryall’s Road, Paeroa: Mitchell, Bros, £5l 14s .(accepted); Brenan and Co. LLtd., £5l 14s. (Decided by lot.) For the supply and delivery of , metal on Farrelley’s Road, Waikino: Brenan and Co., Ltd., £B6 10fe[ (accepted) ', 0. CummingE’, Waikino, £lOO. For the erection of a bridge in hardwood over the Waitbki Stream on Old Te Aroha Road: W. M. Chamberlain, Paeroa, £273 (accepted) ; W. H. Taylor," Paeroa, £285 ; -'John S. Hill, £312 6s. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £1552 l'ss 3d were passed for payment.