HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4937, 10 February 1926, Page 3

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

monthly council meeting.

THE ROUTINE BUSINESS.

The regular meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was, held yeysterday, Cr. J. C. Miller presiding over the following: Crs C. Parfitt, C. W W. G. Hayward, J. H. Nicholson, T. McLoughlin, H. J. Hare, J. F. Mayn, the county clerk (Mr E. •Walton), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). Mr E. A. Mdhoney, the new county clerk, was also present. KIRIKIRI BRIDGE. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, wrote advising that, as promised, further inquiries into the council’s representations had been made, and it had been found that the council was. evidently under a misapprehension in stating .that apparently no steps' had been taken to start the work. The department some time ago placed orders for certain plant and the necessary structural steel, but until this comes to hand it, was not likely that any visible activities would be manifested .to the general public. It would be realised, of course, that for a work of such magnitude it necessarily took some little time to assemble the requisite materia) on the site, but once the material came to hand the council could rest assured that there would be .as little delay as. possible in commencing the work. PETROL TAX. The Tauranga. County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution seeking support for the institution of a petrol tax, with a view ,to raiding sufficient funds to pay the whole cost of maintenance of main highways. LOAN MONEY. ' The Superintendent of the State Advances Office wrote in .reply'to the council’s inquiry concerning a considerable sum of unexpended loan money to its credit in the bank, that if it-- was not proposed to use this money, it should be used to reduce the principle. With regard to the inquiry as to whether the money might be reborrowed for other loan works, the superintendent advised .that an application for a loan for urgent works would receive consideration. As some of the loan money concerned was pofrion of .the housing loan, it was agreed taht .the new clerk should occupy the engineer’s residence, and that the unexpended portion of .the housing loan be repaid, and that the clerk make urgent application for £lOOO for the Waitakaruru canal road loan and £l5OO towards the Nethertbn roads loan. CHEAP FLAX. Mr A. Ji Whiteside wrote offering the council &s a ton for the flax growing alongside the Patetonga-Kaihere road. He intended establishing a mill. The matter was referred to the riding member. NETHERTON MATTERS. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote drawing attention to the bridge on School Road oyer the main Awaiti drain, and also asking that sufficient room be left at Fishel s Landing for settlers to use the landing.—Referred to the engineer. PUNTING CONTRACT. H. A. Julian, Hikutaia, wrote asking that his punting contract be transferred to his. son.—Granted. ORONGO FLOOD-GATE. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Department of Lands, .Wrote asking for a remittance of £174. 3s lid, being the ccst of repairs, to a flood-gate at Orongo damaged by one of the council’s punts.—Referred to the chairman and clerk. *