TURUA TOWN BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4947, 5 March 1926, Page 3

TURUA TOWN BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. . . « ’’ The regular meeting of the Turua Town Board was held on Wednesday evening, Mr J. Mules; presiding over the following: Messrs J. H. Johnston, j. T. Davies, F. Olsen, J. McConnell, /'S. G and J. E. Green (clerk). , REPAIRING OF ROADS. Mr S. G. Williams, on behalf of the Works Committee, reported that the N.Z. Roads Co.’s engineer had recommended the mse of bitumen instead of tar ’for the patching of the bitumen roads. The committee had therefore not procured the tar, 88 instructed. The clerk stated that the county engineer had intimated that the new miniature heater was available for tiie board’s use. In reply to the cleric’s letter the N.Z. Roads Co., Ltd., wrote submitting a price of £4 15s per chain for repairing all cracked portions of Hauraki Road with mixed asphalt, resurfacing with bitumen at the rate of one-quatrer gallon per square yard, blinding with red shingle chipis', and rolling. Mr J. H. Johnston urged the use, of tar. He contended that tar would penetrate further into the cracks than would bitumen. Mr Green explained that a very high grade bitumen similar to that - used by the Auckland City Council could be used. This material was thin, like ta;r, and should be suitable. t It was decided to secure three barrels dt this bitumen for the repairing of the cracks. . SETTLEMENT WITH COUNTY. Mr Williams said he understood that the board was) to receive 79 per cent, of the rates collected, by the County Council from the Town Board district. x. The clerk said that this was a year \Tto year arrangement, and it had not been ratified for some time. It was decided to ask the County Council for a statement of! the financial. position between the two bodies as, at the end of March. LOAN RATES. , , Messrs Williams and Johnston asked why the County Council was striking the whole of the roads special rate, seeing that the whole of the loan had not been raised more than a yearIt was agreed to asjk the County Council to explain'| the position. , Mr Johnston complained that the loan rate was being collected from settiers whose roads .were not completed. - The clerk said that the whole of the loan had been raised and probably spent./The rest of the work would be paid for out of the Piako Road subsidy.' It- might be that the County Council had decided not to pay the firs,t> year’s interest, and sinking fund t out of the loan, in accordance with \ its powers. Perhaps it-would be ad- • visable forVthe Finance Committee to confer with the county clerk. * Mr Williams, asked who wj\s on the finance-committee. No members. knew, and after considerable searching in the minute book the clerk; revealed the'fact that Messrs Mules, ‘ Davies, and Williams had at one time been’ appointed. '■ PIAKO ROAD BRIDGE. The Horahia ; Drainage Board wrote with reference to the board s, request j for a contribution towards the cost of ■ replacing the bridge ■at tjhe Piako Road corner, and stated that members would confer with members, of the Hauraki Drainage Board and the Town on the matter if B)ary. Mr Mules, member for Turua on the Hauraki Drainage Board, 4said that the board was of opinion that, a bridge would be preferable to. a culvert, , which was suggested. The question r was one of finance, and the board was of opinion that the structure would last for many years yet. Messrs McConnell, Williams*, and Johnston stated that they had examined the bridge, and in -their opinion the stringers were thoroughly ratten. The two new . stringers recently placed under the bridge were not carrying any weight whatever. Mr Williams suggested asking the county engineer to condemn the bridge a ; hd have a notice to that effect exhibited. ' Mr Mules; said that it would be foolish to effect temporary repairs', for the structure would be a continual source of expense. A culvert would be preferable provided it was large enough to meet the requirements! of the Drainage Board. It was decided that the county engineer be asked to inspect the bridge, and tha.t he be interviewed on the subject of the County Council contributing towards the cost of repairinc or rebuilding the structure.

OPARIA ROAD BRIDGE. On the motion of Mr Olsen the board decided to ask the N.Z. Roads, Co., Ltd., to repair the damages caused to the Oparia Road bridge by itfi' - plant. TURUA' WHARF. The action of the. Thames Harbour Board in haying six piles placed in such a position as to prevent punts berthing near the Turua wharf was next discussed. Mr Mules said that the piles could have been placed in another position to prevent damage without blocking the berthage, and aih emphatic protest should be entered. The Harbour Board had at one time prohibited the landing of metal over the wharf, so the Town Board had spent £57 in making a berthage. Other members spoke strongly on the matter, claSising it as highhanded and unjustified. ,On the motion of Mr Williams* it was 1 decided that the clerk forward a strong protest to the Harbour Board, and forward a copy of the letter to the Press in view of the action of the Harbour Board of taking such matters in committee. BY-LAWS. Numerous complaints having been received concerning the number of breaches of the by-laws regarding the • riding of bicycles on the ‘footpaths, \ and without lights, and the driving of motor-cars at excessive speed, it was ■decided that drastic action be taken.