OHINEMURI COUNTY.

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

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Ohinemuri County Council) met at Paeroa yesterday Afternoon, Cr. W. F. Johnstone presiding over 1 a full council. The engineer (Mr.E. Shaw) and the clerk (Mr R. W. Evans) were e in attendance.

A welcome to Cr. Hands, representative for the Waihi riding, was extended by the chairman, who said .that Cr. Hands’ wide experience of loical body work would fit him for the position.

Cr. Hands, in returning thanks, said that, he would endeavour to do what was just and best for the whole of the Ohinemuri County, and not for the Waihi riding only. NETHERTON FERRY.

In connection with the Netherton ferry negotiations the chairman 'reported that the clerk had written to the Thames County Council in regard to the use of the Wharepoa 'ferry pontoon. The Thames County meeting was then proceeding, but l t ater on he would ask by telephone if it had approved of .the suggestion. If this had been done the Hauraki Plains County Council would be informed, so that it could go ahead with the transference of the pontoon. If the Thames County Council had not agreed to the suggestion it would be necessary to have a valuation of the' plant made. It was agreed that in this event the matter be left in the hands of the chairman and engineer. MOTOR LICENSE FEES.

• The town clerk, Hamilton, wrote in reply to the council’s letter concerning the disposal of license fees coin lected under the Motor Lorry regulations, and advised .that the Borough df Jlamilton was not prepared to consider the apportionment on the basis approved by the former meeting of local bodies. The council was of opinion that the most equitable basis! was that laid down by the regulations, as the guiding principle for the magistrate in fixing the amounts, namely, the mileage of streets or roads used.

The chairman said that the reply was not in terms of the request. He would move that the clerk write to the proper authority for a magisterial allocation.—Carried. , ' « ROAD DEVIATION.

J. Handley, Jnr., wrote agreeing to give the Council the land necessary for the proposed deviation, of the road from the Mill Road ,tjo .the Waihou River, free Of cost, in exchange, for that portion of the present road fronting his property, and which it is proposed to close. - . WAIHI PLAINS ROAD. J. McGrath, Waihi Plains, wrote asking that the county engineer inspect *the road leading to, his. property with a- jview to an improvement being authorised. On the motion of Cr. Hands the request was granted. 1 WAITEMATA BRIDGE. The Waitemata Bridge Committee, Birkenhead, wrote for an expression of opinion on the question of whether a bridge acrosfe the Waitemata,' which ..would give direct connectioin with the southern, and northern, sections of the Auckland Province, was favoured, Whether the time was opportune, and whether the council would support any efforts to'further the project. Cr. Morgan suggested > substituting the Criterion Bridge and returning the letter. v * HIGHWAY SUBSIDIES. A cercular letter was read from the Main Highways: Council urging the prompt application for subsidies on work done on highways!. , The engineer stated that he had always sent claims forward at regular, periods in accordance with instructions. waitekauri ROAD. On the motion of Cr. Corbett the engineer was instructed to obtain a few loads of small metal: for use bn the Waitekauri ro.ad. ’ MAIN TE AROHA ROAD. Cr. Mace advocated .the blinding of the ! new main Te Aroha road. The portion which had been blinded was standing up to the traffic much better than the unblinded portion. THIRD PARTY INSURANCE. The Bruce County Council forwarded the following resolution for the council’s consideration and support: " That on application being made for the registration of a motor vehicle, or the transfer of such registration, the applicant be required .to furnish proof to the registrar or deputy-regis-trar that the owner of the vehicle is' covered by a third-party accident insurance policy (say for £1000) for the ensuing twelve months.” 1 The chairman said that theoretically the proposition was sjound, but he did not think, it was a matter for a local body to move in. He did not favour any action. KOMATA' DRAINAGE.

A long report on .a scheme for draining the area between, the Borough boundary and the Komata stream was received from the Public Works, Department

It was decided .that the thanks of the council be tendered to the- Public Works Department for having prepared the scheme, and that as it was thought] it would not meet the requirements of the settlers the chairman and Cr. Hubbaid be authorised to meet them and then confer with the department. finance.

The finance committee reported that the credit balance at the bank was £6OO 6s 7d. The during the past month totalled £lO7B 19s lid, and accounts totalling £1849 14s 6d were recommended for payment. On the water supply account the credit balance at the ,bank was £3os' sd, while the accounts for payment totalled £2O 19s 2d. The Frankton Road Loan account showed a credit balance of £59 16s 6d, while accquntsj for payment totalled £255 4s 2d.