OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4959, 7 April 1926, Page 4

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. Owing to the Easter holidays intervening, the 'regular meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held .la,st Wednesday afternoon, the chairman (Mr W. F. Johnstone) presiding over the following: Crs. S. H. Morgan, A. R. Robinson, F. C. Hubbard, A. D. McGuire, H. M. Corbett, R. It. Morrison, C. E. Mace, C. Hands, Mi- R, W. Evans (clerk), and Mr EShaw (engineer). ROAD DEVIATION. 'Dre district office of the Lands and Survey Department forwarded duplicate plans of the road deviation 'through sections 5 and 7, Block IV., Ohinemuri isurvey district. In a covering letter the department advised that it was, anxious to commence the erction of the Pa,rakaw.ai bridge, and asi the, deviation was required in that connection it was necessary to forward the document for an early issue Of the proclamation. The chairman intimated that the documents had been completed and forwarded as required. PETROL STORAGE. The chief explosives office of the. Department of Internal Affairs forwarded a lengthy communication dealing with underground tank installations- for petrol storage. An

opinion was. also submitted from the Crown Law Officer- which stated ’• — \ “I can find no direct power under which a,, county council, or road board might authorise the erection of petrol pumps on a road. These local bodies have the care and management of and control over all roads in theii* area. In the past such bodies have erected or permitted the erection of drinking fountains, sanitary conveniences,, a,nd hitching posts, on roads where siuch erections have not impeded traffic or interfered with the ordinary and general use by the public of the road. Section 145 of the Public Works Act, 1908, makes it. an offence for any person 'to - encroach on a road or erect a building, etc., without lawful authority or the written permission of the local authority having control of a road.. I think from this it may be concluded that such local authority may give, permission for the erection Jf petrol pumps provided that, such erections, do not impede traffic or l in- ■ terfere with the general use of the. ■road. I think, however, that any permission given would be a bare'license, revocable at the Avill of the local authority. The local, authority 1 could no-t give any tenure.” It was agreed that as the council, had not- received any applications the information would be filed for ’refe.rence. ■

MOTOR LORRY REGULATIONS. The Public Works Department '■forwarded a circular dealing with mo.tor lorry regulations, and particulars that were required to be furnished by lor.ry owners-. The circular pointed out that aVter April 1 local authorities would be expected to allocate the proceeds of heavy ’traffic license foes on -the user bas,is. The chairman said thati the necessary forms ha,d been issued, and the council would expect users of vehicles to complete and return, them.

MOTOR REGISTRATION.

'file chairman of the No. 2 Highways District forwarded a return showing the number of motor vehicles registered in the 18 highways, districts up to and including February 28 last.. In the return it was shown that 8011 motor-cars, 11-16 one-ton trucks, 9 fire engines, and 5 motor .ambulances ha.d been registered in the No. 2 district.

RURAL COUNTIES ASSOCIATION. .The secretary of. the Rural Counties’ Association wrote advising that a conference representing affiliated counties would be held at Hamilton •on April 15. The following subjects had been set down for ■ discussion : Petrol tax, Native la.nd settlement and rating, hospital levies, heavy traffic licenses, etc. >The council, wats asked to forward remits and ’have representation at the conference. The chairman was deputed to- attend the conference on tiehalf of the council. TIMBER ROYAIJTIES. The Taumarunui Cciunity Council yyrofce aSiking for details, of the sale of a block of Crown tiinbert' in the Ohinemuri County that had been sold by the department in su ch a manner as to deprive the counc.il of its timber halves. —Information to be supplied.

■ Cr. Corb'.tt pointeid out that some of the timber was, actually in the Tauranga County, although the roady leading to it were in the Ohinemuri

County. He thought it would be wiser to apply for a straight-out grant towards. .the upkeep of the roads over which the timber had been carted. The chairman intimated that as. the council had pursued the matter so- far it could do no harm in going on with it. If the royalties were paid into the Consolidated Fund instead ol’ into the Native Lands Department there might be a brighter prospect of receiving a grant. POWER BOARD MEMBERS.

The Thames Valley Electric Power Board wrote that under section , 2 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1922, it would be necessary for the council to arrange for representatives on -the board, as. the term of the present member expired in May next. REMOVAL OF FENCE. A. C. Taylor, iWaihi, advised that he intended clearing the gorse cm his) frontage on the Old Taura.nga RoadHe sought permission to move his fence out to the edge of the metal, so that the area could be ploughed and worked. Cr. Hands pointed out that the gorse was very troublesome, and he moved that the request be granted. This was agreed ,to, subject to the approval of the engineer. KOMATA DRAIN.

W. Berwick, Komata. North, wrote drawing attention to- the need for cleaning, widening, and deepening the drains in that locality, and drawing particular' attention to the unsatisfactory state of the Komata main outfall drajn.

Cr. Hubbard said he did not see how the- council could afford to help very much.

Cr. Robinson said that from the railway to the road was a council drain, and he thought some assistance could be given.

Oh the motion of Cr. Hubbard the matter was, referred to the two riding members and the engineer, with power to act. REMOVAL OF STUMP.

Or. Corbe.tt drew attention to a large stump in the Waltekauri Creek near the Golden Cross Road, and pointed out that there was a risk of damage to bridges if a flood should carry it away at any: time.

The engineer was authorised to have the obstacle removed aS( soon as; possible. x PAEROA-TE AROHA ROAD.

At the request of Cr. Mace the- engineer ,was, authorised tp ' purchase sufficient metal from the Te Aroha quarry to- keep the main Paeroa-Te Aroha road from the county boundary ■to Fitzgerald’s cressing in a reasonable state of repair during- the winter. CLEANING OF DRAINS.

Cr. Robinson drew attention to t|he. fact that the time was ripe tor the annual cleaning of several drains, in the Kaimanawa. riding, and moved that the engineer be authorised to put the work in hand asi soon as possible.—Agreed to. ' HOTEL* PROPERTIES.

In answer to the chairman theolerk reported that the town clerk of Waihi had called, at the office with reference to a revaluation of hotel properties,. At present the Waihi Borough Council rated on the rental value- of such properties, the Paeroa Borough Council on the unimproved value, and the Ohinemuri County Council on the capital value. Next year, he thought, it would be necessary for the council to consider the- position. The Waihi Borough Council thought it was desirable to olkajn a legal opinion on the matter and ascertain if a revaluation could be made at once. The chairman pointed out -that it did not affect the county to a large extent, but if it would, strengthen the hands of the Waihi Borough Council he. thought it would be. desirable to obtain a legal opinion. Thiss was agreed to, ami the matter was referred "to .the ‘chairman and clerk, with power to; act- , I'.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling' £2156 17s, were passed for payment.