NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4961, 12 April 1926, Page 3

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS. A (argely attended meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was held at the Public Hall, Netherton, on Saturday night. The president (Mr T. Vowlesf) presided, and explained that the meeting ha.d been called for the purpose ofc discussing drainage and flood protection matters before the visit of Mr A. M* Sa t muel, H. and Mr A. J. Campbell, district Public Works Department engineer, Auckland. RIGHT STOP-BANK. The question of asking for a permanent stop-bank from a point near 'the. cheese factory to Mrs T'. Johnson, senr.’s property evoked a lengthy discussion. Mr J. A. Reid pointed out that if Hie feettlerc urged a. permanent stopbank the work would probably be held up indefinitely. He thought to would be Tar better to ask for a temporary bank, if only a. few feet high, to protect the land against flood during the coming winter. Mi E. Jamieson said, that it would be. years, before a permanent bank would be erected. • Mr H. J. Hare, riding represenrative on the Ha ; uraki Plains County C'.uneil, suggested that it would be. more prudent for the association 10 point out t< the engineer the serious aspect from flooding and to leaye. Ihe matter to tne department to decide 01; what relief could be given. Finally it was resolved that the engineer be asked to take immediate. Heps to provide adequate protection from flooding by forming the stopbank from the Netherton factory towards the north to the high ground. AWAITI FLOOD-GATE. On the motion of Mr Hare it was Mesolved that the Public Works, Department be commended for its prompt action in commenicng the construction of the Awa.iti flood-gate, and .alscrfor filling 1 in the gaps in the. existing Awaiti stop-bank. The hope was expressed that the work, would, jbe pushed on to completion as speedily xas possible. VISIT OF ENGINEER. Mr A.'M. Samuel* M.P., advised that he, together with the district engineei of .the Public Works Department, would meet the settlers, at Nethei ton on Tuesday, April. 13, at 10 a r m. It was decided that the settlers be invited .to attend, a,nd that Mejssys T. ■ Vowles, C. Stembridge, C. H. Potter, P. Harold,' S. Fisher, B. Coldicutt, R. I. Roberts-, B. Johnson, and W. Town&hend form a deputation to wait on the visitors. AWAITI DRAINAGE. The matter of the increased cost of cleaning the drains on the Crown secElions at Awaiti Settlement was disTcussed, i Jamieson pointed out that the mopt urgent matter wa£ flood protec- ' tion, and he thought the drains were apa,rt from the object of the visKt of the engineer. The president suggested that a special deputation should be appointed to place the matter before ijie member for the district after,the flood protection matters had been-»dealt with. This was agreed to, and Messrs J. B. Whisker and J. Crosbie were appointed .to place the facte! before the member. Mr Hare asked if there was a.ny chance of the Netherton Settlers joining with the Awaiti settlers and forming a drainage board. A Voice: Wait until we get dur stop-banks. SAND FOR PLAY BOX. It was resolved toTlfsk the department to provide gratis ten yards of sand for the purpose of aj sand-box ’"Tor the infant pupils at the Netherton school; ROAD TO PAEROA STATION. - Mr Ja.mieson instanced the considerable inconvenience, and lotss of time that was being occasioned settlers by being required to use lower Hill Street as the only-access) to the Paeroa railiway\goods-shed when it was necessary to take'delivery of lime, manure, and other requirements. He a,lso pointed out that with the closing of the Hill Street crossing nt was necessary for settlers to travel nearly a mile and three-quarters to reach the railway station .With a vehicle. He moved .that the department be a&ked to provide a vehicular entrance to the railway station from Puke Road, preferably at the northern end of the station 'buildings, and that the assistance of the Paeroa Chamber of be sought in the matter. Seconded by Mr Crosbie and carried. SCHOOL BRIDGE. • It was decided .that the Public Works Department be asked to contribute £2 for £1 towards the cost of erecting a, concrete bridge leading from the main road) into the Netherton public school,. \ REQUEST FOR PUNT. Mr Hare drew attention to .the fact that 2000 apres of land were being opened up at Kaihere. He suggested ’that the association should interest, itself in the ma'.tter o£ obtaining a punt across, the, Pia,ko River. If a punt was provided it would give the settlers in tha<t area direct communication by metal roads to Kerepeehi and Paeroa. was resolved .that the Hauraki Plains County Council, be requested to provide a ferry at the Ngarua landing, as previously promised by the Lands Department, and that the riding member.be asked to give the project his support. POWER BOARD LOAN. The president drew to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board’s forthcoming loan poll to raise a 'further loan of fiISO.OOO 1 . The speaker said that when the board had asked for authority for the previous loan it had stated’ that it would be the last loan to be asked for. The board wau rating on the capital value of the land, which amounted to one farthing in the .£. He thought the rate was becoming too high. \ Mr Hare pointed out that the board not collected a rate on its last Joan. The Netherton riding would

only be called upon to pa,y a sjmall proportion of the loan. Mr J. Hanns said that .the revaluation df the land in the district would, seriously affect the position. The president pointed out that the settlers would not be called on to’ contribute a higher rate than a,t present. • The matter was left in abeyance, pending a visit of the tjoard’s officials to Netherton on May .6. STREET LIGHTING. It was: decided. to request the Power Board to expedite the provision of an electric light at the bridge near the wharf, and one near the school corner, as agreed on by the Hauraki Plains County Council. It was also decided to renew the request for an all-night telephone to be connected with the troublemaji at Paeroa. FISHER’S ROAD. Mr Harms reported that the metalling of Fisher's Road had been completed, and a satisfactory job, had been made. i QUALITY OF METAL. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by members; with regard to the poor quality df metal placed upon a part of Wilson’s Road, and it was suggested that the ocuncil’s engineer should have condemned the metal earlier in the contract. ’ The president suggested that the portion of the road carrying the inferior metal should be measured up and an emphatic protest entered. A member pointed out that the council’s engineer a.nd the department’s engineer had passed the metal for the bottom course. It wais also mentioned that the pipes to carry the stormwater from the southern to the" northern side of the road had not been placed in position before the metal walss put down. The matter was referred to the good roads, committee tor further investigation.