PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5014, 16 August 1926, Page 1

PLAINS COUNTY.

monthly council meetingroutine BUSINESS. The Hauraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea on Thursday, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over the following: Crs. J- F. May®, A. S. Fisher, J. A. Reid, W. Madgwick, J. C. Miller, C. W. Harris, the county clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). HOSPITAL LEVY. The Ohura County Council forwarded a request for support <4 a motion urgilng on the Prime Minister the need for some new system of raising money for public hospitals whereby the public should help to maintain the hospitals instead of the brunt -falling on the ratepayers.—Supported. SEALING RED ROADS'. Cr. Madgwick voiced the opinion that red metal would not prove a suitable blinding material, and he urged that an experiment be made to test the use b® blinding oils. The matter was referred to the Works Committee fp*r investigation and report. PURCHASE OF WHARVES. The Waitakayuru Farmers’ Union forwarded a recommendation that the purchase of the Government wharves be deferred for twelve months. HEAVY TRAFFIC. The Vacuum Oil Company Wrote asking if the council would permit the operation of benzine tank waggons of a loaded weight of 5 tons in the county. Special wide wheels would be provided. The chairman said he could not see that the council could grant permission to break the by-laws, and !& was decided to inform the company accordingly. NETHERTON ROADS. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote urging that no metal that would hot ca,rry a subsidy, be used on the roads of the riding. WHAREPOA “FERRY. The Thames County Council wrote offering the Wharepoa ferry plant a.t half the 'cost mutually agreed upon by the engineers of thq two counties. —Referred to the engineer ft*- a report. The Works Committee recommended that the Wharepoa terry house be utilised for ;a 'residence for the ferryman at Netherton, subject to the com;mittee’s. approval after inspection and the coinsent of .the Thames County Council. a ROAD TO NEW BRIGHTON. Cr. Karri's, said that pressure had been brought to bear and a subsidy of £2 for £1 up to £2OOO had been granted for the unmetalled portion of the road to Miranda. There were two miles of, the rodd in the Plains Cbjunty and half a mile in the. Whahgamarino Road Board distriict. The engineer estimated the. cost of metalling at £l5OO. New BrijghWn wais bound to be a great holiday resort, and in the interests- of the whole county efforts should be made to ge£ the road metalled. He was of opinion that efforts should be made tb get the subsidy put on the Public Works estimates, but not to be in-, eluded in the county’s automatic allfelteation. The question of how the county’s share should be raised had not yet been considered. He proposed discussing the matter With the settlers. x

Cr. Mayn suggested including the road in the county rodding scheme. Cr. Walton siad that the difficulty was one of finaricq. , He would not favour getting the grant voted it it would . prejudice any Other area through .the 'automatic allocation of Government money. If it cbjuld be voted outside this lit would have his whdlie support. , .Cr. Harriis said that thejrie was only the 2% miles, of unmetalled rodd blocking the route tel Auckland. He moved that, the council give its assistance towards getting the road metalled providing the Government would vote the money without prejudicing other portions of the county. Members supported the proposal with the proviso, but ytere reluctant to do 'anything that might be; injurious to more, pressing grants. Finally the motion was, withdrawn and the chairman, riding member, and the engineer were instructed to look into the question and report to the next meeting.