HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5052, 15 November 1926, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The Hauraki Plains. County Couiicil met at Ngatea on Thursday, Or. E. L. Walton presiding over the following : Ci's. C. W. Harris, A. L. Fisher, H. H. Hicks, W. Madgwick, J. C. Miller, J. A. Reid, C. W. Parfitt, J. F. Mayn, and the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney) and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). COST OF METAL. McCallum Bros., Auckland, forwarded the following quotations for red metal provided a minimum quantity, of 10,000 cubic yards wa<s ordered for the year ending October 3.1, 1927: Waihou River, up to Wharepoa, Ils; Whariepoa to Puke, 13s. Piako River, up to Ngatea, Ils ; Ngatea to ■ Kaihere, 13s; Waitakaruru, 10s 6d. Where red metal alone was to be used oh a new road, the price in each case would be 6d. less. The. chairman stated that the reduction amounted to the 6d recently added. Ch Mayn was of opinion that a greater reduction should have been granted. McCallum had stated that the cost was fixed, as, there were hoppers to be erected. He moved that the firm be advised that the reduction was no sufficient. The chairman said that it would perhaps be advisable to refer the matter to the'works committee 'to go into and seek a comparison with' the cost of utilising chips from .the council’s own quarry at Hikutaia. TURUA ROADS LOAN. The formal resolution agreeing to raise a loan of £11,600', being portion of the 10 per cent, permitted on the Turua-Netherton Roads Loan, was moved by Cr. Madgwick, seconded by Cr. Harris, and carried. ) The rate for this loan will be one farthing. MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.

The formal resolution, as required by the Public Works Department, agreeing to maintain adequately Pukahu East, Pukahu West, Ngararahi Stop-bank, Fisher’s, Munro’s; Kai-here-Torehape, and Kaihere-Ohinewai roads was carried. PUHANGA METALLING.

The lands drainage engineer, Kerepeehi, advised that the cost ot metalling the eight chains of road from the end of the metal to the Puhanga bridge was £250. He had been advised that the Public Works Department would probably agree tp increase its contribution, but the amount must comp out of the county allocation for this year. Jf the council would agree to this and find half the cost of the work the Lands Department was authorised to carry out the work.—Agreed to. KAIHERE POST OFFICE. The Public Wo'rks Department, Paeroa, forwarded plans showing land required to be taken for the Kaihere post office and to ease the road corner in frfont df the site. The council was asked td ’agree to the taking of the road. —Agreed to.

CONTRACTS STIPULATED. The Public .Works Department advised that in future any work to which the Government contributed must be let by public tender unless permission had been obtained to employ day labour. STRAYING STOCK. Mr H. D. Jamieson, Kerepeehi, wrote seeking the co-operation of the council in endeavouring to prevent further damage to his property by straying stock. WAIKATO HIGHWAY. Thq Waikato County Council advised that it had endeavoured, but without success, to have a meeting ojf the No. 2 Distirct Highways Council called to consider the amount of expenditure that the Public Works Department found necessary fol- the maintenance of the main highway from Ohinewai to Ngaruawahia Borough. The council itself, therefore, wished to call a meeting of the board, and asked for an expression of opinion ap to whether the local council’s representative would attend. The’ chairman expressed the opinion that the council, should not interfere, Cr. Madgwick said that the move would amount tp a vote of no-confi-dence in the Highways Council. Cr. Mayn stated that there were merits in the Waikato Council’s case for a greater contribution by the Highways Boa<rd. Cr, Miller agreed, but did not hold with an unofficial meeting. Cr. H'ajTis urged that the request be supported, as his riding was in somewhat the same state with the, highway to Pokeno and it might be advisable to get the goodwill of the Waikato County. Council. The chairman, stated that the members of the Highways Board would be, inspecting the road vehy shortly, and this would present an opportunity which should be availed of. Cr. Parfitt agreed, and opposed the attendance of the council’s representative at a meeting called over the head of the chairmajn. He did not think it advisable to offend the powers that be. It was decided to suggest that the matter be discussed with the members of the Main Highways Board on their tour. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector, Mr R. H. Cameron, reported .that five building permits had bean issued, two goods cant licenses, bne heavy traffic and 19 motordrivers’ licenses issued, and twd horses, and two head of cattle ipipounded. Many dog taxes had been collected. After detailing where he had acted to tijap the speeders, the inspector stated that “I got 10 birds', had some fun, and got a lot of abuse.”