HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5064, 13 December 1926, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Hauraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea on Thursday afternoon, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over Crs. J. F. Mayn, C. W. Harris, C. Parfitt, J. C. Miller, W. Madgwick', J. A. Reid, H. H. Hicks, A. Fisher, and the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney) and the engineer (Mr. F. Basham). MAUKORO BRIDGE. The Piako County Council forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Public Works Department, Paeroa, laying down specifications for the Maukor.o bridge. ' The Piako Council was making every' endeavour to expedite the approval of the plans. The clerk reported that thei original plans and specifications had been ips.t. On the motion of Cr. Mayn it was decided, to urge the department to authorise the expenditure and approve the plans as quickly as possible. KAIHERE ROAD. The Public Works Department’s resident engineer, Paeroa, wrote ad" vising that the Lands Department has agreed to carry out metalling over -a section elf eight chains to the Puhanga Canal bridge. The council was asked to pass the usual resolution agreeing to maintain the road. ;On the motion o'f the chairman the resolution was passed. HANDING OVER ROADS. Notification was received that in future, when Crown ilands were roaded the fact that the Public Works Department intended handing over control Of the roads to county councils would not be- gazetted, but'the local body concerned would be advised direct. ’RURAL COUNTIES. The Rural Counties’ Association advised that the next meeting would be held in Hamilton on December 15. Cr. Madgwick and the clerk were deputed to represent the council. • NEW ZEALAND TIMBERS. A circular letter was received from the N.Z. Sawmillers’ Association urging the use of New Zealand timbers in preference to foreign-grown timber. Cr. Mayn said he had noted that local bodies were intensely patriotic, but, generally, the individual bought in the cheapest market. In view also o'f the steady depletion of New Zealand forests he was of opinion that the council, as conducting business on behalf of the ratepayers, shoull purchase the cheapest timbers. Cr. Miller pointed out that. the council could not bind itself to purchase only New Zealand timber, as it was not always suitable. A further letter dealt at length with the matter of rating land, which was growing timber. This land was rated highly on account off the high value of the timber, ajnd the association was of the opinion that this should be altered.

The chairman pointed out that the

matter was far-reaching. The association had presented its case, and the for the counties would be explained at the forthcoming Rural Counties’ Association conference. The letter should be' studied by the council's representatives; This course was followed, and the representatives were instructed .to report back to the council. TU.RUA-NETHERTON ROAD. Cr. Madgwick urged that portion of the Turua-Nesther.ton road between Henry’s .and Car.ter’s, corner be scarified and rolled. The engineer was instructed accordingly when funds permitted. oparaia ROAD, TURUA. S. G. Williams anl four other settlers of Oparaia Road, Tur.ua, wrote drawing attention to the wornput stPite o'f their outlet road and asking that the council have repairs carried out while the plant and yVorkmen were in the locality. The letter pointed out that the petitioners had paid rates approximating £l9o', to the council for six or seven* years, and up to the present no repairs had been done to the road.

.The Turua Town Board also wrote on the subject, and asked the council to consider metalling the six or seven chains at the southern epxl, which was not in the Town Board loan. The frontages were in the town district, but the greater portion of the farms 1 was in the Turua riding a t nd Oparaia Road was the only outlet. .

Cr, Madgwick asked i'f the council could legally spend money on town board roads. Tkn gr ( ant the request would be to establish a precedent for other Turua roads.

The chairman said that the mbney could be spent, but he would suggest that, the Town Board be asked tb subsidise the expenditure of the council. This would successfully limit similar demands 'from other places. " < Cr. Miller said thajt the settlers would be satisfied if the council and the board each paid half the cost. Cr, Hicks said that the road got very bad in winter time. The chairman suggested that, the Turua riding contribute up to £2's on a £ for £ basis with the Town Board.

Cr. Madgwick expressed; the opinion that the subsidising o'f ,a. town board contribution was a wise precaution. He was agreeable *to the work desired, but was afraid of the consequences of establishing a precedent. .

The chairman pointed out th' a |t the application was rather limited.

The chairman moved that a contribution up to £25 be made provided the Town Board contributed an equal amount.

Seconded by Cr. Madgwick and carried.

MANGATARATA TELEPHONE.

The Postal Department advised, that the loss on the year’s operation. <3F the Mangatarata post office was £l2 13s 7d. The council as guarantor was asked to pay this sum to the Public Account.

It, was decided to take steps to collect the sum from the settlors, as

MANGATARATA ROADS.

Norman R, Rennett wrote drawing attention to the state of North Road To enable some timber to be carted he had had to employ twtx men for 3% days, and he desired some recognition for this work, such as the remission of portion of his. rates. It was decided that the writer be informed that the state o'f the road was known to the council ajnd i&at the grader would be along in a few weeks. MANGATARATA BRIDGES. The engineer tabled an estimate Ph the cost of works required on the bridges about Mangatarata. The total cost for the eight bridges, was £744. On Mahuta Road three lots of pipes were provided for 'hjt a cost of £125, a bridge at Cross Road was estimated at £250, and two bridges and two sets of pipe,?; On the Wai-takaruru-Morrinsville Road were estimated to cost, £349.

Cr. Harris, pointed out that a grant of £250 'from the Consolidated Fund was available. Would the council vote £250 from the Waitakaruru Riding account towards the work on condition that a subsidy was secured from the Public Works Department ?

Crs' pointed out that the WaitakAruru riding had received £2OOO odd of Government subsidies during the present year out of the county’s allocation o'f £4OOO odd, and though the wVrk was very urgent, to allocate further subsidies, to ' Waitakaruru would hajrdly be fair, to the other ridings.

The clerk pointed out that the council had hypothecated Netherton Road Loan debentures, and borrowed on them against subsidy money due in the next two years. To allocate portion of the subsidy to the Waite karur.u riding "would' reduce' the chances of borrowing the. agreement with the bank.

' The matter wap referred to the works committee for a report.

INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The county inspector, Mr R. H. Cameron, reported tliat eleven motor drivers’ licenses, one taxi-driver’s license, and five building permits had been issued. Dog taxes collected amountd to £2O 2s. 6tl.