HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5076, 17 January 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The January meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council was held at Ngatea on Thursday, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over Crs. C. W. Harris, F. J. Mayn, C. Parfitt, J. C. Miller, J. A. Reid, and A. L. Fisher. The clerk, Mr E. A. Mahoney, and the engineer, Mr. F. Basham, were also present., HIKUTAIA QUARRY. The following recommendations were brought before the council: — “ That the Council be recommended to charge 12/6 per cubic yard on the punts for Hikutaia quarry metal from August 1, 1926.—Carried.” “ Resolved that the engineer have a punt load of chips, and dust brought from Hikutaia quarry and used on Kapuarahi-Orongo Road as an experiment in. surfacing.” The chairman explained that the metal was costing 8/5.01 to produce. Overhead charges totalled 1/9.73, bringing the cost to 10/2.12. The Works Committee added 1/-- per yard to create a reserve and 1/3 to cover certain interest charges. The contract price, plus repairs), etc., cost 13/2d per yard under the last contract. As far as the committee could see, the quarry would have to be closed about the end o'f February unless some new demand for metal arose.

The manager of the Hikutaia quarry had written .to the engineer advising that it was practically impossible. to continue producing metal at, the previous rate. A quantity of slightly inferior metal was encountered! and had to be dumped. The manager had heard that the Ohinemuri County Council desired 1500 yards of metal 'for a by-road near the quarry. The road would only be used for light traffic, and if this metal was sold at a little above cost price the quarry could be cleared up and put into a condition to produce the class of stone required by the Plains County. The engineer stated that the poorer stone was quite good enough for ordinary road work, but not for bitumen roading. The recommendation o'f the committee was adopted, and the letter of t.he quarry manager was referred to the committee for investigation. PRICES’ OF RED METAL. “That McCallum Bros, be invited to meet the Works Committee at Ngatea and show to the committee the. details of their costs o'f production with a view to deciding if their offer should be accepted by the council. MANGATARATA BRIDGES. “The engineer’s estimate of the cost of work' required totalled £744. This committee recommends that the Wai-takaruru-Morrinsville No. 1 and No. 4 roads and Cross Road be proceeded with at a time to be charged to next year’s working, £250 payable from the consolidated fund and the balance of £290 from the riding account, the latter amount to be included in the estimates for Waitakaruru riding for next year and rated for in that riding. DISPOSAL OF OLD PLANT. “That the engineer report to this committee as to the most suitable place to store old machinery. SCHOOL ROAD DRAINAGE. “That the engineer’s action in arranging with Richmond Bros, to cut roadside drain for about 60 chains-be confirmed, and the council to subsidise the work up to £25 and Richmond Bros, to be written to ing the arrangement.” TAR-SEALING HIGHWAYS. The Main Highways Board forwarded the' following resolution for general information :— “Where the work on a road is of such a character that it merely restores the road to its original character and standard this shall be sidered maintenance : but where the work comprises work of an additional character, thereby improving and bringing the road up to a standard superior to its original standard, then such work shall be considered as reconstruction, even though there may be no alteration in the location ; that, tar or bitumen-sealing, which in the board’s opinion will preserve the surface of a road and is economically justified, shall be considered as maintenance. All proposals, for initial two coats of tar or bitumen-sealing shall be submitted to and first approved by tjie board. In accordance with this decision tar or bitumen work done since December, 1926, will be subsidised at 30s for £l.” PATETONGA ROADING. A petition was presented by Cr.

Mayn asking that the council proceed with the raising of a loan o'f £550 for t,he gravelling of 54 chains of the Morrinsville-Patetonga road between the Maukoro Landing road and Pollen’s outlet. The rate would be less than 2d in the £ on the land in the. special rating area. The chairman, clerk, and riding member were deputed to act in the matter. ELECTRICITY FOR KAIHERE. The engineer of the Thames Valley Electric Power Boara waited upon the c«uiv;il with the request that permission be granted to place electric |.o,V(,r poles on the south side cf the Kaihere road from a few chains beSmerle’s mill to Kaiii -. re mission was granted. REMOVAL OF TREES. On the motion of Cr. Reid it was decided that certain trees growing on .■•orner':'. of t,he main road near Netlierton which obscured the view should be removed. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The rapid growth of oxe-eyed daisy throughout the county was mentioned by Cr. Fisher, who urged that steps should be taken t.o enforce the eradication of this noxious wee J. It was decided to notify the inspector to take action. WEST WATER SUPPLY. The. Water Supply Committee was given authority to indent water-pipes for the reticulation of farms. TAHUNA ROADS LOAN. A formal application to the State Advances Department foot - a loan of £825 for road work in the Tahuna roads loan special rating area was authorised. The rate will be Id in the £ on the capital value of the land in the area. DOBSON MINE DISASTER. An appeal was received asking for public subscriptions for the relief of the dependants of those who lost their lives in the disaster at the Dobson coal mine on Friday, December, 3. The council voted £5. LEAVE FOR FERRYMAN. The Pipiroa ferryman wrote, applying for leave of absence from January 27 to 30. —Granted, provided a substitute is found. KOMATA FERRY HOUSE. The Komata ferryman wrote asking for repairs to be done to the ferry house. —Referred to Works Committee for a report. OFFER OF QUARRY. H. J. Trethowen, Kauaeranga, wrote asking whether the council would take over his quarry as it stood. The writer was thanked Tor, his offer and informed that the council did not desire another quarry.