HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5126, 16 May 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING of COUNCIL. The Hauraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea on Thursday, the chairman, Cr. E. L. Walton, presiding over Crs. C. W. Harris, J. C. Millei, W. Madgwick, C. Parfitt, H. H. Hicks, J. A. Reid, A. L. Fisher, and J. FMayn. The clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney) and the engineeer (Mr F. Basham) were in attendance. STATE OF HIGHWAY. Mr L. B. Campbell, representative of the No. 2 District’Council on the Main Highways Board, wrote advising that in the last report to the Board it was noted that several sections of the highway on the Plains were in bad order. The Board asked that these sections be attended to as soon as possible. In reply to Cr. Miller the chairman said that apparently the Kerepeehi section was referred to. He moved that the hoard De informed that the road was being reconditioned as fast as possible. This was carried. The clerk pointed out that the P.W.D sent very different letters to most other local bodies. Cr. Harris commented that the roads in the Plains County compared more than favourably with those in most other counties. ANNUAL GRANTS. The Public Works Department forwarded a circular setting out the method to be adopted when applying for State money. The amount which the council could expend in cash for the financial year ending March 31, 1928, had been tentatively fixed at £4825. Cr. Walton moved that the engineer ascertain from each riding representative the requirements of his riding and report to the works committee. —Carried. CONTROL OF HIGHWAY. The district engineer. Public Works Department, • Auckland, wrote advising that two miles 79% chains of the highway between Haley’s corner and the western boundary of the county had been completed, and it was intended to hand over to the council the future control and maintenance WAITAKARURU BRIDGE. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, forwarded a copy' of a report by Overseer Smith to the district engineer of the department at Auckland concerning the old bridge at Waitakaruru. On July 8, 1926, a report stated that aill timbers in the bridge were in such a bad state of decay that it would not warrant any money being expended on repairs. In the interim the county engineer had placed running planks, as advised, on the bridge, which has in some degree mitigated the danger to the structure. The total length of the bridge was approximately 70ft in five spans. Nine months bad now elapsed, and risk of life was taken every day, although a notice that the bridge was dangerous was posted. It was suggested that at least six piles should be driven, three on each side at the three inside spans, and caps bolted on to same to ensure safety, whether a new structure was to be erected in tire near future or not. Traffic need not be held up during the job. Cr. Harris said he saw no advantage in deferring the erection of a new bridge. ■ It was pf little use repairing the old structure for a few ■months. The Highways Board would bear half the cost of a new structure. The chairman asked how the counts was to find its half-share. The engineer stated that the new bridge would cost over £lOOO. Cr. Harris said that if the Highways Board would contribute 3-sths of the cost his ratepayers would find two-fifths. A special loan could possibly be raised. Cr. Walton asked what rating area would be made for the bridge. He thought the matter should be given close attention. Cr. Harris contended that the- highways and the bridges thereon 1 should be a charge on the whole county. The chairman pointed out that the maintenance of the three miles of new hignway beyond Waitakaruru had now fallen on the council, and if it was to be charged to the Waitakaruru riding its rates would have to be considerably increased. Cr. Miller said that the chairman’s county roads scheme would have to be reconsidered. This was supported by Cr. Harris, who pointed out that his riding could not possibly afford to maintain the road and erect the bridges. On the motion of the chairman the matter was deferred until introduced by notice of motion. SUING FOR RATES. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee the council decided to obtain judgment against all defaulting ratepayers. POSITION OF OVERSEER. The chairman brought up the matter of the appointment of the over-

seer and inspector. Mr R. H. Cameron bad been appointed in April, 1926, foi 12 months, and the matter of retaining his’ services woulld have been considered at the April meeting of the council had time permitted. The council dealt with the matter in committee, and on resuming standing orders recommendation was adopted: “That the services of Mr Cameron as overseer and inspector be retained until March 31 next under the same conditions as at present-’