OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5131, 27 May 1927, Page 1

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The usual meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held, following the annual meeting, on Wednesday afternoon, the chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) presiding over Crs. A. R. Robinson, W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, C.’ E. Mace, C. Hands, C. Mason, R. R. Morrison, and Messrs R. tV. Evans (clerk) and L. E. Shaw (acting engineer). WAIHI BRANCH LINE.

The Minister of Railways wrote to Mr A. M. Samuel, M-P-. on May 9 and advised that it was anticipated that increased business on tire- "Walin branch railway would result from due opening of the line to Tahawai that week, and thus warrant the retention of the tablet-porters at Waikino and Karangahake, as desired by the council’s ratepayers in those-areas. — Received. RIVER DRAINAGE.

The resident engineer of the Public Works Department wrote with reference to the council's* request for the provision of a flood-gate at the Ferry Road drain at Hikutaia. The reply stated that the matter of giving access for that drain to the river had not been lost sight of. but in accordance with the drainage programme for that area, as affected by the lower Waihou River drainage works, a twobarrelled sft diameter flood-gate had been constructed .?t the mouth of Alexander’s drain, and it was intended to divert all drainage below Morrison’s drain into it by means of an adequate cut-off drain roughly parallel to and 20 chains or more behind the stop-bank. The proposal would provide drainage quite as good as that now existing at a cost considerably lower than the provision ot several small flood-gates, and in view

of the proposal it would be seen that the extra flood-gate would not be required.

Or. Robinson said the settlers contended that the. flood-gate was necessary. as under the present conditions the water was not getting away fast enough, and that private property was becoming flooded. Cr. Morrison agreed, and said that the letter did not satisfactorily deal with the position. A flood-gate was the only effective means of providing a proper outlet. It was decided to defer the mattei in the meantime. UNSIGHTLY HOARDINGS. A letter was received from Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., with reference to a communication received from the Oamaru Beautifying Society concerning' a Bill to be introduced by Mr E. p. Lee. M.P., to do away with unsightly hoarding advertising in rural areas. Mr Samuel stated that it would give him pleasure to carry out the wishes o,f the council and support the measure when brought down in Parliament. ROAD TO MINE. The secretary of the Alaoi rand COll- - Ltd., wrote v.it.i ref -rence to the road leading to the mine at Waitekauri. The matter bad been discussed with the county engineer >n April last, when it was undc.-stmcl th it a grant of £5O had been authorised for necessary re-pair work. However nothing had been done, and the company requested that a couple 0. mm should be put on r.mlor the supervision of the mine man.igvi and the money expended on the ■ >rst portions of the road. Tht chairman explained that the work could not be done by day labour. Plans had been prepaw. d for the job, but they had not been approved ei. Tim site had to be inspected by an officer of the Public WorL Department before- the work was completed. Cuing to congestion in the local Public Works office there had been some delay, but the matter was in hand and would be finalised it the mar future. AN AGGRIEVED RATEPAYER. The fol lowing’letter, addressed to the chairman, was read:“Just received a note to say that my rates are overdue. It seems to me a funny thing that we have to keep up to the mark with our rates, and cannot get our roads attended to. bet vou are doing the -main road, your share and Waihi’s too : yet you do not shake the- Waihi Borough up for then's. I would like you to explain why. Now, sir, I do my road up as per arrangement with the- council, and it seems to wear out and still I have to keep on, and you never as much as asked how the shovel-handle was standing. I would like to meet you with your engineer by your special appointment, to come to some arrangement re some metal and the upkeep satisfactory to your humble ratepayer.” The chairman said- that the ratepayer was in his riding. The road led from the writer’s property on to the main highway, and there were certain grounds for the complaint. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and engineer. The- chairman said that the council’s attitude with reference to the Waihi Borough Council had already been published in the “Gazette.” REPAIRS TO ROADS. A letter was received from Mr GAngle, Waihi, drawing attention to the bad state of the road leading to his property. An offer was made to fmm up the road and. spread the metal, provided the council would supply and cart the metal necessary to repair about four chains of the road.

Cr. Hands suggested that a subsidy should be applied for, as the undertaking was a big .one for the county.

After a brief discussion it was decided to hold the matter in abeyance in the meantime.

Mr D. Shaw. Whijngnmata. wrote asking for repairs to be. carried out on that portion of the 'road between tiie Prakawai Stream and the new piece of Ross’s Road. Tiie chairman explained tiiat there were some bad holes on tiie road, and he thought that minor repairs might be effected.

It was decided to have the- worst portion attended to at. once.

The engineer said that it would take a surfaceman about a week to put the road in good order.