HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5138, 13 June 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The June meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council >vas held at Ngatea on Thursday last, the chairman (Cr. E. L. Walton) presiding over the following: Crs. J. C. Miller, W. Madgwick, H. H. Hicks, J. A. Reid, A. S. Fisher, C. Parfitt, C. W. Harris, the engineer (Mr F. Basham), and the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney). LOANS BOARD ACT, 1926. The Treasury Department advised that with regard to the raising of further amounts on loans of which a portion was raised before the above Act came into force, any consent issued under section 20 of the Finance Act, 1919, was regarded as a consent issued after compliance with the provisions of the Loans Board Act. ■ FINANCIAL YEAR. A long circular letter was received from the M.atamata County Council advocating an amendment to the Counties Act to provide for ending the financial year on June 30 instead of March 31, as at present. Cr. Miller’ gave the subject qualified support. Cr. Walton said that as many arguments could be advanced against the change as in favour of it. He quoted instances of the detrimental effect on the date of striking and collecting rates, and submitted that unless the change was made general throughout the Government departments and banking institutions the county councils would be out of step. There was no doubt that the end of June was the end of the working year for county councils, but the disadvantages of the change would probably outweigh the advantages. On the motion of the cha.irman the council expressed the opinion that no change was necessary. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR. . The Ohinemuri County Council wrote suggesting that the four or five local bodies in the district should cooperate in the appointment of a traffic inspector under the Motor Vehicles Act. The chairman expressed the opinion that Hauraki Plains required more than one-quarter or one-fifth of a man’s time. Other councillors agreed, and on the motion of the chainman it was resolved that while the council recognised the necessity of more systematic inspection, it was of the opinion that it required the full time of one man, and the suggestion would not give the county adequate attention. PEKAPEKA WATER SUPPLY. W. Fleming and Son, Ltd., Paeroa, wrote with reference to the burning out of a coil in the Pekapeka Road water supply scheme pump motor, and suggested that a relay be installed to prevent repetitions when fuses are blown. The cost was estimated by the Power Board at £5. The Power Board had been instructed to supply a spare motor. The cost of rewinding the burnt motor (£6 15s) had been charged to the council. The engineer supported the installation of a relay, and the expenditure was authorised, the chairman and engineer being instructed to investigate the matter. KEREPEEHI ROAD LOAN. The formal resolutions am ho rising the raising of a loan of £5OOO, being part of the £7675 authorised at the Kerepeehi Riding roads loan poll on October 26, 1926, were carried. The rate would be in the £ on the unimproved value of the land in the special rating area. TOREHAPE POST OFFICE. The chief postmaster, Hamilton, wrote advising that as the revenue from the Torehape post office exceeded the expenditure for the years 1925 and 1926 the liability of the guarantor under the bond was discharged. REPLACING DRAIN BRIDGES. The Hauraki United Drainage Board wrote stating that its engineer ■had advised that new bridges would be required in connection with the r>oposed :inpr'‘Vements to the Te Kauri No. 1 drain at the crossings on the Huirau Road and the TurunNetherton Road. The clerk, Mr T. D. Wallace, had been instructed hv the chairman to seek the consent of the council to the construction of these bridges am! the co-operation of the council in the matter of cost. The chairman expressed the opinion that definite proposals should be submitted. It was necessary »o decide what width the now bridges should be.

Cr. Miller and otheis a lyncated much wider bridges tmin hail been provided in the past, and it was decided that the main road bridges be 16ft and by-road bridges 14ft, provided handrails were provided and the structures built to the satisfaction of the county engineer. With reference to a contribution by the council the chairman asked the members of the Drainage Beard

on the council what arguments could be advanced in favour of the council contributing anything. Cr. Hicks advocated that the council should provide the handrails. Ci. Madgwick pointed out that it mattered little, as the same ratepayers would have to find the monej. He therefore moved that tne council did not contribute. Cr. Reid seconded.

Cr. Wa.lton pointed out that a question of policy was involved and >t was one that deserved serious consideration. It could be taken that there was a road, and it became necessary to open it for the construction of drains—a work recognised as essential. The council could not object to the drain, but it could insist on the road being replaced to its previous state. The question of whether the council or the drainage board should pay for the bridges should be settled a 5 a matter of policy.

Mr. Hicks contended that the council should contribute towards the whole cost of the-handrails.

Cr. Mayn opposed this, and considered that the drainage boards should pay the whole cost. Cr. Madgwick argued that the cost would be more fairly distributed by allowing the drainage board to bear the whole cost. The- drainage work necessary would be paid for by a special rating area deriving benefit from the drain which necessitated the bridge. If the cost was borne by the county the whole of the ratepayers in a riding would have to pay.

Cr. Mayn pointed out that the future maintenance of the bridges would be borne by the county. Cr. Reid argued that as the drainage board proposed replacing a pipe culvert with a wooden bridge, which, no matter how constructed would not be as safe as a long culvert, the board should bear the full cost.

It was agreed that all bridges should have handrails.

After some discussion the motion was altered, and it was decided that the cost of the bridges be- born by the drainage board, as it was better able to apportion the cost over the area benefited. It was also decided that the pipes to be’ removed from the drain should be the property of the board.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

The engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported as follows: — “Pipiroa-Orongo Road. —Surfacing between the Pipirog ferry and the Kopuarahi school is completed. “Waitaka.ruru-Ngatea.~-Red metal surfacing between the bridge and canal is completed. It is impossible to get a roller on to this portion of the road. A comparison can be made of the wearing qualities of rolled and unrolled metal. Surfacing from Dalgety’s corner to Hopai Road is completed, and will be rolled shortly.

"Ngatea-Puke. —Between the Horahia Riding boundary and Kerepeehi Road surfacing is being carried on as arrival of scows permit. The road was first patched with blue metal. “The road between the Netherton ferry and near the Netherton old hall site has been repaired and blinded, and a coat of'red metal is being applied. All roads have been graded in. The Coldfix has arrived, and will be laid on the first convenient opportunity. Repairs to the detour road between the Kerepeehi corner and Pekapeka Road have been carried out. “Netherton Ferry House. —Good progress has been made with the removal of the house from the Wharepoa ferry to the Netherton ferry. The question of providing a copper and tubs and bath should be considered. The wash-house is in good order, but is not much use without equipment. “Estimates and Proposals.—Estimates for main highways have been sent in to the Highways Board, Public Works estimates are ready for despatch, and proposals for metalling Moehqu Road have been submitted. "Plant.—The question of the disposal of punts for the winter should be considered. There arc several matters connected with plant generally which should be dealt with by the works committee.” The report was adopted, and the provision of the fittings to the washhouse at the ferry was authorised.