HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5153, 18 July 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

® _ MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The Hyttraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea on Thursday last, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over the following : Crs. C. W. Harris, J. C. Miller, W. Madgwick, C. Parfitt, H. H. Hicks, J. A. Reid, A. L. Fisher, the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). HOSPITAL RATES. The clerk of the Thames Hospital Board forwarded an estimate of the revenue and expenditure for the year 1927-28. The contribution required from the Hauraki Plains was .£3185 6s Id, payable in quarterly instalments, the first being due on June 30, >1927. Interest would be charged on overdue instalments.

The amount payable by each local body on an assessment of 0.357 d in the £ would produce : Thames Borough, £1221 2s Id ; Paeroa Borough, £552 10s Gd ; Ohinemuri County, £991 10s 5d ; Thames County, £849 9s 6d ; Hauraki Plains County, £3185 6s 1(1.

The chairman reported that the rate had increased practically onethird on account of the increased valuation of the county.

Cr. Reid advocated seeking a change in tiie method of raising hospital levies.

The chairman said that the; matter had been the subject of agitation among county associations for a long time. He did not think anything could be done except join ip any further agitations.

Cr. Madgwick was instructed to give tiie matter close attention at the forthcoming Rural Counties’ Association meeting. GRAZING LEASE RATES. 'l'hc collector of Government drainage rates, Lands Department, Auckland, wrote in respect to the rates levied on that part of the Kerepeehi Block leased to Mr J. Connor, and advised that on a valuation of £26,400 the drainage rates amounted to £231, which was- more than the lessee could pay. Rather than drive him off the property the department suggested reducing the rates. The present anual rental was £77 18s, representing a capital value of £1550. Provided the council was agreeable to adopting tiie same course the writer was prepared to recommend that the lessee be rated on a valuation of £1550. The clerk reported that the county rates for the year 1926-27 amounted to £l4l 12s 6d.

Cr. Fisher was of the opinion that the lessee could not make sufficient from the land to pay the rates. The chairman stated that the county wa* only rating the- land for hospital and special rates. If the valuation was reduced the rest of the county would have to pay more hospital rates. The council was just charging the land with what it had to pay out on account of land. There was therefore more argument in favour of the department reducing its drainage rate, particularly as, it was holding up the opening of the block on the excuse that the drainage was not completed. This view was endorsed by members, and the clerk was instructed to advise the Lands Department that the council was unable to agree to the suggestion. RATES WRITTEN OFF.

In order to remove a misapprehension in the minds of some ratepayers Cr. Parfitt asked for information concerning the- amount of rates written off.

The clerk reported that since the council was constituted £2BOl 9s 9d had been written off. This had been for four years', and represented about ■1 per cent. Native rates amounted to £1157 5s 2d, European settlers £lOO9 6s lid, soldier settlers £3BO 12s 9d, while duplicated entries, surrendered leases, and non-rateable properties accounted for £251 4s lid. A PATETONGA ROAD LOAN. On the motion of Cr. Mayn the formal resolution wa's adopted seeking the permission of the "Local Government Loans, Board to raise a loan of £550 for the purpose of. forming and metalling approximately 4 7 chains of the Patetonga South road from its intersection with Maukoro Lauding Road northward. TE KAURI DRAIN CULVERT. Cr. Madgwick urged that as a means of assisting theDDra inage Board the council agree to allow a 12ft bridge instead of a 14ft bridge where the Te Kauri drain crossed H-ttirau Road. The chairman pointed out that a notice.' of motion would be required to alter the previous decision. SALE OF TRAMRAILS. Cr. Madgwick reported that requests had been received to sell the tramrails used in the Turua roadwork. Many farmers desired to purchase ‘'.'mall quantities of tramrails. It was decided to give l notice of motion to introduce the matter. COUNTY CLERKS. The Waitomo County Clerk forwarded a circular letter to the clerk suggesting the formation of a County Clerks’ Association. The council offered no objection to Mr Mahoney acting as he pleased, and granted him leave of absence if required to attend the inaugural meeting. ASSOCIATION MEETING.

The Rural Counties’- Association meeting was called for .Wednesday next, for the purpose of electing officers, etc., and to consider the following remits and others which might be received: Rating on abandoned farms, date of annual meeting of county councils, hospital levies, petrol tax, rating on timber, and special rates on areas transferred from boroughs. The clerk and Cr. Madgwiick were deputed to attend the meeting. DRIAIN CLEANING,. Mr J. Handley, Puke Road, Paeroa, wrote urging the completion of the cleaning pf the drain from Fisher’s Road to the Netherton school. Crs. Reid and Fisiher opposed making a ’grant, as- the three settlers would , not contribute to 'help the other settlers in the cleanin g of the rest nf the drain. The- request was declined.