OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5173, 2 September 1927, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held at Paeroa yesterday afternoon, the chairman (Cr. H. M. Corbett) presiding over Crs. C. E. Mace, A- R- Robinson, R. R. Morrison, C. Hands, J. B. Morris, F. C. Hubbard, W. F. Johnstone, C. Mason, and Messrs R. W. Evans (clerk), and L. E. Shaw (acting engineer). MAIN HIGHWAY DECLINED.

The No. 2 district council of the Main Highways Board wrote advising that the council’s application to have the road from the Netherton ferry to the Kopu-Raglan road declared a main highway had been declined. Although the district council had supported the application the board regretted that on account of its finances it was unable to accede to the request. /

The chairman expressed regret that the request had been declined. Cr. Robinson, as the county’s representative on the District Highways Council, said that he did not think any good could be done by pushing the matter at this stage. However, he would be pleased to, keep the matter in mind, and re-introduce it to the highways council whejn a favourable opportunity offered. CADMAN ROAD BRIDGE. "The Under-Secretary of the Public Works- Department wrote forwarding ’a warrant vesting the control of the Cadman Road bridge in the council. UNEMPLOYMENT. Tht district inspector of factories, Hamilton, wrote stating that in order that the Government might be k&pt fully advised of the position of unemployed, the department desired to know of the number of men the council had placed in employment on relief works-. .The matter was referred to the clerk for a suitable reply. WAIHI-WHANGAMATA ROAD. The Minister of. Public Works wrote acknowledging the application for a Government, subsidy of £l5OO, £2 for £l, to be placed on this year’s estimates for the formation and metalling of the Waihi-Whangamata road, a distance of 4% miles. The matter would receive careful consideration when the road estimates were being arranged. ACCESS TO TIROHIA. A letter was received from the resident engineer of the Public Works Department, Paeroa, with reference to the access to the Tirohia. railway station. It was pointed out that the road in question had never been closed, and therefore all that was required was the provision of a gate in the railway fence. The department thought it was desirable to have the gate erected, but the matter was under the jurisdiction of the Railway Department, to which application should be made. The letter was received, and it' was decided to thank the resident engineer for his assistance in the matter. MINING PRIVILEGES. The receiver of gold revenue, Paeroa, forwarded a list of outstanding rents due on mining privileges. The council was requested to invite the Minister of Mines to treat the rents as irrecoverable, in accordance with the provisions of section 40 of the Mining Act, 1925. The amount involved totalled £22 2s 6d. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Mason, it was resolved to agree to the rates being treated as irrecoverable. AMENDMENTS TO ACT. A letter was received from Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., advising that when the proposed amendments t,o the Counties Act were considered by legislation he would be pleased to support the request of the council. FREIGHT ON METAL. A letter was received from Otorohanga enclosing a list of freights to various stations in the Ohinemuri County. A request wasi made that the council should petition the Minister of Railways to reduce the railages on all road-making materials. It was decided to comply with the request. EFFORTS APPRECIATED. The Whangamata Settlers’ Association wrote expressing its appreciation of the efforts- of (he council in furthering its affairs in the past. REPAIRS TO CROSSING. A request was received from Mr G. J. Hancock, Paeroa Road. Te Aroha, for larger pipes to be put down- on a cros. ing leading to his property. He contended that the existing pipes were too small and were unable to cope with the storm-water. Cr. Mace said that the area had been inspected. The engineer said that provision had been made to put down an overflow pipe, and to cut a small drain, which he believed would give satisfaction. The matter was referred to- tihe engineer with power to act. WAIKINO SCHOOL OF MINES.

A request for a donation was received from the Waikino School of Mines. In support of the application the letter stated that tihe school had a roll number of 12 students, and that from February of this year 155 assays had been made for prospectors- and prospecting companies in the Ohinemuri district free of charge. Cr. Mason said that, he had been struck with the good work donei by the school, and he thought that the annual grant of £3O was not a "penny too much.” He moved to that effect; This was seconded by Cr. Morris and carried. ACCESS TO PROPERTY. A letter was received from Mr F. L. Franklin asking for repairs to the road leading to -his property at Waikino, and pothting out that the only access ihe could uso was by way of a track which he had constructed. Cr. Mason said that the road had preeviously been inspected, but little or no relief -had been given. A hardship was caused to the settlers concerned, who had done a great deal of

work, including the placing of hundreds of pungas to fill up the holes. He thought that some assistance might very well be afforded. The chairman said that the only legal access was on the tramline, and once the Waitawheta Timber Company relinquished its right to the tramway line a good road would obtain. After a bpief discussion the matter was left in the handsi of the chairman engineer, and Cr. Mason with power to act. OLD TE AROHA ROAD. ' Repairs to Old Te Aroha Road from Costello’s to the first bridge on the Te Aroha side was the subject of a request from Messrs Thorp Bros. A suggestion was made that provided the council would contribute £5 the writer would undertake to have the work done to the satisfaction of the engineer. The area, in question was partly in the Karangahake riding and partly in the Ma'ngaiti riding. That it was a reasonable request, was; the contention of Cr. Johnstone, and it was resolved that the sum of £5 be granted in the terms of the request. MILL ROAD DRAINS. Application for assistance to clean out the drains- and open up a culvert in the Mill Road area was received from Mr L. E. Cassrels. It was pointed out by the writer that he had already opened the- drain from the canal to the extraction works, a distance of approximately 60 chains, and if the council would deepen the'drain to its full depth from the canal upwards it was thought that a permanent job would result. The matter was referred to Crs. Johnstone and Hubbard for an inspection and a report. Cr. Mace thought the riding members should be satisfied as to the amount of damage, if any, that was accruing to the- county road. The chairman replied that he thought the matter could be safely left to the members concerned. DEAM’S ROAD. A request was received from Mrs L. Drinkwater, Waitawheta, for urgent repairs to be carried out on Deam’s Road. The writer stated that during this: winter the water had reached to t-he floor of the cream cart, and the ruts were getting deeper. Cr. Mason said it was a perfect nightmare. He did not know exactly how permanent relief could be given. He moved that an application be made to the Government for the sum of £2OO to provide a definite means of access. Cr. Johnstone, who seconded the motion, said that the member for the dsitrict was familiar with the area. BUTLER’S TRACK. A letter was received from Mr EKarangahake, asking for certain repairs to Butler’s Track, which was practically impassable. The chairman, looking at Cr. Morris, remarked that perhaps it was an electioneering promise. (Laughter.) Cr. Morris denied the soft impeachment. On his motion the matter was referred to the riding member and the engineer.