HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5192, 17 October 1927, Page 4

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING’ OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Hauraik Plains County Council was held at Ngatea on Thursday, the Chairman (Cr. E. L. Walton) presiding over Crs. F. J. Mayn, A. S. Fisher, J. A. Reid, H. H. Hicks, W. Madg’wick, J. C. Miller, C. W. Harris, C. W. Parfitt, and E. A. Mahoney (clerk) and F. Basham (engineer). CLOSING PAEROA ROAD. The resident engineer of the Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that it would shortly be necessary to close the Paeroa-Plains Road for a short period not exceeding a week when the Waihpu River bridge reached Johnston’s corner and also when it reached Morrison’s corner.

It was proposed to divert traffic by Fisher’s and school roads during these stoppages and while the main road was being constructed over the stopbank. Th® dates would be advised later.

Cr. Reid said that the main road should not be closed longer than was necessary, as Fisher’s Road would not stand very much traffic.

The chairman said he was afraid the council had not much say in the matter.

FIELDS OFFICER AT THAMES. The Thames Chamber of Commerce wrote seeking support for representations to have a resident fields officer cf the Department of Agriculture stationed at Thames to work the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains. —Granted. BRIDGE AT WAITAKARURU.

The resident engineer, Public Works Department, wrote advising that the Main Highways Board had stated that it would provide; for th© erection of a bridge at the Waitakaruru township on a £ for £ basis only. The district engineer had recoommendod that provision for £550 be made on the "urrent year’s estimates, that amount being half the estimated cost. In a later letter the resident engineer stated that with a view to> preparing an estimate for strengthening the bridge temporarily a further examination of the structure had been made, when it was discovered that the process of decay had reached such a stage; that the cost >of repairs would not be warranted. The bridge was in an extremely dangieroua condition, and was a menace to public safety. In view of the position the council was asked if it was prepared to avail itself of the Main Highways Board's offer.

Cr. Harris: Nothing doing, Mr Chairman ; we have: no money. It was resolved to advise the department that the council regretted it could not avail itsself of the opportunity owing to- lack 1 of the necessary finance. PETITION FROM PIPIROA. A petition sigped by 37 subscribers to the Pipiroa ferry drew the attention of the council to the difficulty in negotiating the steep rise on the western slide of the ferry. As there; was no immediate prospect of a bridge being tyuilt the* petitioners suggested that the steep approach bei lowered to a reasonable grade; also a. corresponding widenipg to the railing. Cr. Parfitt painted out that a loaded car could not approach the western Slide of the ferry when the tide was low on account cf tlie steep grade. The matter was referred to the engineer for imvastigation and report to the November meeting. OOUr.CTIES’ INSURANCE. The Rural Counties’ Association forwarde.d -a suggestion that the rural counties consider the formation of a ■mutual in durance fund on the lines of the sawn fillers’ scheme. To Cr. Hicks the chairman said that £1414 12s 8d had been paid out in a littfle over 12 months. The claims had becm fairly extensive. It was decided that the letter He on thr* table until the next meeting. PATETONGA. DEVIATION. The Minister of Public Works wrote through Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., in f’arthear reply to the council’s representations! concerning the proposed dev iatiopi betweem Patetonga and Kaihere, arid advisied that the matter had been very fifllly investigated, and it was not intended to proceed with the .Work for some time, as it was considered that the hill road would meet the district requirements for man’y years; MAIN HIGHWAY CURVES. The following letter was received from the Main Highways Board: — “In. 1924 the Main Highways Board laid down certain standards for highway construction. In particular the minimum standards for curvature wetre set out for first, second, and thjrd-class highways. There appears to be ,a tendency among local bodiea to regard these requirements as standard practice rather than as an indication of the minimum radius which Ibhe board will approve under difficult conditions.' “Proposals are often* submitted involving the use of one and a-half and two-chrfin curves on first-class highways vrhere a minimum radiusj of five chains is warranted, and indeed, is often, the most economical proposition on account of reduction in distance.

“ With the larges increase in motor traffic oil the main arterial routes sight distance is becoming even more important and wherever the. cost is not prohibitive an attempt should be ■made to ptrovide a. minimum sight distance ol' 200 ft by using flatten curves or, alternatively, by benching the batters, of cuttings.”

The conn' cil was asked to keep this circular in mind when approving proposals up to an estimated cost of £looo.—Ref erred to the engineer. COST OF MAIN HIGHWAYS.

The Min sitvr of Public Works wrote ackn the council's resolution, to the 1 effect that the council was of •'the-opinion that the time had arrive d wh en users of roads should pay the w hole cost of maintenance of main Hhighways, the Government sbiould be .asked to introduce legislation providing t,hQ whole of the maintenance be \naid by. the Main Highways Board. Tlhe Minister advised that;, the question was already under co' nsideration h n response to

previous representations made. MANGATARATA TELEPHONE. The Controller of Accounts, Post and* Telegraph Department, forwarded a statement o£ the revenue and expenditure in connesction witli working of the Mangatarata telephone line for the year ended August 31 last. The revenue amounted to £l4 Is id, and the expenditure to £3O 10s, leaving a deficiency payable by the guartors of £l6 8s lid, which sum the council was asked to pay.

It was decided to take the matter up with the guarantors with a view to recovering the amount.