OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5284, 8 June 1928, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETINC. ROUTINE BUSINESS. . The monthly meeting of the Ohincinuri County Council was held yesterday, Cr. A. R. Robinson (actingchairman) presiding over Crs. W. F. Johnstone, F. C. Hubbard, C. Mason, agHands, J. B. Morris, and Messrs R. W Evans (clerk) and L. E. Shaw (actipg-engineer). Apologilfe for absence on account of illness were received from Crs. H. M. Corbett (chairman), R. R. Morrison, and C. E. Mace. TIMBER-FLOATING LICENSE. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, wrote acknowledging the receipt of the engineer’s report on the Waitawheta River in connection with the timber-floating license. The Commissioner pointed out that he had already received reports from the field inspector and the Public Works Department, and had not deemed it necessary to wait for the council to meet before communicating with the Waitawheta Timber Co. A copy of the letter was) attached, and the council was asked to forward any information as to the progress made by the company in effecting ai clearance of the river. * The chairman said that the council had shown its wisdom in refusing to lift the bond until proper investigations had been made. Cr. Mason said that some of the t'mber had been in the river for many years. It would be hardly fair to the company to have to clea,r the river of all timber. The engineer said that it was now a matter between the company’s manager and the Lands, and Survey Department. CADMAN ROAD. A letter was received from the Public Works Department advising that unless a claim was received at an early date the balance due on the authority for metalling Cadman Road, Paeroa. wouldl be cancelled. The engineer was authorised! to proceed with the work forthwith. WAIHTi-WHANGAMATA ROAD. The local office of the Public tVorks Department wrote advising that the Minister had agreed to the department undertaking the maintenance- of Bjerring’s and Ross’s deviations on the ' Waihi-Whangamata road for a period of three years, providing that tlie council was willing to pay to the department the full amount of rates collected, without deductions, during that time. The council had previously advised the department that the rates amounted to some £2B, but it was quite possible that that amount would increase in the future, and it was to be clearly understood that the total amount collected-, including any Increases, was to be handed over to the department. In addition, the council would be required to give an undertaking that at the end of the three it would accept control of the rotwaiid make no further application to the Crown for assistance. The chairman said the request was a difficult one. The present council could not give an undertaking that probably would not meet" with the approval of a future council. Also, a guarantee could not be given that no State assistance would be required in the future, in the event of heayy flooding or such contingencies the council would not be in a. posit.on to bear the cost. After some discussion it was resolved to advise the department that the Council would agree to band over the rates for three years, but it could not agree to the balance of the request regarding assistance from the Crown. | HOSPITAL RATES. The Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board forwarded a. statement of the estimated expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1929, and advised that the contribution required from the council amounted to £942 is lOd, payable by equal quarterly instalments. the first payment being due on June 30, 1928. The clerk said that the amount was a little less than last year’s contribution. BEACH ROAD MAINTENANCE. \ The Waihi Borough. Council wrote advising that it was applying to the Minister; of Public Works for a warrant authorising the lOhinemuri County Council, to make the payment, to which it had consented, for the maintenance of the Waihi Beach road. .LIGHT-HORSE GRADER. The Rotorua Borough Council wrote offering to sell a light-horse grader which had been given very little use. The machine had cost £75 when new, but it would be sold at from £35 to £lO. .' The matter was referred to the special sub-committee for consideration when the question of purchasing a, new grader was being discussed. ACCESS REQUIRED. A letter was-, received- from Messrs Miller Bros., Kopuarahi, drawing attention to the Improvements being carried out on their property at Maratoto and asking that crossings be provided over Peel Creek and the track formed sufficiently to allow of timber and iron being carted. Rates on the property had been paid for some time, and practicallyy no reading access had been provided by the council. The clerk stated that the road referred! to had been inspected by the council’s late engineer, and more recently, by resolution of the council, by l-Cfc. Robinson -and -Mr L. E. Shaw. AftlPboth inspections it had been decided that the present road was- quite impracticable and nothing could be done to it except at an expense not warranted. The Komata-Maratoto road gave access to the property, and work had been done on- that road when a .similar application c;am e b e " fore the council. Cr. Robinson agreed, and sa : d that the matter had- been carefully considered on several, occasions, and the Mines Department had agreed that the road was an impossible one to ■maintain. . The engineer agreed, and said that the other road, which was passable,

gave easy access andi passed quite close to Miller Bros’, property. Peel’s Creek road was the shorter to the property, but it was only a track and would be- an impossible road to form and maintain owing to the creek flooding. The Mines Department had refused to ma.ke a grant for the road, am} that had been- after the inspector of mines had inspected the area. Cr. Robinson said that he would like to help the settlors, but did not know how it could be done. To Cr. Hands the engineer said that the road in question really followed up Peel’s Creek., It wa.s decided to refer the matter to Crs. Morrison and Robinson, and tlie engineer to meet Miller Bros, on the site with a view to seeing if any relief could- be given. ROAD AT WAIKINO. A Waikino resident wrote asking that the Queen Street extension leading to his farm be repaired. Cr. Mason said that something required to be done, but there had not been time to give the road- attention. It was resolved to refer the matter to Cr. Mason and the engineer to bring down a report. HIGHWAYS ESTIMATES. Dealing with the compilation of estimates for the main highways, Cr. Robinson said that the engineer desired to kn'ow what the council intended to do. It would be necessary, in all probability, to slightly increase the rate on the highway portions. The estimates required to be lodged with the Public Works Department on or before June 9. It appeared to be a matter for the chaiman and engineer. Unfortunately the chairman was absent. as. well as two councillors. Highway subsidies were paid only on the amount of money expended by the council, and it would be of little use framing high estimates unless proportionate revenue was received. It. was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and en-g’nee-r, and to applj r for a,n extension oft ime from the Public Works Department. POWER FOR CRUSHER. In answer to Cr. Morris the chairman said- that the special, committee had made an inspection of several oil engines with a view to purchasing a suitable one to drive the crushing plant •’at- Komata. A particular engine had been decided on, but before a purchase was made a mechanic had been engaged to report on the machine. No time was being lost in getting a suitable engine, and in the meantime the tractor wa.s driving the crusher satisfactorily. , Cr. Mason s.a’d it appeared to him that the Paeroa-Waihi main rowl was deteriorating rapidly. Metal supplies were tlie difficulty, and he considered that tlie council should at once consider the purchase of a portable crushing plant. This view was shared by the engineer, who said- that a portable plant would ease the position considerably. A long discussion followed on the question of securing suitable supplies of metal, and finally it was dtecided to ask Mrs Treanor to submit a. price for 'soo' yards of spawls to be obtained from Tarariki Creek and to be stacked in a suitable position for crushing. FERRY ROAD DRAIN. It was stated by Cr. Robinson that the Public Works Department had completed- the erection of a flood-gate, •making a principal outlet to the Ferry Road drain, Hikutaja. With the completion of that work it was essential that a portion of the main drain should be cleaned for a distance of about 26 chains. (On the motion of Cr. Hubbard the engineer was authorised to have the work attended to forthwith. ROADSIDE DRAINS. Attention to the dra,in on Old Te Aroha Road was introduced by Cr. Johnstone. • The distance was about 36 chains, and he moved that the engineer be. authorised to have the drain cleaned and reconditioned. In seconding, Cr. Hubbard sa.i-d it was the contiuation of work previously authorised- to be done in sections. It was also agreed to clean the roadside drain fronting Mr W. 'Wight’s property', and 'also to lower certain pipes and add two new pipe<s* provided Mr Wight was prepared to defray half the cost of the work. The engineer said that Mr Wight had. already agreed to contribute- half the cost because he realised that his property would benefit-.