HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY
MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Hauraki Plains County Council met at Ngatea, yesterday, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over the following : Councillors: C. W. Harris, J. C. Mil. - ler., W. Madgwick, C. Parfitt, H. H. Hicks, J. A. Reid, A. L. Fisher, J. F. Mayn, the clerk (Mr. E. A. Mahoney), and the engineer (Mr F. Basham). TENDERS. The tender of D. Rewir', Kerepeehi, at 3s per chain, was accepted for the cleaning of the Boom Road drain, Waitakaruru, the work to commence when the settlers interested forwarded to the- council their share of the cost. TOREHAPE METALLING. The completion of the Torehape district road metalling was discussed by a, deputation of Torehape Road settlers which waited on the. council. The committee desired the council to approach the Minister of Lands with the request that the gravel, used be not charged for. Requests were made for. the extension: of the metalling towards Patetonga and for a few chains along the Torehape-Puhanga road. Praise was given, the county clerk and the foreman for. the good work done. The present contract should be terminated, a,nd the rest of the work done in small con. tracts next spring. The council decided to approach the Minister as requested. Referring to the extra metalling, the engineer pointed out that the Government engineers had a scheme to raise the road for seven or eight feet at the “Glue-pot.” If this was insisted upon there would be insufficient money to complete the scheme. It was decided that the Torehape Road work be completed, and metalling be continued for. another five chains, before work was commenced at the southern end of the riding. The metalling of the southern, end will be continued as far as the money will allow. It was also decided to terminate the present contract, and to call tenders for the completion early next spring. HOSPITAL LEVY. The Thames Hospital Boa,rd advised that the contribution required from the county for the year was £30'29 6s, payable quarterly/ The clerk pointed out that the levy was slightly less than last j;ear. WAITAKARURU BRIDGE. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that the Main! Highways Board had decided to grant a loan of £721 to the council for. the bridge on the highway a.t Waitakaruru. The Minister of Finance had been recommended to fix the rate of interest at 6 per cent. The chairman of the Local Government Loans Board advised that it was Necessary to obtain, the sanction of his board to the loan. He also pointed out that under the Act the local body was authorised to borrow, without taking a poll, such money towards 'its proportion of the cost of reconstructing any bridge under, 30ft in length if forming part of a main highway. ROAD TO CLEVEDON. A petition, praying for the. completion of the road from Whare-kawa to Miranda, thus providing a more direct route between Hauraki Plains and Auckland, was received from a group of Orere settlers, with a request that the council endeavour to obtain signatures. Members spoke in support of the route, which would be much better tha.n the present highway. Cr. Harris reported that most of the Waitakaruru settlers had already signed the petition. PATETONGA ROADS LOAN. The chairman of the Local Government Loa.ns Board advised that the council’s application for reconsldera.tion of the decision in respect of that portion of the Patetonga ridinig roads loan, required for metalling the old main road and Upper Mangawhero Road, had been investigated. A report had been received from the Public Works Department stating that it was unlikely that sufficient shingle would be brought down; by the creeks for a long time, and it would be wise to prospect a certain slate outcrop, which could be used as a base.
“In the event of the shingle deposits proving inadequate,” said the letter, “the cost of metaljing these two roads may exceed the estimate, and the loan would then be insufficient. The counjcil’s statement tha.t there would be difficulty in taking separate polls without resorting to the formation of smaller rating areas is agreed with, and as it is undoubtedly desirable that the matter be dealt with as soon as possible in order that everything may be. in readiness to make a commencement on 'the metalling of the main road at the beginning of next season, it is suggested that two alternatives be given consideration. “The first, and better, proposition would be for the council to increase the amount of the loan now being submitted to permit of sufficient being available in tire event of the low estimate being exceeded owing to material other than shingle having to be used if the deposit of shingle proves 'inadequate.” The other suggestion was that the loan as at present proposed be approved, and as much of the work as the shingle available would permit coul'd then be carried out and the balance held over until sufficient shingle accumulated. The term of the loan for the old main road .and Mangawhero Road could be 15 years if the metal was laid nine inches deep, and not six inches, as set out in the proposals. The condition that the wor,k on thee* roa.ds was not to be commenced until the completion, of the main and Patetonga Landing roads should b« embodied in the voting paper. The riding member was instructed to report after conferring with the Patetonga settlers. FLOODING OF SECTION. Mr R. B. Hudson drew attention to the flooding of R. L. Hudson’s section on Mah’uta Road, Waitakaruru', due to the raising of the wad having blocked the water from getting away. . The chairman said that Mahuta
Roa,d was made the county was formed. It acted as a dam., and had caused the flooding of this section for years, in fact, the works of the county farther up the stream had reduced the chance of flooding. The problem was one of land drainage. Cr. Harris agreed, and pointed out that the remedy 'would be the extension, of the canal and the improving of the cr.eek, a very big job which only the Lands Drainage Department could undertake. It was decided that a reply be sent accordingly, and that the council would support any representations on the matter to the Minister of Lands. COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION. Cr. Madgwlick and the clerk were deputed to represent the county ;a»t the - next meeting of the Rural Counties’ Association. WAITAKARURU WATER. Cr. Parfitt moved that the council take steps to have a water supply district constituted to enable the settlers of the Mauk'oro Canal and Pouarua Road districts to raise a poan for a water supply reticulation hi connec- , tion with the Haura.ki Plains WefW water supply scheme. Seconded by Cr. Parfitt and carried.
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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5287, 15 June 1928, Page 2
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1,126HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5287, 15 June 1928, Page 2
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