HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5299, 13 July 1928, Page 3

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. Tlie Haurak Plains County Council met at Ngatea yesterday, Cr. C. W. Harris presiding, in the absence of Cr. E. L. Walton, There were present Crs. A. S. Fisher, J. A. Rdid, H. H. Hides, J. C. Miller, C. W. Parfitt, W. Madgwick, J. F. Mayn, the clerk (Mr E. A. Mahoney), and tbe engineer (Mr F. Basham). FINANCE. The treasurer, Mr E. A. Mahoney, reported tha»t demands for 1928-29 rates would be posted on Saturday next. To facilitate collection within the financial year to which they belong it was recommended that a resolution be passed imposing the 10 per cent, penalty on 'January 28, 1929. Judgment had been secured agajnst most arrears for 15125-2 S rates, and he proposed suing this and next month for all 1926-27 and last year’s rates. The receipts for the month totalled £1640 10s 6d, including £1347 10s. 2d from rates, £126 18s 7d from feri’ies, and £66 12s; lOd from license fees. It was decided that the penalty on rates should accrue on February 29. WEST WATER RATE. Notice was given by Cr. Parfitt to strike a rate for the Hauraki Plains West water supply, in the £ on the unimproved valuation, as. £3750 was required. This would leave a margin of safety of about £350. SPEED LIMITS. The special orders pending the by-laws of the county respecting speed limits were confirmed. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. A circular letter, was received from the Palmerstop North Borough Council urging that concerted action be taken by all contributing bodies in the matter, of approaching the Government with a request that, the whole system of hospital control be revised with the, object of definitely defining the future policy of public hospital revenue and expenditure. It was agreed to support. WAITAKARUiU BRIDGE. The resident engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa,. wrote stating that the Minister of Finance had agreed that the rate of interest on the advance by -the Highways Board for a bridge over the Waitakaruru stream would be 6 per cent. ■HIGHWAYS. Cr. Miller reported that .there would be a meeting of the Highways District Council on Friday. He des'red to know if the council had any special business to be brought up. Cr. Harris mentioned the necessity for the council passing a resolution approving the renewal of the Waitakaruru stream bridge. Cr. Madgwick urged that if a favourable opportunity presented itself the council’s representative should press to have the Orchard Eas,t Road declared' a subsidiary highway. NETHERTON WATER SUPPLY. The special order was) confirmed respecting the boundaries of the proposed. Nether,ton water supply loan area.

The clerk pointed out that seven objections to inclusion in the area had been received, but there was nothing to prevent the boundaries being amended if desired. Thqse would have to be referred to arbitration, as provided by the Act. It was decided that the chairman and Cr. J. A. Redd (riding member) deal with the matter. PATETONGA ROADING.

Mr J. F. Mayn. Patetonga, wrote advising that at a meeting, of piding ratepayers, it was; agreed that the riding road loan be on the comprehensive scheme originally put. forward. It was preferred that the old main rqa.d and Mangawhero Road be metalled as shingle came to hand and on completion of the main road's. The Loan, Board’s proposal to lay the metal nine inches deep instead of six inches was 'agreed to. 'The provision of shingle catchment area.s; !in the various streams was advocated. It was desired that the Patetonga South special loan be absorbed in the proposed riding loan.

Cr. Mayn urged proceeding witih the scheme, However, he could, not see where the money wa,s coming from to provide the metal catchment areas and for stack'ng the "gravel for perhaps three years. - The clerk expressed the opinlion that the new matters introduced would probably require a new application to the LocaJ Government Loans Board. This, would mean a further considerable delay.

Cr. Mayn agreed that it would not be advisable to occasion any delay, and he moved that the original scheme be proceeded w'ith. ** HOPAI WEST ROAD. E. and. W. Motion, Hopai, wrote offering to give the council the necesr sary land to enable the Hopai West road to be made a chain wide if it would shift back all fences and extend the existing culverts on the strip of land in question. The offer was not intended to interfere with the counr ciiFs present programme for metalling on the Hopai West extension.

Cr. Parfitt said that the matter had been under consideration for a long time. The Government had never connected the Hopaj West extension road between the Pouarua road and the Maukoro canal with th,e PipiroaNgatea road. A half-chain access had been provided by the Lands Department. When tlie road Was opened it would provide a stock route which would be mucji ip demand. The settler» interested had' agreed to undertake the removal of the fences. It was decided to ascertain the views of tlie Lands Department, and if no objection was raised, to apply for dedication of the road. awaiti roads subsidy.

On the motion of Cr. Reid it was agreed to renew the iipplicabioni foi a subsidy bn the; Awaiti Settlement roads and to write to Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., on the matter.