HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5388, 15 February 1929, Page 3

HAURAKI PLAINS COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Hauraki Plains County Council held its monthly meeting at Ngatea yesterday, Cr. E. L. Walton presiding over Crs. F. J. Mayn, A. L. Fisher, H. H. Hicks, C. W. Parfitt, W. Madgwick, J. C, Miller, and C. W. Harris. The clerk (Mr, E. Mahoney), the engineer (Mr F. Basham), and the inspector (Mr W. White) were in attendance. HAURAKI BRIDGE APPROACH. The Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that the approach ipad to the nejw Hauraki Bridge, being part of the main highway within the county, ,was under the control of the council under the same conditions, as applied to the remainder of the highway. Cr, Walton said that the council should protest at having to take the rcadi over in its present state.Councillors agreed with this, ami punted out that the road was in such bad order that it would not s,tand the winter. It was agreed to ask the department to put the road in satisfactory order. TQREHAPE ROAD METALLING. On behalf of the special committee Cr. Walton reported that the tender of E. Cowdrey at 6s per cubic yard for metal and 5s for clay necessary for, the Kaihere-Torehape road bad been accepted, but the Kaihere-Pate-tongg rpad gravelling contract had been, hdlds over, as the Lands Department had recently advised that it proposed to alter the grade of the road. The committee’s action was approved. KAIHERE METALLING. The tender of Mr R- T. Hill for the gravelling of portion of the KaihqreNgarua road, western end, with 400 cubic yards of shincle at 10s 6d per cubic yard was aepepted. KAIHERE FERRY. The lands drainage engineer, Kerepechi, forwarded a statement of receipts and ' payments in connection with the Kaihere ferry for the period November 12, 1928, to January 31, 1929. Receip.ts totalled £166 Bs, and payments for, wages and running costs, repairs, etc,, £4B 15s less. In accordance with the agreement half of this amount was payable to the county, but as it was apparent that the traffic warranted the installation of an engine in lieu of the slow 1 hand winch, it was suggested that the proceeds from the ferry be used to purchase a suitable engine and gearing es.timatqd to cost about £79. Cr. Harris suggested transferring the engine from the Pipiroa ferry and replace it with a more powerful one. jhe chairman thought the council should agree tq phe prefrision of an eggine at the Kaihere fejrry. This was agreed to, by tJie Council, and the question of utilising the Pipiroa, epgine was referred to the engineer to take up with the lands drainage engineer, and if necessary to procure a new engine for Fipiroa. SHELLY BEACH ACCESS. A Thames solicitor forwarded: for the signature of two councillors, a memorial to the Governor-General with reference to the taking of land at Kopuarahi for, the purpose Of providing, access for the Shelly Beach settlers. THE FESCUE MENACE. A telegram was received from the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister, of Agriculture, .noting the council's representations in regard to tall fescue in the county, and: advising that the matter would bq. investigated on the ground, on a date to be advised later. On the same siffiject. Mij A. W. Hall, M.P., wrote advising that in- all probability Mr Ransom and Mr Forbes, and also Dr. Reakes. of the Agricultural Department, would be thrpugh the electorate towards the qnd’ ° f February. Correspondence was also received from Messrs A. M. Samuel, M.P., and F. Lye, M.P., with reference to the tour of inspection of the affected areas. OPENING HILL LAND. The Thames County Council wrote seeking the' council’s co-operation in the matter of placing before the Ministers of Lands and of Agriculture arguments in favour of opening cer,ta,in on the hills of the Hauraki Peninsula for farming and grazing purposes. The chairman mentioned that the matter had been dealt with at the last meeting, when a resolution supporting the proposal was carried and a committee appointed to co-piperate. It was decided to inform the Thames County Council accordingly. Cr. Parfitt reported' that, he had been asked to ascertain how many head of cattle were sent away from the Plains for winter grazing e{ich winter, Cr. Miller said it woiuld be difficult to to what extent the hill country would be utilised, ( Cr. Mayn said the chances were that if the land was thrown open for settlement there would be very little demand for; it. Cr, Miller agreed, but express*# the view that it would be a pity if the hili country was closed for ever by afforestation. Cr, Harris suggested that the use df the Thames hills .might injure the grazing land west of. the county. PENALTY ON RATES. It was decided to impose the 10 per cent, penalty on water rates unpaid by March 9. BACK MIRANDA ROAD. Cr. Harris reported on the work done on the back Miranda Road by the settlers, and mentioned that the Maori settlers desired permission to work out further, rates by attending, to certain bad sections of the road farther along. The engineer was authorised to have work done to the extent of £2O provided Maori rates were worked ant.

WAITAKARURU WATER. Cr. Harris urged the revoking of the special order constituting the W»h takaruru water, supply district and •the constituting of a new district to

include only the settled area. He moved that the matter be investigated:—Carried. TURUA-NETHERTON ROAD. Cr. Madgwick suggested that the engineer take the necessary steps to get the sanction of the Highways Bciar.d for the sealing of the section of the Turua-Netherton road between the qnd of the present sealing and Carter’s Corner. Cr. Ma,dgwick and the engineer, were deputed to attend to the matter. PATETONGA ROADS. Cr. Mayn advocated gravelling some of. the roads about Patetonga out of rates, as the, metalling would not. be done for three years under, the presr ent s-heme. He would like the engineer to. inspect the back road, with a view to attending to the worst sections. The ceiui’icil agreed to ah expenditure tip to £lOO. RAGWORT. Cr. Mayn drew attention to the increase of- the growth of Rag,wort in the Patetonga district. It was working in from the south, and though settlers were dealing with the weed, it was increasing, annually. On Cr. Mayn’s motion it was decided to instruct the inspector to give serious attention to the matter of enforcing the Noxious Weeds Act. QUARRY PLANT. Cr. Mayn foresaw an opportunity of disposing of some of the Hikutaia Quarry plant to the Patetonga metalling contractors, and drew the engineer’s attention to thej possibility.