DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5407, 5 April 1929, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

NGATEA.

ACTIVITY IN THE RIVER.

Quite a lot of work was going on in th R Piako River near Ngatea on Tuesday. Off what yas Johnstone’s wharf before the approach was dredged away was the upturned metal scow belonging to McCallum Bros, which capsized with a load of metal for tire Ngatea-Kaihere road some weeks ago. Further efforts were be ing, made to turn it over, and the. Hauraki Plains. County Council’s road toller was being used. This was on the roadside near the Lands L’epai tment’s shed, and was hauling on a wire lope which ran through several pulleys. The job was not successful, for though the roller could lift the hulk the gear was not strong enough to bear the strain. First a chain broke, and later a fluke broke off the anchor Which attached the cable to the beat. The roa.d roller was used with the sanction and cooperation of the County Council and the Lands Drainage Department, to which it is now under 'hire, as both authorities are having their road metalling work held up by t'he loss of the use of the scow, and of the tug Purau when ft is engaged in the salvage work.

.Moored to the Ngatea wharf was a floating dredge undtergoing a light overhaul preparatory to commencing the work of removing the big slip near the Power Board’s depot which broke the culvert to the O-chard East Road north-side floodHgate. A gang of half a dozen men on Tuesday afternoon completed! the cutting of a temporary outlet to serve till Lie culvert is repaired. Late in the afternoon the big steam diiPPor dredge on its way to Waitakaiuru passed through the bridge on the ebbing tide and foiule.il the fender piles. It turned broadside on, but skilful manoeuvring by the ma,ster of the steamer Hauraki under the. direction of Mr H. P. Pearson, dredge; superintendent, enabled, it to. squeeze through. When the bridge was first struck two pieces of hardwood were broken. These had been placed in position last week as additional protection on account of the number of scows passing through, and the work was the last of that which has be,en going on at t'he bhidlge, for some weeks, with the. exception of the laying of bitumen a,nd metal at the ends of the bridge proper, which was done on Monday. FARMERS’ UNION. The Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union held its monthly meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Mr J. Darlington presiding over Messrs J. Spence, G. T. Davidson, W. McDuff, W. Phillips, G-. Stitch bury, and F. Speedy (secretary).

The president speke of the inequality of land valuations. In the; county, and spoke, at length of the necessity of having a revaluation. Several speakers supported, and Mr Davidson said lie iiadl read in the HWuiwki Plains Gazette that the County Council had decided at it;j last meeting to ask for a revaluation of the whole county. A motion was carried supporting the council’s action.

Discussion the n proceeded on the matter of rates and rating and on the motion of the president it was decided that the County Council urge the Government to increase the petrol tax sufficiently to enable a direct relief from local, rating to be given the farming community.

Mr McDuff brought up the matter of representation on the County £b|uncil, and asked if Mr Walton could ’not be persuaded to reconsider his decision. It was stated that Mr Walton had definitely decided to withdraw, and members agreed that it would be a severe less to the whole county, and representations should be made to Mr Walton asking him to again offer his services. It was decided that a letter' be sent to Mr Walton express,- 4 ing appreciation of the; services rendered by him to the county and thq riding during his term of offic.e and regret that he wasi not offering his services at the coming election. Mr McDuff urgejd that the union put forward a candidate, and the. president said thc;> matter could be discussed at the annual meeting oh Wednesday next.

Complaints of frequent stoppage® of electric power were made, and was decided to. write to the; Power Board on the subject.