OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5433, 7 June 1929, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The first ordinary meeting of the newly elected Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday, Cr. C. Mason, chairman, presiding over a full attendance of members, as follows : Crs. T. A. Barrett, G. Hoye, W. F. Johnstone, C. E. Mace, J. B. Morris, R. R. Morrison, A. R. Robinson, and W. G. Thornton ; and Messrs R. W. Evans (county clerk) and L. E. Shaw (acting-engineer). Before the business of the council was -■ commenced, and after several members had made eulogistic references to her, the councillors stood for a few moments in silence in tribute to the late Mrs M. H. Gordon, of Waitekauri. The chairman then extended a hearty welcome to the new members, Crs. Barrett, Hoye, and Thornton. He • remarked that from what he had heard they would be. a decided acquisition to the council. As their chairman he would render them what assistance he could, and trusted they would assist the council. The new members suitable responded, emphasising the fact that they would do their best for their ridings, the ratepayers, and the county in general. Request for Road Widening. Mr M. Davidson wrote pointing out the narrow approach to his property at Komata, which necessitated sledging. He estimated that to widen the last 15 chains from 6ft to 10ft would cost £2O, arid in offering to do it for half the amount, and to the satisfaction of the council, he asked for the council’s favourable consideration. The offer was agre'ed to. ' Increased Charge for Water. Advice was received from the Paeroa Borough Council that it had approved of the arrangement made between the county chairman and the Mayor to the effect that the Borough Council should agree to pay the extra charge of £5O a year as from July 1 next. Cleaning Drains. Mr T. Killgour, Komata, asked in writing if the council.would pay half the cost of cleaning the drain on the north side of Rangarora Road, 42 chains, which he had cleaned at 4s a chain. Cr. Robinson stated that the council in the past had adopted a policy that work done without being authorised by it should on no account be paid for. However, in this case he cqpsidered that the request-should be met. Cr. Mace considered that it was a wrong step to take, and would create a precedent. Mr Killgour should have ‘ written for authority beforehand. Cr. Robinson pointed out that the writer, had he been aware of the necessity of obtaining authority, would certainly have made application. It was not until the work had been completed that he knew. The council decided that in this case payment should be made, provided the engineer approved of the work done, and that Mr Killgour be written to advising him that he should have asked for authority first. Working Out Rates. Mr arid Mrs W. Leach, Waihi, applied for permission to work out their general rates, on two sections belonging to them. They proffered the information that they had done most •\f the work on the road since they had been in possession. ' The chairman stated that Mr Leach had already done a considerable amount of work on the road. Cr. Hoye wtas of the opinion that the request should be granted. It was decided that the rates should stand, but Mr Leach would be allowed £8 per annum for the upkeep of the road; Request to Fence. A letter was received from Mr C. Snow,Waihi, requesting permission to : fence on his property near the old Tauranga Road, so as to bring part of the council’s property in with his property, provided, of course, he would move the fence back again if the council later wished it. Cr. Hoye, riding member, was of the opinion that the road was too narrow to permit of Mr Snow moving his fence. It was less than a chain wide, and it was already difficult for sheep and cattle to be driven along the road. In driving sheep along such narrow roads there werle often as many inside the fence as outside. Some settlers had previously been .allowed to . move their fences, thereby encroaching on a road, but in these cases the reason had been to aid in the clearing and eradication of gorse ; and they were also by-roads, not stock routes. Along the road referred to power poles would be erected shortly, in addition to the telegraph ones already there. Cr. Thornton, in supporting the previous speaker, said that even a < hain wide road did not allow much room for stock to be got out of the way of vehicular traffic. It was unanimously decided that Mr x Snow’s request be refused. With reference to the clearing of gorse, etc., Cr. Morris suggested that it was time the settlers wre rminded to clear the road in front of their property. After some discussion, during which it was shown how difficult it would be to enforce the law, the subject was dropped. Waihi-Tauranga Highway. A letter from the assistant engineer of the Public Works Department, Paeroa, drew attention to the rough condition of the main highway between Waihi Borough and the Tauranga County boundary, and requested that this portion be put in order 1 as early as possible. Cr. Hoye, in endorsing the remarks in the letter, said he was surprised that the road was not in better order, as the head foreman lived in the locality. As bad as was the county’s portion, the Tauranga County’s end was \ infinitely worse ; in fact it was very Wd indeed. He thought the present method of spreading metal could be improved upon. It was now brought

by lorry, dumped on the grass along the side of the road, and then taken by wheelbarrow to the required place. Sixty years ago the method was to dump some metal from a dray in the middle of the road, and then move on to dump another lot further up. This system was far more economical than using wheelbarrows, and he thought it could be put into practice to-day with just as good results. Dumping on the grass was ridiculous. In reply to the chairman the acting engineer said the portion of road in question was about three miles long. It stood very well in fine weather, but fell to pieces after the first rain. He had tried to avoid tipping metal on the side of the road. Only now and again it had to be done with fine metal. This could only be obtained occasionally, and was dumped on the roadside until required. The chairman remarked that the time was fast coming when the council must be bold enough to ask for a bigger subsidy from the Main Highways Board.

Continuing, Cr. Hoye said there was a great deal of difference in the metal obtained from the mining country. A lot of the fine stuff was absolutely useless, being too. highly mineralised, and it quickly went to pug. If possible, it would be wiser to get the crusher to crush solid rock—it would be better and less erratic.

Cr. Morris was of the same opinion as far as mineralised metal was concerned, and he considered it was not right to put it on the road.

The matter was left in the hands of the engineer.