PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5435, 14 June 1929, Page 1

PLAINS COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The Hauraki Plains County Council held its monthly meeting at Ngatea yesterday, Cr. C. W. Harris (chairman) presiding over the following : Crs. J. Motion, W. E. Hale, W. Madgwick, C. W. Parfitt, W. McDuff, J. A. Reid, A. S. Fisher, J. F. Mayn, and Messrs F. Basham (engineer), E. A. Mahoney (clerk), and W. White (inspector). Shingle Supplies. Nine tenders were rceived for the right to supply the council with up to 5000 yards of shingle suitable for the running surface of roads. Four tenderers proposed using crushed chips from the Matatoki quarry, and for this the Thames County Council in its tender quoted 9s 6d per cubic yard at the hopper. Tenders were also received for beach shingle from Wharekawa, Chamberlain’s Island, and Waikawau Beach, and for the well-known red metal, the tender for which was much below the price previously charged. The engineer recommended taking 600 yards of Mr G." Smith’s Matatoki quarry §-inch chips at 12s 6d a cubic yard delivered on the Kopu Bridge approach road, and A. W. Bryant’s beach shingle at 10s lOd a yard, and McCallum Bros’, red metal at '9s 9d for the rest of the county. It was decided to accept M. G. Smith’s tender for 600 yards for the Hauraki Bridge approach road and 2500 yards of Bryant’s beach shingle and 2500 yards of McCallum’s red mbtal. Ngatea Bridge. Four tenders were received for the contract of redecking the Ngatea bridge, and that of Messrs J. McConnell and A. P. Gardiner, of Turua, at £390, was accepted. The prices of the other tenderers were : W. J. Clare, £409 ; E. N. Davies, £440 ; and Mitchell and Woolnough, £460 2s 9d. County Valuation. The Valuation Department, Wellington, advised that the council’s request for a revision of the valuations of the whole of the county had been acceded to. Slippery Roads. F. Loader and twelve other Orchard and Hauraki Road settlers petitioned the . council drawing attention to the slippery state of the Hauraki and Orchard East roads, which had been bitumen-sealed. This was dangerous for horses drawing milk-carts, and several horses had already b : xm injured. That section of Orchard East Road which had been coated with red metal was the only part which was not slippery.

Cr. Madgwick said that all bitumen roads were slippery. Cr. Hale said something should be done so that users of horses were not prohibited from earning their living. Crs. Reid and Mayn were of the opinion that horses would not slip if carefully driven. On Cr. Madgwick’s motion the letter was ordered to lie on the table. Ngatea Street Lights. The Ngatea Hall Society wrote asking the council to instruct the Power Board to reinstate the Ngatea township street lights. The step was authorised. The Hill Road. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, wrote concerning the request for a £4 for £1 subsidy for the metalling of the Waitakaruru-Mor-rjnsville road, and stated his reason for not increasing the subsidy beyond £2 for £l. On this subject Mr A. W. Hall, M.P., wrote expressing the hope that the, council would appoint a representative to visit Wellington early in the session to assist him to push the claims of the county. Cr. Harris said that the engineerhad estimated the cost of the roads at £8733, and with a £2 for £1 subsidy the rate required would be 31d in the £, which was more than the land could bear. Mahuta Bridge. The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that a subsidy of £2 for £1 on an expenditure of £650 might be provided for the renewal of the Mahuta Road bridge. The council was asked if it would provide its share of the expen* diture. Referred to the engineer for a report. Piako Road. The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that in connection with the request for assistance for the purpose of metalling the shoulders of the bitumen road, it would be necessary to lay stone spalls on either side to a width of 18 inche? by 9 inches in depth. The cost was estimated to be £390, and a £ for £ subsidy would be considered. The council was asked whether it was prepared to provide the requested contribution. It was decided to refer the matter to the Turua Town Board, as the road was in its district. Ranger and Poundkeeper. Two applications were received for the position of ranger and keeper of the Ngatea pound. These were from T. Ngawiki, Parawai, who desired £3 15s a week, plus driving fees, and from Mr J. Shaw, who desired £52 a year, plus driving fees. It was decided to appoint J. Shaw for one year. Waitakaruru Water Loan. The formal resolutions authorising the Waitakaruru water supply loan and the striking of the special rates were carried.