OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5448, 15 July 1929, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. x _ ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held last Thursday, Cr. C. Mason presiding over a full council, consisting of 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). As a result of deputations received by hint during his visit to Ohinemuri County in March, the Minister of Public Works wrote with reference to the following.

Access Road at Karangahake.

The Minister advised that two alternative access routes could be provided to the section of Mr R. Baxter, near Karangahake—one towards Trig Road and the other in the opposite direction, towards Waihi. The former route, at present used by Mr Baxter, was approximately 50 chains in length on easy formation, but involved the crossing of a swampy stream, which would necessitate /he building of a bridge. To build this a suitable site would have to be made, which meant the deviating of the-rpad or straightening of the stream, resulting in the cost of the work being considerably increased to an approximate estimate of £4OO. The estimated cost for the alternative route, towards Waihi, involving 100 chains of formation and a 25ft bridge, was £450. ¥ As Mr Baxter’s section was only 50 acres, and the poorest part of a block of 289 acres in section 22 and 60, the capital value of which was £l2OO, it would be seen that the estimated cost of providing access by either route would be in excess of the capital value of the applicant’s property. It was very doubtful whether Mr Baxter s section was of'sufficient value to warrant improved reading facilities. In view of the foregoing the Minister could not agree to any Government funds being devoted to the purpose desired by Mr Baxter, Demand for Rates. In forwarding the amount of his rates Mr Baxter commented on the fact that he had been charged 10 per cent, on arrears. He wished to know how this came about, as it was the first demand he had received. He considered that the council should give him access to his property before demanding rates. .Although without access, he paid the same rates as another settler who was on the road. It was decided to leave the matter over until next meeting. Pukekauri Road. The Minister was of the opinion the above road did not warrant the employment of relief workers. The question ‘of carrying out the work was more one for consideration on the Public Works funds, road estimates, and would receive further consideration when the estimates were under review at an early date. Access to Block at Mataura. The Minister advised Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., in regard to a request for access to property by Mr C. Morton, alongside Mataura Road, that he was prepared to give every consideration for a free grant towards construction of the road when reviewing the forthcoming estimates. This decision was arrived at on account of Mr Morton taking up his section in a vigorous manner, and therefore being deserving of encouragement. The work, being of a minor nature, would not be suitable for relief work, as suggested by. Mr Morton. Satisfaction at this reply was expressed by councillors. Waihi-Whangamata Road Metalling. The Minister also advised Mr Sam uel that the portion of the above road from the Waihi, borough to Bjerring’s deviation,, a distance of 41 miles should, in his opinion, be metalled in the near future, as there was little doubt that the road would be of considerable importance to through traffic. He was prepared to consider the contributing of a £ for £ subsidy towards metalling? The chairman remarked that the settlers involved* were of energetic typ”, and would leave no stone unturned to assist the council. Cr. Hoyt thought the amount required—£l3o0 —was too much for the riding funds to stand. It would be impossible to raise without a loan. They were, however, a fine type of settler, and every assistance should be given them. The matter was leffr in abeyance until next meeting, the chairman be- ■. ing empowered to act should anything eventuate in the meantime..

Waitawheta-Waihi Road. /

In regard to metalling the Waita-wheta-Waihi road, the Minister stated that in his opinion the Government should not be called uopn to finance the whole cost of any road metalling. Hov.ever, in view of the fact that the amount had actually appeared on the Public Works Department estimates, he had decided to approve authorisation in this case for £3OO free money, the council to distinctly understand that this case of provision of free money was not to be taken as a precedent. Waitawheta Gorge. Referring to representations made to the Minister of Lands at Paeroa on May 20 by a deputation from the Ohinemuri County Council and Paeroa Borough Council in regards declaring the Waitawheta Valley a scenic reserve, the Minister stated that from an inspection made of records it was found that the portion of the valley in question was bounded by Crown land, provisional State forests, roads, and riverbank reserves except about two miles on one bank of the stream where the titles went right to the riverbank. The field inspector had been asked to make a detailed inspection, and when his report was received the Minister would be pleased to give the whole matter careful consideration.

Wharf Road.

A group of settlers in the Kaimanawa riding urgently requested the reforming and metalling of the unmetalled portion of Wharf Road.

Cr. Robinson said this was about the only portion of road in the Kaimanawa riding that was unmetalled. It was used a great deal by the settlers in taking their produce to the wharf. When he heard of the petition being drawn up he had communicated with the acting-engineer, who informed him that a grant had already been applied for. The speaker moved that the action of the chairman and engineer in requesting a grant be approved. Cr. Morrison, in seconding the motion, remarked that it was the first he had heard about a petition. He wished to take exception to the fact that he was given no inkling of what was going on in his own riding. There was a certain clique or coterie down there trying to run things. Cr. Robinson explained that the first he knew of the matter was when Mr Hislop, the first signee of the petition, had rung him up and informed him of the settlers’ intention, and had asked the procedure of laying the petition before the council. In answer he had given the necessary information, and had added that the petition would have his support in council, and no doubt that of Cr Morrison as well. Continuing, Cr. Robinson said he was not aware of what Cr. Morrison’s remarks alluded to ; they were quite foreign to him. Road Access. G. Hampton, Rotokohu, applied for road access tp his property, situated alongside the Rotokohu canal. The matter was deferred until the next meeting, so that a party of councillors could inspect the property. Maintaining a Road. P. Vlahovich wrote offering to keep the unmetalled road which gave access to his property in order for the amount of his general rate. The coucil agreed to the request for a period of one year, the work to be done under the supervision of the acting engineer. Waimate Creek. The Waimdte School Committee asked that a temporary bridge be put over the Waimate Creek as soon as possible. Last week a child fell into the creek while jumping from stone to stone to get across. Cr. Hoye stated he was not in favour of putting a bridge over the stream. One bank was higher than the other and construction was thereby made difficult and expensive? Cr. Thornton supported Cr. Hoye, but at the same time mentioned that at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union in Waihi he had been told the farmers wanted the bridge. ’ The children’s only alternative to the stream was through a paddock where bulls were at large. The chairman intervened to remark that only a few children used the road, as he had ascertained during a visit there previous to the last meeting. Cr. Hoye: One family has since left. . Cr. Thornton: Another family with four or five children is going in. Cr. Hoye mentioned that as the stream under discussion was' in his riding he should have been approached instead of a member for another riding. It would have been more in order if he had been approached and fullly acquainted with the subject so as to be fully prepared to support or reject it in council. As it was, it was not worth doing anything at all. The previous bridge had been erected by a private individual. If the council were to build a temporary bridge and an accident occurred the council would be liable. '(’he settlers in that case would at the council right away. If the council could not build a proper bridge it should not erect one at all. Cr. Thornton explained that he had been approached unofficially at a farmers’ meeting. The matter ?. r as left in abeyance until the next meeting. Road at Waitoki. Mr D. Sheehan, Rotokohu, dre"/ at tention to the deplorable state cf the road to his farm at Rotokohu. He ask ed that it be put in order as he had a lot of carting to do. He had paid rates for eight years and no work had been done on the road for seven years. Cr. Mace said the acting-engineer had attended tfie road as well as he could at this time of the year, Mr Sheehan had gone in for heavy carting and the road simply would not stand it. The speaker had seen Mr Sheehan the. day before, and the latter had told him he wished for more work to be done. To do any more there at present would simply be throwing money away, Cr. Mace maintained. He had suggested to Mr Sheehan that he only cart light loads over the road for the time being, but the settler was evidently not satisfied. Tea-tree in the holes would help. 'The matter was deferred for the chairman, acting-engineer and Cr. Mace to make an inspection.