OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5471, 6 September 1929, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

meeting of council. The monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council was held yesterday, 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 ; the county clerk, Mr R. W. Evans, and the acting engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw. Maratoto Road. Information was received that the Minister of Mines was getting a special report made on the Maratoto road, and when it came to hand the matter would be dealt with. In a later - communication ■ the Minister stated that if the council would submit satisfactory proposals to the district engineer, Auckland, the En-gineer-in-Chief would be prepared to recommend approval. The chairman stated that everything possible was being done in the matter. Main Highways. The Prime Minister acknowledged receipt of the council’s resolution with reference to the main highways df the Dominion, and stated that he was arranging for it to be given careful consideration. Waimata Bridge. With reference to a request from ratepayers that a bridge be erected over the Waimata stream to link up Ford Road with the Waihi-Tauranga road, the Minister of Public Works replied that be was arranging for a department report to be submitted for his information, in order that he might give the request full considera tion when the Public Works Estimates for the present financial year were being prepared. County Main Highways. The assistant engineer. Public Works Department, Paeroa, drew the council’s attention to the fact that in many instances there was urgent need of further metal for the top surface of main highways in the county. Every effort should be made to maintain the loose surface, as it greatly - protected the main body of the road and prevented disruption. If this “liye” surface was withheld too long, reconstruction became necessary, and would in the end prove most uneconomical. Timely work of this nature in hand between Paeroa and Hikutaia was noted by the engineer, who understood that it would be carried out over the entire length. Portions of the Te Aroha-Paeroa section between Mangaiti and Te Aroha had recently been built up and sanded,' but while this greatly strengthened the road the effect of the good work would be lost unless a “live” surface of fine metal "ould be placed before the road broke up. This mainte? ance metal was most pressing, and he urged that the work be put in hand as soon as possible. Similar conditions applied to the county’s section between Waihi and Tauranga, which would rapidly break up unless coated with fine metal, and also to the county’s section of the Hikutaia-Netherton ferry main highway.

The engineer concluded by intimating that it was unquestioned that if this loose surface was kept -on the road and graded in, the maintenance was more satisfactory and less costly. He requested the council to make early arrangements for work on the highways referred to. The chairman stated that pail of this work was already in hand. ■ Cr. Mace said that on parts of the Te Aroha road there was a good hard surface, and it was standing/up well since it had been attended to. The engineer explained that it would be a big undertaking over 12 miles of road. The Public Works Department’s policy was to have a hard surface, blind it, and roll tight, and keep a “live” surface. Cr. Hoye’s motion that the WaihiTauranga road be attended to was carried. It was decided, on Cr. Robinson’s suggestion, to inform the assistant engineer of the Public Works Department that the work on the PaeroaHikutaia road was in hand, the Hiku-taia-Netherton road and Waihi-Tau-ranga road authorised, and that the Te Aroha road would be proceeded with as soon as funds permitted. Power Grader. The assistant engineer. Public Works Department, Paeroa, stated that the department felt the need of a power grader for the proper grading in of maintenance metal on the Pokeno-Waihi highway, which was at present carried out by the department. The amount of work entailed thereon wa? not sufficient to warrant the purchase of one, but it was suggested that the implement could be the property of the council and be hired out to the department, who could use it approximately, one week, a month. It was understood that the council had a suitable tractor, but no, suitable grader attachment. The department would be glad if the council could give consideration to the purchase of the attachn/ent, as it would be of great service to the council and of great convenience to the department. If the council would consider the matter all assistance would be given to purchase the machine through the Main Highways Board, and also advice as to the most suitable type to be adopted. The matter was left to the chairman and engineer to go into and report. Hikutaia Creek Bridge.

The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, requested early advice of the council’s attitude towards bridging the Hikutaia stream, as arrangements for financing the work were now urgent, as the estimates were in course of preparation. It was estimated to cost £lOOO, of which the Thames county had agreed to contribute £lOO. As the bridge was located on the boundary between

Thames and Ohinemuri counties, the bridge would confer benefit on the Ohinemuri settlers, and the department considered that a £lOO contribu- , tion from the council would not be large in respect to the benefit conferred. He asked for urgent consideration.

The chairman thought that as the bridge would open up country towards Whangamata, and as the council woud ony be committed to £lOO, it would be an excellent idea. ' In answer to Cr. Morrison the chairman stated that it would be a traffic bridge. Cr. Morrison said as that was so the department’s offer should be accepted. No doubt there were valleys to be tapped there, and a bridge would help consideraby, especially in flood time. As it was only a £lOO contribution, he considered it would be a good move to accept, and he moved accordingly. On Cr. Robinson seconding the motion, the council decided to contribute the £lOO suggested, so that the bridge could be erected by the Public Works Department. South Island Highways Board.

The N.Z. Counties’ Association notified that as a result of .a meeting of that body, at which representatives from both North and South Islands were present, the question of the proposal to create a seccnd main highways board for the South Island was fully considered and rejected as neither necessary nor desirable ; nor would any benefit accrue to the South Island or the Dominion. The council was requested to support this view. The chairman thought that the clamour for a second board, in the South Island, was now quiescent on account of the earthquake. The council was of the opinion that one board was sufficient for the Dominion, and decided to answer accordingly. No Parking Area. In view of the alleged danger involved through motor-cars, etc., being parked on the side of the hill at the Victoria Hall, Waikino, the hall committee requested the council to declare it a “no parking area.” It was decided to accede to the request. Access Road, Waihi Beach.

Mr F. Hoyle asked for proper access to be made to his and some neighbours’ property at Waihi Beach, the road having already been surveyed. Cr. Hoye said he had suggested to the settlers to get together and dothe road themselves, giving the council a price. He was not in favour of spending £3OO there. It was decided to leave the matter until the next meeting, so as to enable an inspection to be made.

Reduction of Mining Rent. MrC C M-.-nns, for the Ma-riland Gold Mining Co., thanked the council for the reduction of rent on the company’s property from 7s 6d to 2s 6d, and asked that the council write the amount due off as irrecoverable. In support of the request Mr Munns stated that the whole of the future of the Waitekauri field laid with the company, the only one operating there. The company had secured a small Government grant, and was concentrating on opening up the old United tunnel urder the supervision of the Government Mining Inspector. It had also in mind the advisability of testing an outcrop on another part of the property. Finances had been handled very carefully, the directors had drawn no fees for 12 months, and retrenchment had been made in every direction.

On the reading of this letter Cr. Mace was moved to remark: “If cheek gets a man into Parliament, it’s no wonder he got there !” The chairman was in favour of remitting the arrears, but Cr. Morrisoh objected on the grounds that a precedent would be established, and other mining companies would apply for the same consideration. On the motion of Cr. Mace it was decided to leave the question until the next meeting, so that the total amount owing could be estimated. Waikino School of Mines. The secretary of the Waikino branch of the Waihi School of Mines, requested a renewal of grant, I There were 10 pupils attending the branch, and a large number of assays had been made during the past year for prospectors at Waihi. In the chairman’s.opinion the school was doing good work, and warranted the grant. This was approved. Rotokohu Road. Mr D. Sheehan requested that the road at Rotokohu between Mr W. F. Johnstone’s gate and the foot of the gorge be put in order. In proposing a motion, which was passed, that the engineer report on the road, Cr. Morris said that while something certainly ought to be done, by the time metal was conveyed there it would reach the value of bullion. He suggested the possibility of obtaining and crushing metal on the spot. Cr. Johnstone stated that the trouble with this road was that the settlers, although in the Karangahake riding, had no community of interest with that portion of the county. As Cr. Mace had remarked, Karangahake riding had no funds, and so these settlers suffered. A poll might be taken to allow them to join the Paeroa riding. The seceding of that area would make Karangahake riding so small that its total elimination would be in the best interests of the county. Kaimanawa Water Supply. The Minister of Public Works informed by telegram, and through Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., that the question of a subsidy on loan money being raised by settlers for domestic and farm water supply for the Kaimanawa riding, and costing approximately £2500, was receiving consideration, and as soon as a special report had been prepared a reply would be given as soon as possible. Cr. Robinson wished to know if the council was doing all possible to get matters ready before summer. The Thames County had promised its ratepayers water before summer. He would not like to see the council’s section lagging behind. The clerk explained that everything was being proceeded with as quickly as possible, but the council had not yet received back the power to borrow.

Cr. Morrison remarked that the Thames County Council was holding a poll to-day, which, if adverse, would niean abandoning the scheme.