PLAINS COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5474, 13 September 1929, Page 2

PLAINS COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Hauraki Plains County Council held its monthly meeting at Ngatea yesterday, Cr. C. W. Harris presiding over 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). Inspector’s Resignation. In reply to the chairman, the inspector, Mr W. White, said that he would not withdraw his resignation, and wished to leave the council’s employ at the end of the present month. The chairman thereupon moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. Cr. Madgwick, in seconding the motion, said he wished to place on record his appreciation of the way Mr White had carried out his duties. His only objection throughout had been to the position of full-time inspector, and there was nothing personal about it. The chairman said that in losing Mr White the council was losing a very efficient officer. He was sure that all councillors were very sorry Mr White was leaving. The motion was carried unanimously. Position of Inspector. Cr. McDuff expressed the opinion that the appointment of an inspector to replace Mr White should be deferred for three months. This was supported by Cr. Madgwick, who expressed the view that the duties could be undertaken by the clerk and engineer. He moved in that direction. Cr. Mayn, while not opposing deferring the question for a month or two, was firmly of the opinion that a full-time inspector was essential. Cr. Fisher was in favour of calling applications for an inspector at once, and moved to that effect.

Cr. Reid seconded, and said that in view of the report presented by the clerk at the last meeting he could not see that the council could do without an inspector for a day. The chairman also favoured making an early appointment, as also did Cr. Parfitt, who pointed out that the inspector collected his own salary and more.

The amendment was defeated and the motion to defer consideration for three months was carried on the votes fo Crs. Motion, Hale, Madgwick, Parfitt, and McDuff. Pipiroa Bridge. The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, advised that the Waitakaruru-Pipiroa Ratepayers’ Association had requested that the Highways Board give early consideration to the erection of the Pipiroa bridge. In order that representations might be made on the ground, the council was asked to appoint a representative to a conference which would be attended by the secretary of the ratepayers’ association. The chairman and the members of the Pipiroa and Kopuarahi ridings were deputed to represent the council. Cr. Parfitt asked if the committee would be empowered to fix the rating area. (Laughter.) Traffic Inspection.

A circular letter from the Main Highways Board urging the appointment of traffic inspectors and advising adjoining local bodies to co-operate in the matter was received. In this connection a letter was received from the Ohinemuri County Council, to which the clerk had replied to the effect that the council had frequently expressed the opinion that the Hauraki Plains needed a full-time inspector for multitudinous duties in addition to traffic inspection, but that if a conference was held prior to the next meeting of the council, when the matter would be discussed, the chairman would attend. Cr. Reid said that sharing an inspector would not suit the Hauraki Plains County, and he moved that the Ohinemuri County Council be advised accordingly.—Carried. Subsidy on Rates.

Advice of £ll7B 14s 9d subsidy on general rates was received from the Treasury, allocated as follows : Turua riding £l4O 0s 2d, Kopuarahi riding £l2O 7s 7d, Horahia riding £l6O 6s 2d, Kerepeehi riding £lO5 6s lOd, Netherton riding £145 14s lid, Patetonge riding £54 19s 7d, Ngatea riding £lB3 2s 3d, Pipiroa riding £l3l Is, and Waitakarruu riding £137 16s 3d. The chairman pointed out that this subsidy was at the rate of 5s in the £ on rates paid promptly. It was something worth striving for. Mahuta Road Bridge. The assistant engineer of the Public. Works Department, Paeroa, advised that provision had been made on the current year’s Estimates for the Mahuta Road bridge. On receipt of suitable proposals application would be made for authority to be issued. The engineer was instructed to submit estimates. Kaihere-Patetonga Road. The lands drainage engineer, Kerepeehi, advised that a trial deviation of the Patetonga main road at Gluepot Bend had been surveyed. When this had been plotted the estimated cost would be supplied. Mangatarata Roads. Mr A. W. Hall, M.P., forwarded a letter from the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, declining to grant a £3 for £1 subsidy on the Mangatarata roads. The customary grant was £ for £, and the settlers interested were already receiving special treatment in the offer of £2 for £l. The letter went on to repeat the reasons for declining to increase the subsidy. Captain Cook Road. Mrs B. Pullar, Captain Cook Road, Netherton, forwarded a letter from the Minister of Public Works in which he declined to authorise the removal of Captain Cook Road from the riverbank to the top of the stop-bank. The work would cost £lOOO, and records showed that the road had rarely been flooded in the past, and then only for short periods.

Mrs Pullar pointed out that the assistant engineer of the department at Paeroa had told her that as a result of the completion of the stop-banks above the Puke bridge, floodwaters were liable to rise to within two feet of the top of the stop-bank. The engineer said that Or. Madgwick and himself had interviewed the department’s engineer in Paeroa and had urged that the department repair the damage it had done to the road. The assistant engineer had stated that if the council would agree to repair the road he would recommend his department to pay half the cost. ♦ This was agreed to. Haunching of Highways. The assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Paeroa, wrote in connection with the council’s claim for main highway subsidy for the haunching of the Pipiroa arid Waitakaruru roads. As the work served the dual purpose of providing spoil for road improvement, and also for improvement in the drainage system, it was considered that only half the cost was a fair charge against the highway. The claim and subsidy payable had therefore been reduced accordingly. The chairman suggested that a committee be set up to wait on the Public Works Department. The drains had been made extra large merely to provide the psoil. Cr. Parfitt supported, and pointed out that this would entail additional maintenance for all time. The haunching had to be done, and the method adopted was the cheapest system.

On Cr. Parfitt’s motion the chairman, riding member, representative on the District Highways Board, and the engineer were appointed a committee to deal with the matter.

Kerepeehi-Ngatea River Road.

Mr J. W. McLarin, senr., Kerepeehi, wrote notifying the council that he had obtained the consent of all the ratepayers with land abutting on the eastern bank of the Piako River between Kerepeehi and Ngata to vest in the council all their right title and interest subject to incumbrances of the land necessary for the formation of a public road along the stop-bank from Kerepeehi to Ngatea. All that was required was for the council to acquire the land and form a clay road 10ft to 14ft wide for the purpose of a stock road.

The writer pointed out the benefit of the proposed road, and expressed the opinion that the formation would not cost more than £5O or £6O a mile. The lands of Messrs Hayward and Laurence did not abut on the river. The natives raised no objection to the use of their land, and did not require compensation. Cr. McDuff advocated an inspection of the route before discussing the matter.

Cr. Fisher said that the road might be desirable, but the question of finance was involved. The chairman said that the cost of fencing had not been mentioned. Or. Parfitt pointed out that there would be several bridges required.

On the motion of Cr. Madgwick it was decided to ask the settlers to wait on the council and explain the details of the proposal. A committee comprising Crs. McDuff and Fisher and the engineer was set up to investigate the matter. Fisher’s Wharf. The Paeroa agent of the Northern Steam Ship Co. wrote drawing attention to the fact that some of the stringers of Fisher’s wharf, Netherton, were protruding beyond the piles, and that damage had been caused to the • company’s boat Taniwha. The decking had been bumped backward largely by metal scows. The matter was referred to the engineer and riding member for attention. Heavy Traffic Fees. The Turua Town Board wrote inquiring whether any proportion of the heavy traffic fees or other license fees received by the council was due to the town district. The chairman said that the Town Board reaped a benefit by reason of the increase in the amount of expenditure by the council. River Pollution. The Ngatea branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote asking for information concerning the location of the abattoir, the reason being that it was desired to prevent pollution of the Piako River and the Ngatea town ship. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to ask the meat company to provide the information. Wharepoa Road. Cr. Madgwick reported that he had interviewed the Hauraki United Drainage Board in respect to Mr C. Ansford’s use of the old Wharepoa ferry road. The board had decided to require the drains fenced, and under the circumstances it was unlikely that Mr Ansford would proceed. Grants to Main Highways Board. The Auckland Automobile Association wrote asking the council to send a representative to a meeting in Auckland which would protest against the action of the Government in withholding from the Main Highways Board the annual grants of £200,000 from the Public Works Fund and £35,000 from the Consolidated Fund. It was decided to telegraph a protest. Kaikahu Road. The formal resolution agreeing to maintain Kaikahu Road up to the requirements of the Public Works Department was carried. Turua Town Foads. Cr. Madgwick reported that the Turua Town Board desired to have its bitumen road haunched with red metal by the council, and financed by the council until the board was in a position to undertake the liabliity. This was agreed to. Pouarua Road. Cr. Parfitt moved that the engineer and himself be empowered to have 20 chains of Pouarua Road metalled out of the riding funds with red metal.— Carried.