PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 73, 23 March 1918, Page 1

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mar>ch Meeting. The following matters of interest to this district were dealt with at Monday’s meeting: — RUI-O-HAUKAKI. W. R. Johnson, reporting on the drainage areas, said the committee for the Rui-o-Hauraki had dealt with tenders for 81.23 chains drrrfftmS alia the lowest tender was 13s 4d per chain above the estimate, so it was agreed, that the tenderer be offered the work at the engineer’s estimate which was £3 5s 2d per chain. The contractor agreed to accept it at the estimate and the work is now proceeding. The , committee agreed to write to Mr Wallace re his compensation for old drains taken over which it was agreed, when creating the area to pay him the sum of £4O. An order for £lO had been issued, but doubt existed as to whether this was an extra. HEAVY TRAFFIC DAMAGE. Mr A, H. Coombe, on behalf of a deputation from the suppliers of the Waihou Valley Dairy Co , presented a petition Signed by 31 ratepayers protesting against the proposed claim of £SOO against the Glaxo company for damage done to the county roads through the use of heavy motor lorries. The petitioners pointed out that as ratepayers they had already contributed towards the upkeep of the roads, and if the company is to be charged for such they would be paying twice over. Mr Coombe suggested that the council should define its attitude to the Glaxo traffic and should set up a committee to meet them, The phairpian s?.id that the council’s attitude was that Glaxo should pay a fair share of the damage done through the heavy traffic. The council .recognised that motor traffic had come to stay and that the roads must be improved. But it was impossible to obtain rqoney oy labor. Eje assured the deputation that * a committee would be set up. Some discussion ensued as to the position of the deputation and Mr Coombe stated he was speaking for the company. The chairman, Crs. Walters and Fitzgerald were apointed a committee to meet the Glaxo directors. PIAKOITI DRAIN. The council decided to accept the offer of Mr Mapp to pay half the cost of cleaning a drain fronting his property on the Piakoiti road. A NEW WALTON ROAD. Cr. 'Smith said surveyors were surveying the block of Native land between Walton and Waharoa. He suggested that the Lands department be asked to put a road through the block from Walton to the Hungahunga road. It would involve taking some private property. It would be of great benefit to the settlers on Knight’s road as it would give them access to the Waltoq railway station. The distance was about two miles. Mr Given, he understood, would give the land for the portion of the road through his property, it only remained to acquire the right through a narrow strip of private property. The road would be qf enormous value to the district. The chief surveyor had already stated his department would recommend the Government taking that portion passing through the lands recently purchased for road purposes if the consent of the other owners could be got. The matter was referred to the riding member to inspect and report on at next meeting. A HUNGAHUNGA ROAD. E. Chudleigh waited on the council and asked that the Hungahunga road from the Maungakawa - Wairongomai to Clothier’s boundary be opeqed up and foriped. Cr. Fitzgerald, whilst admitting the necessity, said the riding, had no money. It was decided that the engineer prepare an estimate of the cost of forming and culverting the road.