PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 120, 20 February 1919, Page 1

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

February Meeting. The following business of interest to this district was dealt with by the Piako County council at its meeting on Monday. TE AROHA BRIDGE. ; A deputation from the Borough council waited on the council to urge the necessity of pushing on with the erection of a new concrete bridge at Te Aroha. So far no reply had beon received from the Matamata or Ohinemuri County councils. In the discussion the suggestion was made that possibly the Matamata council might prefer to pav a lump sum to cancel its liability, or possibly take over the Piako couwsiTjs UaJbdUt3LjjL.ilML Cambridge high level bridge in place of'its responsibility to the Te Aroha bridge. One speaker from the Borough council urged the necessity of providing work for the returning soldiers.

A motion was passed that the council would bear its proportion of the cost of a new bridge (40 per cent). TRUCKS SHORTAGE.

Mr H. Poland M.P. replying to the council's letter said he would interview the Minister of Railways re shortage of trucks. The Minister replying said the department was using every endeavor to meet the requirements of its customers, but the urgent necessity of shifting coal during the present shortage must take precedence of other traffic. Under these conditions the Department had to avail itself of the conditions under which road metal is carried at a reduced rate for local bodies, namely, that the trucks are to be supplied at the convenience of"tho Department. The Department had tried to assist local bodies by providing storage sites on railway reservos. Every effort would be • made to supply trucks, but at the same time it must be recognised that unless coal is supplied for the locomotive it is of little use supplying the trucks. The chairman : It's high time they put a large sum on the Estimates to build rolling stock. The department's present policy is "penny wise, pound foolish," and is keeping the country back. NGARUA MATTERS. A deputation of Ngarua-settlors waited on the council and asked if there was any prospect of any metal being put on the Matamata road. If something was not done soon their position would be that they would be cut off from the outside world during the winter. The chairman explained the council were making out specifications for the work. The great difficulty was metal, and many works had been delayed through inability to secure it. By using Otorohanga metal a mile or so of the road might be completed. The chairman was authorised to call tenders for metalling the worst portion of the road. The opening up of the Diagonal road to connect with the Ngarua bridge, a grant forthebiidge appearing on the Estimates, was asked for by the deputation. About GO chains of formation was required. The chairman explained that the council had asked the Government to proceed with tho i bridge. It was resolved that the engineer report on the cost of the formation of the road approaches.