PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 151, 25 September 1919, Page 3

PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

September Meeting Tho following business of interest to this district was transacted nt the last Piako County Council meeting : KEREONE-WALTON ROAD. My. K. J. B. McCardle, Walton, waited on the Council in support of a request that the Kereone-Walton road formation be pushed on. The road was wanted by the soldier settlers. He said the Minister for Public Works was willing to grant a £ for .C subsidy up to £4OO on the cost, provided the Tublic Works Engineer approved of the work. Mr. McCardle asked the Council to take charge of the work, and make application to the Department for the subsidy and authority to proceed with the work A special rating area was being formed to raise somewhat over £IOOO. He asked that the matter be expedited as much as possible. Cr. McLean moved that the request be acceded to. and that the details be left to the chairman, clerk, and •solicitor to attend. Seconded by Cr. Walters and carried. ROM'S AT MANUWARU. A deputation consisting of Messrs. W. Stafford, P. Trebileo, and Robertson, of Manuwaru, waited on the Council and voiced a protest that the method of making roads in the Manuwaru riding were not in the best interests of the ratepayers. It was contended that work on Alexandra road was started at the wrong end. They preferred that the present contracts be deferred until the fine weather. After considerable discussion, in which members of the deputation and Council freely took part, it was decided that that the present contract in Alexandra road be proceeded with, and that the next contract be started from the far end.

PROPOSED WAITOA RIVER BOARD The- chairman, Cr. Thomas, was appointed to represent the Council at a conference of representatives to be held in connection with a proposal to form a board to control the Waitoa River. The proposal was mooted at a meeting of the Waitoa Drainage Board on Saturday, when - members devoted some time to the epicstion of securing improvements to the river. The opinion was expressed that the Government's land drainage scheme some miles downstream from Waitoa was progressing so slowly that several years must elapse before the works can be of any benefit to the lands from Springdale to Matamata—a distance by water of approximately 25 miles. Improvements to the river would include the dewatering of lands abutting on the stream and a better fall for outlet drains, and would probably cost from £30,000 to £40,000. Members generally approved of the idea, NGARUA BRIDGE. The District Engineer, P.W.D., telegraphed asking that the Council submit to the assistant engineer at Paeroa proposals for approaches to the Waitoa river bridge at Ngarua on which, if satisfactory, £l5O will be paid. • The chairman said the plans were practically ready, and as soon as they are approved, tenders will be invited. —Agreed to.