MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 31, 15 May 1924, Page 2

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MAY MEETING. This month’s meeting* of the Matamata County Council was held in the county chambers, Tirau, on Friday. The members present were: Crs. J. W. Anderson (Tirau, chairman), J Pohlen (Matamata), E. J. Darb> (Putaruru), W. H. Allen (Okoroire) C. A. Stopford (Te Poi), H. Rollett (Peria), S. H. Judd (Maungatautari) and J. P. Keeley (Karapiro). SERVICE CAR REGISTRATIONS. _ In regard to the suggestion by Mr. S. C. Snell, motor service proprietor, of Putaruru, that he be allotted the same registration number for each of his cars, but with a distinctive letter for each, the Minister for Initernal Affairs, Mr. R. F. Bollard, advised that there was apparently no present legislation to allow this, but h? matter would receive consideration when the new motor bill was being dealt with. RETURNED SOLDIERS’ "RATES. The Bay of Islands County Council forwarded a circular stating that it found so many local bodies in favour of the conference suggested by it to, consider the best method of collecting rates on soldier settlers’ sections, that it was convening the conference for March 20 in the Waitemata county chambers, Auckland. Cr. Stopford said he considered that the Govei'nment should pay the rates before it deducted its rent from the settlers’ returns. Other members agreed that the Government should certainly be responsible for payment of the rates, where necessary, especially as in a good many cases it had a lien on the soldier settlers’ cream cheques, etc.

The matter was referred to the chairman, as the council’s delegate to the conference. A MOOT POINT. The Waipa County Council wrote that the bulk of the traffic on the Crow’s Nest—Leamington road was from the Matamata county, which, it suggested, should contribute £3O per annum towards the maintenance of the road. Cr. Judd said there were roads all over the county in this position, and if the principle of another body contributing in this manner were admitted it was hard to sec where it would end. ! Cr. Darby said that practically all the traffic from the eastern end of the Pukeatua riding, Waipa county, went through the Putaruru riding of the Matamata county to Putaruru. It was resolved to point this out to the Waipa county. KARETANE HOSPITAL. In acknowledging the council’s donation towards the Karetane Hospital Fund, Auckland, the president of the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society, Mrs. Maude Parkes, wrote that the answer to the question as to whether country districts would benefit from the hospital was decidedly: “ Yes. At Karetane hospitals in other cities a larger proportion of cases were received from the country than from the city.” SOMEWHAT LATE. A circular was received from the Waikato County Council suggesting a tour of county representatives interested over the proposed routes for a main highway between Hamilton and Auckland. ft was pointed out that the main highways were now fixed, and were being gazetted, so the suggestion had come too late. METAL DUMPING SITES. The /repejilted application by the council for suitable sites for dumping road metal received by train at the railway stations in the county '.resulted in. the Minister for Railways, the Hon. J. G. Coates, writing that as no suitable sites against the rails were available, and the council objected to sites some yards away, the only alternative seemed to be special metal carrying trains, delivering the metal at the road crossings along the railway; or else private sidings for the council. This matter had been discussed between departmental officers and I the county engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, and it was understood the county engineer had some objection to the alternatives. Ihe engineer said special trains involved a special charge over and above the ordinary freight e|iarge for the metal; also it required a big number of men to unload the trucks in the time specified by the Department. He might make use of this system when getting big lots of metal. The matter was left to the engineer. HORAHORA - PUKETURUA. As a deputation, Mr. Dalziell, Horahova-Puketurua road, asked for repairs to the bad places on this road. Temporary repairs were authorised, and the chairman added j that the council, on its tour of in- ! spection of the county, found that {

the whole road really needed gratl ing. PUTARURU TO MANGATAPU.

Application and consent were received from the Selwyn Timber Co. and the Benlali Land Co. for £IOOO special loan to continue Harris’ road, (Putarvgu, to Mangatapu. Mir. W. McArthur, of the Selwyn Co., suggested also that steps be taken to ask for Government subsidy towards continuing the road to Arahiw L giving a new through route from i uta.ruru to Rotorua.

The matter was left to the chairman, the nuding* member (iCr. Allen) and the engineer, they to confer with Mr. McArthur. LOWER HOSPITAL LEVY. A copy of the Waikato Hospital Board’s estimates and allocations for the year 1924-25 was received from the board. This showed that the levy on the council would be £1542 9s 7d for the year, as against £1957 10s lid last year, a reduction of £415 Is 4d. WAHAROA DOMAIN. Mr. Thos. Thompson, secretary of the Waharoa Domain Board, wrote stating the Board’s desire to carry out improvements to the domain in the form of a gate, a new boundary fence and the opening up of a road adjoining. The writer complained, however, that an adjoining property owner had approached the council for permission to erect a gateway on the road. As the board had no revenue except from grazing rights, and as the latter were insecure on account of the defective fences, the board required an assurance that its proposed action in opening the road would be a right one. It was decided that Cr. Pohlen interview the parties to endeavour to make an amicable settlement. WAOTU BUSH ROAD. Private letters specifying reservations on the part of interested parties in connection with the proposed dedication of the road through the Waotu bush were referred to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, as the authority dealing with the matter. RANGER’S REPORT. The ranger, in his report, stated that the visits paid during the month were as follows: Lichfield, Tapapa, Te Poi and Matamata, (3 each); I-linuera, Peria, Putaruru (6 each); Taumangi, Waiomou, Karapiro, Maungatautiri and Horahora (2 each). The stock impounded totalled 16.

The report was adopted. In regard to two lorries exempt from jiccnse carrying cream during the railway strike, it was agreed that license should not be charged merely on account of this, as the; strike created an .extraordinary position. ACCOUNTS. Accounts passed for payment were: Loans and grants, £341 15s 2d; ordinary, £845 13s lid. COUNTY BRIDGES. The council decided to make nil bridges in the county under 20ft county bridges. This means that maintenance may be charged against the general county fund instead of against the respective riding funds. GENERAL. On behalf of Mr. R. Searlc, of Te Poi, a Matamata solicitor wrote that the drain which Mr. Searlc had been ordered to clear was filled with silt. Mr. Searle was suffering no serious damage and consequently was not inclined to go to the expense of cleaning the drain. He had no objection to the council doing so. It was decided to reply that the liability was on Mr. Searle. In connection with a legal demand on behalf of sub-contractors against money due from the council to Mr. W. Spragga, as contractor for the Puketurua metalling, Mr. Spraggs attended to explain matters. After discussion it was resolved that the engineer and the clerk deal with the matter with him.