MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 60, 18 December 1924, Page 3

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

DEC EM BI OR M E ET l N G. The monthly meeting* of the Matamata County Council was held at Tirau on Friday. Present: Crs. J. W. Anderson (chairman, Tirau), J. Pohlen (Matamata), E. J. Darby (Putaruru), K. S. Cox (Tokoroa), W. 11. Allen (Okoroire), C. A. Stopford (Te Poi), H. Rollett (Peria), S. H. Judd (Maungatautari), M. El Fitzgerald (county engineer) and H. Lewis (county clerk). OBSTRUCTING POLES. Replying* to the council’s protest, of last meeting, relative to obstructing telepraph poles on roads, the Postmaster-General (Hon. J. G. Coates stated that he would be pleased to have enquiries made into the matter, and would communicate further thereafter. WAIRERE BRIDGE. The clerk of the Piako County Council acknowledged the receipt of the council’s letter in regard to Wairere bridge, stating* that the matter would be brought before the council. PUTARURU COMPLAINT. Complaint was made on behalf of Mrs. B. C. McLeod, of Putaruru, of the unsatisfactory state in which the road line fronting her property ou the Lichfield road had been left by the contractors, for, the writer understood, the Public Works Department. Recently .widening* work was carried out on this road, through the township to the new siding installed for the Arapuni contractors. Spoil from the road line in front of Mrs. McLeod’s property was removed for filling work, but this had been removed in such a manner that now an unsightly and dangerous excavation is left, alongside her front fence line. She made complaint at the time to the workmen, but so far nothing had been done, and the work had ceased. Mrs. McLeod wo.vdd ask that the council, in exercise of its jurisdiction, insist on the responsible parties taking any steps necessary to remove the existing* danger.—Referred to engineer. “ ROTTEN ” ROAD. An Okoroire Railway ratepayer, in forwarding his rates, stated that he did so under protest, because his road was in a “ rotten ” condition. It was stated that the piece of road in question was part of the Main Highway. Had the loan legislation not been blocked, that road would have been metalled. MANGAITI DEVIATION. The Public Works Department wrote stating that it was quite prepared to agree to the Mangaiti deviation remaining* a Government highway, provided that the Matamata Council would assume responsibility for maintenance. The deviation is in that part of the Taupo county which it is proposed to transfer to Matamata county. A WARNING. The outward correspondence showed that the engineer had had occasion to issue a serious oral warning to a man who had taken a disc plough over the new metal on the Mamaku Bush road, doing* no inconsiderable damage. He had caught the o(Tender with the plough on the road, and, at his request, the clerk had written asking* for an assurance that the offence would not be repeated.— The engineer’s action was endorsed. WAHAROA DEPUTATION. Mr. A. B. Scherer, of Waharoa, accompanied by Mi*. J. Thomson, waited upon the council, asking for improvement to his road, which, he considered, was the worst in the district; it took three horses to cart on it. Messrs. Miller, Pacey and he would be prepared to contribute £SO worth of work. Cr. Rollett said the road was in his riding*, and was certainly in a bad way. Mr. Scherer considered that the work would cost about £l5O to £2OO. Members considered the offer was a very fair one. Mr. Scherer said he was to contribute £3O worth and Messrs. Miller and Pacey £2O worth of work. There was another mile or so of the road that needed attention. It had been formed some seven or eight years ago, and had never had a shovel put on it since. One result of this neglect was that the cuttings were now merely ditches. He thought the council’s surfaceman could attend to this part. Mr. Scherer was advised to put the proposition in writing, and was assure;! of the council*? practical sympathy. OUTSTANDING RATES. The clerk submitted a list of irrecoverable rates, which were written off. One member asked for a list of arrears in his riding, with a view to mov’ng- at next meeting that legal action be taken. LEGGATT’S SUBDIVISION. In reply to the council’s inquiry as to why the plan of Mr. A. G. Leggatt’s Arapuni subdivision had not been submitted to the council before being approved by the Survey Office,

\ the Chief Surveyor advised that the owner’s surveyor had been verbally advised that the plans should be submitted to the local authority for its approval, but in this case no new roads were involved. Cr. Darby said nevertheless road reserves —and therefore possible future roads—were shown on the plan and surely, he considered, the council should have the right to say whether these were suitable. He had pointed this out to the Survey Office.—The letter was received. DEDICATIONS. The plans for legalising the present main road and closing* "the old road through Mr. J. Pohlen’s property, Te Poi, were submitted, approved and signed, as was also the plan for widening* the diagonal road between the Puketurua cheese factory and the Arapuni road. An application for the dedication of newly-formed roads on the Putaruru Sites’ Syndicate’s subdivision at Putaruru was left to the engineer, he to inspect the roads. Dedication of 2i chains of by-road on the Glenshee Estate, Putaruru, was accepted on the owner guaranteeing; to form the road if such work was ever necessary, it being pointed out that to form it now would only mean its lapsing into disrepair for want of use. HEAVY TRAFFIC BY-LAWS. Cr. S. H. Judd advocated that drafts of the Heavy Traffic License fees and by-laws should be submitted to local bodies before being made law. He moved that the Highways Board be written to accordingly.— This was seconded by Cr. Cox and carried. PLANTATION ROAD. The clerk was instructed to write to the settlers concerned in the Plantation road, stating that the council would accept dedication, provided that the road was formed to the approval of the engineer. ASSISTANT ENGINEER. Cr. Pohlen considered that the question of whether or not the aj)pointment of the assistant engineer should be made permanent. Cr. Allen said he would like to see the assistant kept if there was a chance of getting the loan money. Cr. Judd supported; if the loan became available there would be a lot of preliminary work, preparation of plans, etc. The engineer commented that if any engineer had to undertake work involving the expenditure of £300,000, he would require twelve months to prepare his plans, and get ready before the first sod was turned. He had recently got plans ready, in connection with the Main Highways, for the expenditure of £74,000, which would be spread' over six or seven years’ work between Putaruru and Waharoa. Still, preparations had to be made now. Rather than lose the services of the assistant engineer while there was a prospect of the loan money becoming available, he would pay the salary out of his own pocket. The council unanimously decided to retain the assistant’s services. ACCOUNTS. ’ 0. Accounts amounting to £1371 IDs Dd were passed for payment in the general account, and £2084 5s Id in the loan account. .THIRDS. The sum of £73 18s lOd was received, as thirds, in tlic Putaruru riding, Puketurua district.