MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 146, 19 August 1926, Page 1

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Matamata County Council was held at Tirau on Friday, there being present : Crs. J. W. Anderson, chairman (Tirau xiding), P. Dee (Te Poi), W. H. Allen K. S. Cox (Tokoroa), E. J. Darby (Putaruru), S. J. Harding <Peria), J. Bruce (Karapiro), E. W. Wilson (Matamata) and S. H. Judd (Maungatautari). In attendance : The advisory clerk (Mr. H. Lewis), the clerk (Mr. C. F. E. Barton) and the engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald). PUTARURU TOWN BOARD. The Department of Internal Affairs -wrote stating that the Commission appointed to consider the petition from Putaruru ratepayers for a town board had recommended that the prayer be granted. A map of the new area would be forwarded at an early date. On the recommendation of the Putaruru committee, Cr. E. J. Darby moved that September 1 be fixed as the date for gazetting the proclamation of the new town board district. This was seconded by Cr. Anderson and carried unanimously. PUTARURU VALUATIONS. The Valuation Department wrote advising that it expected the new valuation roll of the Putaruru town board area would be completed by the end of August.—Received. HOSPITAL LEVIES. The Ohura County Council for-

! warded the following resolution in | reference to Hospital Board levies and asked for the council’s support : “ That this council urge on the Prime [ Minister the necessity for some new I system for raising money for public hospitals whereby the public should help to maintain the hospitals instead of the brunt falling on ratepayers.” The letter further suggested that hos- | pital levies should be a charge on the Consolidated Fund. Cr. Anderson stated that all sorts of suggestions had. been put forward during recent years, but at the last meeting of the Counties’ Association it had been unanimously agreed to recommend that the basis be 50 percent. on population and 50 per cent, on valuation. The Minister had expressed his approval of this idea. PUTARURU STATION. The Putaruru Chamber of Commerce wrote pointing out the bad condition of the approach to the railway station from Princes street and asking that it be attended to. Cr. Darby stated that since the letter had been received the engineer had authorised certain work to be done. On the motion of Cr. Darby the engineer’s action was confirmed. SURFACEMAN’S HOUSE. The Department of Lands and Survey wrote stating that the council’s offer of £3OO for'Mr. H. W. Bullock’s late property on the Taupo road would receive consideration.—Received. LOCAL LOANS BILL. The New Zealand Counties’ Associ--1 ation wrote advising, in reference tp the Local Government Loans Board

j Bill, that while it was not opposed i to supervision of borrowing powers it ! was anxious that administrative costs should not be added to by the operations of the Bill, or delay caused in carrying out legitimate requirements. Further, the association was of the opinion that a representative of county councils should have a seat on the board. A suggestion was also put forward that, even if the Bill was not passed, the Treasury might with advantage report on each loan scheme prior to taking the polls, and that a minimum percentage of total votes on the roll should be recorded in favour in order to carry any loan proposal. Cr. Judd thought they should endorse the proposals. On the motion of Crs. Judd and Darby this sug-gestion was agreed to. WAHAROA LIGHTING. The Waharoa Public Hall trustees 1 wrote requesting that a light be erected at the corner of the main road and Duncan street in Waharoa.—Left to the riding member to provide a light. DAMAGE TO MOTOR. ' Messrs. Laird’s Agency wrote stating that the council was being held liable for damage done to a motor owned by Mr. B. D. Silk which collided with the county steam roller. The estimated cost of the damage was £2B 19s 6d. The matter was dealt with in committee. PUTARURU MAIN STREETS. Cr. Darby referred to the state of the main road through Putaruru, which was being maintained under contract by Messrs. Armstrong, Whit-

worth, Ltd., of Arapuni. It was in a bad state, and he moved that the council request the company to put the road from their siding through Putaruru in good order and maintain same. This motion was seconded by Cr. Anderson and unanimously carried. LOAD-A-METERS. The engineer reported that after enquiring into the matter of load-a-meters, he had found out that the price was now £l5O, as compared with rhe price of £ll2, previously quoted. (The chairman stated that two speakers at the counties conference had spoken very highly of their work. Cr. Judd thought it would be a business proposition to obtain one. Cr. Cox said he thought a pair should be purchased. At present many lorries were being overloaded and they had no check on them. On the motion of Crs. Harding and Darby, it was decided that a pair of load-a-meters be purchased. ASHFORD’S SUBDIVISION. Mr. G. P. Portas, of Putaruru, wrote forwarding plan of Mr. Ashford’s subdivision (section 14, block 3, Putaruru). On the motion of Cr. Darby the plan was approved. MATAMATA SPRINGS. Mr. C. W. White wrote suggesting that Matamata Springs could be made into a delightful tourist resort, and he offered his services as caretaker.— Received. WATER PIPES. Mr. J. E. West, of Lichfield, wrote asking for permission to lay water

pipes across the Lichfield-Tokoroa road to his house at Lichfield. Mr. E. W. R. Leslie requested for similar permission with respect to the Paraenui road.—Both requests were granted. GORSE NUISANCE. Mr. C. Hemming-s wrote for permission to shift his fence to the edge of the bank on the road so he could plough his road frontage to eradicate gorse. The writer also asked for a culvert to be put in to drain his section, and offered to pay £2 10s towards the cost. The engineer suggested that permission be given. He thought it was a hard proposition to drain the portion for which the culvert was desired, but he thought that permission should be given for Mr. Hemmings to scoop a portion of the road bank on to his property, and thus do away with the need for a culvert. This suggestion was adopted by the council. DRAIN WANTED. Mr. J. P. Keely, of Karapiro, wrote asking for permission to dig a drain on the roadside in front of his property on the Tokoroa road.—Granted. DRAINING A SWAMP. Mr. C. E. Plaw, of Karapiro, wrote asking for permission to dig a drain on the frontage of his property on Garton road. It was the natural outlet for the water and would drain about three acres of swamp.—Granted. WAHAROA DRAINAGE. The N.Z.C.D.C. wrote stating that it was proposed to lay a nine inch ( Continued in Next Column.)

earthenware pipe across the road from the milk powder factory at Waharoa and the council’s permission for the work was desired. Left with clerk and engineer. GENERAL. Cr. Dee asked when the Te Poi metalling was to be taken in hand on Dawson’s road to Waiomo corner. The engineer replied that tenders were to be called shortly. HETHERINGTON’S ROAD. Messrs. H. G. Allen, S. Hetherington, A. J. Wine, junr., A. J. Wine and H. G. Wine, settlers on Hetherington’s road, wrote asking that the road be sanded for a distance of 20 chains before the dairy season started. The matter was left in the hands of the riding member and the engineer to sand the bottom portion of the roads.