MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 258, 18 October 1928, Page 6

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

OCTOBER MEETING. . The October meeting of the Matamata County Council was held at Tirau on Friday, the members present being: Crs. J. W. Anderson (chairman, Tirau riding), W. S. W;'.- ' son (Matamata), J. Bruce (Karapiro), W. H. Allen (Okoroire), P. Pee (Te Poi), E. J.. Darby (Putaruru), K. S. Cox (Tokoroa), S. H. Judd (Maungatautari) and H. C. Kollett "(Peria). Also in attendance:. Mr. C. E. F. Barton (clerk) and Mr M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer). The meeting was a very short one, all the business being completed by lunch time.

Motor Regulations. The Minister for Public Works advised that he intended to set up a committee to consider the appliances and devices for use on motor vehicles, the committee to consist of one representative each from the master carriers’ association, motor trades’ association, motor union, police department, local authorities and three representatives of the Public Works Department. At Cr. Darby’s request the clerk read the regulation dealing with rear reflectors. Cr. Dee: It seems a childish thing. Mr. Chairman. Cr. Darby: I believe they have to fill in a special form, and I think people ought to be warned a-.ainst purchasing reflectors which haJ been condemned. Cr. Darby: They have to have a> tail light, and it seems to me this 5s not necessary. The matter then dropped. Cartage of Sleepers. In reply to a complaint from the council, the Comptroller of Stores.

Wellington, advised that only 991 sleepers were delivered at Putaruru duing the past three months, and so the council’s action in restricting loads to 2S tons would not aifecc the supply to any appreciable extent. In connection with the suggested use of the T.T.T. railway for the cartage of the sleepers, the letter advised that this rested with the supplier as rue department bought the sleepers at the Putaruru station. A member: They are dodging the issue. Cr. Judd suggested they should reply asking that tenders be called for delivery at T.T.T. Company’s sidings and not at Putaruru.

Cr. Darby seconded this suggestion which was carried unanimously. The T.T.T. Line. I The Prime Minister acknowledged the county’s support of a resolution by the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce on the subject of freight charges on the T.T.T. line, and stated ! he -would give the matter every consideration.—Received. Cartage of Milk. The N.Z.C.D.C., Ltd,, wrote stating thnt on the figures supp'ied by the council it was not lair they should be called upon to pay a further sum of £IOO towards the cost of maintenance of the Mangawhero road, Wardville road and No. 19 main highway. The letter stated that of the expenditure of £l3B the company bore all but £74. Further, in its opinion as much damage was done by fast moving motors as by slow moving heavy traffic. .The, chairman stated they seemed to misunderstand the position. Cr. Wilson thought they were sidetracking the question. Cr. Dee said on the face of the letter it appeared the council’s request, was too high.

Cr. Judd Replied that it cost the council £I4OO to, put a permanent surface on the road.

j The chairman stated the council only reserved the right to claim up to £ICO. Maungatautari Reserve. The Waipa County Council advised i that Mr. Francis Oliver Kurtli, of • Puketua, had consented to act as ! honorary ranger in the control of ! the Maungatautari scenic reserve.— . Received. Arapuni Reserve. | The Department of Lands and Sur- | vey, Auckland, advised that the rej serve laid off rounu Arapuni Lake . was under the control of the Public I Works Department. It was part of | the area taken for the development of water power and it was very unlikely that it would ever be diverted from the same.

Cr. Darby: It must not be forgotten that there is part of the reserve which has been under the Waipa County Council and Matamata County Council since 1910. This reserve was cn the north side. Fuketurua Request. Mr. W. H. Barnett, Puketurua, requested permission to cross the Puke-turua-Cambridge road with a pipeline connecting a ram he proposed to erect in the Huihuitaha stream at the falls near Bent’s Hill.-—Permission granted subject to engineer’s approval of work. Bathe’s Flat. The secretary of F-c I’Mkolprua Settlers’ Committee (Mr. W. King) advised that in company with Mr. F. Peters he waited on the council last autumn with reference to the putting in order of the Puketurua rural mail route. On that occasion, on the motion of l£e chairman, the matter was left in the hands of the riding member and engineer to meet the settlers. At this meeting it was agreed that if the settlers did certain clearing work the engineer would bring his horse teams and widen and raise the road. The success of the whole rural delivery depended on the road

being fixed and if any diversion was to be made from this promise, he requested that another deputation be allowed to attend on the council. This question is still in the hands of the works committee. Matamata Threat. A threat to claim damages was made by Mr. E. R. Tyson, of Matamata, who stated that the new fence he had erected was falling down on the road near his property, while the road was in a bad state. Cr. Wilson stated the fence had been shifted out and the road undermined. On the motion of Cr. Rollett, the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, riding member and engineer. A Persistent Pothole. Cr. Darby drew the engineer’s attention to a persistent weakness at ■ho junction of the Cambridge-Hora-hora-Arapuni road. There was a pothole which had been frequently filled in by the grader, but which was just as often scooped out again by the traffic, until it had become enlarged to dangerous dimensions.—To be attended to.