BOYS' TRAINING FARM.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 319, 19 December 1929, Page 8

BOYS' TRAINING FARM.

PATETERE REQUEST. Consideration Wanted. Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Turner, of the Salvation Army, wrote to the Matamata County Council stating that he had visited the Boys’ Training Farm at Putaruru with reference to the state of the road. On enquiry he found that the county engineer had approved of the work done by the Army, but had stated it was useless to do anything further until the water-tables were put in order, and that this work would be done in the spring. The only work done by the council had been the blasting of rock which had been exposed and spread by the boys. In regard to the pipes, these had been supplied by the council, but were put in by the boys. The road was a danger to life in its present condition and they had done their part. In regard to the payment of rates, the position was as follows: 1927, £3l 3s; 1928, £3B 13s 6d; 1929, £77. He quite understood these had to be spent over a wide area', but in view of the fact that there was an average of 140 in residence at the institution more consideration was expected. The clerk read correspondence from the council on the matter, which showed that the Army authorities were confusing general with special rates.

The engineer stated that 100 pipes had been carted to the road and put in by the county gang at a cost of £34 10s 7d. The position in regard to the water-table was not correct, as what he stated was that it was no use doing heavy work on the road till the alignment was shifted to a higher level. The chairman: And use the old read as a water-table. Continuing, the chairman said the road was in a better condition than many other important roads were six years ago. The engineer stated traffic could get through anytime with chains without any trouble.

The chairman commented that most people did not know what chains were nowadays. The letter was received.