DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 56, 14 July 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

MERCER. WAIKATO RIVER WORKS. Contrary to tumours that have been afloat the works carried out by the Waikajo River. Board rave well -, stood the test* of the recent flooded state of the river, and only in one instance did any troobi? whatsoever aiiae, as will be eh wn by the following report furniihtd on Monday last to Mr A. U. C. Glass, chairman of the Board, by Mr P. Seller, foreman in charge of the works, viz.: -The ecour alongside the recently constructed groynes between Kaitargata and Haiora Bay his been very heavy, and it has been necessary to lav large weeing willows as a protection to the groynes and to deviate the curren'. The scour has had a washout over the whole length of the groynes of a depth of lix feet to as much as l'ourt en feet. The natural result was that where the heavy current came straight from the Blurt at Kaitangata on to the groyne a weakness developed in tha centre "of one of the groynes. This has been rectified by additional piles being driven in bo as to form a buffer to force the water away from the weak spot. The additional piles have rendered thi groynes stronger than before. The cost of this work was £lO 16% such being the full extent of the damage done by the floods.

ARARIMU.

(UI'AHEKE KOAO BOARD. The monthly meeting o! the above Board tick place on the 3rd July, the members present being Messrs M. Whelan, chairman, W. Dunn ■nd Janus McKay. Reports. Mr Dunn reported that the metal carting contract from Htoney creek quarry was nearly cjmplets, but the contractor had had to stop owing to the wet weattur. Mr McKay reported that one lot of rabbit poison bad been laid on the Opaheke Road Beard's reserve at Makeiu, and more would be got out at the next favourable opportunity. The clerk reported that he had recaived the deed for land purchased from Mr J. H. Smit\ and the Board, after examination of same, directed him to request Mr Smith to attend the next meeting and affix his signature, and the Board would t'nen proceed witl (he work of fencing and opening up the road. A Neglected Road

Messrs IS. Nobbs and S. Markham waitad on the Board and banded in a petition from several ratepayers on the Papaiimu end uf the Opihike main road r.questing that the Board should do something to repair that portion uf the roal opposite sec; ion 97, known as Ross's Hill. . The chairman pointed cut to the deputation that they were asking the Boatd to d i work on a county road, but knowing that the County Council had done nothing on the part ■omnlsined of ever since they had taken over control he assured the petitioners that they bad his sincere sympathy. Mr Nobbs stated that a teriojs washout Lad occurred during tbe heavy rains lately. All the water tables were choked up and water was scouring down the centre of the road, causing deep channels, it being practically impossible to take a vehicle aloag the road now. After some debate, Mr McKiy proposed that the clerk should be instructed to offer, t» the Franklin County a donation of £1 tor every £'i spent by the County o.i Ross'a Hill, the Board contribution to ba limited to not nnre than £4O. Mr Dunn seconded this proposal, and J it was carried. A Proposed Deviation. ' Mr J. Hawke sl-o waited on tbe ■ Board with the request that they should secure a deviation through Bee tion 156 on the road leading to his property, which would overcome the necessity of repairing a dangerous bridge and be a much better grade. As he contemplated erecting some buildings in the near future he was prepared to go to work at his own expense and form tbe road sufficiently to make it passable. The clerk was directed to open up negotations with tbe owner of s.ction 15b' with a view of ascertaining the coat of tbe land purchase, etc. NEW RAIE. Mr W. Dunn proposed that a general rate of one half penny be ■truck and levied on all rateable properties in the Opaheke Road NDiattict, also that a special rate of 4>ne-sixth of a penny be levied throughout the main road special rating division. Mr McKay seconded the motion, and it was carried. TENDERS FOR METAL. In regaid to metal for the two by-roads in Central Division, the Board decided to call tenders for quarrying and breaking CO yards of two and a-half inch metal at Stoney creek, Ararimu.

PUNI.

Although it was very ' cold and showery on Saturday afternoon it did not prevent the l'uni ti (married men's) hockey team from journeying to Pukekohe to play the Pukekohe team. The ground was wet and the going rather heavy. The game resulted in a win for the i'uni team by four goals to une. Hockey has taken on very strongly. The Club membership has steadily increased, and the Club is now able to put two teams iu the field every week. Every credit is due to the able and energetic secretary, Mr H. Robert». Farmers generally are busy planting early potatoes. In some instances the potatoes are up and are looking remarkably well. Mr Stone, of well-boring fame, is still in the district, and has just been successful in obtaining a good supply of water for Mr H. Reynolds. Mr Chittenden, the popular dairy expert of the Waikato Dairy Cooperative Company, is at present on ~t><qait of inspection to the suppliers in this district, over-hauling and installing new separators. Several new suppliers have been secured by the Company for the coming aeason. Mr Chittenden is also making arrangements tor cream carting, for which tenders will soon be called. Subject to the approval of the Education Department the Auckland Education Hoard have decided to erect a new school at f'uni, with ■ccommodation for 84 pupils, to replace the building lately destroyed by fire.