WAERENGA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 124, 22 December 1915, Page 1

WAERENGA.

Whangamarino Road Board Monthly Meeting. The regular munthly meeting of the above authority was held on Saturday last and was presided over by Mr J G Browne, chairman, 'lhe others present were Messrs J A Sampson, R Clephane, S Bennett, J W Keith, and H flail, together with the cleik and engineer, Mr G Herbert. WAITAKARURU STREAM KOAD

The District Engineer of the Public Works Department informed the Board by letter that the monetary authority for the carrying out of the proposed wcrk, whereby access would be given to section 55 on the Waitakaruru Stream road, was issued to the Thames County Council on the 26th October last, and, further, that the Board's request for the immediate expenditure of the grant for the work had been referred to that body. The engineer added that the information was not quite clear, a» the Franklin County Council should have been mentioned in place of fie Thames County Cuuncil. A TRANSFER 01? RATES In connection with the Board's request lo the Thames County Council for a portion of the rates paid on a property in the County, to which the only availabLe access was by way of a road controlled by the Board, the Council notified the Board that a portion of the rates would be transferred if it could be legally done. The Board, the letter stated, would be communicated with atter receipt of the Council's solicitor's opinion. The chairman was of the opinion that transfer could 'be • made legally.

RATE DEFAULTER'S WHEREABOUTS Messrs Earl and Kent, sjlicitors to the Board, wrote Btating that they had summoned a ratepayer for overdue rates but had received the summons bark through the "dead letter" office. They asked lor further information in connection with the defaulter's address.

A humorous situation, that members did not fail to appreciate, arose when the cletk announced that an application asking for certain road word to be put in hand had b:en received from the "much-sought-after" individual. Mr Keitb stated that the Board bad already accomplished work on the understanding tbat the ratepayer fulfilled hiß obligation to the Board ar.d paid his rates. The chairman considered that a way out oi the difficulty would be for the Board to notify the present owners of the property that it was the Board's intention to recover the rates from them.

Mr Hali thought that as no official information had been received by the Board that a transfer of the property had taken place the Board could not claim from the present owners. Mr Sampson suggested that the best method to bring about the immediate collection of the debt would be to place tbe matter in the bands of a collector.

The chairman supported the suggestion. The clerk said that he had been advised by the clerk of the Mercer Court that the summons had been .issued. He thought that with the information he possessed the summoiiß could be served. It was resolved that Messrs Earl and Kent should be instructed to forward the sumrrons per registered htter to the addres? that appeared on the letter of application received by the Board from the defaulter. SITE OF A BRIDGE

A lengthy budget of correspondence relative to the proposed site for the erection of a bridge over the Whangamarino river and containing applications for road improvement works on the road adjoining bis proprety, "Waerenga Downs," Te Kauwhata, was received from Mr Brownlow Harrocks. He suggested that the Board should endeavour to have the proposed bridge erected as close to the wharf a 9 possible, and that the Government should he asked to assist with the necessary grading and metalling in order to connect the wharf with tbe main road. ■ The engineer: The more th?. Board accomplishes for Mr Horrocks the more he wants done. Messrs Sampson and Clephane considered that Mr Horrocks' requests had been well attended to. Mr Hall, although realising Ihat it was quite feasible to expend money to advantage in small improvements to roads, claimed that the more urgent, works Bhould have preference to the requests as made by applicant Mr Keith's opinion on the matter coincided with Mr Hall's, and he cited Maramarua as being a portion of the Board's area that required attention. The clerk submitted a letter trom Mr C N Marsden, Kopuku, who claimed that as the site for the bridge was in the wrong place the engineer should be instructed to inspect and select a suitable site lower down the stream. Mr Hall suggested that Mr Horrocks shculd be informed that other ratepayers desired a site for the proposed bridge other than his selection. Mr Clephane: The bridgn should be erected on the best site, irrespective of those who own the land in the vicinity. The engineer: The site is fixed. The chairman: And the estimate was arrived at accordingly. Tbe landing is the proper site, but it

will necessitate a little forming to get there. The worst trouble seems to De that the wharf is not situated in the right place. It was agreed that a reply, should be sent stating that the site had been fixed, to both parties, and, further, that Mr Borrocks snould be notified of the Board's intention to keep his request re improvements to the road before them.

A PROPOSED DEPOT In reply to a communication sent by the Board relative to a lease for the purposes of a depot of a action of Ciown Lands in th 2 Whangamarino district, the Commissioner of Crown Lands wiote that it the Board made application tor. a reasonable limited portion of Section 320, Whangamarino parish, as a depot lor Koad Board purposes the application would be submitted for favourable consideration, but that the applicaiton for the whole of the section couid not be entertained at present. Mr Sampson remarked that there was a quarry reserve of 1U acres adjoining the section, but there seemed to be doubt, however, aomngst the members whether it was vested in the Board.

Mr Clephane suggested that the Board should secure the 10 acres, if possible, with the probable chance of obtaining more later. The chairman considered that it would be advisable to apply for 10 aires, the portion that adjoined the Main ruad.

Mr Bennett was agreeable that the acreage to be applied forsh-uid be as suggested.

The clerk was instructed to make application accordingly. The chairman thought the Board would do well, in the event of the application being satisfactorily received, to fence the property for the purpose of a stock paddock, there being an abundant supply of wholesome wat*r therein.

THE ENGINEER'S REPORT The Board's engineer, Mr G Herbert, C.E., reported as fullows, viz.Since the weather has cleared up the work has been pushed along aa rapidly as circumstanced would allow, lhe grader has formed up tlmsa parts of Draper's ioad previously left over, completed Horrocks' road and shifted slips from the sidings. The contractor for lowering Fretwell's Hill, on Falls' road, had nearly completed the work. Owing to the impossibility of getting the sand out the concrete bridge had not been commenced, but would be Btartid immediately after the holidays. Mr Waterhouse was having the same trouble as the Board in getting men. Waipuna Gorge road had been put in order and Mr McPherson was making good prognss with the regrading of Ching's Hill. The following tenders had been called, viz.Contract JNo. 27—Quarrying and breaking 1000 cubic yards metal, Jules quarry; No. 28—Quarrying and breaking 1000 cubic yards -metal, Waipuna quarry; No. 29—Carting I'JOO cubic yards metal, McPherson's road; No. 30—Carting 1000 cubic yards metal, Waipuna Gorge road; No. 31—Forming 15 chains and carting 100 yards cubic metal, le Kauwhata Btation nad; No. 32 Quarrying and breaking 200 cubic yards metal, Couper'a quarry, Waerenga. In regard to the lastmentioned contract he had taken it upon himself to insert that as the metal was urgently required for patching the main road. He had communicated with contractors in Auckland but they could not tender owing to there being no labour available. The money market was tightening up more and more, and he had been unable to arrange the special loans, but several firms - in Auckland had promised to communicate with bim when they re- ; ceived money tor investment. The position was to be regretted, es those special loan works would have made a big improvement to the district, but in view of the extraordinary conditions prevailing it would perhaps be is well to postpone consideration of the matter indefinitely. He bad been ait over the Kangiriri sub-division in company with Mr Len Mclndoe. The grader would be goiDg out there immediately after the holidays, and with a couple of extra men he had secured the Board would be able to push on the whole ot the Rangirui sub-division work, The chairman wondered whether there was any hope of securing the special lean money. The engineer replied in the negative and Mr Bennett said that it would nGt be procurable before February, which would be the best month to try and arracge lor it. Messrs Anderson Bros tender at 2s per yard was accepted for the Te Kauwhata-station road contract, and the report was adopted. It was resolved that the successful tenderers for the Waipuna concrete bridge should be requested to start work before January 6th. A QUESTION OF METAL Mr McFherson, a ratepayer, waited on the Board and complained that tenders had been called by the Board for the qiarrying and breaking of 1000 yards in Yuile's quarry. He stated that while there was not "a stone" in the quarry, there was ample sjpplv of shingle in a creek near his property and Mr Taylor's, which could be put on the ioad lor about eix or seven shillings per yard. The chairman said that possibly the engineer was under a misapprehension re the quarry, and he though it would be in the interests of the Board to h-ive 1 h 3 shingle inspected. The engineer expressed satisfaction with the metal to be had from

the quarry. Some of it was used 12 months ago, be saM, and it was of the same calibre as at the Long Swamp. The chairman pointed out tnat the matter was "hung up" aa a result of the Board's inability to secure a loan, but that the whole matter would be thoroughly gone into before fixing a contract. 'lhe Board intended, if possible, to push the work ahead. It would certainly be a waste of public money if better metal was procurable and not used. Mr McPherson's objections, he would be kept in view.

The eneineer remarked that while quite prepared to ueh th2 metal from th? quarry the contract, for which tenners had been called, he would not use it on the main road. The chairman: No doubt Board will usi the shingle if the price is satisfactory. MISCELLANEOUS

It waß agreed that the bridge at Thompson's Snamp should be made wider and repaired. The question of a pound for Rangirin was introduced by Mr Hall, who cumpl?ined of the inconvenience ratepayers were put to through straying cattle.—Mr Clephane remarked that permission would first have to be obtained from the Waikato County Council.— Mr Bennett suggested that the Rangirin salayards might be usel far the purpose.—The chairman considered that fe Kauwhata would be suitable lor the erection of th 3 pound, but be did not know if a site cuuld be secured,—Messrs Sampson and Hall were of the opinion that a suitable Bite could b3 obtained there. It was recognised that in the event of the establishment of a pound it would be necessary to appoint a poundkeeper, and it was agreed to go ahead with the proposal. On Mr flail's suggestion it was resolve (o make application to tb9 Agticultural Department, the application to go through Mr Sheppard, manager of the Experimental Farm at Te Kauwhata, fjr assistance to metal the Government road at Rangifiri. 'lhe clerk was instructed to notify the ratepayers on the Whangamarino station road that the Board intend removing tte trees on their properties overhanging the road and charging them with the coEt. On Mr Bennett's suggestion the clerk was instructed to make arrangements for the erection of a bridge on Dunn's road.' The clerk was instructed to prepare an estimate for repairing the whole of the Main road, in sections, «from Mr D K Martin's bridge to Te Kauwhata, the possible repair of which will be attended to next autumn.

Permission was given Mr Keitb to have McKillop's road repaired.

Included in the list of accounts passed for payment was the final amount on the Board's grader.