THAMES NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 15

THAMES NEWS.

THE HAURAKI BRIDGE. A BAD APPROACH. (From Our Own Correspondent-) THAMES, Saturday. Two portions of the direct route from Auckland to Thames are at present causing motorists considerable annoyance. They are the frequent flooding of the road at Mangatawhiri Valley and the approach road to the new Hauraki Bridge at Oronga on the Hauraki Plains side. In reference to the former the Main Highways Board is formulating a comprehensive scheme estimated to cost approximately £17,500. In the meantime the Franklin County intends to apply to the Public Works department for a grant of £250 for immediately clearing the obstructions in the stream from the two bridges upwards. As regards the Oronga approach, the main reason for the present trouble is that the road was opened for traffic at least a month too early. The amount of traffic now coming over the bridge is more than four times greater than was used by the ferry, and the almost continuous line of cars holds up repair work to a great extent. The road is being built >up to county specifications, which on ocnsolidated roads are sufficient to carry two-way traffic, but with the loose surface cars swing out when passing and consequently get stuck in the soft sides. In conversation the bridge overseer, Mr. Briffault, yesterday stated that motorists were too impatient to get over the metalled stretch, did not comply with the regulated speed of 10 miles per hour, and do not pull up to allow other cars to pass. There are now employed six men and two lorries working on the i road, which is all that is possible unJ less traffic is permanently held up. I Should any faster progress be made it | will only be done at the risk of closing i the road altogether, which is undesirable.

The present languishing state of the mining industry has been the subject of much discussion at Thames lately, and the opinion has been freely expressed that the time has arrived for a revision of the law as regards goldmining. A public battery has ben advocated. but the present batteries will meet all requirements for some time to come. The most important alteration in the Act that is desirable is one that will prevent large areas of unoccupied land from being locked up, and the power given to the Warden to refuse unlimited protection. For instance the area from the Hape Creek to the Tararu Creek, Thames, from the foot of the hills to Puuga Flat, comprising about 2000 acres lias less than fifty men emI ployed, whereas years ago ten thousand were employed. Large leases held by speculators should be cut down to 25 aires, or even what was known in the early days as four men ground. No company, syndicate or claimholder has mined outside an area of ten acres for the last -■') years. In all probability the coming session of Parliament will see an agitation made to have the mining law altered as indicated.

The Thames County Council have appointed their clerk, Mr. D. Mackay, to represent the county at the forthcoming Counties Conference at Hamilton. At this conference the question of the amalgamation of small counties will be discussed. The suggested amalgamation of the Thames, Ohinemuri and Coromandcl counties lias been mentioned at their meetings, and is now being discussed in otlicial circles. Tf carried out it would mean the cutting out of a good deal of overhead expense, and this alone is worthy of serious consideration by the ratepayers.

The main highway between Thames and Hikutaia has been flooded in several places during the last few weeks, principally at Kirikiri and Omahn. In. both place? the cause has been the overflow-

ing of the streams which have "become blocked with debris. The Thames

County Council are now calling tenders

for the cleaning out of these streams, and have called upon the owner? of property, through which the streams pa«s, to remove the willows growing on the banks.