THAMES COUNTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 269, 13 November 1935, Page 11

THAMES COUNTY.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS. SEVERE FLOODING DAMAGE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. The Thames County Council met yesterday, Mr. 11. Lowe presiding. The supervisor, Mr. J. H. Adams, reported that the contractors for the sealing of a portion of the HikutaiaKopu main highway, between Kopu and Puriri, had commenced work. The allocation for the year for the highway was half the amount asked for by the council and expended. It would be necessary to apply for a further grant for the maintenance of that portion between Puriri and Hikutaia. He recommended calling tenders for sealing in bitumen surface of the road between the Hauraki bridge and the Kopu corner. The supervisor was instructed to call tenders for widening a portion of the Wharepoa Road between the junction of the main highway and the Omaliu cemetery. It was also reported that all small slips on the Tapu Creek Road would be removed by the middle of December, and that the foundation for the footbridge over the Puriri Stream had been completed. The Whangamata Settlers' Association wrote asking if it was true that representatives of tlie council had stated in Wellington that the council would not undertake the metalling of the Hikuai-Wharekawa road. The chairman gave the statement an emphatic denial and said the council was always willing to assist settlers by endeavouring to give good roads. It was decided to inform + he association that there was no truth in the statement. A deputation of several Matatoki settlers waited on the council and asked for an independent report from an officer of the Public Works Department on the drainage of Matatoki land. The deputation also asked the council to deal more drastically with the eradication of ragwort in their portion of the county. Mr. T. McLoughlin, on behalf of the settlers, stated that their lands had been flooded every winter for many years, and that preventive measures taken by the council had been unsuccessful. The settlers desired an unbiased report as to the best means of overcoming the flooding, which was causing serious damage to the land. The chairman said he had interviewed the Minister and the chief engineer at Wellington, and that both had promised to go into the matter. The eradication of ragwort, he added, was receiving the council's attention. The Coromandel County Council asked that the Tapu-Kaimarama road should be put in order in time for summer traffic. The request was referred to the engineer. 'It was decided to support the Hamilton Borough Council's proposal regarding the allocation of heavy traffic fees.