OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2763, 17 August 1931, Page 5

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. At the monthly meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council, held on Thursday last, Mr Colin Mason (Chairman) presided over Crs. A. R. Robinson, W. F. Johnston, T. A Barrett, W. G. Thornton, C. E. Mace, J. B. Morris and G. Hoye. The Clerk (Mr W. Evans) and the Engineer (Mr E. Shaw) were in attendance. Pukekauri Road. The Chairman said that owing chiefly to the carting of cream being done by heavy lorries the Pukekauri Road was rapidly becoming in a bad state of repair. If the lorries were taken off the farmers would be penalised. ■ ( In the Engineer’s opinion the great r est damage was caused on the return trip of the lorries, when excessive weights of manure, etc., were being carried. Sometimes the loads were up to three tons. .. ' ' Cr. Hoye said that the lorries should not be allowed to carry more than a certain weight. . ' Cr; Robinson moved that a committee consisting of tlie Chairman and Crs. Hoyb and Thornton be set? up to go into* the matter.—Carried. Kaimanawa Wharf. Cr. Robinson said 'that some of the people who received freight from the wharf were prepared to pay a certain amount towards the cost of repairs v ! In Cr. Johnston’s opinion the work was outside the scope of the Council, and the expense was too great for the present. “We should be .able to make a wharf charge,” remarked the. Chairman. It was decided to leave the matter for the Chairman and Crs. Robinson and' Morrison to investigate and report to next meeting. Mangaiti Riding.

Cr. Mace mentioned that as all except two of the relief workers had been removed from his district it would be better if the work was held over' until it was possible to get a gang of men back again. On Cr. Mace’s suggestion the matter was left in his and the Engineer’s hands to arrange for the relief work-; ers to be drafted back again.

Hikutaia Stream. Cr. Robinson pointed out that the erosjon was still continuing in the Hikutaia stream and unless the Public Works Department did spmething immediately considerable damage would be done. ' It was decided to write to the Public'Works Department, asking that immediate attention be given to, the matter. Provision of Work. • A circular letter was received from the Prime Minister, asking for the closest, co-operation of the County Council during the present crisis in the matter of finding work for the unemployed. Cr. Johnston said that the Government thought that farmers would be having a lot of seasonal work done and therefore be able to employ quite a lot of men. With this he could not agree and would move that the County Council write to the Government requesting that the 4A Scheme he carried on. There was a lot of work which could not be done' during the winter season, but could be carried out under 4A Scheme during the spring and summer. , The motion was carried.

Main Highways. With reference to the upkeep of the Paeroa-Waihi main highway, the Main Highways Board wrote to the effect that the Board had agreed to . a reduction in the annual amount payable by the County to £BlB 2s 6d. , In the Chairman’s opinion, although the reduction was nqt as much as he had hoped for, it was pleasing to note that the Government, ‘was trying its best to help the County. The Chairman proposed, and it was carried, that" a letter of thanks be forwarded to the Government. 1 , ■ 1.... Waitekauri Stream Bridge. The Public Works Department wrote pointing • out that the Waitekauri stream bridge was in la very bad state of decay. Urgent repairs were being carried out at a cost : of approximately £2OO, and the Council would be called upon to find one third of this expenditure. The Chairman reported that he had been present when the examination of : the bridge had taken place. , It was decided to assure the Department that .the County was prepared '■ to meet one third of the cost of the repairs. . ■ Mangaiti Bridge. The Public Works Department ad- ' vised that the assistant engineer would not be permitted to make, a report on the condition of Jthe Mangaiti Bridge. However, \if the Council wished it he would make a joint

inspection of the structure in company with the engineers of the Piako and Ohinemuri Counties. < The Engineer of the Piako County Council wrote stating that in his opinion the bridge could not be repaired except at a cost equal practically to that of a new bridge. The Public Works Department had estimated the cost of a new bridge at a . new site would be approximately £9,000, £2,000 to be found by each’ County Council and £5,000 by the Government. It was agreed to have, a joint inspection of the bridge by the County . and the Public Works Department engineers. ! Railway Bridge. The District Highways Council wrote asking if the County was prepared to pay anything towards the ‘ cost of the improvement work .to the Railway bridge near Waihi. Cr. Johnston said that a deviation, as proposed, /was the best scheme, but as it was impossible for the Council to pay anything towards the work at present the Public Works Deaprtment should be advised to this effect. A motion on these lines was parried. Dicky’s Flat Road. . ‘ The Chairman suggested that as a free grant of £lOO had been made and the settlers had offered to do the work of preparing the road to Dicky’s Flat the work should be gone on with. < The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman and 'Engineer, with power to act. Bridges on Te Aroha Road. A letter, was received from the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce, drawing the Council’s attention to the bad condition of the approaches to the two bridges oh the Paeroa-Tirohia Road. Cr. Mace said that it was a pity that the bridges' had been made as : they were. , ■> The Engineer remarked that it was now possible' for one of the bridges to be removed. - / Cr. Johnson moved that the Chamber be advised to that effect, and also that as soon as the Council’s finances v would permit the other bridge would be given attention. Paeroa Public Library. A! request was received from the Paeroa Lublic Library for the Coun-‘ cil’s annual grant towards the maintenance of the public readings, room.— i Granted. ’ -L . Mining Rent. The secretary of the Imperial Gold- ' • mining Company wrote requesting reduction in rent for the claims held at Karangahake.—Granted. H. A. Meagher, through his solicitor, applied for a continuation'of the reduction to 2s 6d per? acre per annum 1 in rent 1 made by the Council from the Ist July, 1930.—Granted. Stock on Road. W. D Keys wrote asking the Coun- ; cil to remove several gates across ; roads in the vicinity of his farm as they completely blocked any traffic. Mr Keys also pointed out that a farmer had been running 60 head of stock on these roads ■ and recent for- . mation work on the road to his farm was being destroyed. . . ; ' The riding members were instructed to investigate the matter.

Track at Waikino. D. B. Currie, of Waikino, wrote requesting the Council’s help in repairing the track to his home, which is ’ , practically impasssable. - If the Council was prepared to do the work he would be only too pleased to give his . 1 < own time. The Chairman reported that the work had been'done . Morton’s Road. With reference to a 'request from; < ’ Margaret R. Morton, of Waihi? asking the Council to carry out forma- ,6?';; tion work on Morton’s Road, it was decided that, as, a free grant was available tenders be called for the ■\vork. , , ’ • / I Straying Stock. Acting on the Traffic Inspector’s re- ■ commendation, it was decided to give the inspector power to impound any . ‘ cattle straying on the roads in the locality. ■*'