GREAT PROGRESS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VLI, Issue 3323, 26 April 1935, Page 6

GREAT PROGRESS.

OHINEMURI COUNTY. WORK FOR THREE YEARS. In 47 years of the existence of the Ohinemuri County about 90 miles of road were metalled; in the past three years 37 miles 53 chains were metalled. This fact was mentioned by the county chairman, Cr. W. Marshall, when presenting, a resume of the operations of the present Ohinemuri County Council at this month’s meeting. It enumerated the road works as follows:■ — Access Roads. Reconditioned, 18 miles 21 chains; formed, 20 miles 27 chains; metalled, 19 miles 6 chains; metalled by P.W.D., 18 miles 47 chains. Highways. Reconstructed, 12 miles; sealed, 10 miles; reconstruction well advanced, 7 miles. In addition to this, two new bridges were erected, the surfaces of the Ngahina, Karangahake and the Ferry Road bridges had been sealed, the Kaimanawa wharf reconditioned, a block of sheds built and over £2500 spent in plant. Finance Greatly Improved. In regard to finance, an improvement has been made in the floating debt to the extent of approximately. £5,428, the improvement in the ridings accounts which were in debt being as follows:— Waikino riding: March, 1932, £1968; March, 1935, £707; improvement, £1261. Waitekauri riding: March, 1932, £1452; March, 1935, 1401; improvement, £1261. Waihi riding: March, 1932, £1421; March, 1935, £595; improvement, £826. Kaimanawa riding: March, 1932, £684; March, 1935, £180; improvement, £504. A Record Achievement. “This can surely be regarded as a satisfactory record,” said Mr Marshall, “for nothing approaching it has been known before in the fifty years’ history of the County, nor is it likely to occur ever again. It has been made possible only by a pooling of our resources, by the broad-visioned assistance of every councillor, by the assistance of the Public Works Department and the Main Highways Board, and by the co-operation and help of settlers, who have made exceptional efforts in several cases to assist with extra finance. When, however, all this is allowed, it still remains that the greatest single factor has been the use made of unemployed labour, and we are indebted to the Officer in Charge of the Auckland district and to the Unemployment Board for their whole-hearted co-operation. “Ratepayers also have made a special effort to meet rate arrears, and have actually paid a total, including arrears, considerably greater than the rates struck. The arrears have thus proved a reserve which has been most useful. Desirability of Resume. “To-day we meet together in the last regular meeting of the present council, our three-year term together drawing to its close,” said Mr Marshall in prefacing his resume. “From month to month we are so close to the things being done, so immersed in the details of administration, so concerned with the many sectional interests; so sensitive to the clamant voices of ratepayers with their individual needs and claims, and so deeply conscious of our inability to get done many things which we realise should be attended to if finance permitted, that it is often difficult to keep main issues in proper focus so that we can see if things are going well or not. It will be good, I think, if for a few minutes we can view the past three years’ activities in a general way, free from detail or clash of interests.

The Council’s Problems. “When we took office it was acknowledged by all of us that a most 'difficult position had been reached in the affairs of the Corporation, and that only by combined and concerted action would it be possible to effectively grapple with the position. “The most difficult problem was undoubtedly the urgent need to metal access roads in order to enable settlers to carry on during the extreme economic depression which has been characteristic of the whole three years. A secondary problem under this heading was the necessity to repair bridges which were reaching the end of their life, and to recondition roads which were deteriorating for lack of adequate. maintenance. . With the assistance of the Unemployment Board and the Public Works Department, together with some financial help from settlers, this matter was tackled with energy and determination, as figures hereto should show. “Another problem existed in the condition of the 32 miles of main highways within the county, most of which had never been properly graded or built to the width which modern traffic demands; and several bridges which could not possibly do service more than a few years longer. “This matter was investigated, and a scheme brought down covering a programme of reconstruction to 18 feet in width, with surface sealed, new concrete bridges and improvements to railway subways and crossings. The proposals covered a period of six years’ work, the first instalment of which has been successfully carried out. It was also found necessary in order to cope properly with these works to purchase a considerable amount of additional roading plant, and this has proved, to be a wise and economical move. Loyal Co-operation. After quoting the figures mentioned above, Mr Marshall said that no report of this character would be complete without acknowledgment of the great amount of work which has been accomplished by the staff and the loyal response which they have made to the extra demands made upon them. The keynote of it all has been the amount of united effort which has been made; and what measure of success has been obtained is entirely due to this fact; I should like to express my own sense of indebtedness for consideration, courtesy and help extended so willingly towards myself personally. No Turning Aside. “We are to-day deeply committed to a progressive policy, and there can be no faltering or turning back; and if opportunity be again vouchsafed to us, every nerve must be strained toward the continuation of the work,” concluded Mr Marshall.

Distinguishing Marks Essential.— ‘‘A large number of senior players in the Waikato sub-unions take the field without numbers, thus making it practically impossible for the Waikato selector to pick but prominent players,” commented a delegate at the annual meeting of the Waikato Dugby Union on Friday. “In such cases,' unless a player has some distinguishing mark such as a vivid red head, 'he has no chance of selection in the Waikato team,” smilingly interposed another delegate.