WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1925, Page 7

WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Wlifingarei County Council met yesterday. Present—Crs. W. Jones (chairman), P. McKenna, A. Stephen, R. R. Ilodge, J. Morrison, J. W. Durham, F. Elliott, and A. Pollock, and Messrs. J. Norris (engineer), and H. C. Hemphill (county clerk). Apologies for absence were received from Crs. L. Webb and L. A. Johnson. PARUA BAY CATTLE DIP.

Messrs. Rishworth and Harrison wrote that residents of Parua Bay desired that the site of the Parua Bay cattle dip be conveyed to some local trustees to facilitate the financing of the erection and maintenance of the dip. At present the land was vested in the Council, consequent upon the merging of the Parua Road Board. It was asked that a special order be made as for land no longer required. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to grant the request, but Mr. Jones was of opinion that the time was coming when all the dips would be vested in the local bodies. WAIPU SCHOOL APPROACH. Mr. K. McKenzie wrote that the Waipu School Committee had urged that an effort be made to have St. Mary's Road at Waipu metalled at

least as far as the school gates. This would save the children from trudging through mud and water for several 1 chains. The footpath also required attention. The chairman said that the Public Works Department had declined an application for a free grant, and Cr. Durham agreed to make a further application for a subsidy of £1 for £1. It meant reconstruction of a quarter of a mile and there was no money available for the work out of revenue. K3RIPAKA ROUTE REPAIRS. Cr. Morrison asked that the engineer should look over the road at the top of Tikipunga jto Kiripaka post office with a view to patching up hollows, and it was left to him and the engineer to arrange between them. DRAINAGE AT RUAKAKA. Mr. L. S. Meiklejohn, of Ruakaka, again drew attention to the backing up of water at' the frontage to the Ruakaka school, and the need of a { culvert. He had drawn attention to j the matter last winter and it was

really one of urgency as drainage of the school grounds could not be effected properly otherwise, while the stagnant water destroyed the hedge trees and spoiled the playground. Cr. Durham said that there was no chance 6f dealing with the matter until the new road construction was completed, as the outlet would be a long one. WAIRUA GORGE WIDENING. The Council had agreed to find £500 on the £1 for £3 basis as required by the Main Highways Council for metalling the Awarua Gorge section of the Mangakahia main highway. The arrangement was approved, it being pointed out that the subsidy had been increased upon the original offer. MAIN ROADS FUND. The amount set aside by the Council for expenditure on county main roads and main highways under the Main Highways Act was £4000. Of

that amount £1741 had been spent, leaving £2259 for expenditure. The liabilities totalled £2311 Is lOd, comprising £1077 lis lOd for McLeod's Flat, £433 10s for present work done on the Wairua bridge and £800 for the Whakapara bridge. The liabilities therefore exceeded what was available, but the chairman was of opinion that more work would have to be done on the main highways, though he did not know where the money would come from. Cr Hodge said that he wished to expend some money on tarring the main road from the borough boundary to the foot of Hoeys Hill. Another question raised was when the Highways Board would take over the Whakapara bridge, and the engineer said that the plans had been sent forward by the Public Works Department to the Main Highways Board four months ago, since which time no further communication had been received upon the subject. The chairman stated that if the executive were going to Wellington to attend a conference between the Highways Board and County Councils the matter of the bridge could be raiseu there and the Highways Board askea t3 give assistance. That course was agreed upon.

ANTICIPATING OBJECTIONS.

Mr H. S. Alexander anticipated possible objection to two gates of his which had been across the Ha Ha road since the days when his property was in the Hokianga County. There had been no objection so far, but as a new road was being constructed into the Kaimaro he desired to have formal authority to retain the gates, in case any objection should be raised. It was stated by the chairman that objection certainly would be forthcoming, but meanwhile formal consent was given. KAURI EGAD REPAIRS. Cr Elliott sought authority to obtain 100 yds of gravel from Taumarere to o put on the from Kauri railway crossing towards Ivimo. He moved in that direction and the chairman seconded the motion, declaring that the road mentioned was in a terrible state. The motion was carried.

ANOTHER DANGEROUS BRIDGK Mr A. J. Lewin, writing on behalf of ratepayers in the Wananaki destrict, stated that the bridge near the late Mr Mark Dawson's old place was absolutely dangerous and in the writer's opinion was past repair. The settlers were prepared to do some work themselves on the road. The matter was referred to Cr Webb to investigate. FASCINES ON METAL. Mr L. 11. Davis complained of the bad state of the road between the Whakapara railway station and the' township. It was t: common thing for cars to be bogged there for two or three hours. The writer had worked on the roads in the district and had put down sixty bundles of ti-tiee on a bad length towards Hukerenui, halt a mile from the Whakapara sawmill. He had done similar work before and Would not mind it if he were the only motorist using the road, but no sooner had he fixed the road up than he noticed other people carting timber over it. He wished to have something done to the first section mentioned.

The engineer said he had inspected the road and found that it w r as cut to pieces near the Whakapara Memorial Hall. The only remedy meanwhile would be to put down fascines. Cr Elliott agreed with the engineer's suggestion and it was left to him and to the engineer for attention. OTAIKA QUARRY. Cr. McKenna said that although the Mangapai riding had spent a lot of

money it had not got good returns from Dyer's quarry at Otaika. He could make good use of metal, but he questioned whether it was advisable to carry on with the quarrying at the present time. The engineer and member for the riding were deputed to consider the position, with power to act. MEETING DATE ALTERED.

As the next meeting wo.uld ordinarily fall during Fleet Week it was decided that it should take place on August 7. CLOSING OF DISUSED ROADS. On behalf of Mr M. J, Glamuzina. Messrs Briggs and Hopkins wrote asking that the disused roads bounding his property at Aponga be closed until required by the Council, by a fence and gate. As the exact site was not disclosed the matter was left to the staff and Or. Hodge for suggestion, with power to act.

A request by Mr Morgan for a road between the Houto and the Otaurau to be closed was referred to the engineer and Cr .Pollock, though the chairman expressed doubt whether it would be feasible to close it. ONEEAHI SURFACEMAN AP POINTED. On the recommendation of the engineer Mr Rowlands was appointed surfaceman on the Onerahi road. GATES TO A QUARRY. Mr Peter Ferguson of Rnatangata drew attention to the dilapidated state of the gates leading to the quarry on his property, and in accordance with the terms of an agreement he asked that the Council give attention to the matter. Cr. Hodge said that he would send the surfaceman to inspect the gat( s. FINANCE. Accounts passed for payment totalled £4816 14/8, compribing the following:—Ridings account £824 14/6, grants account £339 8/7, general account £2892 12/S, county main roads £318 8/9, main highways £246 2/6, and loans account £195 7/8.