Whangarei County Council Business

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 11

Whangarei County Council Business

Asking that attention should be paid to the need for the construction of a bridge in Ormiston's Road, in the Mangapai riding. Mr D. J. McKenzie waited as a deputation on the Whangarei County Council at .the monthly meeting yesterday.

Mr McKenzie, in asking for relief, said amounts paid in rates had been taken and given for the benefit of other people. It was time they took a turn in suffering.

The clerk. Mr H. C. Hemphill, said that the present/grant was ,£CBO free and £649 9 6 had been expended. The road was in the five-year plan in class D for £2500.

The engineer, Mr J. Norris, said Mr McKenzie did not favour his proposal for a 30-35 ft bridge costing about £350 and preferred a 70ft bridge on the old site. He did not think the smaller bridge would carry away. Cr. A. Stephen said the work should be done if a liberal subsidy could be obtained from the Public Works Department. Money spent on the road was not much good until the bridge was erected. Cr. A. J. McKay said that portion of the rates had been paid into the Waipu riding funds and ho was prepared to assist witli the cost of the bridge. The council decided to make application for a grant of £275. on a £3 for £1 basis.

Removal of School

In view of the applications made to the Auckland Education Board for the removal of the Pataua school building to a site fronting the. beach at the mouth of the Pataua river, the secretary, Mr D. W. Duniop, asked if the council intended to complete the metalling of the road from its present point to the beach, and, if so, when the work was likely to be undertaken. Cr. A. Clarke said the question was new to him and he would like to inspect the locality before undertaking the work. The road would be completed when funds were available, but in the meantime he moved that the question be referred to the riding member and the engineer. Mr J. Norris.

Road Deviation. The extensive improvements which have been carried out on the Whangarei Heads road by the Public Works Department has necessitated deviations from the old road line in order to improve the alignment. At the foot of Darkies Hill, at Parua Bay, a deviation is being constructed through Mr T. H. Wright’s property, and Mr Wright has agreed to an adjustment of boundaries without monetary compensation. It was reported to the council by the clerk that the council was to undertake the survey and legalisation as requested by the Public Works Department. A further deviation near the Tama-

terau School, which is being put in by the department, is also to be legalised by the council. Cr. A. Clarke said the deviation was well worth while. Noxious Weeds Inspector. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, advised through the member for the district, Mr J. G. Barclay, that the assistant inspector for noxious weeds would commence duty at the beginning of September, this being earlier than previous years in response to the council's request. Advice was received from the solicitor of the owner of the land on which the Purua Tennis Club’s courts and pavilion were situated stating that a survey for an access road would not be necessary as he was not prepared to grant a title. The chairman said the tennis club had asked for a road to the property and the council had replied that access would be given if a title to the land were obtained. Apparently the owner was not prepared to give a title to the land. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the tennis club. Stating that she was endeavouring to improve the gardens at the Otaika School, Miss Jessie May wrote asking for blackberries to be cleared away

from the fence for a distance of about a chain, a strip of about three yards wide. The question was left to the riding member. Cr. Morrison said the NgunguruKiripaka road was in a dangerous condition, and suggested the chairman and engineer should interview the Public Works Department to ascertain what could be done. The suggestion was adopted. The council agreed to contribute £ 10 for the development of the Parakao Domain. The clerk reported that the county fund account showed a debit of £2759. but amounts due by State departments totalled £4820, £3034 from Public Works Department grants and £1786 from the Main Highways Board. The Government subsidy on rates, £2500, should also be received shortly.