Mangonui County Council

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 52, 28 September 1934, Page 4

Mangonui County Council

Monthly Meeting The monthly meeting of the Mangonui County Council was held last Thursday, when there were present Crs. W. Vickers (chairman), C. J. E. Barriball, J. N. Berghan, J. Garton, F. Holder, L. J. Matthews, W. J. Steed, and H. H. Thompson. The Council consented to the taking and closing of a road through the Ruaroa Block, and also roads in the

Rangaunu S.D. The Chairman, Cr. Vickers, was granted two months’ leave of absence in order to attend the Melbourne Centenary Celebrations. Takahue Saddle Road The Hokianga County Council, in reply to a letter advised that work on the Takahue Saddle Road would be put in hand at an early date, but it was decided that the Hokianga County Council be again written to urging that reconstruction and metalling of this road be expedited in accordance with their promise. Mr. S. G. Foster’s offer for use of the landing reserve at Oruaiti was accepted. Champion’s Road was classified as a fifth-class road under the Motor Vehicles Regulations. The District Engineer is to be informed that the Council wiil contribute the sum of £IOO towards the erection of a bridge to give access to Mr. Dangen’s property at Peria.

The Chairman and Cr. Thompson were appointed to represent the Council at a Conference of Northern County Councils at Ohaeawai in ref-

erence to Heavy Traffic Licenses and the appointment of a traffic inspector.

The Lands Department is to be written to asking that the cost of having the Ahipai*a Gumfields Road legalised be borne by that Department. This legalisation is required so that the Government Grant can be expended on the road and was asked for in a letter from Mr. R. Robertson, Secretary of the Ahipara Hill Road Committee.

In supporting the request, Cr. Berghan said that the Council and the Committee had been under the impression that the road had been legalised by the Public Works Department, but it was now found that this had not been done and before the grant could be expended, the road would have to be legalised.

A letter was received from the Mangonui Civic League requesting that the Council make further representations to the Highways Board to have the Awanui-Mangonui via Lake Ohia Road declared a Main Road.

The Council had previously made representations to the Board but Councillors now thought that it might be to the Council’s advantage to leave the road as at present and obtain Public Works money for reformation and metalling than to have to subsidize expenditure under the Highway Board.

The Council supported the following resolution passed by the Matamata County Council: “That a system which will ensure that the user of the roads will pay for the maintenance therof (includ-

ing the interest and principal charges on roading loans) as a commencement, the whole of the tax levied on motor spirits, tyres, etc., to be paid into a roading fund to be used for subsidising all road expenditure.” Regarding Side Roads Cr. Holder took exception to remarks that had been passed at a Farmers’ Union meeting regarding the Council’s attitude to the maintenance of side roads, and to the metalling of Clough’s Road in particular. The Council had done all that possibly could be for the side roads with the limited funds at their command. In particular Church Road had been well maintained. Referring to the rates on Clough’s Road, Cr. Holder said he alone paid a total of £l3O a year while all the settlers of Church Road paid only £lB2. Mr. J. C. Marsh who had brought up the discussion at the Farmers’ Union meeting only paid £ll 16/, of which only £3 was general rates. The expenditure on Clough’s Road last year was only £6O of Council money, and £l5O a Government Grant. At the first opportunity the County Chairman is to make a tour of the side roads of the County. Road Repairs New planks are to be put on the bridge near Mr. P. Atkinson’s on the Kaingaroa-Duncan’s Road, and on the Parapara Bridge on the Lake OhiaMangonui Road. Tenders are shortly to be called for the delivery of 200 yards of mainenance metal to the Takahue Road. Repairs to Dawson’s Road were left with the Riding member, Cr. Thompson. An application is to be made for a grant, on the Supplementary Estimates for an extension of Crene’s Road, Takahue. Repairs are being effected to the Parapara Road, that has been cut up by trucks using chains during the winter. Repairs are to be carried out to the Paranui Road when weather permits. The Engineer was instructed to have repairs to the Parenga Road carried out when possible. Church Road Mr. F. Reynolds waited on the Council with the request that the

Council continue the metalling on Church Road to his farm ; this would take about 250 yards. The settlers concerned were prepared to help. The work could be carried out by relief workers at 3/6 a yard, the Council having to pay for transport of metal only, and as the quarry was on the job this was a small item. Crs. Holder and Matthews supported the request and the Engineer was authorised to arrange for the work to be carried out. Rates The rates as decided cp at last meeting and advertised were struck.