COUNTY AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22466, 9 July 1936, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS

HAUKAKI PLAINS WORK VISIBILITY ON ROADS WATER SUPPLY SCHEME [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NGATEA, Wednesday The Hauraki Plains County Council met to-day. Advice was received that a tender for £498 had been approved by the Public Works Department for the building of the Waiwarawara bridge on the Waitakaruru-Miranda road. The tender was £IOO above the estimate. The clerk reported that the whole of the county's loan conversion had been completed. All old securities had been surrendered with the exception of about £IB,OOO. The conversion had been particularly difficult on account of the fact that the council's public debt had been mostly publio issue. The council's expenditure on road work in the various ridings for the three months ended June 30 totalled £2048. Subsidy lor Storm Damage Advice was received from the Main Highways Board that a subsidy would be allowed on work repairing flood damage caused last February on the Ohinewai road. In order to improve visibility and lessen the danger to traffic, it was resolved to have the trees at the intersection of the Keropehi and Paeroa roads removed at the council's own expense. It was also decided to enforce the removal for 50ft. of a belt of trees growing at Haley's corner on the main highway beyond Waitakaruru. The Education Board is to be asked to remove a school shelter shed on a corner at Netherton. Future or Komata Perry The Ohinemuri County Council advised that, as the result of a conference between the three counties concerned, it was agreed to request the Hauraki Plains council to continue to run the Komata ferry near Netherton for a further two years as from April 1, 1936, the cost to be allocated as follows: — Hauraki Plains, 40 per cent; Ohinemuri and Thames, 30 per cent each. The cost of maintenance and running expenses was estimated at £l7O per annum. It was further decided that if there was any reduction of income, or if a substantial increase in expenditure was anticipated at any time, the position should be reviewed by a joint conference. A recommendation was made that the Main Highways Board should be approached to contribute to the running and maintenance costs of the ferry. The council ratified the result of the conference. Notice was received of the Thames Hospital Board's levy for the year amounting to £2929. This is considerably in excess of last year's levy. Water District to be Formed In regard to the Hauraki Plains East water supply scheme, the council decided to take steps to commence the preliminary procedure to constitute a water district to include the whole area between the Waihou and Piako Rivers, the chairman, Mr. 0. W. Parfitt, being authorised to interview the Minister regarding better terms of assistance and report to the next council meeting. A letter was received from the Ngatea branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union requesting that, in view of the waste in the west water supply, the council should increase its fines to not less than £5, or alternatively take legal proceedings. It was decided to accede to the request and prosecute wilful wastage. Following a discussion on the construction of the Pipiroa bridge over the Piako River in committee, a resolution was passed in open meeting that the suggestions submitted by the chairman regarding contributions to the construction costs by the local authorities should be approved and that a conference of the representatives of the council, the Thames Borough, the Thames County and the Coromandel County should bo called at Thames on August 14.