THAMES COUNTY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIII, Issue 2962, 3 July 1912, Page 2

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL:.

WORK OF THE MONTH.

Mr R. W. Bagnall (chairman) presided at the ordinary monthly meeting of the Thames County Council yelterday, the other members present being Messrs Killgour, Coopetyßax, McCormick, Baker, Law, Adams, and Deeble!

The minutes of the previous monthly' 'meeting were read and confirmed, andr, the outward correspondence was read and approved. KERRY CARETAKER. . ' Applications for the position of caretaker of the Wharepoa ferry were received from F. W. Bennett, ]. Law (on condition that wages are increased to "

ios per day for seven days a vweek)j Q. Bennett, G. Fairburn (the previous caretaker), P. O'Brien, and C. Odium.

The engineer reported that the caretaker appointed at last meeting tendered his resignation on 20th June, but on 28th June had desired to withdraw his resignation. -.. Mr Cooper said the caretaker was quite willing to keep on the job provided the punt is made secure.

Mr Bax said his suggestion was that no application be accepted until a committee of the Council has visited the

ferry and inspected the ferry approaches.

Mr Law thought that as applications had been invited for the position they should accept one, and see about visiting the ferry afterwards.

Mr Deeble moved that j. Law be ap-^ pointed to the position. He said applicant was prepared to build a house and a boat in his spare time. * This was seconded by Mr McCormick and was carried. / COUNTY RESERVE. The following tenders were received for a lease for five years of the County reserve at Totara Point: —E. Deeble. £9 10s per annum; W. Taylor, £5 2s 6d per annum. The tender of E. Deeble was accepted.

GRAFTON ROAD. A letter was received from tl^ Thames Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board, declining to grant the Council a piece of land at Parawai for a deviation of Grafton Road as asked for by the Council. The Chairman moved that the Board be asked on what consideration it would part w.ith the land.

I Mr Deeble said it would be wise to have an estimate of the cost of making a road in this locality, and this opinion was shared by Mr Baker. Mr Deeble added that they should be quite sure that the road was practicable. The motion by the chairman was carried. ROAD TO MONOWAI MINE. H. H. Adams wrote with regard to the road from the beach to the Monowai mine, stating that it required attention. Mr Deeble said the road was an important one, and he moved that it be put in repair. This was seconded by Mr McCoimick and was carried. ROAD AT TAIRUA. T. Enwright made complaint about a road at.Tairua, stating that it was dangerous. Mr Adams said it was necessary for the road to receive attention. It was decided that the engineer have necessary repairs made, and also report to the Council. DRAIN AT TURUA. 1". J. Storey wrote stating that a drain on Turua - Kerepeehi Road required clearing out. The Chairman and Mr Bax agreed that the drain badly needed to be cleared out, and it was decided that a copy of Mr Storey's letter be iorwarded to the Land Board. ' KARAkA CREEK ROAD. E. Miller, local secretary for Karaka Mines Ltd., requested the Council to assist the member for the district in endeavouring to obtain an additional Government grant of £250 for the Karaka Creek Road.

Mr Law said the Council had applied fora grant of £150 for this road, and the additional was required. They • should co-operate with the company in endeavouring to obtain the grant. He moved to that effect. This was seconded by Mr Killgour and was carried. WHAREPOA FERRY. A letter was received from R. Wirth, stating that his total expenses in connection with the cattle lost by the accident to the Wharepoa ferry amounted to ;£ioo, and stating that he considered the Council should allow him „£SO.

On the motion of the Chairman and Mr Killgour, it was decided to consult the solicitor regarding this matter.

■ In the course of his report the engineer stated that the Wharepoa ferry road east was in a very bad state, and he suggested that or £70 be spent in fascining and draining the road. -

Mr Bax said the roads were bad on both the east and west sides, and something should be done to cope with the increased traffic. * He moved that a committee consisting of the chairman, Mr Cooper, and the mover be appointed to visit these roads and the terry and. report to the Council.

A petition from settlers in the vicinity of Wharepoa asked, that alterations bey made to the punt by widening it andl erecting a movable partition.

Mr Bax's motion was carried, and it was agreed that the committee also re-

port on certain requirements at Hikutaia. TRAMWAY AT TURUA. An application by R. P. Gibbons and Son for permission to lay a tramway along the Turua-Kerepeehi Road was granted subject to certain conditions. Amongst the conditions were that the tramway is to be close-boarded for the full length ; that provisions, stores, etc., ior settlers are to! be carried free of charge (the settlers to do the loading and unloading) j and that the tramway is to be removed at the company's expense ii the Council desires to go on with the Wharepoa Road west. OTHER MATTERS. The Mines Department authorised a subsidy of £i per week each for 26 weeks to enable Hughes and mate to prospect ior gold in the vicinity of Puhoi and Tapu Creeks.

It was decided that in forming a bye-law to deal with the speed of motor cars the Council should co-operate with the Coromandel County Council.

An opinion/from the solicitor ot the Counties Association stated that there was no poweMor a County to sell electric power to private consumers.

The engineer was instructed to submit a statement ot the quantity ot water being supplied through meter to the Borough Council with the object-of fixing the charge to be made.

Mr Cooper gave notice of his intention to move at next meeting'that Mr E. Clendon be appointed County solicitor.

On the representations' of Messrs Killgour and Law, the engineer was instructed to repair the Totara, Parawai and Kauaeranga Valley Roads. Accounts amounting to £696 were passed lor payment. The Chairman reported that the committee appointed to go into the question of taking a small" portion of land for the Tapu - Gumtown Road recommended that the best course would be to offer Mr Deeble ,£2O for the land (about two acres) necessary to continue the road on .its present line. He moved that the recommendation of the committee be adopted. This was seconded by Mr Killgour and was carried.

The engineer reported that the expenditure of about £ 5 would put in repair a road asked for by the Thames Jockey Club, and on the motion of Messrs Killgour and Law it was decided that the work be carried out.

A road from the head of the race to the hotel at Kauaeranga was reported upon by the engineer as requiring gravelling. Mr Law agreed that the road should be attended to, and ultimately consideration was held over until the weather improves.

Word was received that the necessary formalities in connection with the Purin Wharf Road were being pushed ahead as quickly as possible.'

A letter was received from H. H. Adams, stating that he would be responsible for the payment of the water supplied to the Thames foreshore dredging works from 24th May to sth July.

Notice was given by the Leyland O'Brien Company that it was making application for a floating license on the Te Mata RiVer. The Chairman stated that he had asked the Commissioner of

Crown Lands to see that the Council's roads and bridges are protected.

R. S. Martin designed his position as impounding ranger. The resignation was accepted, and it was decided to invite applications for the position.

An invitation was received to attend the next meeting of the Thames Chamber of Commerce, when an address on "Town Sanitation " will be given by Mr .£. F. Adams.

T. Green asked ior repairs to be made to the Omahu Road, and on the motion ot Mr Coofier the engineer was instructed to report on the matter.

The secretary of the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that the Council's contribution to the Board for the ensuing year would Ibe los id. The Chairman remarked that this was considerably less 'flian the amount for last year.

A report on the Local Bodies Bill Conference was received from, the Mayor of Thames (Mr H. Lowe). v

The Thames School of Mines thanked the Council for its contribution to the school equal to the amount of the charge ior water.

A letter was received from the Prime ."Minister, regretting that he could not •state exactly when he would be able to -visit Thames.

Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., wrote stating that he would do his best to obtain the grants from Government asked for by the Council. The Minister for Mines and Minister for Public Works sent word that the applications for grants would receive their consideration.