THAMES COUNTY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIII, Issue 2988, 4 September 1912, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE .COUNCIL;,

Mr R. W. Bagnall (chairman) presided at the meeting of the Thames County Council yesterday, the other members present being Messrs Kilgour, Cooper, Bax, McCormick, Baker, Law, Adams and Deeble. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. KAUAERANGA ROAD. Residents of Upper Kauaeranga Road.petitioned the Council to make 1 repairs to portionvpf this thoroughfare. Mr Kilgour said the road was in a really bad state, but could be improved it the ruts were filled in. He moved that the necessary repairs be made by theyengineer. This was seconded by Mr Law and was carried. , WHARF AT TAIRUA. That the wharf at Tairua is in a dangerous condition was the burden of the complaint in a letter from W. F. Meyenberg, who asked that necessary repairs be made. The Chairman said that the most simple way was for the Northern Company to take over the wharf. Mr Law said that somebody should attend to the wharf. He moved that application be made to Government for a grant for the wharf. This" was carried. PATH AT HIKUAI. The secretary of the Hikuai School Committee requested that the path to the school be metalled so that the children could get to the school dry footed. Mr Law said that it would be necessary to fence the horses off the path. On his motion the matter was referred to the engineer. TURUA ROADS. A letter from Bagnall Bros, regarding the Huirau and Te Papap^r Roads at Turua, stated that the roads had been formed ready to take over iS months ago, and it was hardly fair to ask them to form the roads again now before taking them over. -On Mr Bax's motion the Council decided to adhere to its former resolution that the roads must be iormed belore being taken over. ' \ RIVER GRAVEL. The Marine Department telegraphed asking it the Council had any objection to a licerse being granted to E. Deeble to take gravel from the Waihou River. Mr Bax said that a lot of people were taking sand Irom the river now, and there could be no objection to the license being granted. Mr McCormick' said they did not want to give any one person a monopoly. The Chairman said he understood that in the future all people taking sand would have to pay for it. One of the captains of the river steamers thought the taking of the sand would do no harm, while a resident on the river bank thought it might affect the river banks. It was decided to oiler no objection to the apDhcation. ' KAUAERANGA VALLEY ROAD. The engineer reported on the quesj tion of the dedicating and grading of the Kauaeranga Valley Road. Mr Law urged that a road should be obtained as soon as possible as it had been required tor a long time past. Mr Cooper moved that the road be taken over as recommended by the engineer. This was seconded by Mr Kilgour and was carried. DRAIN AT TURUA. The committee appointed to go into the matter of the Turua-Pipinri Road drain reported that it was of opinion that the drains on the roadside and the outlet were more than sufficient for the drainage of the roads, and recommended that the request of the settlers for the enlargement and alteration oi the drains be referred to the Under Secretary of Lands. On the motion of Messrs Cooper and Kilgour it was decided that this be done. PURIRI WHARF ROAD. A letter was received from Miller and Son, solicitors, stating thai the plan of the above road was now completed and approved, but that it would be necessary to lake a small piece of Native land under the Public Works Act. Mr Cooper moved that the necessary land be taken under the Public Works Act, remarking that the work had been

under way a long lime and should soon be finished. This was seconded by Mr McCormick and was carried. TAPU-GUMTOWN TRACK. Mr Deeble said that the track at Tap'u. above the battery should be widened to twelve ieet. The money was .available from timber halves. The Chairman remarked that the engineer was of opinion that all the timber halves would be needed for making repairs to the track. It was decided, on the .motion bt Messrs Law and Adams, that the engineer report on the Tapu-Gumtown track and the cost of repairing- it. OTHER MATTERS. S. Causley applied for permission to take a private telephone wire across the road at Parawai, and the engineer was instructed to make enquiries into the matter. The state of the water-tables on the road at Kopu was complained of by J. C. Williams, who considered the pipes should be lowered and a creek cleared cut and deepened. Mr McCormick moved, and it was carried, that the roid drains be attended to. A letter was received from the Public Works Department, stating that the Minister would cqnsider the Council's representations regarding the site of the ferry over the Thames River. The Watchman GTM. Co. wrote thanking the Council for its donation towards the cost of repairing the Sunbeam Road. * Mr Deeble moved, and it was carried, that the engineer report „as to the best means of widening portion of the road leading to the racecourse at Parawai. It was decided to; invite applications for the posit'on of poundkeeper. The engineer was instructed to make repairs to the road near Mr Clark's property at Puriri. Mr McCormick mentioned that the lower end. of the Matatoki Road required repairing, and on his motion the engineer was instructed to attend to the matter. ■Mr Deeble spoke of a dangerous corner at P?rawai caused by a hedge being too high, and on his motion the engineer was instructed to report on the matter. The engineer reported on the question of a site for a public pound. It was decided to open up negotiations to ascertain it the old pound can be obtained. A. report on the washing away by the sea of portion*bf the Thames-Waikawau Road 'vas reported on by the engineer, who suggested that one or two chains of protection wall be b iilt. On Mr Deeble's motion, it was decided to invite tenders for carrying out ihc work. Mr Cooper moved that the engineer report on the best means of obviating j damage being clone by the rivor on the Puriri Valley Road towards Neavesville. This was seconded Jjy Mr Kilgour and was carried. Accounts totalling .£698 33 1 id were passed for payment. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, nth September,'to consider several matters oi importance.