OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVI, Issue 3454, 5 November 1915, Page 3

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Tne usual monthly meeting of the Ohinetnurt County Council was held yesterday in the Council Chambers. Those present were the Chairman (Mr H. M. Corbett), and Councillors A. C. Hubbard, S. J. LUughlin, C. Morgan, C.F. Lloyd, A. McGuire, and G. H. Keeling, and F. M. Strange. '■:;',- . The minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted, and the outward cbrrespondence approved. ■'• '■' ■ ' "■•'■-■• ■ :,'.." ■ ■',■■■:■ ''"?■■ ''. .'"■ ' "■■'*'■' ■■;'.;',' '■• TENDERS. -^^'y "' . Tenders were opened as follows :-iContract No. 372—Forming, cul. i verting, and erecting small ' ; bridge on Waitawbeta-W.aihi ; ;;v-:: ; ;. ;;'.-Roadvv ,--■ •'■.■ ;:.-;; ;... _V.'<; ■ Kennedy ahcj Taylor (accpt.) 97 o o J. McGrath ■ ... ...... 106 o' o P. Sheehan C;. ... v 140 o .0. Contract No. 37&— Forming Tui ■r-A/V/^'iT^ktaTick-an'd'pisli: T. Donovan (accepted) , ... 86 12 o L. Campbell ....... ...115 o o ; .ENGINEER'S REPORT. : ; The report or the engineer (Mr G. S. Gould) was read as follows :—-..- ---;" Since making my last report I have prepared plan& and specifications for Forming 1250 chains and erecting small bridge on Waitawheta to Waibi Road, and tor forming 52 chains ol Tui Track to Pick and. Dish. Tenders have been invited for these works, to close at 2 p:m. this day. %

"The usual maintenance work^has been carried but on all rbads ; including \he supply of pip 6 culverts and repairs to roads at Mangaiti, and extensive repairs on Komata Rpad^ the recent bad weather and heavy carting having exposed a number of rotten wooden culverts and deck planks that 'require renewing. A large wooden culvert on Waitekauri Main lias also collapsed and will require to be renewed. Thi§i culvert is some four or five chains in length, and will require to be replaced with 36-inch diameter concrete pipes, but by diverting the stream t propose to do with only' go feet oi culvert, 1 which "w|ll cost about £45 delivered on the ground. The work of diverting the stream and laying the culvert will be done by the County surface men, • As the work is of an urgent nature, X have already ordered the necessary pipes.- The stile in the cemetery fenqe near Treanpr's corner has been completed, and the notice board ,f jr abattoirs has been prepared, and is now being erected; ' I have had some difficulty in securing suitable labour for repairs to Peel's Creek Road, and there is still a good deal of work to be done, but good, progress has been made for the amount expended.

"In regard to Mr W.Clarke's; letter re the closing of Ngatitorigata Road to traffic, Mr Tjerney," tlie owner of the land through which the road passes, will wait on you this day and explain this position. ■■;

."■ I.haveseen the Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Department, in reference to the proposed stop-bank on the western side of the Waihou River to Tirohia, and- I am informed that the bank under consideration forms only portion of the whole scheme, and when completed will not increase the overflow of water on the eastern side. The mam overflow of/the 7Waihou River during floods is above Tirohia, and this wnl not be prevented by the portion of stop-bank about to be erected. I was also assured that the CJovernment would take every precaution to prevent the overflow of the nver on the eastern side before completing their stop-bank scheme on the western bank.

"In regard to the mam road from County boundary at Tahuna through Patetonga, Kaihere, and Waitakaruru, I have to report that it is in a ver,y.bad state and will require an expenditure of several hundred pounds to place in reasonable order, and as the road is used to a great extent by settlers residing on the Hauraki Plains non-rateable area, I would suggest that representation be made to the Government for assistance in the matter ot repairs. I had made repeated requests tor a maintenance grant for the road previous to the estimates being compiled, and I am disappointed to, note that no provision has been made. I would suggest that the Government be informed of their responsibility as regards this road, as I do not consider it reasonable to expect the Council to maintain the. road at great expense for the chief benefit of lands that cannot be rated.

"I have also to report the bad state of a large wooden culvert on the Waikino to, Waitewheta Road that will require to be replaced with concrete pipes, at a cost of about £15. "In regard to past correspondence from Mr Svveetman re access road to his section and others being cut off by the Kauri Timber Company's tramway, I have to report having gone into the matter, and I found that a cutting of about 15 feet in depth had been made diagonally across the road, completely cutting off all access, and I would re commend that the Company be asked to fill the cutting and restore the road to its former grade level." "QUEEN OF THE EAST." An application was received from the executive, asking for a grant towards the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Councillor Strange moved that a grant of be made. This was seconded by the Chairman and carried. . EXTRA LABOUR. , The matter ot putting on exlra labour ■jn the Netherton and Waitoa Ridings was left in the hands" ot the engineer.

MILL ROAD DRAIN. Councillor Keeling said that a settler on the Te Aroha Road had been draming bis property and had turned his drains into the road drains. * This had caused the low-lying lands in the vicinity to become flooded and practically useless. '. The; Council, he thought, should take immediate action to have this remedied. ■T After some informal discussion, it was decided that the engineer make a full report on the whole matter, and submit i the sam c to the next meeting. CADMAN ROAr. , , ''■' '< '•".. Councillor Keeling brought under the notice of the Council the bad state that the-Cad man Road was in. : It was decided that the engineer have temporary repairs made, and report on the matter. .'■ ■ ' •- : '. ■ . ■ • ■■•'. ' '■ ■'.-. . STEAM ROLLER. ■: Councillor "Keeling advocated that the Council purchase a steam roller. The matter was supported by the Chairman and also Councillor Strange, and it was decided to find out the cost of. the implement before taking any i definite steps. ; v - ■... ■ ■'.'.'-. LUX LIGHT. '■■• '■'■':■! Councillor Lloyd said that the matter ol having better light in Karangahake at night was a necessity. The Lux light was a good one, but the lamps just at present were out of order. It was decided that two of the lamps be sent to Auckland for repairs. LOWli-R PAEROA-TE AROHA ROAD. . A wire.was received from liis Worship the Mayor ot Te Aroha (Mr Norreil). and the Chairman of the Piako County Council (Mr Thomas) as,follows :—" Bitter and apparently justifi--able complaints relative to Paeroa-Te I Aroha Road received here. Suggest j your engineer look into and see if something can be done forthwith." ' The matte? was left to the engineer to report on. ■"■•. • ■,' ; ■■■: •"'...•■■.GRANTS: .■'•■•.•■ •. j The Acting Undersecretary of the j I Public Works wrote as follows :—" Re ferring to votes provided upon the Public Works appropriation for roads and works in your district, I have the honour, by direction of the I'Minister ot public Works, to inform you that he regrets that such votes, so far as they relate to new money provided this year, will not be available for expenditure until such time as satisfactory arrangements have been, made foif the raising of the necessary loan for public works pur-. j poses, and it has been, decided to what | extent the funds then available will be sufficient to justify the prosecution ot new works. Consequently, the Minister regrets that at the present time he is unable to make any offer to your Council ol any such moneys for expendi- j ture." . The letter was received. ; j SIDING AT TIROHIA. The District Traffic Manager ot Railways /wrote stating that it is regretted that the Department is unable at present to provide a siding at Tirohia, and the matter has of necessity been deferred. ; . The letter was received. OWHAROA STATION. The District Engineer wrote stating that the matter ot the approach to the Owharoa Railway Station had been re- j ferred to the chief engineer. : The leter was received. HOSP-ITAL REPRESENTATIVE. A communication was received from the secretary of the Hospital Board, Mr R. R. 'Lloyd, informing the Council that one of the representatives of this district, Mr J. Nathan, had tendered his resignation, and asking the Council to forthwith appoint some qualified person to act. . / On'the motion of Councillor Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Strange, Councillor Keeling was appointed as representative in place of Mr Nathan. / WATER SUPPLY TO CAMP. Captain Derrom, Adjutant 6th (Hauraki) Regiment, made application to the Council for water for the annual camp, which is proposed to be held m Goonan's paddock from February 24th. On the motion of the Chairman the application was granted. ■■■■•■ HOMUANGA ROAD. The Town Clerk of Waihi wrote asking the Council to take steps to legalise the road leading to the Ngatitangata Block, commonly known as the Homuanga Road, which abuts on the coast'at Fraser's Beach?" Travellers on this road had been stopped by a settler, on the grounds that the road had not been legalised. It was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the engineer to have the road legalised. NO. 7 road. Messrs F. J. and W. Henry and Johanna O'Grady wrote calling the attention of the Council to the bad state ot the No. 7 Road, and asking that something be done to improve it. It was resolved that the engineer look into the matter and report. REMISSION OF RATES. Trooper C.«O. Appleby, of the 9th Reinforcements, wrote asking the Council to exempt him from paying rates on his farm at Patetonga until his return from the War. It was resolved that if the position is as stated by the applicant, the rates be remitted. PROSPECTING. Messrs T. Handly and M. Burke applied for assistance in driving a prospecting tunnel in Trig Hill. It was decided to inform the applicants that the County Council cannot assist. BAD ROADS. Mr E. F. Wilkins, secretary of the Patetonga Branch oi the Mew Zealand Farmers' Union, wrote asking that something be done to improve the Mornnsville-Tahuna Road and the

Patetonga to Waitakaruru Road, which are both in a deplorable state and at present almost impassable. It was decided to ask the union to assist the Council 111 making application to the Government tor assistance '{or this road. ' y . :.'■' '■ MAGAZINE, . ... ■-/ • The magazine keeper reported that 192 cases of explosives were issued, and 80 cases received during the .monthV The fees for the month totalled £2 15/2, ABATTOIRS. The report from the manager of the abattoirs was that 75 cattle, 217 sheepi 8 lambs, 8 calves, and 2 pigs were slaughtered this month. The fees for the month total £34 14/7. . , „■. ' -'■POUND. •/■';,' -. •'• : ■ -;.:"' The 'pouridkeeper reported that 18: animals had been impounded, and that; the fees totalled £20 15s, including^ 18 15/6 surplus from horse sales.