OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3940, 5 July 1918, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING.

Cr. Grace presided at Thursday's meeting of the above Council. There were also present Crs. A. McGuire, A. R. Robinson, G.H.; Keeling, F. MI Strange, S. J. Laughlin, S. H. Morgan, and James Johnson. An apology for unavoidable absence was received from Cr. A. Whitechurch. ELSTOW ESTATE ROAD. Mr J. A. Clothier waited on the council re the dedication of a road through the Elstow Estate, which had been subdivided. The road had not been made to the satisfaction of the council, but he was willing to ,give an undertaking to make a road to the council's satisfaction.—The Council decided to accept dedication conditional on Mr Clothier signing a guarantee to complete the road to the County engineer's satisfaction within twelve months, MORRINSVILLE-PATETONGA ROAD. The Under-Secretary wrote that there was no objection to the repairs on this road being undertaken by day labour, provided the rate of wages paid to ordinary labourers or surf acemen does not exceed 11/- per day. - Details of the proposal must be submitted to the district engineer for his approval before the work was undertaken. ■ Referred to the engineer. RANGIORA ROAD. Arthur A. Wight wrote complaining that an old culvert near the railway crossing had been opened and that in consequence a portion of Mr J. Kilgour's property had been flooded, and asking the council to take the necessary steps to have the matter / put right. ,Mr Kilgour attended and explained the position to the Council. Cr. Robinson moved that "the Council give authority to Mr Kilgour; to - block the culvert and to give Mr Smedley one week in which to clean out the pipes. The work to be car-' ried out to the satisfaction of the engineer. Seconded by Cr. Laughlin and carried. - CULVERT ASKED FOR. T. A. Gibbs asked for a culvert to be put in over the County drain on the road near Hanna's. Left to engineer to deal with.. PAEROA-TAHUNA ROAD. Mr F. V. Flowerdaji wrote on behalf of settlers in this vicinity to have the Paeroa-Tahuna road from Mr Clendon's corner to the Tirohia Bridge put in order. This wculd shorten the distance between the Ot- : way Settlement and Paeroa by several miles. Cr. Strange: With regard to this matter the Public Works Department is putting, in approaches to the bridge and then there would be the main stock road to Waikato. It was decided that the engineer report on the matter. > ■ . DRAIN FROM TAHUNA ROAD TO WAIHOU RIVER. Messrs W. C. Alexander and J. Kenny wrote asking the assistance of the Council in cleaning about 30 chains of this df&jn which had been neglected for a number of years and was causing the water to flood the lands adjoining. Referred to engineer. NO. 9 ROAD. The Waitoa Drainage Board sub? mitted details of the claim for payment for spoil on No. 9 Road amount- - ing to £16. The account was passed for payment. '■ FLOOD DAMAGES. The Minister of Mines wrote that the vote for flood damages was under the control of the Minister of Public Works, and recommended that application^ be made to the Public Works Department. fl[ The Public Works minister wired that he was awaiting a report from engineer regarding damage referred to. • . . . A WASHOUT. The secretary, Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines,' Li^d., reported that a washout had occurred on the main road about half a mile below their battery at Hikutaia and asked that it be repaired.—Referred to the engineer. LAND FOR SOLDIERS. m The Whangarei County Council asked for support in urging that poorer classes of land be not offered to returned soldiers ; also that the Commissioner of Crown Lands be asked to supply particulars as to situation, etc., of lands set apart for settlement by returned soldiers, so that inquiry could be made (by men acquainted with local conditions) as to whether such lands were suitable for%^| the purpose. Cr. Robinson spoke in support.^. He said men from the towns, should not - be put on pcor land. They should be put on dairying land. Second-class land required settlers with knowledge of manuring, and settlers on thirdclass land must be financiers ! ■ Cr. Keeling also spoke in support. Cr. Strange referred to the recent purchase of Mangataparu Estate, near Morrinsville, for returned soldiers. These men should have a successful local farmer to advise them. That man's advice would be invaluable. The adviser should be nominated by some body of responsible farmers. Oftentimes a man was advised "by other folk who were rank failure^ themselves. Cr. Laughlin objected to the soldiers being placed on any but the very best of land, where they could not go wrong if they were willing to > . work. Cr. Johnson said good land was costly. It was decided to support the Whangarei resolution, TAHUNA ROAD. Mr J. G. Blackburn, Tahuna, asked for some improvement to the road giving access to his property. The engineer said he had already attended to the request.

CARRIAGE OF EXPLOSIVES. The Chief Inspector of. Explosives wrote that permission has be:n granted to Brenan and Co. to carry explosives on motor lorry under special conditions during period of war. Received. - ACCESS TO PROPERTY. The chief surveyor of the Depavtcent of Lands and Surveys wrote that it was proposed to give O'Brien legal access to section 32, Block XIII., Ohinemuri Survey District, and asking the council to give every possible assistance in the matter. The chairman said he was of opinion that if they opened the road they would not be able to use the dump and on his motion the matter'was referred to the solicitor for advice. PUKE TO HUBBARD'S. The District Engineer of Railways wrote stating that the private level crossing on Hubbard's to Puke road was never completed as the cost o! construction was not paid. Mr Hubbard declines to accept responsibility for keeping the gates at this"crossing closed, and he has been notified that if he declines to take the responsibility the gates would be looked and the crossing closed. The clerk stated that the council accepted the dedication of the road, but net the responsibility. Cr. Robinson said he did not want to see'Jhe road closed. He would sooner the county pay the than close the road. Cr. Keeling moved that the matter be referrecKto the solicitor to find o^it who was responsible. Seconded by Cr. Robinson and carried. NAVIGATION CANAL. ' j The assistant engineer, Public' Works Department, advised that the finance for the proposed WaihcuPiako navigation canal will be dealt with in conjunction with the general finance of the improvement works, j The chairman said the Council understood up to the present that the cost would* be provided by separate grants. Cr. Keeling said the Drainage Reference Board had been given to understand likewise. The Chairman : I propose the Council strongly oppose the construction of the canal if the cost is to be borne out of the general rivers improvement moneys. Cr. Robinson seconded. Crs. Strange and Keeling supported, and the motion was carried unanimously. ; TIROHIA BRIDGE APPROACHES. The assistant engineer,' Public Works Department, wrote re Tirohia Bridge road approaches, pointing out that unless the Council agrees to the future closing of the road crossing at a point marked D, it is unlikely that the Railway Department will agree to the new crossing at C, and therefore he asked for reconsideration of the matter. It is not intended to close any approach roads, only the railway crossing, and that only after the Railway Department has fenced the line on the eastern side. Cr. Strange said he was one of the first to oppose the closing of the roads, but the'position was now made clear, and he proposed that the Council remove all objections the Council had entered to the closing of the crossing and agree to the proposal of the Railway Department. This was seconded by Cr. Keeling and carried. PROSPECTING GRANTS.

The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, notified that the grant for prospecting by W. M. Wallnutt would be cancelled if not claimed within one month.

An almost similar notification respecting the Tellurides Proprietary's application was also received. The Council decided to accept, cancellation of. the subsidies. REDECKING BRIDGE.

The district engineer, New Zealand Railways, notified that the claim for £61 12s 3d for redecking the bridge at the eastern end of Karangahake tunnel is in accordance with the Act, and should therefore be paid.

Cr. Strange thought the decision very arbitrary, and moved that- the whole matter be placed before the Minister for Railways

Cr McGuire seconded.—Carried.METAL AT WAIHOU STATION. The district traffic manager, New Zealand Railways, intimated that the Council's request to be permitted to stack metal at Waihou railway station would receive consideration. Received. MAIN ROADS. Cr. Grace proposed "That the special order made at the special meeting of the Council on June .6, 1918, whereby the former special order made on December 3, 1914, declaring all reads within the County of Ohinemuri other than Government roads to be main roads witnin the ■meaning of section 128 of the Counties Act, 1908, was absolutely annulled and revoked, be now confirmed." Seconded by Cr. Strange and cafFLAX AND TIMBER ROYALTIES. The Coromandel- County Council asked for support in getting the law

amended so that a portion of the revenue from the sale of timber and flax shall be payable to the local authority within whose district it is obtained.

The chairman explained the outcome of the. deputation's visit to the Minister at Thames, and said the Minister had given a very favourable reply. The Department's replies now were in direct contradiction to his premise. The speaker said the cost of reafforestation should be borne out of the Consolidated Fund, as it was a national undertaking. Timber in individual counties was providing royalties to the Government, but it was the roads of the local bodies that were damaged in the removal of the timber. It was an injustice to the local bodies, and he would like to support the Coromandel County's protest—Unanimously agreed to. HOSPITAL LEVIES. The secretary, Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, wrote:—"ln reply to yours of May 5, protesting against the eyer-inqreasing cost of the upkeep of the hospital, I am instructed to inform you that the interests of your Council are being safeguarded by your representatives en the Board, and they are of the opinion that the expenditure cannot be reduced and still keep up the efficiency of the institution. Further,, I would like to point out the reason for the increase in your assessment is on account of the higher valuation in the Ohinernuri County..

Cr.'Robinson said that a special, committee was set up and some small alterations have been made.

TE AROHA BOROUGH ADJUSTMENT.

The County solicitor recommended approval of the amended agreement between the County and the Te Aroha Borough Council.

Cr. Strange, suggested that it was only a try on on the part of the borough.

SANDPIT

Mr E. J. Clendon, Thames, wrote regretting there was no suitable sandpit on his property at Elstow as the ground is too flat and there is no quantity of metal available. Cr. Strange expressed a contrary opinion, and moved that the Council approach Mr Clendon. for a pit at the end of Otway Road. -About half-an-acre would be sufficient. It was very necessary, in the interests of the settlers themselves, that the Council should have the. pit.—Agreed to. AN OTWAY REQUEST. ■Mr E. J.- Clendon drew the Council's attention to the bad state of the road near his farmhouse in Waitoa riding. Each winter a large quantity of ! water collects en the road making the | latter impassable. He offered to con--1 tribute towards the cost of opening ! a drain for a few chains round the junction of the two roads towards

the swamp. Cr. Strange thought that the request was a reasonable one. It was agreed that the matter be left in the hands of the engineer.to be attended to when labcur is available.

RESIGNATION OF FOREMAN. J. Fitzsimmons, foreman at Waikino, wrote resigning his position. Cr. Morgan moved that resignation be held over and the matter left to the engineer and chairman to attend to. NETHERTON ROAD. Cr Laughiin said that this road from the school to the river was in a bad way. The engineer also explained the position./ Cr. Keeling said that the heavy carting over the road should be stopped. It was decided to write a letter of protest against the action of the Public Works in this matter.

Cr. Keeling moved that 50 yards of metal be procured for repairs to this road.

Seconded by Cr. Laughlin and carried.

METAL FOR NETHERTON.

On Cr. Laughlin's motion it was decided that 20 loads of metal be procured. OUTFALL DRAIN, ROBINSON'S ROAD. Cr. Robinson said that this drain had been deepened and he moved that the Council approach the Railway Department to deepen the culvert under this line. —Agreed to. MAIN ROAD, KARANGAHAKE. Cr. McGuire moved that the engineer get 58 yards of first-class metal and also put on an extra man for three months. Cr. Keeling seconded and said that he would like to see the road concreted. —The motion was carried.

MANGAITI RIDING.

It was decided on Cr. Johnson's motion that an extra surfaceman be put on for a month.