THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18383, 3 July 1917, Page 1

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

• ♦- TUESDAY, JULY 3.

Present': Mr R. W. Bagnall (chair. mm), CounciLbrs Deeble, Alley, Adams, Strebton, Law, McCormick, Cooper, G.axton jund Bakor. „ ; Ihe minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved. Among the inward correspondence were the fallowing letters.: — From Thames Technical Superintendent, acknowledging with thanks receipt of cheque for £5 as donation bo school fund.—Received, and Or. Baker appointed a member of the advisory committee of the Technical School. From Minister of Internal Affairs re funeral and buried expenses of members of the Expeditionary ;Force who die prior to their discharge Urom such [orc^, and asking if Council controlled a cemetery, and ii so whether they would, I from ii patriotic point of view be prepared to supply burial 'plots for such soldiers free, of cost, und on what conditions, If any, and also; if the Council"" would later permit the erection by the Government of suitable headstones or memorial.—lt was decided to write to the Minister, and tell him Council would fall Tn with his suggestion.. From Thames Harbour Board ? acknowledging receipt of Council's letter applying for permission to remove shingle from 'the Shortland Creek channel for the use of the approaches to tr>e Ngaitca bridge, end asking the board to -contribute towards cost } stating tbtit the Council could remove live hundred loads of shingle from the piasc indicated in Council's letter ? and by way of subsidy the Board would waive the JRoyalty of 6d per yard .chargeable for the removal ofl shingle,—Referred -to engineer. ' ' From the Minister of Marine, stating, the department was in lereipt of (jemn. oil's letter stating that the Council had decided to support th© application for assislance made by fishermen, and asking for legislation to provide for adyiiiice to the fishing industry, saying that he hoped a Bill on the lines of "The Fruit Preserving and Industry Act 1913," to help the fishing industry, would be passed during the coming session of Parliament.—Received,

From Rotofua Chamber' of Commerce re utilisation of prison, labour on the main arterial roods of the Dominion/ stating that the whole of the physically fit prisoners were employed on useful productive work.—Received.

From Lnnds Department, re Council's enquiry regarding a pound site nea,r Turua. saying th;it Section 25, Block 11, Waibou had been gazetted for such a purpose, the area being one acre. —Repcrt to recent deputation that waited on the Council.

From Winstone Ltd., referring to contract 169, Waitakaruru Stream Road, for which Council had called tenders last December, but later advised that the matter was postponed for some time and asking for further advice,— Received. Information to be given.

From Commissioner of Grown Lands, re land for water supply purposes, informing Council that no arrangement had been made for the setting apart of land for Avater supply purposes at Waitakaruru or Pokopokorau.—Received.

From District Health Officer, re insanitary condition of saleyarda at Hikutiiia. —Recommendation of officer adopted.

From Timaru Borough Council, forwarding copy of resolution r© examin. ing motor 3rivers and the issue of yearly licenses to competent drivers of motor old 1 water course.—Engineer to report.

From settlers, Whangamata, drawing Council's attention to tho state of tho roads and tracks in the district, and asking for Council's immediate attention.— Engineer to report

1 From Drainage Reference Board, forwarding minutes of last meeting, and asking Council to appoint a delegate. - Received.

From District Manager of N.Z- Railways, re drain in Wharepoa road, informing the Council that application was under consideration.—Received.

From Minister of Lands re Pipiroa ferry, saying that no waste would accrue frqm Council calling .tenders and plans, and' that nothing • could be done until after 'Pajrliame!niti.~Engine©r to supply neoessujy plans as soon as possible.

From T. R. Boardman re clearing willows from the Hikutaia creek. —Crr Law said it wofald be a benefit to the Council to ha;ve the willows, removed and tne people should be notified to remove tnem. ;—.The chairman moved that the engineer report 0 any obstruction to the flow of water was caused, if so direct him to notify the settlers to clear the willows." —Camed.

From 11. Watt and settlers, re roads and tracks, Whangamata.—Cr. Adami: The 'tracks are very bad and should be upwncd up. In some places they are impassable. Also ihe Council gets a certain amount of revenue from the goldfields, and prospectors won't go ther© if there are no tracks. No goods can be got through ab present. —The chairman moved that the engineer report.—Cr. Adams moved that the engineer be instructed to put on a few extra men in the riding, and keep the tracks open.— The motion of the chairman was carried.

From Kauri Timber Co., re tlood damage to Mangakirikiri bridge, and the . water race, re compensation for damage to the bridge, and pointing out that they were not responsible for the damage to the water race.—Cr. Law said he was quite satisfied they had a, liability with regard to the waiter race, and in meating them half way he was of opinion they were very libtrally met.—Or. Law moved and Cr, Claxton seconded that the matter be put into the hands of th« Gj'unul's solicitor.—Carried. From Department of Lands and Sir. vey, re Kopu ferry site, saying the question of site was outside the .Commission. -—Received. , From Commissioner of Crown Lands re Puriri river timber floating.—Received. From Secretary of Marine Department re Kopu planSj saying i>he plans had been delayed owing to the absence of the Min_ isitek of Marine. Now he had returned the matter would be expedited.—Received From T. W. P. Williams, Kopu, re drain at Kopu 4 and asking for a crossing to his dwelling.—Th© chairman moved; and Cr. Deeble seconded, that the, engineer attend to 'the clearing of the drain, and Mr Williams informed that the making ol the crossing from the road must be done by him.—Cr. Law moved an amendment, and Cr. McCormick seconded, that the maMer T>e iefi in the hands of the engineer, and to" give Mr Williams assistance.—The amendment waa carried by 6 to. 3. Crs. 'Adams, Stretton, Law, McCormick, Cooper and Claxton for, and Crs. Deeble, Alley and Baker against*. From R. Hardman re horses and ca-U tlo straying on -the rood ait Paniwai.— Referred to Mr Maxwell. From W. J. Troughtomi drawing the Councils attention to the state of the Wharepoft road.—Cr. Alley thought the willows were doing much harm, a:id should be removed.—The matter was referred to the engineer to report. From vV. H Hume, xsking what Council proposed to do to prevent the overflow of Puru Creek running out of the old waiter course. —Engineer to report. From Mr Williams, senr., Puriri, asking Council to either repair the bridge or give them the means of crossing the creeks afc Puriri.—Received. GENERAL BUSINESS. The Board of Works' report, the Finance Committee's! report, and subcommittee's report were received ana adopted. Or. Law moved that the footpath an tha side of Karaka creek, washed away by flood, be reformed.—Carried. Tne tender of W. Buckthought for the Matatoki road >drain mrth was accepted at 5s 9d per chain. ' FINANCE. Accounts to the amount of j81.76'4 i'/s 4d wew passed for payment. DEPUTATIONS. . A deputation consisting - of Messrs Johnston and Thorburn, c:f the Hauraki Drainage Uoard, waited on the Council re. bridges over ""roads necessary to facilitate draining of land. The cftaiirman moved that the engineer confer with Council's engineer and a report be submitted to the next meeting.- - Carried. ,

Mr lancers, < farmer, waataKaruru, waited on tHe Council stating that the Council's road waa flooding the farm, as increasing the height of the road had caused the water to go on to his farm. There were two drains and one outlet. Since he had been a' Waitakaruru he had built tliree bridges, but to no avail.-i The chairman said the Council would be prepared to assist him to bring the matter before ifie Government to devise some scheme whereby tho land might be freed from water.