THAMES COUNTY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17663, 14 August 1929, Page 5

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING GF COUNCIL.

ROUTINE BUSINESS TRANSACTED

TRAFFIC INSPECTION MATTERS.

The August meeting of the Thames County Council was held yesterday afternoon, when Mr IT. Lowe presided over Crs J. McCormick, A. Alley, W. Brunton, H. A. Cory-Wright, G. Cribb, D. Courtney and F. J. McMahon. Messrs J. Higgins (County engineer) and D. Mackay (County Clerk) were also in

Williamson Park,

In connection with .-Williamson Park at Whangamata, the Council decided to proceed with the dedication and to arrange for a survey of the site to be made.

Corner at Kopu

The trustees of the Williams etsate wrote that they had no objection to the Council making a roadway across the corner at Kopu, opposite the hotel, to the extent of 20ft. each way.

The Council decided to ease the curve at a cost of about £SO.

Kauaeranga Road

The settlers on the above road drew the Council’s attention to the very bad state of the road, and requested that something be done to improve it. Two settlers offered to keep the road in good order for 65 per cent, of ail rates paid by settlers on both sides of the creek, on condition that they receive the metal and .timber for repairs free.

The Clerk said that 65 per cent, of the rates would come to £43, but the settlers had subsequently said that they would require about 80 per cent, to cover the cost of the wdrk. The chairman: It would be worth all he’s asking. It’s only £53/12/-. Cr McCormick: It’s worth a trial.

Cr McCormick moved that the offer be accepted, the work‘to be done subject to the engineer’s' approval.

This was agreed to.

It was resolved to pay the amount quarterly on the certificate of the en-

gineer.

Shingle Wanted but Refused,

Mr L. H. Julian applied to the Council for permission to remove shingle on a royalty basis from the Coast foreshore. Cr McMahon: I’m a bit interested in that, and I’m right up against it. The beaches are bad enough now. Permission was refused.

Approach to Bridge

Mr J. Clark, Matatoki, asked for some metal to be placed on the approach to his bridge.

This was granted.

A simliar request was received from Mr E. Jamieson at Kopu for repairs to the new school road, which motorists used as a turning place., This also was granted..

Road at Maratoto. Mr G. W. Norton wrote that he intended to shift his boundary fence,

but by doing so it would block the road which ran through the property. The engineer was instructed to look into the matter.

Puriri Stream

The owners of land on the ’ south side of the Puriri Stream considered the erection of a proposed groyne on the northern bank would cause damage to their lands, and stated that they would claim for damage done. Cr Courtney said that the Public Works Department’s engineer had investigated the matter and suspended work in the meantime.

Pending his report, it was decided to receive the letter.

Royalty on Timber.

Mr A. A. Proudlock offered the Council a royalty of 3d per 100 ft on timber carted by him to the Puriri whai'f. . This offer was accepted, subject to a minimum of 70,000 ft.

No Help from Department. The Minister of Public Works wrote that though t,here was no doubt of the benefit which would accrue to the settlers by the deepening and widening of th e Matatoki outlet drain he could see no benefit to the Railway Department, and consequently no help could be expected from the Department. He considered that the settlers should finance the matter themselves.

The chairman said that he could not agree with the Minister. The previous Minister for Public Works had thought it was a necessity for the settlers, and considered that .the matter should not be allowed to drop. To the outlet was due much of' the flooding. Cr McCormick remarked that when first laid down the outlet was twice the size. Most of the flooding now came from that drain. The clerk said that there was an adverse report in the Public Works Department’s office at Paeroa.

Omahu Stream. The Council’s solicitor suggested that steps be taken to revoke the pro-

elamation declaring the Omahu stream and its tributaries bridge channels. It was resolved to request the solicitor to go ahead.

Valley Water Supply

The Government Loans Board notified that the Council’s application for £11,500 had been granted, but considered the estimates for excavating the trench required for the pipe line were on the low 'side. The Board also suggested the desirability of investigating the possibility of a water supply \from the Omahu stream.—Received.

Hill Road at Hikutaia.

Mr F. A. Hanlen requested repairs to a hill road leading to his property which was in a bad state. Part of the road was in the Ohinemuri County.

Mr Geo. Murphy wrote complaining of the state of the clay hill joining the Whangamata Road with the main Hikutaia-Maratoto Road. He stated that he had endeavoured to drain off the surplus water, but the road was now impassable. I-Ie asked for three and a half chains of metal to be placed on the road.

It was resolved to notify the writers of both this- and the previous' letter that the road was really in the Ohinemuri County, and that County should be approached by them.

Cr Brunton said that evidently Mr Murphy had got a car and wanted a better road. The matter brought forth some discussion as to the final destination of the rates from th e properties concerned.

Settlers Cannot Help

Messrs Fisher and Mackay, of Whangamata, notified the Council that they were not able to assist towards the cost of legalising the road access to their property, since they had been without an access ,for 7£ years, which had involved them in considerable expense. The letter was received. Rangihau Access Road.

The Public Works Department notified the Council that the Rangihau loan block access road,. which lies on the 'boundary of the Thames and Coromandel Counties, would be under the control of the Thames County Council.

This is the first branch road off the ■Tapu-Coroglen Road taken over by the County, and is khown as “Minifie’s Access Road.”

Traffic Inspectors Needed. The Main Highways Board wrote pointing out the necessity for each local body to appoint traffic inspectors to control th e operation of the heavy traffic regulations, and suggested that contiguous local bodies should combine to employ an inspector to cover all their districts.

In this connection the Ohinemuri County Council notified the Council that it viewed the suggestion with favour, and had suggested a conference of interested local bodies, consisting of the Paeroa Boorugh Council, Waihi Borough Council, Thames Borough Council, Tauranga Borough Council, Thames County Council, Hauraki Plains County Council, Tauranga County Council and Coromandel County Council. The chairman said that the Council had already got its own inspector. Cr Courtney said that the work was not carried out. On the County’s own work lorries licensed to carry one ton were carrying 2ft yards of shingle. The chairman said he was satisfied that one man could not possibly cover the whole district.

» The Clerk said that there was scarcely a lorry in the County which was not carrying more than its proper load. The chairman asked why the inspector was not doing his job. Cr McMahon: What about the. Coast Road? It’s only a racing track. There is never any sign of an inspector down there.

Cr Courtney asked what was the regulation speed on the main highways for three-ton lorries. He knew that lorries were travelling at 45 miles •per hour on the highway, and had, in fact, been in one when it was going 54 miles per hour.

The chairman: Then why didn’t you report it ?

Members generally expressed the opinion that the inspector was not strict enough, and it was decided to, as one member phrased it, “shake him up!”

Sign-Posting Roads. The A.A.A. offered to supply danger signs to the County, and ’stated that its object was to have a uniform system of danger signs throughout the Dominion. It asked the Council’s co,-operation in the matter. It was decided to thank the Association for its offer.

The chairman paid a tribute to the work of the A.A.A., and moved that the Council co-operate heartily with the Association. Several spots were mentioned on the coast Road and near Puriri.

Subsequently the Council went into committee to discuss a number of matters.