THAMES COUNTY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17764, 11 December 1929, Page 5

THAMES COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

HIGHWAY MATTERS DISCUSSED.

COASTAL 'BUS LICENCE. The December meeting of the Thames County Council was held yesterday, Mr. Henry Lowe (the County Chairman) presiding over Councillors D. Courtney, G. H. Cribb, H. CoryWright, W. Brunton, A. Alley, J. McCormick, F, J. McMahon.

The County Engineer (Mr. Jas'Higgins) and the Clerk (Mr. D. Mackay) were also present. . 1 Cannot Lift Subsidy.

i The Main Highways. Board wrote cancelling a subsidy of, £llOO for the Kopu main highway. This caused some discussion, the chairman explaining that as the Council had not enough money to lift the subsidy the Board had diverted it to some other body which could lift it. On the motion of the chairman and Cr, Courtney it was decided to refer the matter hack to the Public Works Department engineer for a fuller explanation. Subsidy for Otanui Mines Road.

The Minister of Mines wrote the Council stating that after consideration of the Council’s request lie had decided to grant the sum of £lO subsidy on the reconditioning of the upper Hape Road for miles towards the Otanui Mine,

This was received*' Offensive Trade.

The Health Officer, Mr. G. C. White wrote the Council stating that he considered that the Northern Export Co. at Totara were not carrying out the conditions of their licence and were allowing a. nuisance to be created by the escape of smellv liquid at their shed. He requested tlie Council to call upon the company to show cause why they should not he prosecuted for breaches of the Health Act, Sections 54 and 55.

It wrs resolved to forward a copy to the offending finn and instruct them to comply with the Health. Department’s regulations. 1 Another, Offensive Trade.

John Doherty applied for a. renewal of his boiling down licence. This was granted as from 31/3/29. “Another offensive trade,” remarked a councillor. “Hope he’s got a new brand of scent for race day,” said another. An Unsafe Culvert. Mr. A. E. V. Denize, of Matatoki, drew the Council” s attention to the state of the culvert opposite his farm, and stated that it was in an unsafe condition. He offered to do the labour of installing a culvert if the Council would provide the necessary pipes. The engineer stated that he was attending to the matter. Devcich’s Bridge. The Public Works Department notified the Council that as soon as the legalisation process of the road approaches to Devcich’s bridge up the Kauaerenga were completed the Department Avais ready to proceed with the work of the erection of the bridge. The clerk said that the plan was in the hands of the Public Works Department and that any delay was theirs, not the County's.

Ragvyort at Puriri.

Mr. Colin Kelly, of Puriri, forwarded an invitation to the Council to pay a visit of inspection to the Puriri Valley for the purpose of seeing the spread of ragwort there. He stated that He also wished the Council to include in its party the Inspector for Noxious Weeds, Mr. H. R. Denize, and stated that on one farm alone' there \vere hundreds of thousands of plants in bloom which constituted a menace to the farmers of the district. Or. Cribb moved that the invitation of Mr. Kelly be accepted, Crs. Courtney, Cribb and the fchairman visit the place with Mr. Denize. Cr. Cribb said that four years ago he had stopped' and burnt ragwort on a neighbour’s property and was alive to the seriousnes of the portion. Cr. Courtney agreed. He said that it was a serious matter and suggested that if the Government did not take drastic action the Council should do bo. The district' was partly ruined already by the pest which was spreading fast.

Offer for Corbett's Road.

Mr. J. F. Corbett, of Hikutaia, notified the Council that he was prepared to purchase the land which was comprised in the portion of Corbett’s Road recently closed under the Act in conformity with the conditions and the price laid down by the Council. The clerk said that the matter would soon be completed.

Matatoki Drains.

The councillor for the riding, Mr. W. Brunton, notified the Council that the Matatoki Drainage Board had met and had decided to recommend that the same rates as those which obtained last year should be struck. The Board also stated that the question of obtaining the sendees of the dragline dredge from the Public Works Department for the purpose of cleaning out the creek had been deferred until after a meeting of ratepayers, which would be held in the near future. The clerk r “That matter was dealt with this morning” (apparently in the Finance Committee).

Williamson's Deviation.

Mr. Philip Williamson, oT Whangamata, informed the Council that he had extended his offer of the land for Williamson’s deviation to the Government for a further term at the previous figure. He considered that it was not right that such an essential bit of work should hold up the utility of a road upon which thousands of pounds had been spent owing to the difference between the Public Works Department and the County. He also inquired what progress was being made in connection with Williamson’s Reserve, which he had offered some time ago. Cr. Cory-Wright asked if the survey of the reserve could be expedited. The Chairman said that the Council had done everything it could.

It was decided to write the Lands Department. Cr. Cory-Wright remarked that the Council could do no more in regard to the deviation. It was certainly a wretched bit of road, but the riding had no nftjney.