COUNTY MATTERS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8450, 8 April 1933, Page 2

COUNTY MATTERS

MEETING OF OHINEMURi COUNCIL WAIHI RIDING WORKS THE WHANGAMATA ROAD The first monthly meeting of the Ohinomuri County Council for the now financial year was held at Pacroa on Thursday afternoon, the chairman, Mr W. Marshall, presiding. There were also present; Crs. Colin Mason (deputy-chairman), M. A. Ellis, W. G. Thornton, G. Hoye (Waihi), T. A. Barrett, J. B. Morris and J. J. Shallue, the count yclerk, Mr A. A. Jenkinson, and the engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw.

EXPENDITURE OF GRANT The secretary of the Whangamata Settlers’ Association, Mr S. W. Chiles, wrote asking that the £450 grand made for the Waihi-Whanga-mata road he expended on the Pharetoa hill section as it was the most urgent work. The chairman reported having replied advising that the council had no knowledge of such a grant having been made. The sum of £SOO had been granted the Public Works Department for relief work and as this would be insufficient, a further grant may have been made. The expenditure would be under the control of the department, and the assistant-en-gineer at Paeroa, Mr A. P. Grant, had advised that his intention was to push on with the metalling of the low-lying portions which cut up' quickly in wet weather. To Or. Mason, the chairman replied that it was the intention of the department to do all the necessary work eventually. The sending of the communication was confirmed.

SHORTAGE OF “WORKERS Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P. for Thames, forwarded a letter which he had received from the Minister of Public Works relative to the relief work on the road. It had been expected in November when the camp was established that about seven miles of metalling would be done this season, stated the communication. However, single men were not available to keep the camp at full strength, as was shown by the fact that of the 62 men sent there since the new year 3 2 had left of their own accord. The importance of the metalling was recognised by the department and )t aws doing its best to fill the camp, The letter was received. NO MONEY AVAILABLE Repairs to Ratarua road, Waihi. were sought by Mr P. Magnussen, who stated that the upper end was in a very bad state. Mr Magnussen said about two years ago the council had sent relief workers, but the only parts the men had touched were those which could be driven over. He had done a lot of work on the road himself, and ho did not consider that the council had treated him fairly. The writer added that he understood that the county had a sum of money for metalling the road, but he thought it should be formed up to his place before any metal was put

Cr. Mason said there was no doubt Mr Magnussen was greatljl’ handicapped, but the question was how could be be given any h?lp at present.

The chairman said it was impossible to givot such roads any attention until the main cream routes were attended to. It was decided to explain the position to Mr Magnussen and to inform him that it was regretted that the council could not see its way clear to do anything to the road in the meantime. REDUCTION OF RENT Application for a reduction of rent on the Te Aoharama and Komala Reefs special quartz claims to 2s lid an acre for a period of twelve months mas made by the Golden Crown Gold Mining Company, through its solicitor, Mr C. N. O’Neill. Mr O’Neill stated that the company had recently acquired the claims from Mr M. J. Houlihan and had three men employed on the Te Aoharama claim prospecting the now reef which had been discovered on the surface, as well as in the older workings. The company’s representative in London was arranging the necessary capital to open tip and re-timber the old workings, and for the erecting of a crushing plant. It would, however, take some considerable time before any work on a large scale could he done on the claims, and in the meantime a reduction of rent would be of material assistance.

REQUEST DECLINED

The application was granted. Favourable consideration of his request tor a bri,dgo over the creek that runs into Hie Ohinemuri River close to the Owharoa railway station was sought by Mr S. A, Shaw, of Walking. Mr Shaw said his syndicate had taken up a mining lease on the .south hank of the river, hut the bridge which had, formerly spanned the creek had been carried away by flood six years ago. A not very expensive structure would be required. The request was declined.

1 SITE FOR A BATTERY ; The Commissioner of Crown Lands i at Auckland (Mr K, M, Graham) - acknowledged rccept of the council's i representations concerning the grant- - ing of an area at Te Aroha for a bati tery site and advised that as yet no j application had been received, but that the council’s views had been noted. The communication was received. The Raeroa Chamber of Commerce wrote on the same subject, advising that a meeting of local bodies would he Held at Paeroa on April 20th to consider further action in the matter of protecting the Waihou River. It asked that the council be represented. and Dial it consider making a contribution towards the expenses which had been incurred. Cr. Barrett was appointed the council’s delegate to attend the meeting. STRUCK OFF REGISTER The mining registrar at Raerog 1 forwarded a schedule of mining ’ privileges which had been struck off the register ami asked that, the council request the Minister of Mines to

treat hte rents as irrecoverable. The request was granted.

GRANT TO SCHOOL The secretary of the Waikino branch of the Waihi School of Mines wrote acknowledging receipt of the council’s donation of £5 towards the maintenance of the institution. The letter was received. THE RAGWORT MENACE Replying to the council’s representations concerning the growth of ragwort on Crown land the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland advised that this was a matter for the Department of Agriculture, which administered a special grant for the purpose. He forwarded a lithograph with tlie request that the council indicate thereon areas of Crown land which it considered should be treated. The plan was referred to the engineer and riding members for further attention, the chairman remarking that it appeared a lot of the land complained of was held for mining or garicultural purposes and the tenants would therefore be the responsible parties. PAID WITH RELUCTANCE “It is with extreme reluctance that I am paying your county rates at all,” wrote a Mangaiti riding settler when forwarding a cheque for £64 17s sd. “This is mainly because I consider that it is most unjust that farm lands should continue to be saddled with this rate when the wear and attrition of the county roads is due to motor-traffic.” The letter concluded by asking the council to take steps to bring about the derating of farm land. The chairman said the position was not quite as stated by the ratepayer as a lot of the attrition was caused by water. Motor-vehicles were not the only offenders. He considered that the writer should be written to, however, and informed that the council was strongly in favour of the principle that the user of the road should pay. This course was agreed to. MOTOR REGULATIONS “The Motor Vehicles Regulations, 1933, are just issued and they are of interest to local bodies,” stated the inspector, Mr J, W. Johnstone, in the course of his report. “Regulation 15 (speed) says: 'No person shall drive any motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 40 miles an hour over any road not having a concrete, tar or bituminous surface.’ Regulation 16 (traffic signs) says there arc six signs—A, B, C, D, E, and F—and the size, form and colour are specified and the local authority is responsible for their erection and maintenance. The new features arc class B (closely populated areas) and class C (indicating condition of load, bends, hills, side and crossroads, narrow bridges and loose metal). Two signs may be erected at a one-way bridge, one reading ‘Gone-way bridge’ and the other ‘One-way bridge. Please give way.’ ” The chairman referred to the large number of signs that had already been required by regulation. “There is another crop,” he said, “involving us probably in considerable more expense when we need every penny for works that urgently need doing. lam not sure that we should not adopt a policy of inactivity.” The matter was referred to the engineer for a report. TREES FOR FIREWOOD Permission to cut dead rata trees in the reserve off Rahu road tor firewood, as this work was his only means of earning a living, was sought by Mr B. E. Howse, of Waitewheta, The request was granted, Or, Morris’ offer to supervise the removal of any trees and to see that the privilege was not abused being accepted with thanks.

INTEREST REDUCTION Details of the Local Authorities' Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Act, 1932-33, were received from the Public Trustee, The matter was referred to the county clerk for his attention. COUNTIES’ ASSOCIATION Advice was received that there would be a meeting of the executive of the Counties’ Association at Wellington on April 21st. Remits were to bo forwarded by April 14tli. The communication was received.