COUNTY AFFAIRS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXV, Issue 8903, 11 April 1936, Page 3

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF OKINEMURI COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Ohincmuri County Council was held in Paeroa on Thursday, the chairman, Mr W. Marshall, presiding. There were also present: Crs. Colin Mason (deputy-chairman), A. R. Robinson, J. J. Shallue, G. Hoye, J. B. Morris. T. A. Barrett and W. G. Thornton. The county clerk, Mr A A. Jenkinson, and the engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw, were in attendance.

WORKS FOR RELIEF PARTIES Road works in the county that were suitable for relief labour were suggested as follows by the county engineer, in response to an inquiry from Mr Grant: Reformation and metalling Sweetman’s road, Waikino (1 mile 20 chains); metalling Baxter's road, Waihi (1 mile 25 chains); widening parts of Waihi-Whanga-mata road (14 miles); metalling Trig road, Waihi (G 5 chains); metalling Matangia road, Waihi (29 chains); Bedford’s road, Waikino (GO chains); Waitoki road, Mangaiti (1 mile 4S chains); Hollidge’s and Hollis’ road, Waikino (22 chains); Robinson’s road, Waikino (22 (chains); metalling Morrison’s road, Komata (2G chains); Bayliss' road, Waihi (22 chains); Corbett's road, Waihi (35 chains); Morton’s and Leopold’s road, Waihi (1 mile 10 chains); Aorangi road, Paeroa (35 chains); Mathers’ road, Waihi (30 chains); Ngatitangata road, Waihi (1 mile); Pukewera road, Waihi (70 chains). The list of works was approved. FLOOD DAMAGE GRANTS

Provision by the Treasury in respect of assistance to private individuals who had suffered damage to their properties by flood was the subject of a circular from Mr Grant. The provisions have already been published.

The communication was received THE McGREGOR FUND

Active steps to encourage donations towards the Mayor of Auckland’s McGregor Fund were asked to be taken by the council in a letter from the chairman, Sir George Richardson, and the secretary, Mr L. W. Swan.

It was decided to make a contribution of £2 2s and to open a subscription list in the county office.

WORK APPRECIATED Appreciation of the council’s action in reconstructing the road between Paeroa and To Aroha was expressed in a letter from the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce. The communication was received and appreciation of the letter was expressed.

REQUEST FOR REPAIRS The Waikino swfng-bridge committee sent a cheque for £2O, its contribution towards the re-erection of the Waikino swing-bridge. The committee also drew attention to the state of the track from the railway line to the water-race and asked the council either to make repairs or allow the work to be done by members of the committee, provided the council found the timber necessary to re-form the steps. It was decided to do the work as soon as possible. MINE ROAD BLOCKED

That storm and flood damage which had caused heavy slips and washouts on the road within about a mile of its ifroperty, so that it was impossible to get a vehicle through to the mine, with the result that serious inconvenience had been caused, was stated in a letter from the received of the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., Mr S. Ait,ken, who asked that essential repairs to the road be carried out. “As matters stand,” added Mr Aitken, “we will be compelled to close the mine down and dismiss all the men.”

It was stated that the engineer had the matter in hand.

BRIDGE OR FORD? Wlieher Murphy’s bridge, destroyed during the February flood, should be extended and repaired, or whether in its place a concrete ford across the Hikutaia stream should bo constructed was asked by the assistantengineer to the Public Works Department at Paeroa, Mr A. P. Grant. The engineer said he did not think the bridge should lie re-built on the same site. The cost probably would be about £IOOO, when approaches were considered.

The matter was left for report by the chairman and riding members. ENGINEER’S REPORT

Work on main highways was referred to as follows by the engineer in his report for the period ended April 9 th:—-Hamilton-Paeroa: The sealing of this section was completed at the end of last week, the railway crossing at Cadman’s being the only part not done. The realignment of this part was proceeding, but because of the camp closing has been left in the meantime. Paeroa-llikutaia: No further sealing has been done on this length, but the contractor has returned and is preparing to make a start. Hikutaia-Netherton Ferry: The metal authorised at last meeting lias been delivered, and the length is much improved. Hubbard’s road: Additional surfacing has been added. Pokeno-Waihi: The restoration of flood damage was continued up to the time of the breaking up of the camps. The contractor has commenced sealing the section from the Paeroa borough boundary to the top of Turner’s | hill. The loose carpet of metal on this length is being gathered and transferred to the Raliu detour, and It is now certain that this deviation will have to be kept open during the winter and will require a good deal of this class of metal so that the grader can do the maintenance efficiently. The widening opposite the Waikino battery has been continued, and surfacing metal has been delivered between the Golden Dawn mint) and the Waihi borough. WaihiTauranga: This length is in good order, additional maintenance metal having been supplied this period.

WORKS IN RIDINGS After staling that, the urgent requirements in all ridings had been given attention Mr Shaw reported on independent ridings as follows: Kainianawa: Several roads have received maintenance metal and others are slill requiring it. Drain cleaning is under way, a gang of men being at work there for the past fortnight. Paeroa: The cleaning of drains in the lower area of this riding is also under way.

Waitekauri: The clearing of slips on the Golden Cross road is being

done by the settlers. The bridge on this road reported on at last meeting has been reconditioned. On the Whangamala road most of the slips have been cleared, and at the washout on Bjerring’s deviation the rock lias been blasted back to provide for a full width of roadway. Waikino: Repairs to the approaches of the bridge at the Owharoa falls have been completed and the washout below the water race made good. Extensive repairs to the Waikino water supply pipe line have been done and additional new material is required to put the line in good repair. The total cost of this, including labour, is £l5O. Waihi: M.st of the roads in this riding arc in need of maintenance, and so as to facilitate the output of (his the crushing plant has been shifted aim is being re-erected in the Waihi Borough Council’s quarry. Paeroa water supply: The I Mill road supply has been extended along Gerrand’s road so as to give a service to the Government small farms. Plant: All plant is working satisfactorily.

The report was adopted, and the engineer and the riding member were asked to report on the Waikino water supply.