PIAKO COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17687, 16 April 1929, Page 11

PIAKO COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. BUSINESS OF THE MONTH. Cr W. H. Lowry presided at the meeting of the Piako County Council held at Te Aroha on Monday. Crs H. Magill, W. C. Kennedy, F. W. Walters, W. H. Emett, E. Whitechurch, W. McLean, and W. F. Stark were also present. Blackberry. A letter was read from the Department of Agriculture in regard to the spread of blackberry in the district, and staling the matter had been referred to the District Superintendent, Auckland, who would report. Maukoro Deviation. F. G. Hart, Waitoa, wrote relative to the new road through Section 13, Maukoro Estate. He stated that lie was prepared to sell a strip of land, 26ft wide, at £3O per acre. It .was decided to accept Mr Hart’s offer in order to complete the road as required at Maukoro deviation. Herriesvllle Drain. The Railway Department advised that the drainage of the ballast pit at Herriesvllle was being done by means of an open drain, and asking if the council would agree to contribute towards the cost.—The council resolved to contribute up to £ls. . Miscellaneous Matters. W. B. Frost and Co., Manawaru, were granted permission to erect a kerbside petrol pump. Regarding an application from the Cemetery Trustees for a contribution of £2O towards the upkeep of the cemetery .it .was decided, after a lengthy discussion to contribute the sum of £2O this year. The clerk reported that the tender of J. Meharry of £520 had been accepted for the erection of the Piako West river bridge.

Waitoa Drainage.

A letter was read from the Waitoa Drainage Board relative to petitions for snagging the Waitoa River. These were now in circulation and would be presented to the Minister of Lands, who had agreed to inspect the river shortly on the occasion of his visit to the district.

Waitoa Drain, The Waitoa Drainage Board wrote in regard to No. 7 road, stating that the road drain had been deepened, and that the council could proceed with thte construction of the proposed, culvert at an early date. —The engineer was instructed to proceed with the culvert referred to.

Valley Road Loan.

Correspondence was received from the Government Loans Board notifying that the council’s application for sanction to raise a Valley Road loan was considered on March 20; It had been decided to refer the application back, as the Board is of opinion that the special rating area should be altered to exclude the .major portion of G. L. Laird’s property and to include a portion of Walhekau No. 4. Cr. Kennedy did not consider the portion of Laird’s property should be exempted, as it would receive benefit from the road. It might be reasonable to exclude the portion of the property facing a metalled road, but not that part with the frontage to the at present unmetalled road. Cr McLean considered the Loans’ Board wished to exclude the Seddon Road portion. Cr Kennedy said he did not think that any settler should attempt to evade any liability in roading matters. Cr. Walters explained that the Loans’ Board had a representative here who went over the ground, and reported on the information received.

It was decided to ask the Loans’ Board to define the area suggested to be exempted.

A Deputation.

Messrs Jones and Jensen, Tahuna, attended as a deputation to request the council to accept the dedication of Jackson’s Road. —It was decidod to accede to the request.

Heavy Traffic Damage. Crs (Magill and Emett referred to some thousands of loads of metal having been carted over the Piako County roads to the Matamata County, thus occasioning damage. It was decided to assess the damage with a view to its being made good by those who occasioned It.

Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr n. IT. Horner) reported on work carried out during the month. The report further mentioned that contracts had been let for construction Maukoro deviation bridges (two) and West Road bridge. Tenders had been called for 'construction of shoulders To Aroha-Waharoa Main Highways, cleaning drains Waiorongo-mai-Maungakawa Road and Shaftesbury drain, and for metalling McCabe’s Road. Eastport Road bridge reconstruction had been proceeding satisfactorily, 10 concrete piles having been driven, two caps placed, and truss constructed. Mangawera Road, Tahuna Riding, had been inspected with the riding member, preparatory to taking over of three mile , section constructed by Public Works Department and negotiations had been entered into for possible further improvements there. A further length of Morrinsville-Waharoa Main Highways in Kiwitahi Riding had had levels taken preparatory to proposals being formulated for sealing there. A considerable number of tests of sand and gravel from all over the county had been made this month for ascertaining suitability for concrete. A consignment of some 22,000 super feet good kauri timber had been purchased from Crown mines, Karangahake, and delivery taken. The maintenance of roads to a reasonable degree of smoothness had increased considerably during the past 12 months, and at times the traffic had corrugated and worn the roads faster than/Could be coped with. In order to enable Ihe council to meet with the demands, the engineer considered it necessary that a further power grader should be purchased, arid that a. light lorry should be obtained for use at the Morrinsville end of the county.