FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 606, 8 February 1921, Page 6

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Concluded from Last Issue.) Balance-sheet. The Audit Department returned the balance-sheet for the year and for the half year ended March 31, 1920. duly certified, also the Pukekohe Drainage Board’s balance-sheet. —Received. Bridge Wanted. Mr. W. H. Colbeck, Awhitu, wrote requesting the Council to erect a bridge over the tidal creek to give access to sections owned by him and by Mr. Alex. Campbell.—Referred to Cr. Mellsop and the engineer to inspect and report on at next meeting.

Kerikeri Quarry. In connection with the permission given to the Papakura Town Board to remove stone from the Kerikeri quarry, the engineer was instructed to see that the quarry was opened up to his satisfaction. It was also decided that in. the event- of the metal being carted over the county roads, that any damage done be repaired by the Town Board. Happy Valley Road. Mr. Geo. Ross, Happy Valley, drew the Council’s attention to the state of the Happy Valley Road, and requested it to be repaired befoi-e the winter. —Left to Cr. Heald and the engineer to inspect and deal with. Creamery Road, Hunua. Mr, F. S. Hirst, Hunau, urged the Council to complete the Creamery Road, Hunua,—The clerk said he believed there was an unexpended grant available for the road.—Left to the engineer and Cr. Heald to deal with. Karaka Point Road. Mr, C. Hellier urged that the road from Urquhart’s to Karaka Point be opened up. He promised to assist with the formation work. jA letter requesting the same was received from Mr. E. W. Boulton. —Referred to Or. Charles and the engineer to attend to. IVlauku Creek.

Mr. E. Gillon, Mauku, requested that the usual notices be served by the Council on property owners compelling the cleaning of obstructions in the Mauku Creek. He also asked when the Tramway Road was going to be formed up as the settlers in the vicinity thereof were anxious to have the work done.—On the motion of the chairman, the clerk was instructed to serve the required notices, and in connection with the Tramway Road to reply that the matter was receiving the attention of the engineer. fflangatangi Bridge. The county solicitor forwarded the necessary agreement for execution in connection with the erection of the Mangatangi bridge, between the Franklin and Waikato Counties. The cost of construction, maintaining and repairing is to be borne by the respective Councils in equal shares, the Franklin County to erect the bridge and to have subsequent control thereof.—-Received. A copy of the agreement is to be forwarded to the Waikato County Council. A Rillangatawhari Road. A request to have the Caies Road giving access to his property was made by Mr. A. H. Jepps, Maungatawhiri. —The engineer reported that he and Cr. Dean had the matter in hand. Application for Permit. i An application for a building permit to the Pokeno Hall on the qld site was made by the Pokeno Hall trustees. —The clerk stated that the matter was one for the Board of Trade to deal with, as the Council had only authority to issue building permits for the erection of dwellings and necessary farm houses. He had replied accordingly and had forwarded an application form to be duly executed and returned, which would be sent to the Board of Trade for its approval or otherwise.

A Generous Offer. Mi’. J. Wilson, Waiuku, offered up to £SO on a £1 for £1 basis, towards the cost of work required on the road leading to his property.—The offer was accepted with thanks and •the necessary work authorised. A Taurangaruru Road. Mr. A. McEwen, Waiuku, urged upoen the Council the necessity of opening up the road leading to his property at Taurangaruru.-—The clerk reported that on September 14 he wrote Mr McEwan stating that the Council was prepared to expend up to £IOO if the settlers who would : benefit by the work would contribute a. similar amount. The engineer reported that to make a road into his •property for vehicular traffic would cost approximately £2OO. No advice had been received as to whether the settlers wore prepared to contribute as suggested. It was proposed to lay off the road according to a survey made. The chairman said that the

x’oad was a boundary one between his and Awhitu riding. He agreed to contribute £SO if Mr Short, then member for Awhitu, would do the same. This he agreed and Mr. Short said he believed the settlers would give the time, which was equivalent to money. —The clerk’s reply was approved. Peter’s Bridge, Giaua. The Otaua Drainage Board advised that it was not prepared to pay half cost of erecting Peter's bridge, Otaua, and approaches thereco, and withdraws former offers in connection with the bridge.—The chairman said that some time ago the Board received some money to clean and widen the creek. In order to do the work it required raising the bridge, also widening. The Council agreed to pay half cost, if tire Board would contribute the balance. As far as present needs were concerned the bridge was ample. Subsequently the Drainage Board met and agreed to contribute one-third, of the cost. The Council would not entertain the offer but wanted half cost. The bridge would cost about £2OO, and he had succeeded in obtaining £IOO from the Government for the work. This would mean that each local body would contribute only a quarter of the actual cost. The timber was on the ground in readiness for the job. It was the Otaua Drainage Board’s wish that th&LCouncil decided to have a new bridge with 20'ft span erected. In the interests of the district the Council had gone to the expense of endeavouring to assist the Drainage Board and now it turns the Council’s offer down. The letter was received and the engineer''was instructed to inspect the bridge to see if it was safe for present requirements.

Waitang! Quarry She. Mr. Chas. W. Morten, Waiuku, offered the Council 11% acres of quarry site at Waitangi Falls, Waiuku,., for £I2OO. He estimated that the quarry contained about 300,000 yards of metal.—The chairman said the Council was not in a position to buy land, but it could take the metal on the royalty basis.—On his motion, the clerk was instruteed to reply stating the Council was not prepared to entertain the offer. Rfiiranda-iyiangaiaiigi Road. The Council’s attention was drawn to the condition of the Miranda-Man-gatangi Road, and to the temporary bridge over the Miranda stream by Mr. R. G. Findlay, Miranda, who requested both matters be attended to. —Left to Cr. Dean and the engineer to deal with. Sandspit Road. The Waiuku Town Board signified its willingness to contribute half cost of the work on Sandspit Road, the cost being estimated at £l2oo.—The clerk said it was proposed to raise a loan and the settlers had applied to have a rating area defined.—On the motion of the chairman the clerk was instructed to forward a letter of thanks.

The meeting adjourned at 11.15 p.m. and was resumed at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Falls Road, Hunua. Mr, Arthur Pratten, Hunua, complained of being pestered with tourists to the Hunua Falls, who damaged his crops. Mr. Pratten offered sufficient land for a road if the Council fenced it.—Left to Cr.. Heald and the engineer to interview Mr. Pratten and complete arrangements for the load. iWoumaukai Road. The matter of attending to necessary work on Moumoukai Road was left to Cr. Heald and the engineer to deal with. Cr. Lawry urged that Bell’s, Donnelley’s and Fox’s Roads, Ratnarama, be formed before the winter set in.— Left to Cr. Lowry and the engineer to inspect. The engineer was instructed to inspect Edge’s Road, Paparata, and report on it at next meeting.

Cr. Charles mentioned that something required to be done to the Runciman-Paerata Road and on his motion, seconded by Cr. Wilcox, the engineer is to inspect and see what work is necessary.

Cr. Cuff asked if anything further had been done regarding the 'Glen-brook-Tramway Road loan.—The clerk reported that a special rating area had not yet been formally approved, but it would be done as early as possieble.

The clerk reported that objections of ratepayers to being included in the area for the proposed loan in connection with the Dominion Road, Tuakau-Razorback connection, would be heard before the magistrate shortly.

Cr. Mellsop reported that recently the Pollolk Wharf caught on fire, but before much damage was done the fire was extinguished. He suggested having a notice erected prohibiting smoking on the wharf.—Left to Cr. Mellsop and the engineer to look into.'