MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 615, 11 March 1921, Page 5

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held on Tuesday, when there wex - e pi-e----sent: Crs. A. D. Bell (chah'man), S. W. House, F. M. Waters, S. A. Browne, J. M. Davies, F. Grainger, A. E. Hattaway the clerk (Mr E. Ash-ci-oft), and the engineer (Mr. W. J. Lopdell). Ranger’s Report. The ranger (Mr Noble Webstei-) reported having impounded during Feb-xuai-y 45 head of cattle and had collected driving fees amounting to 445. He also reported having prosecuted a ratepayer for assault and was successful, the Magistrate of the Onehunga Court convicting and fining the defendant £5 and costs, and warned him not to strike a ranger again.—The report was received.

Harbour Board Election. The returning officer for the combined disti-icts of Manukau and Franklin Counties (Mr. J. F. Deane) Pukekohe, intimated that an election, if necessary, for the appointment of a representative to the Harbdur Boai'd would be held on Wednesday, ■ April 27, and requested to know if polling places at Clevedon, East Tamaki, Howick, Mangere, Manurewa and Papatoetoe would meet with the Council’s requirements.—The clerk was instmcted to reply in the affirmative, IHaraetai Road. Messi’s G. Town and Keans ■ and others waited on the Council and urged that the roads in the Maraetai district be attended to befoi’e the winter sets in.-—The engineer and member for the Riding are to inspect to see what is required. Maraetai Wharf. The engineer was also instructed to inspect the Mai*aetai wharf, which is in a state of disrepaix*. A Manurewa Request. The Manui-ewa Town Board asked that the Council divert the grant of £SO, made towards the Reserve to Lupton’s l-oad, with a view of fui’ther improving the latter. It was pointed out that £225 of loan money allocated to Lupton’s Roacl had been spent on improving the road.—On the motion of Cr Davies, the request was acceded to.

Papakura River. Mr T. Clayton, Manurewa, urged that steps be taken to clear the Papakura river at the mouth of willows. —Left to the engineer and Riding member to attend to. Request Declined. In reply to the request made by the settlers of Wiri that a stable be erected at the Wiri station, the District Engineer, N.Z. Railways (Mr A. C. Koch), stated that the department could not accede to the application* and explained that the erection of buildings in the vicintiy of public level crossings was undesirable from, the Railway Department’s point of view, Wiri Roads. Mr G. Druce, representing the Wiri ratepayers, urged that steps be taken immediately to improve the roads in Wiri district.—Engineer .and Ridingmember to attend to. Generating Electricity. Messrs A,. J. Walker and W. Gray wrote offering to forward a full report, with estimates of capital, costs, working costs, and revenue of a central power station built on the coal fields* for the purpose of generating electricity.—Received. Loan for Erection of Offices. The Public Trust Office stated that owing to the heavy financial commitments of that office, they were unable to consider the Council’s application for £4500 for erection of County offices, and suggested that if, in the meantime, no other arrangements could be made, the Council make fresh application to them after May next, although no guarantee that same would be considered then, could be given.—On the motion of Cr. Howse, it was decided, in the event of the poll being successful, to make application to the Savings Bank for the money. Offer of Offices. Messrs Samuel Vaile and Sons asked the Council before deciding to erect offices for themselves to consider a proposal made by them to let the whole of the top floor of Victoria Arcade for £SOO a year. —Received, increased Bank CSaarges. The Bank of New Zealand stated that in future the hank would make a charge of 5s per cent, for paying debentures of the Council and the Road Board, payable at the bank.- - Received.

Moumoukai Road Loan. Mr. M. J. Lillyman and 13 others, ratepayers of Moumoukai, stated that they considered it advisable, owing to the drop in wool and other products and the position of the farmer, to suspend the Moumoukai road loan indefinitely.—The clerk pointed out that all arrangements had been made' to lift the Joan.—The matter was deferred for the present. ] Ranger Wanted at Wairoa. Complaints were received that stock was wandering at large in the Wairoa riding.—Ranger to investigate. Accounts. The pay sheet amounting to £2386 12s 2d was passed for payment. TOTARA PARK ESTATE ROAD. £IOO STILL OWING. Mr. A. W. Gillies wrote stating that the letter he had received from thej Council was the first intimation he had received that £IOO was being j claimed from him, being money to the Manurewa Town Board in December, 1918, by the Totai'a Park Estate, also stating that as far as he, knew the Totara Park Co. was still in existence.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer, Mr W. J. Lopdell, reported as follows: Mangere Riding. Loan Work.-—I have to report that Ihe work has not proceeded as well as I would have liked. The plant has given considerable trouble, necessitating the purchase of new elevator buckets for the hopper, also new pulleys and belt. With this alteration I am in hopes that the work will proceed more smoothly. The Austin crusher has been set up, and will be in work this week. A start will be made with the tarring during this week. Quarrying qperations are still proceeding at the springs. Water Loan.—This work is proceeding satisfactorily, the trenches for the mains being about finished. The trenches for the smaller pipes, which require shallower trenches, can be dug as the laying of the pipes proceeds. General. —Favona Road has been patched with metal where required. Water has been laid on to the springs for the use of the plant and rock drill. Several other minor matters! have been attended to during the month. Pakuranga Riding. Foreman McLeod has been attend-j ing to footpath work in Howick, also cleaning up water tables and culverts throughout the riding. Re Colenso-Simcox Estate—ln company with Mr. Brooks, representing Mr C. F. Bennett, we paid a visit to this property and decided that the proposed ditches should be made inside the property instead of on the road, which would affect the Summer 'Road. ,

Main Howick Road.—Authority has been given by the Public Works Department for the expenditure of £IOO, £ for £, additional to the, £4OO grant. As there has been sufficient work done, we are now making a claim for the above amount. Papakura Riding. Cr. Davies accompanied me over many of the roads in his riding and authorised the carrying out of several minor works. Lupton’s Road, Takanini. —It was agreed to give Mr. McCartney £1 to dig a ditch to connect with a culvert across this road. Alfriston-Brookby Road. —We have also arranged to have the creek, across this road deepened to enable the settlers to bring up all the fall i possible We also inspected roads at Wev-, mouth and met settlers interested in the bathing shed for the beach. Wiri Station Road has been surveyed to the full chain in width. Papatoetoe Riding. The bridge gang have completed! the English Church bridge, the ap- ■ pioaches. are being made as time and plant will permit. i Gillard’s Bridge.—A good start has been made with this bridge, the foundations and piers being completed. The roller has been sent over to scarify the. approach to enable the raising of the road to the bridge to proceed during the construction of the bridge. Mr Jas. Maloney has been appointed as quarrymnn at the depot, in the place of Wm. Hoye, who left. The old wooden decked culvert, on the ,Tamnki-TTowick Road has been replaced with a concrete pipe culvert. Foreman Blank is making up a stock of concrete pipes during his spare time for road work. There are one or two matters authorised that will be attended to by Cr. Waters and myself before'the meeting.

Turanga Riding. The Auckland Shingle Co. have sent out a scow load of about 120 cubic yards of shingle for the cemetery bridge on the Whitford-ftowick Road, also for the small bridge at Mr Grainger’s on the Maraetai Road, The motor lorry has been engaged hauling this shingle, also metal from the quarry for the different roads. Mr J. Page has taken pp his duties as foreman in the riding. Tenders have been called for the re-formation of the Brookby Hill, also for Broomfield’s Hill off the Maraetai Road.

Wairoa Riding.

Most of the month Foreman Peterson and his gang have been procuring shingle from the river for the several bridges that are to be erected in this riding. One motor lorry has been engaged on this work, and is now hauling metal for the North Road. Clevedon-Takanini Road.—Mr A. D. Bell (chairman) and Cr. Davies met 11 settlers on this road and came to a satisfactory arrangement re the fencing, etc. The road through Mr B. Mullins’ has been surveyed and pegged off. Cr.. Browne and myself inspected several roads in this riding during this month. Orere Road.—l saw Mr. Cashmore, who is agreeable to undertake the bridge and work connected with it. I will go out and lay off the work on Thursday next. ’ General. Permits amounting to £5247 have been issued during the month. The report was adopted.