DISTRICT NEWS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 656, 5 August 1921, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS.

TAIYIAKI WEST. ROAD BOARD MEETING. The Tamaki West Road Board met last week, Mr E. R. Pilkington presiding. There were also present: Messrs J. W. Andrew, L. J. Keys, J. C. Masefield and W. H. Reynolds. ; Advice from the trustees of the St. John’s College stated that they could not see their way to self the s*/2 acres at Point England, but would be willing- to lease that area to the Board for a period of ten years. The Board decided .that it could nut entertaian the offer, but would con-* ; sider taking a Glasgow lease. A letter was received from fcfee Melanesian Mission Trust Board notifying that it could not allow eleven acres on the Mission Bay Beach to be acquired for a public reserve, but would do their- best to meet the wishes of the in every manner possible when cutting up the property in regard to reserves to be set aside.

The president of the St. HeliersKohimarama Progress League wrote reporting that the Beautifying Committee had decided to proceed with the planting of trees on 'the reserve arid on the cliffs, but nothing definite in connection with planting the foreshore would be settled until the permanent work had been completed. Messrs Keys, Reynolds and Masefield were appointed by the Board to cooperate with the committee in th<3 / matter of improvements.

MAUKU.

VISIT OF PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER.

Mr Coates, the Minister for. Public Works, accompanied by the Hon. G. Garland, M.L.C., paid a visit of inpection to the Paerata-Waiuku raliway. on Saturday by special train. Ori arrival at Patumalioe station he was" met* by a number of residents and a welcome to the district was extended by Mr J., Henry< Mr Henry said that there were many works in the district that were urgently in need of assistance from the public funds, but in the present state of finances and with a falling revenue he felt that they could not be attended to. However, he desired to make an appeal for- assistance in the case of what, was. known as Hunter’s Road, anefy hoped the Department would be abb* N to give a £ for £ subsidy for it, jg Mr Cuff, member of the Council for the Mauku Riding, produced a list of works in the Waiau Waiau and Karaka districts which hs hoped the Minister would subsidise He also pointed out that the Mauku Creek and Brown’s Creek bridges required repairs, and he hoped the Department would carry out the work, as it had always done iij. the past* In reply the Minister said that the funds available for public works had already been allocated, and the Franklin County? would receive its share. Out of it the Council-would be in a position to carry out the works that were deemed most • necessary.

Mr Wily refrred "to ‘.the question of a license for the Franklin Electric Supply Company. He said an option had been given by the County cil to the company, but the ratepayers of the Mauku Riding had not been consulted, and strongly objected to being included in the area over which the twenty-year monopoly was given. They desired to arrange, if possible, for a supply of power frost Pukekohe, and had asked the Council ;to. leave them out 'the area Tor twelve months to arrange matters. Mr Motion (chairman of the County Council) said that the interests of the ratepayers had been carefully safeguarded by the Council. ‘ :

Mr M. Crispe asked that the department should send an engineer to repoilt upon the two water-falll^ ; ia the district, to find out if sufficient power could not be obtained from’ them.

Mr Coates replied that the main things to be taken into consideration was the price per unit at which' tha power would be supplied. It might! be found that a proprietary ’torn.--pany could, supply it more cheaply, than a concern owned by the ratfe« payers. However, what Mr said had been noted, and taken into consideration when *' the question of a license was gone into* With regard to sending an engineer tj report on the water-falls, he supposed the district itself was able tU attend, to that.

Accompanied by most of those present the Minister then left for Waii iiku, where a public luncheon, rwaitfd him. His intention was to visit the Pollock Settlement, and return to Pukekohe by motor car In the evening. At the Mauku station he was me’ by Mr who JVske<| that the railway should be handed over to the Railway Department in order that the settlers might Tie relieved of the heavy burden of double freights. The usual stereotyped reply thfk the matter would be considered was given.