PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 734, 26 May 1922, Page 7

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD.

ORDINARY MEET3NQ. The ordinary meeting of 'Tie Papakura Town Board was held on Monday last when there were present : Messrs S. Evans (chairman), T. D. Campbell, Jas. Beams,, D. Weir, P. J. Parker, J. R. Wilson, E. D. McLennan, and the clerk (Mr A. L. 'Cooper). Loan ffia ’ters. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. W. F, Massey, acknowledged receipt of the Board’s letter with reference to the Papakura water loan of £28,000, and stated that he had noted the representations made by the Board and had had enquires made of the State Advances Department with a view to seeing what could be done by way of assistance He understood that up to date two sums of £IO,OOO had been advanced in respect of the lloan and that early last month the Board made an application for a still further. loan of £BOOO, being the balance of the £28,000. In June last, owing to the financial stringency, it became necessary to reduce the maximum amount, available to any one local body from tht State Advances Office during any one financial year to £2500, and when the Papakura Town Board’s recent application, was received it was advised of the reduction in the amount available. He was told that the application had shice been amended to £SOOO, and that it would come before tlie members of the Board for consideration at an early date. As the Town Board appears through a misunderstanding to have committed itself for the whole balance £BOOO of the loan, he added that he was advised by the Superintindent that if a further application was made for the balance. £3OOO it would be submitted to the members of the Board of the office for consideration. After the whole o f the original 1 -Toan had been expnded the 110 per cent, supplementary loan may be applied for in the usual way.—The letter was received, the clerk having reported that? no had acted in .accordance with Mr Massey's suggestion. He Was instructed to convey the Board’s appreciation to Mr Massey for his action 11 n the matte!’.

The Superintendent of the State Advances Office advised that the precedent consent of the GovernorGeneral in Council had been obtained to the raising of £SOOO on the water supply loan of £2B,ooo.—Received. Bad Streets. Mr S. Woolliarns complained of the state of King Edward and Albert Streets, particularly the latter, witch was absolutely unfit for motor traffic, also which was covered with gorse and blackberry.—lt was pointed out that property owners had been notified to clear the road of noxious weeds, and failing their compliance thereof the Board will employ men to have the road cleared and Tie costcharged to them.. The clerk was instructed to advise Mr "WolJiams accordingly. Tree Planting Campaign. The Papakura Beautifying Society solicited permission from the Beau; to plant some pohutakawa trees and others round the Domain and also requested the Board to provide the necessary trees for planting. The Society also recommended that the waterfront be reserved for a drive from Queen Street to the not to end of-Wharf Street. A sub-committee of the Board is to meet the Beautifying Society to go into the matter, wiith power to act.

Engineer’s Report. The Board’s engineers, Messrs brickie,Gannon and Wot ley. reported that they had repcggocl the pipe fine on No. 3 contract., a peg having been put at each angle as finally cockled by them and agreed by Mr Willis, of the Pine Company. The track should now ba excavated so ns to make a straight .Vine from peg to epg. The number of bends cut out by this straightening was 52, which if left would have a serious effect upon the pressure. They pointed out that the contract was let for a 6 foot track which necessarily follows the contour. This was the only definite method if letting the contract as the quantity of spoil could he computed for the cross-sections. Before the track was cleared it would have been impossible to have arrived at the quantities of spoil to: move for a track laid out in straight lines owing to the rough nature of the ground and the bush, and it would have been unfair to ask contractors to tender for something wlr-'ch was not definite. In any case the tenders would have been considerably higher, and they claimed that the method they had adopted had proved the most economic to the Board. . They only paid' for the spoil removed. They had measured up the extra spoil to be removed over and above the specified wdth of (I feet and they calculated that there were 1230 cubic yards. Of this quantity 225 yards were near the headworks and have already been carried out by the contractor, on instructions from them. As the pipe line was only 1 foot 6 in. water level for several chains they deemed it absolutely, necessary to bench 6 feet 6 incehs above water level, and for 12 feet wide 'n the solid and then trench for a depth of 5 feet to get back to the necessary grade. As the proposed tunnel was cut. out this was the only other method of effectually securing the pipes against flood water. The trenching was in rock and their measuiement showed that SO cubic yards have been moved in excess of ,the one foot trench specified. It was also found necessary to grade the trench to requirements in those parts of the Line where there was no benching. The average depth was about four feet, and the extra quantity of spoil moved 110 yards. They had, induced the contractor to do these extras at following rates instead of at the schedule : '1230 yards ,of trenching at 4/6 yard,, £276 15s ; 80 yards of rock treinchlng ; at £l, £80: 110- yards of clay trenching, clearing bush and cutting- roots at 5/-, £27 10s; total, £384 ss. As pointed out above some of the work that was absolutely essential has been done, that at the headworks amounts to £136 5s and the other trenching to £27 10s or £163 15s, This leaves the balance for straightening the line at £220 10s, and this sum vvouid be more than saved by the number of bends cut out. If these suggestions were carried out the line .would betmproved beyond comparison, and they sincerelytrusted the Board would approve of what has been done and was proposed. They also reported that they had made out an estimate of cost for the completion of the scheme. Mr Weir said that Messrs Parker, Wilson and himself had been accompanied bv the engineer to the works. He was of the opoinin that what the engineers had recommended was essential. Messrs Parker and Wilson said they were perfectly satisfied that the extras were essential to have the work carried out satisfactorily. Mr Campbell moved that the extras as recommended by the engineers be approved. Seconded by Mr Wilson and carried unanimously. [VJeIaJ. The Town Clerk reported that he had made arrangements for a liberal supply of metal. Tenders. The tender of Mr A. White for the lease of the Board’s house on the Domain at 36/- a week was accepted. A tender was also received from a Mr Shcholfielcl at £2 a week for the house and 12 ucies of lane. T! -: .successful tenderer did not require the land. Foreman's Salary. The foreman, Mr J. E. Morrilseau, had his wages reduced by 5/- weekly, the reduction recommended by the Arbitration Court. The chairman and Mr J. Beams opposed any reduction at presen,t claiming the time was opportune to consider such a step when the water supply scheme was completed. Noxious Weeds. Complaints were received with reference to noxious weeks, and the clerk was instructed to serve notices on offenders. The footpath from Great. South Road to Mr A. Willis’ property is to be repaired as soon as possible.