FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 769, 19 September 1922, Page 3

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of (lie Franklin. County Council was held on Thursday, when there were present: Crs. 11. Wilcox, T. W. Woods, G. W. Heald, E. G. Cuff, B. Charles, J. RLowry, J. Dean, R. T. Reid, H. 0. Mellsop, the clerk (Mr Alan P. Day), and the engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur). In the absence of the chairman (cr. Claude Mofion) who apologised for non-attendance, the deputy-chairman (Cr. IT. Wilcox) presided. Counties’ Association Affairs. The New Zealand Counties Association forwarded precis of minutes of meeting of the Executive, wherein it stated that the Agricultural Department sought the views of the Association in regard to including Californian thistle and ragwort in the third schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act, and as to establishing a Board to administer Hie Act. The committee approved of the lirst suggestion and referred the other to the next conference. A remit from the Farmers’ Union relative to the small birds’ nuisance was referred to next conference. It was resolved to seek legislation to have the lime in which rates may be recovered extended from two* to four years; also to seek an amendment of the Local Bodies Finance Act, ,to enable local bodies to have an overdraft at the end of the financial year, not exceeding $5 per cent of the revenue of the preceding year; and a further amendment granting power to local bodies to form “grouped districts” for the purpose of raising joint loans to enable them to borrow to greater advantage in order to pay off their antecedent liabilities; also to seek power to enable local bodies to expend a portion of their funds in afforestation: and also to seek an amendment of Lite Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act exempting local bodies from awards. —The communication was received. Proposed Hospital Bill. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) acknowledged receipt of the Council’s letter, with reference to the proposed Hospital Bill. He noted that the proposal arising out of a recent conference of delegates from north and mid-Canterbury, local bodies was supported by the Franklin County Council, and would be glad to forward 'Hie representations made, in this, connection on to the Minister of Health for bis consideration. —Received. Gienbrook-Mauku Road. With reference to the Council’s application for a subsidy on the proposed Gienbrook-Mauku loan, the Prime Minister stated he would confer with the Minister of Public Works on the subject to see what could he arranged.—Received. Balance Sheet. The Controller and Auditor - General returned the balance sheet of the County of Franklin for the year ended 31/3/22, duly certified, witlmul any exceptions. The Auditor-General also returned the balance sheets of the Awhilu Domain Board, which showed a credit balance amounting to £3: the Opaheke Domain Board, credit balance £lB 2/7; the Wlialapaka Domain Board, credit balance £2B .11/2: Hie Drury Domain Board, credit balance £5 5/. — Received. Proclamations. The Assistant Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department forwarded proealmal.ion consenting to stopping portion of road in Block XII, Awhilu Survey District (Henry Harvey’s property).—Received. The Chief Engineer of the . New Zealand Railways forwarded a copy of proclamation vesting the new road on c;\ rn side of Drury Railway Station in I lie Council. —Received. Slippery Creek-Brury. . Messrs It. H. Bailie, 11. Peoples and S. Appleby drew at ten I ion to the slate of Slippery Creek. Drury. They Ibniiglil. Hie creek should be lowered where it passed through their properlies. and suggested I ho cul ling of a channel seven chains long, (1 feet wide end four feel deep would sufilce. — Left lo Hie engineer lo lake llie necessary levels. Coast Road, Kariotahi. tin behalf of the ratepayers of Ihc 'Const. Read, Kariotahi, Mr R. .1. Harris asked if Ihe Council would puff, in hand the metalling- of lire Coast Road ns soon as possible.— Lelj lo Ihe chairman and clerk lo deal will). An Access Road. Mr .1. 11. Horrold, Waiuku, drew al- - tention to the access road to his Sand Hills property, Taurangartiru. He offered to contribute £5 if the Council j would contribute £lO to it for neces- ! sary work—ftoforced to Counl.v cha.ir-

man and engineer to deal with. Mangatawhiri-Maramarua Road. A petition signed by Mr W. Heaven and 110 other settlers in Maramarua, Whangarmarino Road district and Waiato County, requested the Council to form the piece of MangatawhiriMaramarua Road across Surrey Flat, this season. —It was decided to notify the petitions that Hie matter was receiving the Council’s attention. It was hoped to expend the Government giknit available for this section of road early next season. Grant’s Road, Karaka. Mr C. V. Grant, Papakura,. forwarded £SO, the settlers’ contribution towards metalling on Grant’s Road, Karaka, and asked whether (ho Council would expend £2OO this season if the settlers paid in another £SO at once, and the other £IOO of the Council’s subsidy in 1923-1924.—The settler’-s suggestion was agreed to. Dunn’s Road, Ararimu. Mr J. S. Seay, Ararimu, requested the Council to complete metalling of by-road known as Dunn's Road, Ararimu.—No funds available: clerk to suggest (.be settlers raise a loan for the work. Access Roads, Karaka Station. The District Engineer New Zealand Railways wrote promising to make an appointment at an early date to most Cr. Charles and engineer at Karaka Station, in connection with access roads thereto. Blackkberries. Mr J. T. Balle, Pukekohe Hill, applied for permission to pul fence out on read abutting his property for the purpose of clearing blackberry. - Permission was granted, subject to the usual condlions. Land for Road Purposes. The Assistant Under-Secretary of Public Works Department sent a copy of proclamation taking eight perches of land for road purposes from L >! 102, Sub-section 2 Pukekohe (Roulslon Estate, Belmont). —Received. Sandspit Road. Mr Eric Hay, Waiuku, forwarded signed “Ratepayers’ Consents” to the levying of a special rate as security for Sandspit Road, Waiuku,Goan £450. —The clerk was instructed to apply for Governor-General's consent to raising of the loan. . Hermitage-Aka Aka Rojad. . . Mr G. G. Hull, Waiuku, asked if the Council could appoint a day soon for the engineer and Cr. Reid to inspect the Hermitage-Aka Aka Road, and proposed bridge site. —Referred to Cr. Reid and engineer to fix a suitable date. West End Tennis Club. The West End Tennis Club was granted the lease of part of Puni Reserve for a period of ten years, at a peppercorn rental, viz., 1/- per annum, for the purpose of constructing tennis courts. Permission Granted. Mr P. C. Collins, Tuakau, was granted permission, subject to the usual conditions, to shift his fence for about four chains out on to River Road, Tuakau, so that lie could exterminate blackberries. Smith’s Road, Waiuku. Mr G. E. Yelciiich, Waiuku, forwarded petition signed by live settlers on Smilh’s Road, Waiuku, asking the Council to raise a loan for the metalling of the road. —Left to chairman, clerk and engineer to deal with.