WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 April 1913, Page 3

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waitemata County Council met last Friday ; present—Crs A, Cochrane (chairman), A. M. Lang, W. McAthie, F. Poyton, W. KerrTaylor, J. McLeod, J O'Neill, F. Dye, J. Greenweli, H. Day and H. N. ! Adams. Considerable time was taken up by deputations, most of which were con- ' cerned with matters relating to the district adjacent to Auckland. The ■[ proposed " Exhibition drive," a request that the Council continue a road t : ifQ.m / the Nihotupu pipe track to : •|jfc^--^«|jjer's road, which would make a ;' S^? ibuSd trip, was most debated upon. Cr 0. Neill and other northern ' councillors strongly contended that : the chief purpose of the proposal was ( to enhance property values by making J it a tourist route. It was argued that a lot of important county work 1 had been put off owing to the En- ' gineer being too busy and that the i Titirangi riding should engage a special engineer to report, or that the ' scheme wait its turn for the Enginee's services. Eventually it wa3 agreed that the Council's engineer report on the proposal, after a spirited discussion. Sand Drift at Woodiull. Mr Baker waited upon the Council in regard to the question of drains recently dug on the farm, to which objectionhad been taken. He hoped the matter could be settled without going to law about it* If the Board stopped up the drains the creeks would continue to flow and how much silt they would take to the river and how much on his land was only a matter of opinion. The sand trouble was continually getting worse and praticularly sg on the section next his place. He was willing to fall in with any - scheme reasonable. He was prepared to plant vegetation to arrest the silt or carry out any reasonable suggestion to effect a remedy. The Enginear said the whole of the flats in that locality formerly acted as a straining bed, from which the wator would filter into the river. He had no faith in any barricading to keep back the sand, as there was wind to consider. Sompthing could bo done a good distance away from the sand hills. Mr McLeod said the creeks had drained the locality previously and left the sand behind. When a flood came the-water would spread over to Mr Baker's side. Now Mr Baker had dug drains to take the whole of the. water from the water-shed above, and this was I ringing down large quantities of sand into the main creek. In the winter time, unless altered, it would bring down theusand of tons. He suggested that MiBaker should set aside a pieco of land for a sand waste, and let the water filter out as originally. What was formerly a filter bed Mr Baker bad removed, but whether within his rights or rot the speaker would not say. It was unfortunate that this draining bad been done, both for MiBaker and the Council. The settlers down below would have to be protected. The sand could not spread on the Woodhill side and would go down on to the better land In time it would fill up the Kaipara river if unchecked. He could see nothing else but fencing a piece off and allowing the water to filter out as before. Mr Baker said he had no knowledge of- this sand trouble when he bought the place. If the Council stopped the creek and stopped the drains it would simply ruin him. He had not gone back to tap the sandhills, he had simply made a straight course for the water to drain, and the outlet was just the same as before. Cr Kerr-Taylor pointed out that it was the settlers^ who were taking action, not the Council, 'ihere were many otber plaaes up above that would follow if this "draining was allowed to continue, Or McLeod said every member of the Council should go and see the ■locality. He was quite satisfied they could restrain Mr Baker from bringinh down the sand. The only question was the size of the piece of j land they should take. A committee j consisting of the Chairman, Crs Me Leod, Dye, Kerr-Taylor, Lang, 0' Neil, Greenwood and the Engineer agreed to pay a visit of inspection on Tuesday, COKKESPOXDEXCE. . The Public Works Department auburn ted .a proposal for the Council to purchase Australian hardwood from the Government for bridge building.—On. Cr McLeod's motion (who pointed ont the advantages of having the timber purchased throngh the Government, ensuring only the beat^qualt-ty being shipped) it was dgdfe^'to take advantage of the Sinton Bros, Waitakeri, asked the Council to have a cattle drinking ford made at Brigham r creek, wlier6 they were erecting a wall.—lt was agreed to comply with the request. Engineer's Report, Included in the report presented by the Connty Engineer (Mr G. A. Jackson) were the following references to this district. Proposed road at Wainui—There were three worthy of consideration, and the question of finance and general convenience bore ao closely on each he •thought the Councillors for Kaukapakapa and Wainui should interview the settlers along each route suggested and find out which was j most economical. If the object was to provide the most convenient access t) the Kankapakapa railway station, then the best route w#s due west through Hamilton's, CoJjgan's, Tlapson's and Dye's land.f 1 his wouid open up a lot of new (country , and

would not involve much compensation.

He had inspected the Waimauku West Coast road with Mr E. C.Frost, and though not admitting his liability Mr Frost had undertaken to effect some slight repairs. When this was done he would recommend that Mr Frost's deposit be lefunded less the amount of costs incurred in' preparing to bring an action under the by-laws.

Re the level crossing at Kumeu, Cr O,Neil and himself had interviewed Mr Chas Board in regard to complying with the Railway Dept's demands, but Mr Board would not give way. The only thing was for a deputation from the Council to wait upon the Minister for Railways on the question. At the instance of Gr Dye he wrote to the Helensville Town Board putting forward a proposal for the maintance of the boundary road. He had received a favourable reply from the Town Board and had recommended that the Council's solicitors be instructed to diaw up an agreement to give effect to the proposal. On the suggestion of Cr Dye it was decided to defer the question of proposed Wainui road for two months, as it required careful con si delation.

In regard to Kumeu level crossing the Engineer said there was-a private crossing half a mile further up, which the Railway Dept. wanted giving up, before they established the one asked for ; but Mr Board would not give it up as it was given him as compensa tion. The Dept. had fiist asked £55 for a crossing, which had been paid, and then wished the Board to get the crossing transferred irom Mr Board to a public place.—Cr McLeod said the Board should insist upon the work being done, —A committee consisting of the Chairman Crs McLeod, Kerr Taylor' and ONeill was appointed to wait upon the Minister for Railways.