WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 May 1913, Page 2

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waitemata County Council met last Friday; present —Crs A. Cochrane (chairman), A. M. Lang, W. McAthie, F. Poynton, W. KerrTaylor, J. McLeod, J. O'Neill, F. Dye, J. Grreenwell, H. Day and H. N, Adams.

CORRESPONDENCE. Among the correspondence dealt with, was the following:— The Public Works Dept. wrote re delay in expenditure of grants and in making application for payment, also as to lack of detail supplied.—Engineer to report re same. Auckland City Council asked that "Nihotupu" be deleted from sign posts on Waitakere-West Coast road, as the telephone bureau at Brooklyn had been named Nihotupu,—Deferred to next meeting. Mr Kelly notified that he would hold the Council responsible for any accident occasioned by the deep cutting made in front ox the Wade hotel. Cr Poynton said the Council should do something to it.—Left to Cr Poynton and engineer to "arrange. A. Nicol wrote requesting the road to his land (Pomona) be formed and graded.—Cr. Kerr-Taylor said nothing could be done at present owing to lack of funds; it would have to wait until next summer. Mrs Lingard asked that approaches on road to her home at Eiverhead be completed.—Cr Kerr-Taylor said the same answer applied as to the previous letter. There were no funds at present. Wainui's proposed new koad. Re the proposed rot.d through Hamilton's property at Wainui, a question deferred from last meeting, the Engineer's report was again read, after which. , Cr Dye said that the people the proposed road was supposed to be most good to were in favour of the route through Colgans. The number 3 route, which went a good way through Hamilton's would be a very expensive one, as a great amount of compensation would be required, and the same applied to number two route. Both Hamilton and King favoured a road through Colgan's, as it would come out at a point where convenient to go either to Wade or Kaukapakapa. Cr Mc&thie also made some remarks on the proposed routes, but as Crs Dye and McAthie had not presented a written report the question was de« ferred to nextmeeting. Finance. The Clerk and Treasurer's report showed the overdraft on general account at £6436 10s Bd. He also reported that tbe work of preparing the new rate rolls had been at a standstill owing to tbe Valuation Dept. not rendering the neceseary assistance in the matter. He had also prepared a a new schemo for apportionment of share of overdraft and miscellaneous expenses, based on the total rate revenue collected, the effect of which was to relieve tbe Takapuna riding somewhat. He also reported that ihe Takapuna loan of £5,000 had been ■arranged, half to a local man and half to a Wellington man. In reply to Cr Kerr-Taylor the Clerk said Takapuua riding was about £6 000 to tho bad. 1 hey would still be about £1,500 to tho bad after the loan money was available. On Or Khit-Taylor's motion, it was decided to ask the Minister not to Grazette Takapuna a borough until the end of financial year. Tho question of rate collection was discussed, the desirability of collecting Takapuna rates being shown, but it was left over to next meeting. The Exhibition Drive. A report in favour of the proposed Exhibition Drive was received from the Engineer, who estimated the cost of a road at £300. The owneis of the land required would give providing swing gates were erected at each end, and when thes6 gates were removed the road properly fenced by the local authority. The Chairman's scheme for carrying out the work included £60 from the Riding coutingpney iimd, £50 Automobile association, £25 contributions from settlers and £25 from the Eoad Board, He proposed to ask the Government for the balance. Crs Kerr-"Taj lor regarded the proposed road as a. luxury—just for tourist traffic. He did not think it would benefit many settlers. The adjacent property owners would benefit, as it would save them having to make a road when they cut up'their land for building sites. If the scheme were gon6 on with the people who owned the adjoining laud should put up the fence themselves. Cr O'Neill contended that the proposed road was to lenefit tourists. Question adjourned for one month to allow* an opportunity for objections. Ke boring- operations at Silyerdale the Council, decided that no more money be paid for this work. On Cr Poynton's motion it was decided that all earthworks on the main roads be suspended during the winter months. Deputation". . Mr Eollett sspoke for a Henderson deputation, their grievance being the bad state of the roads ie that district. About £1,500 of loan money had been spent, arid there should have been bettor value for it.—Mr Whvte support ed the remarks made by the previous speaker.—Cr Greenwood explained that the roads had been cut about to get proper levels and grades. The metalling work had not been pushed on rapidly enough and the bad weather had caused the present position.—The Chairman said the Council had met difficulty in getting metal, but would do its best to remedj matters. A Hobsonville deputation asked that the town district be merged into the county and the former riding; di-

■*"„-,- : ■■-■'■*■■■■.-- ■'. vided .Into ridings.—-The Council agreed to support the proposal,/ providing the ratepayers' petition ;£or satne was favourable. ENGINEJhiE'S EEPOET. The Engineer's report included the following :—During the past month, I have been fully occupied with ordin- ~ ary routine work and have only been able to put in t^ree days at work in connection with spe^R grants ; but if no new work is alloml to me today, the whole of next month should be available for work at the Grants. Mr John Page took up his duties as Assistant Engineer on the Ist inst; he will be engaged for some time clearing up back work. ' " Crown Land, Eiverhead—l have boen over these roads at Eiverhead with Messrs Wither and Vickerman, ' and an allocation of the £2000 grant has been decided upon, and the work will be put in hand at once." Wharf accomodation at Silverdale— Owing to the recent developments of the SilverdfJe district, the present wharf accomodation is far too small and most inconvenient. It is not suitable for extension, while on the opposite side of the river, there is a landing Eeserve, that could be made suitable for the requirements of the District f>r all time. Application has been made that this be vested in the County Council; and I have reason to believe that it will be granted. I would recommend that no further money be spent in extending the landing on the North side of the river, but that the landing on the South side be improved at a cost of £500 to be equally borne by Pukeatua and Wainui Hidings. " Boring at Silverdale—The money voted for this work is now expended without reaching water. Will you kindly instruct me, if further work is to be done. Water may or may not be struck at any time. " Deep Creek Telephone—l have received a communication from the Engineer in Charge of telephones, asking if the county Council will give the necessary • guarantee. There has been considerable misunderstanding over this matter for some fcime. " Henderson Valley Eoad—The crushing of stone on this road has been arranged with T. E. Clowat2s3d per cubic yard