WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 September 1913, Page 2

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above, held last Friday, was atteneded by Crs A. Cochrane (chairman), J. 0. Neill, V. Kerr-Taylor, Jas McLeod, F. Dye, F. Poynton, W. McOathie, A. M.Lang, Greenwood, H. Day and H. H. Adams. After matters of finance had been dealt with a special meeting was hold at which a special order merging Hobsonville Town District into the county was passed, and will be confirmed when the necessary procedure has been followed. .Kiveb. Drainage Bo art. Mr C. Tan-ant (Woodhill) waited oa the Council to ask that a River Drainage Board be formed for the Kaipara district. He had previously drawn the Council's attention to the encroachment of the willows in the Kaipara river. It was intended to present a petition to the Council on the matter, but this had not come to 'hand. The position was getting worse every year in regard to the willows, and heavy rains would cause floods and damage on the farms unless something was done. He understood that the Council had power to form themselves into a Jttiver Drainage Board or by petitioning the Gov-ernor-in*Oouncil could get a separate body appointed, but the latter course was not desirable as it would mean more expense to the ratepayers. Tbe people affected were from Kumeu to Wharepapa, and if the Council did what they now asked a separate rating area would be arranged, as the ordinary rates would not *" provide for this work.

Cr Kerr-Taylor said this matfe I affected not only Kumeu'and Maur< tahi ridings, but would crop ii throughout the county. There w£ not sufficient funds from ordinal rates to do this aort of vrork and th willows were becoming a serioi trouble. The matter was an impori ant one, as the law gave the power i anyone affected to compel the loci body to keep the waterways clea: He believed that anyone could b law compel the Council to do th work. He understood a River Draii age Board" could be formed by th Council and special rating areas a: ranged as required. Cr O'Neill agreed that the Counc should form into a River Board an rate for a special area. This was th wisest and cheapest course and coul be carried out in any part of th County. m Cr Jas. McLeod opposed the forma tion of a separate body, and movec That the Council take the necessar steps to form into a Eiver Board, Cr Taylor seconded. The motion was-*-witkdrawn and i was agreed to deier the matter for fortnight to ascertain the proper pro cedure. Mr Tarrant explained that a pre paration was being used in the "Wai kato which destroyed the willows. Cr Adams said he knew of the pre paration referred to and offered b supply a sample to the Council. v I would destroy vegetation so effectual!; that nothing would grow for 8 year where it was applied, Metal Supimmes. Eeporting on the metal questioi the Engineer recommended that i Committee of all members interestec in getting supplies of metal by wate: should be appointed; although ther< was plenty ef metal offering th< freights asked were prohibitive. A committee consisting of On Taylor, O'Neill, Day, Poyhton, MeCathie and Adams was appointed. The same Committee -was authorised to procure information in reference te the formation of a Eiver Board. Kaiwaka Tuaix Service Cr Dye pointed out that Eodnej County Council and Wark worth Towr Board "were taking action in trying tc get the express train from Kaiwaka to connect with the Helensville express. Re believed that not only the northern districts, but around Helensville and as far as Waimauku the peophfavoured the express leaving Helensville about 4 o'clock. He moved thai the Council write to the Minister oi Railways en the matter, Cr Taylor seconded conditionally that, tho speeding-up of the 4.30 p.m. tram, making it a passenger train only, was asked for, v This was agreed to and the motion was carried. | The Cotjxcii's Courtesy. Cr Taylor spoke strongly in favour ol the Council advertising that .all. correspondence must be addressed to the Clerk, pointing out that ratepayers, sent letters to the Eugineer which were unanswered. He argued that they were entitled to the courtesy of a reply. • Some of the members argued that the Engineer should have a correspondence clerk. Eventually the Council' decided ,to let matters remain as at present. What's-ix-a Name ? Vigorous speeches were made by Cr O'Neill and others by way of tribute to the early pioneer settlers wheu the naming 0 f a road at Hen ; dersea was ■ discussed. The namP . formerly adopted, viz, McLeod road had been changed to Dingle road! Mr A. McLeod and others petitioned the Council to reinstate the former nrttne. The discussion showed that the road was named after an early and h*ghly:respected settler, John Mc Leod. A motion tc re-name the road J olio McLeod's road was withdrawn ana notice of motion given to rescind the resolution on the books in favor oi the name Dingle. Kim.Eu- i^evel enossixa. In regard to Kumeu level crossing the Engineer reported as follows .- — There is a likelihood of the difficulties in the way of this crossing being got over by C. Boord giving up a private

level crossing, and though not the one the Railway Department demanded should be given up, Mr Booid's offer has been submitted to Wellington and there is now a prospect of the public crossing being made. Miscellaneous. Mr Harrison. Kumeu. asked the Council to have the road to his property improved.—Eeferred to Cr Taylor. Mr F. W, Stiange drew attention to the state of road leading to Bell's land.—Eeferred- to riding member. Mr V. Kerr-Taylor applied for permission to erect private telephone poies on Waimauku—Waikoukou road.—Granted. E. C. Bele, Rewiti, detailed the conditions upon which he would allow the Council to quarry stone on his land, which agreed to by the Council. Ec proposed Ohirangi siding, Cr McLeod said he had not yet got a reply from Mr Miliar on this matter . and would have to write again. Cr Taylor reported that the fencing along Jno. Hand's property, for which no tender was accepted, had been let privately at 16s a chain. The appointment of snrfacemen" for Kumeu and Mauretahi was left in the hands of the riding members. Cr Adams (Takapuna) said there had been a good deal of mud-throwing during the recent election, in regard to his management of the Takapuna riding funds . He moved for a return showing the expenditure for the past two years in detail. This was a fair thing to the Council and himself, and the return would also be of value in arranging a settlement Jwith the new borough.—The motion was adopted. The Public Works Engineer wrote re delays in making application for grants, and explained that Bame should be applied for monthly as the work proceeded. ' \ The Chairman reported as to the business done at the Counties' Con^ ference, and on the motion of Crs 0* Neill and McLeod he was accorded the hearty thanks of the Council. The Engineer's recommendation to, move the Ahukurama road to, a more suitable position on MrE. C, Frost's property was adopted. A proposal that- the Council should assist Auckland Harbour Board to obtain control of the foreshore qn the upper reaches of the harbour was under discussion and was deferred. Sanitary Matters. The engineer drew attention to the* fact that running household drainage into water tables was prevalent in parts oi the county. Mr. Jackson stated there seemed to be a general impression amongst occupiers of houses that the onus was on the local body to provide drainage. He pointed out that was - not the case, because it was an offence to drain household waste water on to ' the roads," and the liability for doing' ' so lies with the occupiers of the house* and not the owner. Tenders. 'The following tenders were a<capt~ cd:— Bridge, Waikumete, Thomas Parker, £156 IPs 3d; bridge, Riverhead, E. E. Edwards, £298 ; cutting scrub. Henderson and Swauson Roads TS. Brown,-Is 2dper chain. Bridge at Kuin9u, Messrs^ Turner and Beadle £589 15s. Waiioj-uete west-coast road The engineer recommended; that a deviation be made to avoid a big bridge, known as Kelly's, and the ad- " jacent steep hill, and it was agreed to, the chairman and the engineer being authorised to arrange with the owners of the land.