WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 December 1913, Page 2

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the "Waitemata County Council wab attended by Messrs. Frank Dye (chairman), J. Laing, J. Poynton, W. McCathie, .T. MftLeod, V. Kerr-Taylor, H. H. Adams, W. Greenwood, A. Coehran, and J. O'Neii.

Dr. Rayner attended in support of his application for a proposed tramway track, stating that he had fully complied with the regulations governing the procedure. The engineer said that before the application be granted specific plans and specifications should be supplied. The application was granted subject to the approval of the engineer and a member of the council.

The engineer (Mr. G. A. Jackson 1* reported that during the past month three important bridges had been completed and taken over, namely, the Kumeu, Rangitopuni and Waari Hamlet Bridges.

On the engineer's recommendation it was decided that steps should be taken to construct a permanent concrete bridge on the Waikumete West Coast JBoad in place of two adjoining wooden bridges known as Kelly's Bridge, which were in a dilapidated condition. By diverting the small branch stream into the main stream the need for the second and longer bridge would be obviated. Mr Coohran said that such a course would mean a saving to c ratepayers of £500 to £600: Messrs. Turner aud Beadle's tender of £496 for the rebuilding of Parr's Bridge in concrete was accepted.

As a result of his inspection of Petrie's subdivision in the Waitakere Riding, . the engineer could not recommend the council to approve of the proposed road, unless it was taken right through the boundary. He also found <;hat the face of stone alluded to by Mr Petrie was unsuitable for roadmaking purposes. This report was adopted.

The engineer reported that the Education Board wished to know the council's intentions regarding the approach to Mount Rex Wharf, which was on their property, the lease of which ex~ pi red. Mr Jackson explained that several years ago the Railway Department had built a wharf near the Mount Rex Railway Station, and constructed a road from the station to the wharf. This road had never been dedicated to public, hence the board's inquiry. It was decided to request the Crown Lands > Department to declare the approach a public road. It was re* solved that the old Ararimu Valley Bridge should be fenced off.

Messrs. Leyland, O'Brien and Co.' wrote asking that the council's decision re Tuohey's deposit for haulage of logs on Wairere Road should be reconsidered, as Mr. Tuohey's work had previously improved the road. The original bond was fixed at £150, which, after a little discussion was considered too high, and reduced to £75. It was further decided that any person wish* ing to use the road for similar purposes would henceforth be required to enter into a bond of £75.

The Education Board requested that the School Reserve in the Waipai . oira riding should bo made accessible. Jt was decided to inform, the board that the council had no funds to expend on that load and to suggest that ie should itself make application to the Government for a grant.

Metal Supplies. The much-discussed question of distributing nn adequate supply of metal to the various districts in the. Waitemata County appears to have been satisfactorily solved according to the report of the county's engineer (Mr G. A. Jacksod). He stated that, during the past month most satisfactorily trucking facilities had been pz-ovidod by the dlstiict railway engineer (Mr D. T. Mclntosh), who had generously placed the ballast ti'aiu at the county's disposal for an indefinite period. The supply of metil from the Morningside quarries had greatly increased, 284 cubic yards having been delivered for the 18 days in December.

Nothing definite had as yet bseu done, however, in connection with the supply of metal by water. Mr Jackson poiuted out that, it was useless leaving the matter in the hands of a number of councillors, as Mas done in the case of Air Li. It. Hunt's offer to supply metal without calling a special meeting of these councillors. Mr Hunt's offer was to supply metal at 3s per cubic yard, piovided that an order for 7500 iiibie ynids was givtsu. Acting on the engineer's recommendation, it was decidod that, the representatives of those ridings amongst which this amount could be placed should hold a special meeting to consider the matter.