THE FRANKLIN COUNTY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 July 1912, Page 2

THE FRANKLIN COUNTY

The severance) of the uld Manukau County into two was a very natural result. In its original form, extending over a vast area of country, the Act was never uiado operative, and until this year no County Council was elected. Some twenty years ago a hody called the Manukau County Conference was brought into being. This comprised a representative from each Road Board and Town Board within tho county area. The functions of the Conference were advisory; its purpose was to suggest legislation to Parliament, to agitate for grants for arterial roads, to keep a watchful eye over dangerous railway crossings, to guard against possible fire from passing railway trains, and such matters. About twelve years ago, at the time of the bubonic plague scare, the Auckland authorities sought to erect an infectious diseases hospital at Point Chevalier, but this proposal was stoutly resisted by the country districts. Mr J. T Stombridge, who was then chairman, pointed out that the patients in the outlying districts (which had to pay rates) sufferod ; they would lie barred from travelling to the hospital either by coach or rail. Finally, after some sixteen meetings had been held, it was agreed that all local bodies outside a radius of twelve miles should be exempt. This incident is mentioned us indicating some of the functions of the County Conferouce. The finance of tho conference was upon a contributory basis whoroby Boards with less than £250 ia rates paid ss, whilst Boards with over £250 revenue paid 7s fid. These contributions were not compulsory, but merely by anangement. Two years ago it fras decided that if no Local Bodies Bill (consolidating) were brought into operation, a meeting would be held to discuss tho question of dividing the county. As a result of the various deliberations tho two present counties were formed. During several yeais past, Mr E. Allan, of Buckland, was chairman of tho conference, and he did splendid work. First County Chairman.

Who lias the distinction of being, the first chairman, is one of the younger j members of the council. He is a [ native of Now Zealand, his father having been one of tlfe first settlers ill the Bay of Islands in 1838. In 1810 Mr Motion, sen., established the first flour mills in Auckland. Mr Claude Motion settled in the Otaua district some eighteen years ago. He engaged in grazing, but during the past siv years he has extended his operations to dairying. Mr Motion's public activities include tlie chairmanship of tho Otaua school committee for a number of years, and membersi lip for six or sev«u years on the Waipipi Road Board. He is a director of the New Zealand Dairy Association, and trustee for several public bodies, a member of tho Franklin Licensing Committee and a Justice of the Peace. The choice of Mr Motion as chairman has been widely approved. Mr Motion was returned for Waipipi riding. Voting : W. C. Motion, 148 ; A. M. Barriball, 01.

The representative of tho Mauku riding, was the only member of the council who was returned unopposed. Mr Henry is a native of the township which is the headquarters of his extensive business- I'atuiiiahoe. Having left school at seventeen, Mr Henry has Keen in a position of responsibility ever since. Besides his storekeeping business, lie has farms in Waiau, west ward of Mauku and l'ut"mahoo. He has represented Putuniahoe ward on the Mauku lvoad Board for live or six year.-, since when something like 11 'i.'io has been got in Government grants. School work (ns secretary and treasurer) has made drafts upon his activities. In the days of the gum trade Mr Henry had branch stores at Awlutu and To Toro. He

STORY OF ITS ORIGIN. PERSONNEL OF FIRST COUNCIL. REVIEW OF THE MEMBERS.

goes in pretty largely for dairying' and is now milking 120 cows. A great believer in skimming stations, as against home separation, Mr Henry persistently advocates following tlte lines of the Danes to bring trained hands and brains into the work .of dairying.

Mr Fulton, of Tuakau, who topped the poll for the Pukekohe riding, ia perhaps the youngest member of the council. He may not look it, but such silver streaks as may appear are the result of some hard experiences in the South African? war, at which gruesome gala he was present as a member of the third contingent. [The photo from which this reproduction was made is rather old.—Ed ] Two years on the Fukekohe East Road Board is the only local body experience that Mr Fulton claims. Rut he has been actively associated with sport, was for twelve years continuously a Franklin "rep.," and is a well-known referee. As chairman of the Farmers' Union and of the Progressive League in Tuakau, he won his public spurs, and with the solid support of his district found his figures at the top of the county poll. Voting: Dynes Fulton, 140 ; H. Wilcox, 125; J. E. West, 95; J. K. Hamilton, 91. Mr. Fulton is an old Pukekohe boy, his father (one of the oldest settlers), having been one of the Cape Settlers who came out by the Ganges

Mr IleAry Wilcox (another repre seutative of the Pukekohe riding) is an old and esteemed resident of I Suck-, land, in which district he has lived for the la«t 30 years. For seventeen years of that period Mr Wilcox has been a member of the Pukekohe East Road Board, and he has been on the School Committee without a break ever since it was formed 20 years ago. He has been on the commitee of the Franklin A. and P. Association, and enjoys active membership, is connected with church affairs, and has done much for the general advancement ofthe district. On different bodies ho has fought many elections, and has never suffered defeat. His public enthusiasm naturally led him into the Farmers' Union and the Trading Association connected therewith. He went to the Thames in 1869, and was engaged in mining for eleven years. Mr Wilcox came to this district in 1882, and entered into occupation of his farm, one and a-half miles from Buckland, where ho has resided ever since.

Mr Robert Lyons, who represents Mercer riding, had a rather unique experience upon entering public life in this district. He was returned as a member of the Pokeno Road Board at a by-election, and at the first meeting he attended he was elected chairman, which position ho has hold for five and a-half years. In addition to the chairmanship ho has held office as clerk and treasurer. Mr Lyons has lived in Pokeno district for about 40

years, his mother and father having been amongst the first white people in the Maungatawhiri Yalley, to which place they went in '65. He carries on grazing within eight or nine miles of Pokeno. Cricket is his favorite pastime, and he has been a representative player for eighteen years. Mr Lyons is modest. When the writer wanted to know something of his public life, he laughed: "Well, I am better known on the cricket field than anywhere elep." Voting : B. Lyons, 68 ; Scrftt Hunter, 46.

Mr Benall was returned for Awhitu by a narrow margin (J. A. Benall, 73; W. Q. Hamilton, 69). He has only been in the district a short time, hut he quickly won his way to the chairmanship of the Waipipi Boad Board. Before coming to this district Mr Benall (whose father's name was one of the most familiar in the Wairarapa) occupied many prominent public ( options, both in county and borough. Not the least of these was his office as Mayor of Masterton, to which honorable position he was elected on four occasions. The list of his public services in the province that knows him bgst is too long to print here, but it ■may be said without fear of contradiction that Mr Renall's public experience is longer and more varied than that of any other member of the council.

Mr Higginson was returned for Waiuku by 94 to 63, his opponent being Mr J. D. Chalmers. Whore ho lives (Aka Aka) the successful candidate practically got a block vote —and a victory. From a newspaper man's point of view Mr Higginson is a " tough proposition." Fortunately, the writer knew of his 21 years' experience in Taranaki, and of his six years' service on the Waiuku Eoad .Board, five of which he was chairman. Anything else? " No," said Mr Higginson, " I have shied clear of everything else but the Road Board "

Mr Joseph Flanagan. Mr Flanagan represents Drury riding.—J. Flanagan 135, W. H. Thomas 82. He has been resident of Drury for nearly 30 years, engaged in farming. For-ten years he was chairman of the Drury Eoad Board, which position he resigned upon going Home for a trip. He was practically the prime mover in the formation of the Farmers Trading Association, of which body he is a director. The Progressive League and the Farmers' Union have been the chief outlets for his public energy. Mr Flauagan's namo was loudly whispered in connection with the county chairmanship. We are sorry we were unable to secure a photograph. Mr Grant Campbell. Mr Campbell is a man of the world. Born in Scotland he spent some 16 years in Canada and the United States. Nine yoars ago he went to Hunua, which riding he represents on the Council. He built the dairy factory there, and after controlling it for four years ho converted it into a company, of which ho remains as chairman. Besides his business activities Mr Campbell has a farm of somo 400 or 500 acres which is being devoted to dairying. No photograph of Mr Campbell was available. The Returning Officer.

Who was the first returning Officer and clerk to the Franklin County has had a long experience in this district, having boon hore for a quarter of a contury. Upon arrival in Now Zoaland 25 years ago from the Old Country he took up his rosidenco in Hunua. He was for eight years iu charge of

road works under the Government on the section joining Tuakau and Pepepe and all the bridges except one between those places were made under his supervision. After this period he confined his attention more particularly to business and for 17 years and up to some four years ago, he was clerk on the Opaheke Boad Board. *. Twenty-three years ago ho was chakman on the Hunua Boad Board which body he was a member, o&4uid off, for 24 years. Mr Stembridge is also known as a Justice of the Peace, postmaster at Hunua, chairman on the School Committee, and chairman of the Ponga Church Trustees. He represented Hunua and Opaheke on * the Manukau Countv Conference for 'v eighteen years and served for several , terms as chairman and secretary of that body. His work as returning officer was rendered arduous by reason of the large number of Boaa Boards whose rate books had to be handled and nothing less than his energy and enthusiasm could have completed his task so satisfactorily.