RUNCIMAN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 146, 18 November 1913, Page 3

RUNCIMAN.

A Bone of Contention.

To The Drury and Karaka

Road Boards.

Runciman, or to be precipe a portion of Runciman, is likely to prove "the apple of discord" to the Drury and Karaka Road Boards. Drury are desirous of taking over a pnrtion of Runciman at present under the jurisdiction of the Karaka Road Board; but that body has taken strong objections to the "annexation" as they

term it. At Saturday's meetiug of (he Karaka Road Board the following latter from the Drury Road Board was read : "The Drury Road Board has ap-

plied to the Franklin Cuunty Council requesting them to alter the bound- ~£ arks of the Drury and Karaka ridings by taking into the Drury riding and adding to (be Drury road district that portion of the Karaka situated between the Great South road and Bremner's creek, starting from the Slippery creek bridge and following the said creek until it strikes the railway bridge at Runciman, then along tte railway line back to the Great South road. This do-s not include Ruuciman station, although it wi'l include the post office, while it is in the position it is now in. Tbc Board think the interests of the ratepayers of that portion arc more identical with Drury than with Karaka, slso some time ago a petition was signed by nearly all those ratepayers asking to be taken into the Drury district." •

. Mr Johnston, who is the repreT* sentative of the ward affected, said as far as he had beard the ratepayers were opposed to any change. He considered it wai only the thin edge of the wedge and personally he was strongly opposed to the Drury Board taking over any portion of their territory. He had taken upon himrelf when he saw the report in the "Times" to write to tbc County Council protesting. (Members expressed their approval of tbis action). He doubted very strongly if a majority of the ratepayers were in favour, but pointed out that the Drury Road Board had taken care to only include pieces where they thought they had a majority. Tha Drury Board said they wanted to make improvements, but thty did fay whither it was to D:ury cr Runciman. Mr Glasson: Have they begun to improve Drury? I cann:t see it. Continuing, Mr Glasson pointed out that Runciman etaticn was largely used by Karaka ratepayers. Mr Johnston moved, That tha J clerk writs to the Drury Read Board ' " and the County Council objecting t>> the proposal of the Drury Read Board to annex a portion of the Karaka Road Board district on the ground that such action was not compatible with the best interests of Runciman tr the residents of Karaka, for whom the Runciman station was the outlet. Mr Suttcn seconded the resolution. Mr Schlaepfer said it would not have been sj bail if they had taken the district to the creamery bridge. Mr Johnston raid that it was rumoured that the object nf the Drury Road Board in taking the po3t office in was that when they got it under their jurisdiction they would try to get it abolished. Members expressed astonishment at the Drury Road Buard including the peat effice and gcods shed and not

the passenger station; and one

member humorously suggested that f possibly the Drury HoaJ Luard -* wanted to make an "island station" of Hunciman. The resolution was carried.