FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 150, 2 December 1913, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Special Meeting.

There were present at a special meeting of the Franklin L'ounty Council held on Wednesday: Crs W. C. Motion (Waipipi, in the chair), R. Higginson (Waluku), J. A. Renal! (Awhitu), J. Flanagan (Urury), J. Henry (Mauku), H. Wilcox and D. Fulton (Pukekohe), K. Lyons (Mercer). DATE OF MEETING.

It was resolved that the next meeting of the Council be held on Wednesday, December 17tb. A WAIPIPI ROAD. J. C. Simmonds, surveyor, wrote stating that the Suivey Department had requested him to enquire if anything had been done "with regard to the double road near Mr Hertold's place. ... If the road in question is not to be closed my plan of the White-Makgill deviation could go through at unce." The chairman explained (hat the Waipipi Koad Board had proposed the deviation to improve the grade. It was resolved to defer consideration of the matter until the next meeting, the chairman and engineer in the meantime to inspect the road. MERCER ROAD. The Mercer Road board asked the Council to allow the county engineer to go to Mercer to confer with the Board as soon as possible.—lt was decided to advis9 the Board that the Engineer would visit Mercer as soon as he had a date available. MERCER REGATTA. The Mercer Road Board forwarded a letter from the Mercer Regatta Association applying for permission to erect barricades across the maiu street and collect entrance fees on January The Road Board added: "Will you kindly give this matter your favourable consideration as it has been the custom tor many yea's to grant their request." It was resolved to reply that tne Council have no power to grant the request, but that the Council would raise nrf objection to the Association following their custom. A KNOTTY PROBLESJ. A petition bearing 21 signaturea was presented, "strongly objecting to the Waikato Dairy Co., Ltd., erecting any more buildings on the public road near the present factory, as we understand they have permission to erect a shanty for their employees." The question whether the building wa3 on the road or not evoked discussion. but no councillor appeared to be abl9 to authoritatively express an opinion, and the matter was referred to the chairman, Cr Lyons and the engineer to enquire into. Subsequent to this decision being arrived at Mr R. Martin, chairman of the Mercer Road Board, who had been interviewing the Council on other matters, was asked ii the building was on the road. He explained that the position vfras very complicated. A statute of the reign of George 111. provided that fur a chain on either side all banks ot navigable rivers were a road. The buildings were on the extra width between the Great South road and the river. Prior to the buildings being erected advice had been sought from three legal firms who agreed that to onst the Company would be a very expensive task, as it would necessitate taking a case t3 the Privy Council. The chairman: Does the proposed building project on the road any more than the others?

Mr Martin: No, it's only an extension. The chairman: What's the width of the Socth road? Mr Martin: A chain.

Councillors appeared to think the problem a knotty one and did not pa;s any further resolution. GRANTS. The Hon. W. F. Massey wrote : " Replying to your letter of the drd instant, with reference to votes for public works in the Franklin county, I have to state that any votes for which application was made to the District Engineer at Auckland would be submitted for consideration when the Public Works Estimates were

being framed. If you should find that any of the items applied for are not included in the Public Works Estimates, I will be glad if you will let me know as soon as possible, so that they may be brought up for attention when the Supplementary Estimates are being |repared. Any information which you may require regarding the local names of works in which you are interested would be readily forthcoming froni Mr Wither, the District Engineer, if you placed yourself in communication with him." Tne chairman : That's the most satisfactory reply we have had for some time.

It was resolved to thank Mr Massey for his reply and for the courtesy contained in his letter.

THIRDS

A statement of thirds available was read, and was referred to the engineer to deal with.

HINGAI CREEK BRIDGES.

I The Public Works Department acknowledged receipt of the Council's objection to the suggested apportionment of liability for the Hingai creek bridges, and that same would be dealt with as provided by law. PUKEKOHE EAST ROAD BOARD. The clerk asked for instructions as to what to do with an account from J. Patterson, of Pukekohe, against the Pukekohe East Road Board which went back to 1906.—1t was referred to Cr Wilcox to enquire into.

The clerk reported that the balance sheet of the Pukekohe East Road Board had been duly audited. This showed a debit balance of £142 and other accounts outstanding. REMOVING A FENCE. W. Douglas, jnr., Waipipi, was granted permission to temporarily

remove a fence on to the road so as to plough in noxious weeds. DOG TAX. The imposition of a dog tax was not favourably regarded by all councillors, several being of the opinion that the cost of collection would more than eat up the revenue. A motion proposed by Cr Wilcox and seconded Dy Cr Fulton was carried, that 'the tax for dogs be: Cattle and sheep dogs 2s fid, sporting dogs ss.

A CONTRACT. J. W. Stayte asked for payment of his contract.—Referred to engineer to report on. McPHERSON'S BRIDGE. Cr Flanagan considered tbe Council should set to work at once to replace McPherson's bridge, as it was an important one for the district. Cr Henry agreed with this but thought action might be deferred until the Estimates were received, so as to see if there was a grant on them. QUARRY RESERVES. On the motion of Or Lyons it was resolved that all rates on quarry reserves vested in Road Hoards be remitted and that any rates paid be refunded. SURFACEMEN. Cr Flanagan mentioned the desirability of surfacemen being appointed. The ohdirman said that councillors could appoint surfacemen for their respective ridings. ENGINE DRIVER. Cr Flanagan reported that he expected to bear any day that the crusher was available. ABSENTEE SECTIONS. The subject of "absentee sections " was discussed, councillors expressing the opinion that it was desirable that they should be got 'rid of. The clerk asked that a resolution be passed and infprmed the Council it would be at least three months before anything could be done. On the motion of Cr Lyons, seconded by Cr Fulton, it was resolved " that all land belonging to absentee owners be Bold to defray rates." It was left to Cr Flanagan and the engineer to appoint an engine driver. UNNECESSARY ROADS. • Cr Flanagan brought forward the subject of "the 101 unnecessary roads in the county." Cr Henry mentioned the " Tramway Road " which was two chains wide. The settlers said this was no use and was simply a breeding ground for noxious weeds. All the settlers along the road were prepared to buy the portion of the extra one chain in front of their properties and to pay a fair price. The chairman said that this matter ' had come up before, and the Council had been advised that the road should be dealt with from one end to the other. This could not be done until all the Boards merged. Cr Henry asked if anything could be done to help those people inter* ested who were prepared to buy the frontages. The chairman did not think so unless the whole roads were taken. An Order-in-Council would be necessary. Cr Henry said there were other roads in his district which were of no use to anybody and which the owners of adjoining properties would buy. He moved, that steps be taken to offer for sale as soon as convenient all uuusod and unnecessary roads. Cr Lyons seconded the motion. Cr Flanagan strongly supported the resolution, and asked that Cr Henry couple with his motion that every councillor ascertain all such roads in his riding and submit a re* port at the next meeting of the couu*. cil. This was agreed to and the resolution carried. NOXIOUS WEEDS. On the motion of Cr Lyons it was resolved that the Department of Agriculture be requested to take immediate steps to enforce the pro- ' visions of the Noxious Weeds Act dealing with the clearing of road frontages. TO MIRANDA. Mr R. Martin, chairman of the Mercer Road Board, waited on the Council in leference to a deviation in the road to Miranda, He explained that it had been arrunged to take the deviation through Mr Lincoln's property, but the road had not been made on the surveyed line. Mr Lincoln had sold the property and the buyer wanted to know which line was to be taken. It was referred to the committee who are visiting Mercer to look into. Mr Martin also mentioned that a grant of £l5O had been given for this work. The Board had asked the Whangamarino Road Board to spend it for them. The survey at a cost of £25 had been put through but the account had not been paid. The Mercer Board now wanted the Council to spend the money. It was decided that Mr Martin should communicate with the Whangamarino Road Board and ask them if they would hand over the vote and all authorities to the Council; if they did so the Council would undertake the work. PAPARATA BRIDGE. Under date November 24, Mr H. Munro Wilson wrote saying that Messrs Turner and Beadle were making a start on the Paparata bridgo and it would be necessary to at ouco advertise the road at bridge as closed for repairs. Arrangements had been made for a ford below the bridge. COUNTY BOUNDARIES. The clerk of the Manukau County ! Council wrote "At the meeting of the Council in October the commit* tee appointed to meet tho committee from your Council reported about the alterations of the boundaries and agreed to whaUwas done and author* ised the Council's solicitor to proceed with the necessary steps to get it done, but when he went to the Lands Officer re the line which was marked on the plan we found out that the lines shown on the Government plan had been altered some time ago and the other line above was the correct line to the Puwhenua stream, and I was directed at their meeting on Tuesday to write and ask you if your committee would be agreeable for it instead of the Waimoho. This would mean about 300 acres mora left in the Franklin County." The Council were asked if they would V agree to the alteration. On account of Cr Campbell's absence, whose riding was affected, consideration was deferred. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £727 12a 6d were passed for payment.