AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 156, 23 December 1913, Page 3

AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Fortnightly Meeting.

There were present on Wednesday night:—The Mayor (Mr C. K. Lawrie), Crs Oomrie, Abbott, Patterson, Hurley, Hamilton, Pollock, Bilkey and Beatty. METAL. The foreman, in reply to a question, said he had ordered 100 yards of metal from Morningside quarry, but none had come forward. EAST ROAD. Cr Comrie reported that the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency wore prepared to cmtribute to the "cost of the foothpath being ■put en the north side of Easst road. HOLIDAYS. It was decided to hold the next meeting on January 13th and that the offices be closed from December 24th to January 3rd. The Mayor and Cr Conirie were empowered to pay wages during the vacation. BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet duly audited was read and a resolution complimenting the Town - Clerk on the manner in which be had got out the balance sheet and the absence of " tags " was carriod. THE METAL DUMP. Cr Patterson reported he had done nothing in regard to the metal dump at the station yard. It was decided that'the clerk write to the District Engineer on the matter. POUNDKEEPER. W. H. Pratt was appointed poundkeeper. The hours at which the poundkeeper would be in attendance at the pound were fixed at from 7 to 7.30 in the mornings and 5 to 6 in the evenings. THE QUARRY. Cr Hurley brought forward the question of the metal at the quarry. The road to the quarry was "&. eight to see." As long as the wet weather lasted they would never be able to get the metal out. He considered the whole question should be gone into. He moved, That the foreman go into the question and submit a scheme for getting the metal out.. Cr Abbott seconded the resoluti' n, which was carried. In reply to a question, the foreman said the position was altered since it was proposed to put in a tramline, as the Council had now let a contract. Cr Hamilton pointed out that since the tramway project had been proposed the properties through which it ran had changed hands. The real point was : " Could the Quarry road,be metalled sufficiently to enable the metal to be brought out?"

Cr Comrie said he was very glad that metal had not been coming, because the carting would have cut their roads up, and it would never have done to put it on the new formation with the present weather. Cr Pollock asked if McSheen Bros, would be called upon to nap the big metal which had been put on Puni road. The clerk said the contractors had been written to stating that if the metal was too big " napping" would be done at their expense.

Cr Pollock: What is the position of Puni road? Who is to pay for the napping; the Council or the contractors?

The Mayor: the contractors. The foreman drew the Council's attention to the fact that the contractors were not adhering to the conditions. The metal varied in size, one luad being big metal, and the next small chips. The trouble was that it was not screened. Now, at the meeting on Monday night some one had said the public wanted to see what kind of a job the Council made with a road before granting them any more money. He wanted to know how any man was going to make a road when he couldn't get clean metal, Cr Patterson said the foreman's remarks bore out his opinion; tbey were "simply playing with making roads.''

Cr Pollock thought the contractors should see that the metsl was screened. Gr Comrie considered it was ever so much better to have the metal and screenings mixed, provided it was mixed properly. If the clean metal <vere used they would have to' buy screenings to put on to rill the crevices; if six inches of mixed metal was used he was satisfied that with a good foundation it would make a very solid road. He moved, That the contractors be written to informing them that metal must ce properly mixed and must be broken to size, and the big metal on Puni road be napped. The resolution was carried. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Cr Abbott drew the Council's attention to the state of the footpath in Manukau road. "You can't find it now on account of blackberries."' It was decided to give all property owners notice to clear all noxious weeds and overhanging growths in front of their property within fourteen days. A STRIKE AFTERMATH. The secretary of the Pukekohe branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union forwarded an account from the Post and Telegraph Department of £1 6s for keeping open the telephone from 8 p.m. til! midnight for 13 days during the strike, and considered "as it benefited all sections of the community such payment should come out of the public rates." Cr Patterson: Might I ask if the Franklin County Council have offered to pay anything for these specials ? The Mayor: No. Cr Patterson: I don't think much of it. It was decided to pny the account.