FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 160, 9 January 1914, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The January Meeting. The Franklin County Council sat in Pukekohe yesterday; present—Crs W. C. Motion (Waipipi, in the chair), K. Higginson (Waiuku), J. A. Kenall (Awhitui. Dynes Fuit-m and I J . Wilcox (Pukeuohe). J. Henry (Mauku). (irant Campbeil (Hunua). J. Flanagan (l)ruiy) and H. Lyons (Mercer). THE BY-IAWS. The chairman movei!, That a snecial order he passed adopting tr.e county by-laws, to come up tor continuation at the next meeting of the Council, the necessary advertising to be done in the "limes." Cr Henry asked if the by-laws were now the earns as passed by the Council.

The chairman replied that a lut of alterations had been made so far as lerral terms were concerre I, but amendments could be made. Cr Henry seconded the resolution, which was carried. THE HUNUA LOANS. From bulky correspondence it appeared that some misunderstanding had occurred over the Hunua loans. There was evidently some bungle in the Covernment Advances Office A wire ot December 23ri from that office read: "Please 6tate what local authority applied for Hunua loan; cannot trace.'' To this the county clerk replied: "This is at least a very strange messase from your Department, seeing that we have been corresponding with yuur Department since July last. Your letter of July 22nd says that your Board had resolved to provisionally approve same. On August 28th last I forwarded the application with all paperF. On September 23rd you wrote staunp, that it was necessary to get an Order-in-Cuunci! to validate the irregularity u* 36J years instead of 06, and requiring a fresh resolution making spec al rate. On October 9th this was done. On November 15th I wrote you for the money and on November 21st you wrote saying that the papers sent you on October !)th had not reached you. 1 then sent another copy of draft. Now your wire of to-day*s date is somewhat puzzling to understand. Upon the strength of your approval of the luan this Council have incurred liabilities and are in urgent need of the money to meet their liabilities." Cr Campbell said the clerk should keep pegging away. He would also tike action in addition to what the clerk was doing. A LOAN PROPOSAL.

Messrs W. Clark, J. Batkin, E. Mataschka, E. A. Sheldon, M. Woodbridge, T. A. Miliar. G. A. Lindner M B. Geraghty, S. J. Knowles and W. J. Edwards petitioned the Council to raise a loan on what was known as Batkin*a road to the amount of the estimated cost; they agreed to pay a special rate on a special area to pay interest and sinking fund on the eoid loan. Cr Fulton said this road was in Tuakau. These people h?d formtd a special rating district, and he understood Horn the Counties Act that if the number of ratepayers was le?9 than ICO th°re vas no occasion for a poll if three-tiftns of these concerned signed. In this case ouly thiee had not signed. Where people were prepared to help themselves the Council should help them.

The chapman moved that the request be granted and that a prop;r petition be drawn up and handed to Cr Fulton to obtain the signatures.

Cr Renall seconded the resolution, which was carried.

Cr said it was a good thing to see the people ready to do this sort of thing.

'Cr Wilcox: Yes. it is, They have a bad road.

Cr Henry asked what length the road was. Would it cost £1000? Cr Fulton said it was about a mile. It would cost less than £IOOO, DANGEROUS TREES. The Puni School Committee were advised that the trees growing on the road frontage of the Puni school property were detrimental to the public, and they wera asked to cut the branches to a height of 12 feet from the ground or to cut the trees down. CLOSING ROADS. W. Dazeley, Puni, applied lor the spare land on Tramway road opposite his place, section 3 of Rogers' property. Robert Hewitt, Waipipi, wrote asking for the closing of a by-road adjoining his property, containing lots 83, 81, Bb. section's. W. G. Graham, Tuakau, gave notice that he wished to purchase a road forming the eastern boundary of section 43, part of his Tuakau property, and he requested that the said road be closed.

John Poland, Tuakau, also submitted a plan showing a road that he desired to purchase at his place. In this connection Cr Henry said he had a letter from the Farmers' Union about some proposals in his districi and he would bring it forward when these matters were to be dealt with. The Union objected to certain Mauku roads being sold as thev might be required for railway purposes. A MOUMOUKAI PLEA. A McNeil, of Moumoukal, wrote saying: "I think :t is about time your Council was doing something to the roads in this part of Hunua riding. The Council have collected two years' rates from the ratepayers and I think they have had quite time to get in working order now. I have been on this section ten years and I cannot even get a sledge to my placp. and now that I am paying rates I would like the Council to do something with the rates they collect, and give mc access to my section. There is also the thirds that accrue (rum my section which 1 would like the Council to spend opposite my place. 1 here is at)out one year's thirds due to this district and if spent judiciously they would go a long way in making the reads. 1 would also lilse the Council to dn its very best to push ahead (he road that has been graded through Messrs Ceale's, McCall's and Manning s. because until that road is made the settlers in this dislnct are paying interest on the £ISOO loan lor which they u r et no benefit, as they have to trespass on the Hunua main road. Cr Campbell, being referred to •ilrm.'in. laid I Inve ro n . io make. cr was received.

SOME WAIl'iH MATTERS. J. K. Makgill wrote: "My attention has been called to a notice re closing unused roads and selling fame. Them nrc uncompleted deviations, dedications by and transfers to us in Waipipi ridinjr. before the county tock over Waipipi ridings frcrn the Rvad Hoard?. lhtse deviations were, 1 understand, surveyed and plans deposited for approval, hut we have heard nothing further in this matter since, 'lhcrc are three considerable deviations concerned and tl)3 old road areas wore to be mads over to us. and a certain amount ol compensation paid, fencing and t?o en bcicg done by the Hoard. We wcuid be obliged if you would look into thn matter and advise us how f'ir tha business has advanced and how soon we can hope lor a final adjustment. In this connection there 19 a double road by sections 129, and, I think, 125 or 12ti. The one in ufc is that to the west, the oth=r is never likely to be used or needed, and we would bs! prepared to buy it in connection with settlement of the before-mentioned deviation business. Ihere is a rosd Riving access to the Waiuku estuary through section 314, which several of my neixhbours and myself would like to have defined and made available for use, but nnt necessarily formed more than just made pnssable as giving u> an approach to the water-front. The section through which this road passes is the property of Mr Henare Kaihau.'' The letter, written on behalf of- J. E. and D. Makgill, Makgill and Middlcton and Mrs Middleton. concluded by asking to have the position of the road defined at the point where it touched the foreshore.

The chairman said these deviations were the o-.es that the engineer aid himself supprsoi 11 inspect. It was understood hy the ttoad Hoard that Mr Makgill was to get the roads that were cut oil'. Crßenall: 1 did not undersland there was to be any compensation.

The chairman aaici there was no question of compensation so far as he knew. He understood that Mr

Makgill was to get the old roa:l in exchange fjr the new read, whrh wculd enhance the valui: of his prjpsrty.

Cr Renall: He gets a very good bargain, too.

The chairman said with regard t) the road through Kaihau's the people there would not hear of it being closed. Cr Renal] said that Kaihau had made a generous oiler in the way of road exchanges. Cr Henry said they should he careful to keep roads open which led to the beaches. It was decided to write to Mr Malcgill saying that with respect tu the road transfers It was understood that, it was to be a fair exchange. The matter of the road to the foreshore was held over for enquiry and consideration RETAINING WALL WANTED. S. T. Kosuiter, lor the trustees of Wesley church, asked that a retaining wall be put in at the property as the clay wall was falling. The work was urgently needed. The estimated cost was £74 and the Council was asked to contribute half. The cutting down of the footpath was a great improvement to the town ar.d hvl been done lit nc cost to the ratepayers, hence the present request. ihe chairman said that when the Government were constructing a concrete culvert a gond dual oi* filling was required and it appeared a kcoJ opportunity to get this lootpntn cut down. Mr Kossitcr sait] the cost ol the wall that would bs required would be about £f>o, but now the estimate of £75 cams down. He said he would undertake to see that something was done, and he would now move that £2O be paid. Or Kenall seconded. Of course the money comes cut of Waipipi riding. Cr Higginson did not think the church trustees had been treated quite fairly. After some further consideration it was decided to make the payment £25 IHEOFAHEKE SUBSIDY. Some time ago the Opaheke Road Board wrote to the Valuation Department asking that the Governmeat subsidy earned ia that , district should ba paid di'ect into the Board's funds. The County Council objected, saying that certain roads had been declared county roads and the amount of subsidy earned in each riding was placed t'l the credit of the riding and would be expended under the supervision of the eng;Dcer. As the difficulty between the Opaheke Road Hoard and the Franklin County Council was one relating t) the administration, the Valuer-General declimd to interfere in the matter.

fhis means that Hie subsidy will continue to DC paid into the county funds.

THE KARAKA BRIDGES

Acting under Mr Banna's advice the clerk wrote to the Assistant Under-Secretary objecting to Hie citation for a contribution towards the proposed construction of the bridges over Hingaia and (llasson's creeks. A3 fellows: —(1) That the Karaka Road Board has not complied with the provisions of paragraph a, subsection 2, section 111 <, of the "Public Works Act, 11)08," in that they have not sent to my Council "copies of the plans, specifications and estimates of the work'' proposed to be jearried cut; (2) that the construction of these will nut all'ord any material benefit to the inhabitants of the Mauku road district which is r.ow merged in the Franklin County Council. No discussion ensued, Cr Henry remarking: "It will be for the Karaka Road Board Lo take action now.'' • KARAKA-DRL'RY RIDINGS. 11. Pilkington, secretary of the Rama Rama and Runciman branch of the Famcrs' Union, forwarded a branch resolution: "That this hranch can see no good purpose in altering the boundaries of the ridings as proposed." This matter was relerred to the Boundaries' Committee.

THE BOUNDARIES

Cr Campbell said the Ridinß Boundaries Committee had done ncod work thai morning, but they required an cxteneion of time until next meeting. A I'UAKAU IJUAKHY. lhc ideation of Mr 'iycrofta quarry was considered, but alter going fully into Mr Bycroft s otter it was decided to decline. Ac'VHINTS. Aicounia to .».7M were pasßcd for payment.

OFFEK OF STONE. ,

Still another iiuarry comes to light. .Mr Jacob Sthlnepfer wrote: "Aa your Council tire desirous of obtaining a stone quarry containing an unlimited supply of first-class stonj I heret y oli'ur you the same. I may also mention that water power is availably the whole year." Cr Flanagan said this might ho worth cor sicker ing ts there would be a railway station at the corner (|iiite cloeo to ihe quarry. Cr Fulton: We will want a lot of metal before tie railway comes 1 .

Cr Henry said there was a considerable c ;t rut m' country out that way with long stretches of unmetallcd tends. When tho railway came the quarry woulJ l>a very valuable it the county.

It was i ! ccided to reply saying that Mr Schlaepfer's offer would bo considered Inter en.

HUNUA FALLS. The clerk of the Manukau County Council notified that a conference waa to be held in the Manukau county ofl ; ce on Tuesday, January Lith, fur representatives interested in the use of the Hunua falls lor electrical purposes. A report by Mr Fcnn, electrical expert, accompanied the letter. Cr b>mil I said as the halls were in F.anklin County they should he careful what concessions they made. It was explained that the Bchcmo proposed to electrically light Papakura. Hapatoetoe and Manurewa, and "so as to make it look big'' I'ukekohe.

It was decided to reply saying that if the chairman and Cr Campbell could attend the conference they would do so. AVAILABLE GRANTS. In reply to an application for a list of available Government grants the Public Works Department forwarded a schedule showing the unauthorised balance on votes, the expenditure of which it was proposed to carry out when funds were available. The information waa furnished to cnabla the Council to make the necejsary arrangements preliminary to carrying out tho work. "It must, however,' - the letter went on, "be distinctly understood that this letter is no authority to proceed with the work, or to incur any liability whatever in respect thereto. After proposals have been submitted »o the Department's local engineer the question of issuing formal money authority will be .'onsidered, according ti tho urgency of tho work, and as funds are available." These unauthorised moneys were:— Bombay to Ararimu, .£100; cemetery church to Bchool road, £75; Happy Valley to Hunua, £160; Hunua riding roads, on account of £ISOO, £ for £, £500; Kauri Clump road, No. 2, £SO; Key street to Kelly In id;'e, £SO; Martin road, £100; Paparata to Pokeno, £100; Paparata Valley to Papanmu, £150; Shag Creek road, £100; W a iron Falls road. £100; Drury to Tuakau mam road. £ for £, £SO; Greatj|»uth road, Drury to Rangiiin, Aftr £• £500; Hamiltcn roaj, £ for £, £SO; Tuakau railway station to Whaoga-rata-Pokeno road, £1 far £2, £750. There was gcneial laughter when the letter was read.

Cr Lyons: I thought wo hud got nd of, all that from this Government.

The chairman: It is not a very satisfactory reply.

Finally, it was decided that nothing would be gained by continuing the correspondence with the Department.

WAIPII'I ROADS. Later in the meeting Mr Ridgley presented a petition saying: "We, the undesigned ratepayer! of the Franklin County Council, Waipipl liJmg, object to the eluding of the road leading from Mr Henare Kaihau's property, also from Mr 0. Ridgley's property clown through Mr J. J'. Jones' property to the Waiuku main road." The signatories were: 0. Ridgley, II Knihau, R. A. Kaihau, A. White, J. Flavell, J. Ridgley, iwcCully Bros., J. McNaughten, R. H. Honey, E. Bregman, H. E. Ewington, W. H. Holmes, T. Bright, F. W. Watts, L. Greensmith, A. Summervillc, K. Scouller, J. Tivanon, U. Bright, M. Flavell, A. Knight. J. Flavell, W. Flavell, E. Kerebs. The chairman said it was not tho intention of the Council to close any roads which would be of use to other property owners. The only roads they intended to close were those through individual properties which would be of no üße to outsiders.

Cr Renali safcT""that Mr Jonea came to the Waiplpi Road Board and asked to be allowed to crop tho road with a vfcw not only to the crop hut to eradicate the weeds. He was allowed to do this for 12 months, after which time the said mad was to be at tho disposal of the Boaru if Mr Ridgley or r.theri were prepared to give the pipes ho thought tho Council should help by doing the work. There were properties lying behind which could not get any frontage without this road. Surely, then, it would be reasonable to meet these petitioners. Th2 chairman said with regard to the road under discussion between Mesers Hidgley and Junes, ho had no objection to any road being opened if it was going to benefit tho ratepayers. This road was within Gor (*) chains of the other that was open. The Council decided at a previous meeting that Cr Renall, the engineer and himecll, should inspect the road, lie did object to the whole lot of roads being opened without any trallic. as they would only grow i noxious weeds. If there was only a difference of 5 or (i chains and the new road was only to s'rvo Mr Ridgley, then it would bo foolish to consider it. It was not a question whether Mr Jones was to hold tho road or not. Mr Ridgley said if the Council woud not open up the ro; a he would do it hmself. It woo 111 wave him three-quarters of a JWte from Waiuku ami with heavy loads of n ton or thiity-hundredwelght it meant a big pull. It was decided that the committee would inspect the place on Saturday week and report to next meeting. Mr Ridgley said there was .1200 fur the main road und some £lO had not been srent. liesidcs this there was a XfiOU grant. There was also £2OO to be spent on Earl's road but only £IOO had been used. lhe>e matters are to be investigated, the '•>"• nri'n navinjl that either the » , had hern spent or had not been taken up. HELP I HF Uia.l'l-EStJ. A letter iron Hie County Clerk to the Auckland Hcni.:.. Hoard that an inii.gci I o >' .adv at Tuakau^H

70 yeart) "I a^i. bed-riddto a unable to rare lor, hem II ihotdy removed to tin' homo an poseiblc \

AN EXTENSION WANTED. Messrs Speedy and Brcw.ilee ajked for an extension of 10 or 12 c ains of a road into their properties. Mr Speedy said this was the extension of a dedicated road through property sold by Mr Rutherford in Pukekohe East, and he wanted to know the county requirements as to taking over the roads when completed. He was willing to give the land and fence it off. It wa? a blind read, Cr Fulton said thi3 road was dedicated by the Pukekohe East Road Board, Mr Rutherford agreeing to do whatever road work in reason that was required. The Board accepted dedication, but the wirk had not been dene. Cr Wilcox said hz had seen Mr Rutherford, who said ha was prepared to keep his word. Crs Fulton and Wilcox were appointed a committee to inspect and report to the next meetirg. Messrs Rutherford and Ingram are to tie • asked to confer with the committee. ROAD DIFFICULTY. Mr Graham, of Tuakau, who purchased some land from Mr J. Poland, attended to explain that he nad no title to the roads through the property. In the early days Tuakau was laid off at the river, but when the railway went through the site of Tuakau was altered. The roads in the old surveyed township were then cloned, but the magistrate's authority for the sale of these particular roads had been lost. He submitted, however, a receipt showing that Mr Poland had paid the full price for the road. The Council suggested that the steps from the time of the closing of the roads should be re-taken to enable Mr Graham to ge,t his title. It was understood that legal advice about the matter would be taken as to the best course to be pursued.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. { ; The engineer (Mr MeArthur) reported as follows: "There are contracts let and in ' progress on the different roads as follows:—Concrete bridge and appruaches Bombay-Paparata road; for the supply, delivery and spreading of 1000 cubic yards of raetai Pura Pura road; for the supply, delivery and spreading of 1500 cubic yards of metal Pura Pura road; bridge and approaches Mangatangi road; formation of three portions of Mangatanei road; formation of Otaua to Maioro road; formation of Whiri Wbiri road; forming two portions cf Pura Pura road, Shipherd's hill. "With reference to contract for £ supplv and erection of concrete bridge, Bombay-Paparata road, I have found it necessary to have wings built of concrete, and have arranged with the coutractor to do the extra work for £ls. This contract is nearing completion and should be finished within two weeks. "At a meeting of the committee appointed by your Council to meet on the , 22nd Uecember to open >, tenders for contracts, it was de%*nfcided to accept the following:— Contract No. I—Bridge and approaches, Mangatangi, T. H. Appleby and F. N. Twining, £215. "Contract No, 2 Formation Mangatangi road, T. H. Appleby and F. N. Twining, £IOB 16s. "Contract No. 3-Formation Otaua to Maioro road, J. H. Byland, £B4 la.

"Contract No. 4 Formation Whin Whiri road, Boney Bros., £67 10b.

Contract No. s—Formation Pura Pura road, Shipberd's hill, Charles Gabel, £299 15s. "Contract No. 6—For bridge approaches Buckland read, R. Hay and C. Clone, £3B 15s. "I have appointed Mr R. W. Fisher, of Opotiki, to the position of assistant engineer. Mr Fisher will take up his duties about tbe beginning of next week. "I have only been successful in obtaining one permanent surfaceman up to the present, who I have stationed in tbe Buckland district. "Since last meeting of your Council I have laid otf works on the Hunua Gorge road, and prepared plans and specifications for same, for which I have made arrangements to have carried out immediately. "Work ha* also been laid off on the Great South road at Rama Rama, proposals for which will be forwarded to the Public Works Depart ment when completed. •'lnspection has been made of the Pukekohe East road contract, which I find is not done according to specifications. The coutractor has been given clearly to understand that the work will not be passed until it has been carried out in a satisfactory manner." CRUSHING METAL. The councillors each made a bid for the use of the stone crusher, but finally it was agreed that the engineer should send the crusher where it was most urgently needed. C. ; Fulton said it was all very well talking about crushing metal, but what were they going to do in cases where propertv-owners refused to Dermit the carters to take metal out'.' It was agreed to give notice that the Council intended to take such metal as was required by the county, under the provisions of the Public Works Act. Cr Fulton said the main thing was to get the spawls. Councillors should get spayls rsady in quantity bo as to be ready for the crusher. The chairman said he had 3 000 yards of opawls ready for the crusher now. CONTRACTS LET. Tenders were dealt with as follows:—Contract No. 7 forming and cuiverting portion of Hunter's road, Maukii—B. Harford, £99 10s, accepted; A. J. Moore, £lOl. Contract No. 8. supply and

spreading of metal on Pilgrim's road, Mauku—A. J. Moore £62 Jits.—lt was found that £llO of the «.,£J>U grant available tor this work Kad been spent by the Mauku Road Board, so that the contract could not be proceeded with. Contract Mo. ( J. forming and culvertiny Quiun's road, Mauku—A. J, Moore, £ll4 6s Bd, accepted. ENGINE DRIVER. Lr Flanagan reported that he had engaged aMr J. Comrie to work the traction engine at £2')B per annum.