FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 169, 10 February 1914, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The February Meeting. (Continued from Page 1.) RAILWAY AND ROADS. The district engineer of the Public Works Department wrote:— "I understand that at a recent meeting of jour Council it was proposed that several roads in your district at present unu'ed be sold to adjoining owners. One of the roads referred to is, I believe, the one in I'atumahoe township which gives access to sections 44, 45, 46, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and which also touches the northern boundary of section 26. 1 have to inform you that this read may possibly be required in connection with the Waiuku branch railway to give access to the Patumahoe station, which will be close to tha southern boundary of s-ction 25. Another road included in your Council's propcsal is. I urdcrstar.d, that portion of the Tramway road fronting sections 85 and 86, Waiuku East parish, block XIII., Drury subdivision. This is a two-chain ro9d and 1 believe your Council's intention is to dispose of the extra chain width, but I beg to inform you that this extra width will probably be included in the Glenbrook station yard. In view of the possibl* railway requirements mentioned above I have to ask your Council to withhold putting its proposal into effect until such time as the permanent route of

the railway is decided." The chairmai said if they were going to use the portion referred to as a railway yard at Glenbrook it would give the Council a stronger argument to close the rest of (he road. Cr Henry said he would be much better pleased to see the Patumahoe road used as a road t» thi railway station than to acquire it himself. A WHIT U ROADS. H. Garland, Awhitu Central, forwarded drawings and specifications of three small contracts on the road by the properties of Messrs Kelland and McDonald which he had let to Messrs Gleeson, Harvey and Jones at £l7 5s 6d, £l3 7s and £9 7s 6d respectively. Re Coronation rocd the following works had been done:Contract No. 1 (COO yards at Is), £3O; contract No. 2 (1535 yards at 8d), £sl 13s 6d; leaving a balance to be spent of £lB 6s 6d. "The above £Bl 13s 6d should be applied for to the District Engineer, Auckland. Some of the ratepayers seem inclined to object to the whole of this £Bl 13s 6d coming out of Government grant as a special rate amounting to £9O was raised for this road, but you will see by the old Waipipi Road Board books that this £9O was all spent as follows: Fencing £2l 15s 6d, surveys £l4 16s Bd, first cutting at back of Joneß' £25, compensation f u r 3 acres land taken at £l2 per acre. The total amount of compensation paid and the price of cutting I am not sure of exactly, but the whole expenditure amounted to close on the £100." A second letter from Mr Garland said he had inspected the Kohe Kohe top road contract undertaken by Gleeson, Jones and Furness and found the 9ame satisfactory. He had pegged out about 15 chains of cuttings, fillings and formation on McDonald's road which was a very necessary work and Gleeson and party had undertaken the contract for £40." Cr Renall said he thought it right that this work should he done although at the time he had no idea it would cost £4O. He cuuld not spend more than £2O except by contract, but as these people were there with their machinery and the summer was advancing he got over the difficulty by letting the work in three lots.

The chairman and Cr Higginson supported Cr Renßll's action.

The matter was left to Cr Kenall and the engineer, Mr Garland's plans to be adhered to and the work proceeded with if the plans, etc., were approved by the engineer. A KAMA RAMA ROAD. George Ingram, Rama Rama, asked the Council to metal "some very bad portions of the dedicated road leading to my property from the South road. The road was passed and taken over by the Pukekohe East Road Board some considerable time ago and they alto on two occasions unanimously agreed to, and instructed the member in charge of our division to spend sonic of our rates there, but all the available cash seemed to be required for the lower portion of Pukekohe East road. I have j aid rates on this property for 21 years and at my own expense have formed 65 chains, put in pipes and fillings, metalled 15 chains and renewed the bidge across the creek, 15 loot span. The road is used by Messrs Fletcher, Adams, my brother and myself. I see our rates this year amount to £35 7s sd, and I consider it a very reasonable request that one year's rates be spent on our road and that only once in twenty years."

Cr Fulton: If it is the same man it does not cay much for Mr Ingram as a member of the Pukekohe East Koad Board. Cr Wilcox said he saw a gate across thrf road which looked like a blind one.

Cr Fulton thought that belore writing letters like this ratepayers should approach the members tor the ridings. COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

Cr Henry said he noticed a large amount (£3l'J) in the accounts for hospital arid charitable aid. They had spoken about the erection of a cottage ho9pita 1 and if it was possible to work in with the Pukekohc Borough Council in this matter they should do so, and at an early date. Cr Lyons: Hear, hear. It was decided to make enquiries into the form of procedure and confer with the Borough Council as to the beat course to pursue.

A BOUNDARY DKAIN. W. V. Davy called attention to a drain which had been cut on the boundary between Mr Piggot and himself. Cr Wilcox explained the position and with the engineer was empowered to act. THE WORKING PLANT. Cr Flanagan said lie had been giving tho question of the extension i of the Council's plant some con- j ; sideration. At the previous meeting Cr Renall made a very good suggestion to get waggons bo that the Council should do its own haulage. He moved, that the chairman, the engineer and the mover be a com- j mittee to go into this matter and to bring down some recommendation to j the next meeting. Ploughs ai well j as other things were needed, lbc motion waii carried, »

| WORK AT MAUKU. Cr Henry said he did not tee In the engineer's report about work being laid out I riding. A petition whs in circulation asking that the road through Hogwcod's connecting the northern portion of Waiau with the rorlheastern part be constructed. This ! would give a saving of 4 or 5 miks Ito lhi people approaching Drury, Runciman or I'atumahoe, and all j those interested with one exception I had signed asking that n special I ratine area be created to have this work done. It was decided to wait until the ; petition comes forward before dealing with the mutter. The request of the engineer that the Council should pay for the upkeep of the motor car gave rise to a general suggestion about the office arrangements, and it was decided that the chairman, with Crs Campbell and Lyons should bo a committee to draw ud regulations to govern the olfice staff". PUSH THE WORK ON. In connection with the grants from the Government it has Deen found that sometimes work caonot be done because the money is not immediately available. It was shown that if the bank could be drawn upon so as not to diiturb the general account, works could be prosecuted that could not otherwise be done. So ps to enable these contracts to lie dealt with expeditiously by Having the money against the grants arranged for the following resolution was passed"Thit the bank be written to authorising tho opening of an account uoder the heading of 'Franklin County Council, Government Grant Account,' and that they be requested to make temporary advances on this account against the county engineer's certificate on official forms, meeting payments for expenditure on works under Government grants." A GENEROUS OFFER. Cr Wilcox said he would not charge royalty on the 260 yards of metal to be taken from hi' place. Councillors did rot see that Cr Wilcox was called upon to make this gift to ihc county. Cr Wilcox: My pusition is that I wa/it to see as much metal put on the road a) can be done with the money in hand and I want to see it done as quickly as possible. ALLOCATIONS OF EXPENDITURE. Cr Renall said he thought the time had quite arrived when thry should know about the tiding allocations and what monies there wcro for the different wards. It was laid down distinctly by law that theee allocations should be made and he would leel easier in his mind if that were done. It would take the Council a whole day to go into the matter. Cr Lyons agreed that this was a matter in which all councillors were interested and every councillor should be present. It was decided to tackle the problem next month, the dav beforu the regular Council meeting^ RENDER YOUR ACCOUNTS. Hitherto people to whom money has been owing have been expected to render their accounts before the 20tn of each month, but on Cr Lyons' motion it was agreed that in future accounts will be taken up to the Saturday prior to the Council's regular meeting day. BUILDINGS JNSUUED. It was reported that insurances | had been taken out od the building j £9OO, on the furniture, etc., £3OO, and on the stable £ioo. GENERAL.

The engineer was directed to lay out formation of 30 chains of ruad between J. Clarke's, Waiau, and the Waiau creamery; also between Tilly's and Brady's, leading to Firth's and Noake's property. TUAKAU QUARKY SITE.

R. Bycroft wrote saying that the j Council was under a misapprehension regarding his offer of his Tuakau quarry site. As he now had a chance of utilising the water power he made an amended offer to lease, with an optional purchasing clause. After discussion Cr Fulton air] the clerk were deputed to get some fuller particulars, TENDERS ACCEPTED. The tender of Whitford Bros., Ponga, was accepted for 200 yards of spawls at 4s ltd, to be delivered in front of Piatt's on Hunua station road. A. Higgins' tender of 3s for spawls at Wilcox's bush, 250 yards, was also accepted. Both the foregoing were approvrd subject to the contractors complying with the engineer's specifications and conditions. t The tender of J. J. Madill for 350 yards of metal, carting from Tuakau railway station on to the Tuakau-Whangarata road, at 5i per yard, was declined, the matter being left to the engineer and Cr Fulton. Other contiact9 for which no tender had been received was left to the engineer and the members of the ridings concerned to deal with. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1775 Is lOd were passed for payment,