FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 220, 11 August 1914, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

At The August Meeting.

Those present •at the August meeting of the Franklin County Council, held nt the County Chambers, Pukekohe, on Thursday, were : _Mr C. Motion, Waipipi, in the chair: Crs J. A. Renall, Awhitu; H. Wilcox and Dynes Fulton, Pukekohe ; J. Henry, Mauku ; J. Flanagan, Drury ; Grant Campbell, Hunua ; R. Lyons, Mercer; B. Higginson, Waiuku,

OVERHANGING TREES.

Peter Grant, Papakura, drew attention " to some large pine trees on the Opaheke road, some at Mr Tatton's which hang more than half way over the road and keep it dirty and wet and some more at Mr McCormick's gate which is a very dirty place. If a man were standing up in a cart he would be caught by the branches and pulled off his cart. It is a very dirty place for ladies to get along. Cr Flanagan knows where those trees are.''

The suggestion that Cr Flanagan knew some " nice shady spots," as Cr Lyons put it, provoked genera' merriment.

Cr Flanagan suggested that a reply be sent saying that this matter would be attended to when the Council was dealing with the whole question. It was a bi# thing and there were a great many places in the county and in his own riding which should be looked after.

The chairman said they had power now to pass resolutions calling upon people to cut the trees down.

Cr Renall held that only trees that overhang the road can be ordered to be cut down and not trees that only overshadow the road.

Cr Flanagan thought the whole thing should be done; they should not merely call upon a few to observe the by-law. Cr Lyons moved, That the engineer prepare a report on this question. Several sections along his road were in a very bad state where shaded, and where the hedges were trimmed down the road was quite good. Cr Fulton seconded the motion which was carried.

Cr Renall pointed out that if accident resuUed from the limbs hanging too low the Council, having been notified, would now be responsible. It was left to Cr Flanagan and the engineer to see that this danger is remedied at once.

Cr Fulton reminded the Council of the dead trees at Puni, and Cr. Higginson said these were absolutely dangerous. This matter was also left to the engineer.

FKATT ; S HILL DEVIATION. Ihe county clerk read a letter lie had sent to the Bight Hon. W. F Massey, regarding a proposition the Council contemplated. " The road leading into Ararimu has an exceedingly bad hill, known as Pratt's hill and it is intended to deviate from this hill. The proposed deviation is estimated to cost £SOOO. The settlers interested are anxious that the work be done and are willing to raise a loan of £2500. In fact, preliminr:y steps are being taken with the object of taking a poll of the ratepayers, and I am instiucted to ask you to use your in tluence in obtaining a subsidy of £•2500 towards the work. It is not anticipated that the work will be completed in one year, so the grant could be spread over two years." Mr Massey replied saying that the Minister for Public Works would carefully consider the matter in connection with the Estimates. Discussion on tho question was deferred.

! BEACH BO.VD. The Public Works Department I replied to the Council's proposals for spending £ for £ vote on Beach road, and saying that the item was authorised to be spent by the Drury Road Board, the original applicants for the subsidy. The chairman : There is no Beach road in Drury, is there ? I Cr Fulton (laughing): This is I oae of the votes that Cr Flanagan stole from me. | The chairman (to Cr Flanagan): j I am glad to know that you can look ! after vour district.

WAtEOA 1 ALLS KOAl>.

The Public Works Department, referring to the £IOO grant for Wairoa Fa'ls road, said the road appeared to be a new one and they asked if the road had been duly legalised, On Cr Campbell's suggestion it was decided to advise the Department that negotiations were in progress with the owners ; there was no legal road through there nt present.

THOSE SCORIA H11.1.S

The Pukekohe Borough Council asked the County Council to (o operate with them in ai endeavour to prevent the Auckland scoria hills from being declared scenery reserves, as they were a valuable source of metal supplies which were badly needed in the country districts.

The chairman remarked that if they closed the ecoria pits it would affect the local bodies in Auckland as much as it would here.

Cr Renall expressed the opinion that there was too much tomfoolery going on in Auckland with their " parks and things." It would be all parks and recreatiou res3rves soon. Where it was the only source of metal supply they should prevent them being closed. The Auckland action was one which they should resent. He moved, That this Council have very much pleasure in co-operating with the Borough Council. Cr Fulton seconded. The motion was carried.

Cr Lyons called, No. The ?coria, he said, was no good for roads anyway. Cr Fulton: It's the cheapest metal we have.

Cr Lyons : Cheap and nasty

IUAKAr-IitTKLAXD U"Al>

The secretary of the Tuakau Progressive League wrote asking the chairman to attend a meeting at Tuakau which was to be held to discuss the proposed Tuakau-Buck-land road along the site of the old railway Hue.

Cr Fulton explained that some people now favoured buying the railway site for the purposes of a road. After reconsidering tho matter they were satislied to leave the question over until after tho chairman had been in "Wellington. Ihe chairman related a convcnation he had with Mr Garret about the matter. Portion of the lino near Whangarata had been sold and instructions had been given to pull up certain biidge piers. If the people intended to raise a loan and securo the road they should get the latter work stopped. Cr Fulton said the Railway Department put £IOOO value on tho track—being metul, fencing, etc. They were prepared to let the payment stand over a period of years. The Tuakau people made an offer of £2O, so as to make tho transaction legal. That was refused but it was indicated that if £7OO or £BOO were offered it would be considered. Personally he was not prepared to pay a penny piece, as the road should bo given for the use of tho peopleFinally the matter was lefc in the hands of tho chairman, Crs Fulton, Wilcox and Lvons. lIOGWOOD'S K".U'. It was decided to proceed with the taking of the poll to raise a loan for making Hogwood'a road deviation.

r,n Ki.A.\D u \n is, The secretary of the Buckland Farmers' Union, replying to the Council's derision ie certain Buckland matter?, said : " Your letter in reply to a request from this branch re linger posts and watering accommodation was read. My branch thanks you for your docisi >n re linger but the Union would like a more explicit reason for your not being able to comply with our request re wateiing accommodation, as this is a very important mutter and deseryes the earnest considoiation of the Counci l ." Cr Fulton said he did not know how they were going to get water at Bucklaud. Ho moved, That the engineer inspect and see if the water could bo laid on.—Carried.

A MAXGATAXGI ROA1"

Mr Cheal, surveyor, said the delay with the road from Smith's to Mangatangi was due to the understaffing of the Lands Department. Ho thought a note direct to the head of the Roads Department would hurry matters up. Cr Lyons moved, That the clerk write to the head of the Department. This was a burning question down there. They had a grant of £loo and until the road wit* properly dedicated '.his cot'ld not lie spent. '• Shake them up, - ' lie said. Seconded by Cr Fulton and carried.

Or Lyons moved that steps be taken to have the grant for the ioad from Reid's corner to Mangatangi stream reinstated.—The engineer is to attend to this.

CEMETERIES

W. Gubb, secretary of the Tuakau Cemetery Board, applied for a grant of £2O for the purpose of clearing up the Tuakau cemetery grovuds, repairing the fences, gates, etc. The Board was anxious to have the cemeteiy cleared up before the unveiliug of the monument to the fallen soldiers, which was being erected by the Government and the residents.

Cr Fulton said the grounds had been in a dilapidated condition for a long time. But whilst he was in sympathy with the movement he was sorry he could not recommend the payment of the amount suggested just now. They were going through a crisis and might need to urtail reaily necessary expenditure. He moved that the request bo kept in view but that it bo kept back in the meantime.—Carried. Cr F-lanajau said many cemeteries were iu a disgraceful condition and he wondered whether they should not strike a rate to get them put in order.

Cr Renall wanted to know when the information ho asked for was coming back, whether the Governor would delegate his _ power t» this local body. Cr Henry said that Cr Flanagan was referring to piivate church cemeteries, but he understood that Cr Renall referred to public cemeteries.

Cr Flanagau moved that members for each riding prepaie a list of the cemeteries in their riding, with a view to-having same biought under the Council's control.

Seconded by Cr Heuvy and rnrried.

MONEY RETT UNEU. McCully Bios., Waiuku, iutimatid that the persons who contributed to Waipipi Koal Board towards a proposed road there were :—W" Purchase 10s, T. McGowan 10s, W. McNaughton s<, C Hoirold ss, McCully Bros. £2 ss. At a previous meeting the engineer reported that this road would cost £IOO so that the £4 was useles.'. On tho chairman's motion it was decided to return the money.

WIIATAFAKA DOMAIN'

Intimation was received that the Council had been appointed to control the Whatapaka domain. This domain is in the Waiau parish and contains 120 acres.

A KOAD WANTED

A. J. Kidd, Waiuku, asked if the Council could manage tJ get his side road formed.

This is receiving tho attention of the engineer.

hmi- riuiti'S

Cr Campbell introduced a letter from M>s-ir* S. 11. Judd, E. Wheeler and E. Milbnnk, occupieis of sections 89, 90, 91 and 9S, Patish of Otau, IJiiDua riding, stating that ilioih wd-e nt least one year's thirds in hiind deiived from these sections. The writers said they would like the money spent in continuing tho present 12lt earth formation inwards on die Otau-Iliitiua road, the road giving ticcess to the sections. It was decided to hold the n.atter over pending the reply of tho Public A'oiks Department in respect of the road leading out from Mouuioukai; if the road comes out at the concrete bridge then these thirds are to be spent on the road from the concrete bridge to the Hunua main road.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REIVKT. In the minutes of tho Finance Committee it was reported:

Cr Renall proposed that it lie a recommendation to the Council in face of the serious aspect of affairs, caused by the declaration of war. and the strain upon the banking institutions caused by tho same, that the Council do no works except those absolutely necessary until the crisis is past. Cr Campbell said there was no need for scare or panic but there was a need for going slow. They were hopeful that tho position created would not last long but no one could tell what might be forthcoming. While the Council might have i'ii advance on paper there might be a difficulty in getting the actual money. There was no need to run to excess one way or the other. The report was adopted. CALLING THE ENOINFER. Cr Eenall said ho wanted the engineer to como away to t'ollok. A culvert had broken down and tho people were blocked except by going a roundabout road. Cr Higginson asked that the engineer fix up WaitaDgi hill. It was almost impassable at present.

The chairman said the cream carting contractor had told him that unless something were done to Waitangi hill he would havo to throw up his contract. Tho cutting had slipped and the place was in a very bad state. If it was not convenient for tho engineer to get out at once then Cr Higginson and himself should be authorised to do the work. They could not have all the cream of tho district held up.

The engineer said he would go out next day. Cr Campbell wanted the engineer to make a Hying visit to Hunu-i behind Walker's place. An expenditure of £l2 would do tho work required. Cr Lyons asked that the engineer inspect the Kauri gum reserves that were about to be thrown open The blowhole bridge was finished and could be inspected at tho same time.

Cr Flanagan said that ho would like the engineer to get to Bombay to do certain work before the next meeting.

NoXIotS WEEDS

Cr Henry said the Mauku Farui- ""»' Union wanted the noxious weeds

....peetor to take action in respect of the growths on Piggott's hill. Cr Campbell said he hail been asked to draw the Council's at'ention to the state of the blackberries on certain roaJs.— Ho was given authority to have these cut.

I,V I \WS. The ijif lion "I alloc.tin:; i: ni-ity lan wii>, in view "f tlm w.ir, do fined until next <'< uncil meeting. The dog-t ix luo'.iuii \uih loseu.ded afl 1 fixed at *>s. This means Hint fur this je.ir only 2s 0J will be col- j lected. The proposal about the heavy traffic and width of tyres was revived. Or Campbell raid they ahuu.d reconsider the proposal to add the words "lor biro 1 ' to the by-laws: he suggested that these- words be left out.. Cr Henry said to do tins would cause a lot of trouble for the Council. In his riding this by-luw was particularly obnoxious. Cr Kenall said it was never mtcuded to make the by-laws press upon the farmers. The chairman said lit was fully in accord with everyone complying with the tvro regulations. Cr Wilcox said if they tried to catch the storekeepers they would simply pass it on to the farmers. Cr Henry : Yes, if the goods cost a traction of a penny more it would be an excuse to the retailor to raise the price a full penny. He suggested that this Council should confer with the Borough Council so as tihave their tyre regulations uniform. Iho subject was referred back to tho By-laws Committee.