FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 244, 3 November 1914, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Meeting of Members. A general meeting of members of the Franklin County Council was held at the county offices, Pukekohe, on Thuraday, present: Mr W. Claud Motion (chairman), Waipipi; Crs H. Wilcox, Dynes Fulton, Pukekohe; J. Flanagan, Drury; R. Lyons, Mercer; Grant Campbell, unua; R. Higginson, Waiuku; J, A. Rcnall, Awhitu; J. Henry, Mauku. METAL ALONGSIDE ROAD. The clerk of the Karaka Road Board protested against the Council placing spawls on the road by McPherson'a bridge. The Board considered that stone-breaking should not be done on the road at all by machinery, still less on the aide against Mr McPhersoti's fence as it would be worse for horses to shy into the gully opposite than into the fence. To this the chairman (Mr Batty) added a letter saying that it was not intended to ask the Council to remove the spawls. The facts were that several, ratepayers complained strorgly of the upawla being so close to the bridge, and it would be better to have the traffic stopped whilst breaking was in progress. Cr Flanagan said he would have to shoulder some responsibility in connection with this matter. They had considerable difficulty last year about getting spawls on io the roads, so it was drcided to get the Bpawls on to the roads in time this year a:id he pointed out where the iretal could go. On the South ro9d they were crushing metal under worse conditions thin these wtre. The coach-driver said the heaps did aot cause much trouble getting past. He moved that a reply be sent saying that tbe engine-driver had been instructed to use all care when vehicles were passing. Cr Henry said it had seemed to him that the spawls were In a dangerous place but after hearing Cr Flanagan he would second the motion.—Carried. GUM DIGGING ON ROADS. G. Govorko, Puni, offered £lO for the sole right of digging for gum on the unused portion of Tramway road opposite Potter's property, consisting of an acre, 12 chains long by a chain wide. The boles made in digging operations would be filled up and spread over the same space from which it bad been dug. Cr Kenall: We can't do it.

Cr Henry said they could. The Road Board previously allowed it and the road was left in better order afterwards and traffic was not at all impeded. He thought the ratepayers would be very well satisfied if the £lO were accepted and spent upon the road opposite. Cr Wilcox said if (he digging were left like it was at Roulston's it would be dangerous. Cr Loyns sail he also thought it serious tor the road to be dug leaving soft spots. He suggested that if the gum were left it would be an asset in the sale of the half chain width of road. Cr Campbell said they had refused applications of a similar nature. The occupation by a digger might interfere with ths sale of the land when the time came to sell the road.

Being aaked, the engineer said an this was a two-chain road the digging would r.ot hurt. Finally, the matter was referred to the engineer who is to inspect and report. HUNUA ROAD.

G. W. Fowldi wrote saving that the Council was claiming a road through allotment 10, parish of Hunua, by virtue ot use for 21 years. . . The old bullock track which is claimed will not give anything like the best grade for a road through the property which could be obtained and therefore it would probably be better for the Council, for the settlers behind, and for the owners if a proper road were defined and arranged for before any money was thrown away on the old bullock track. On behalf of the owners he gave the assurance that no difficulties would be created to prevent a satisfactory adjustment io the interests of all concerned. One councillor remarked that he did not know that the "Honourable George" was a land owner. "Oh, yes," said another, "and the place is covered with blackberries." W. S. Pollock, Hunua, referred at length to a report in the "Times" of October 6th regarding the road. His reason for objecting wai that he was giving, for nothing, nearly 8s much land as it was proposed to pay compensation to Mr Shaoahan. He urged that if there was any legal right to claim that track there was a much stronger one for opening up the road to the properties on the road giving accjfs to him and others. He asked the Council to go into the matter thoroughly; no doubt all would be pleased to have a road with an easy grade and cheap compared to paying heavy compensation tu one and nothing to others. Cr Campbell said it was possible that no one in Hunua knew more about these roads and tracks thau Mr Pollock. The speaker then proceeded to fully explain what the facts of the case were, aod concluded by suggesting that as the matter could not be dealt with by this Council it should be left over. ROAD AT NEEDLES. Mr lockie wrote r: a fence running up the centre of the road leading to his section at the Needles. —The engineer is to inspect, • arid if he deems it necessary notice is to be given to the adjoining owners to have the fence moved back. HORSES ON THE ROAD. E. T. Frost, Tuakau, complained that there were several Maori horses on the roads near the river. "Can you come and round them up or do we have to bring them over'.'" asked the writer. Cr Fulton said the writer was the very worst offender himself He believed that Mr Frost had three horses and three cows feeding en the road. Cr Campbell: These horses arc eaiing his feed then. Cr l''ulton jaid that on the top side of tho road there were springs and the cattle in getting to water broke the stulf down into the watertables which increased the cost of upkeep. Cr Renall pointed out that the Act Hives anyone power to impound; j if Mr Frost was aggrieved he should round these horses up himself. Cr Wilcox said he certainly thought these cattle should be ; cleared olf as the water-tables were ! KOtliiitf Id irked up. It was derided to lo Mr Frost that hj» himself should impound tho horses.

POKENO ROADb. M. J. Priedlander, Pokeno, asked the Council to take certain land for roada and to hand certain otbar roada back in lieu thereof. He requested, in view of the saving that would be effected, that the Council ahould bear the necessary legal expenses. (Jr Lyons aaid the roads wore now in the wrong place und it would be an advantage to the Council to accept Mr Iriedlander's offer. The request waa granted. CONTRACTS. A number of tenders were he IJ over or declined. Amongat those dealt with were:— Contract 72, 600 yards metal.— P. Parry, £lB7 10s; Spencer, Brown and Home, £lB7 10s; McShecn Bros., £l5O. This contract was cut down to 300 yarda and McShem Bios, conttact accepted at 6a per yard. Contract 82, McPike and Short, £107; McEwan and Wcstbead, £134 17a; Gleeson and Jones (accepted), £93 5s Ud. Contract 83. J. J. Madill, £135 8a 4d (accepted). (To be continue]).