DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 258, 22 December 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

r MERCER. TOWN BOARJ'S POWERS. At the meeting of the Franklin County Council on Thursday lait, Messrs G. Morgon and H. Valentine (members of the Mercer Town Board), together' with Mr P. N. King (clerk) and Mr W. C. Pickett, waited op the Council with reepzct to the powers to be delegated by the Council to the newly-fYrmed Town Board.

Cr Lyons stated that as the result of a conference he had held with Mr Morgon, chairman of the Town Board, an agreement had been arrived at with the exception that clause 6 of the same was left over for discussion. The terms of the agreement were as follows: 1. That the old Road Board's office be" available for the Town Board's use, the Board to keep it in good order and repair. 2. That the Town Board take over the full coutrol and responsibility for the [upkeep of all roads within the Town Board's area, subject to the condition that the Council impose no rates on the Towu Board's area. 3. That the Town Board collect the special Ball rate on toe special lean area within the Town Board's area, and pay the same over to the county on January Ist of every year daring the currency of the Eaid loan less the cost of collecting. 4. That the full control and management of the Ball be vested in the Town Board, the Council to pay to the Board the nett proceeds of the present quarter. ■5. That the current county rate over tfce Town. Board's area be paid over to the Town Board as collected, less cost of collecting. 6. That the Council enter into an agreement with Butler and Co. upon the same lines and conditions as, contained in the e*isting agreement with the late Mercer Road Board (more particularly stating that the Council is to obtain the same, 'concessions upon metal used * for county works within the county as were granted to the Mercer Road Board for works within the road district) and subject to such agreement being duly executed the Council to permit the Board to control and manage the quarry and to collect and retain for its own ose the royalty to be paid by Butler and Co. for all metal taken as per the terms of the agreement, the sum of £2OO paid by Butler and Co. aa advance on royalty and now held by the be refunded to the Board in instalments of £25 as the metal is disposed of until the £2QP is absorbed when the county shall pay direct to the Board. 7. The Council to make arrangements to have ftntrol of the cemetery vested in the Board, the repairs to the fence already authorised by the Council to be carried out forthwith by the Council. Mr Butler, who was present with the deputation, expressed his inability to fall in with the terms of clause 6, He would be willing, he said, to supply metal at the price agreed upon from the quarry for the radius of the old Road Board but not an unlimited quantity for other parts of the county. In the subsequent discussion it appeared there was a doubt as to the "validity of the lease given by the Road Board to Messrs Butler. Mr Pickett remarked that inasmveh as the quarry was vested as a reserve in "the local governing . body " the. latter words were to be construed as now meaning the Mercer Town Board and not the County Council, who really had no jurisdiction over it. The chairman contended that as the Road Board had merged into the oounty the Council took the Board's place as the local governing body and, further, the Town Board had no claim in that way by reason of its population being less than 500. Cr Motion stated that it was evident that a deadlock Lad been reached in regard to the ownership of the quarry and under such circumstances he proposed that the whole matter be deferred pending legal advice to be taken by the Council on the status of the Council as the " local governing body." Cr Lyons seconded and the resolution was agreed to.

At the meeting of the Franklin County Council last Thursday it was agreed that Mr G. E. Morgan (chairman of the Mercer Town Board) should temporarily act as trustee of the Mercer Town Hall and have charge of the lettings of the building. Further, the Council decided to raise no objection to the usual practice being carried out of barricading the roadway at Mercer on the occasion of the annual regatta on January 29th next.

DRURY. The Mission Fund Box belonging to the Drury Young Men's Bible Class was broken open during the last few days and the contents (amounting approximately to 10/-) were stolen. The thief evidently gained admission through a window.