FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 37, 14 May 1915, Page 3

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting. The usual monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council was held yesterday (Thursday), the members present being Crs J. Flanagan (chairman), U. Motion. 1. J. Lockwo:d, K. Lyons, R. Higgnson, J. A. Renall, T. Woods, J. Henry, H. Willeox, and the clerk, Mr A. P. Day. REPAIRS WANTED. The clerk of the Maungatawhiri Road Board, as directed by that body, wrote drawing the Council's attention to the state of the road at the junction of the Puktkohe road with the Great South ruad, which Kaa stated to be much in need of metal—Referred to the Engineer.

PROPOSED NEW HIGHWAY. A circular letter was received from the Taumaranui Chamber of Commerce inviting the Councils support to the proposed construction of a great central highway from Auckland to Wellington. Cr Motion mentioned that the proposal actually emanated from the Franklin County Council at a conference of local authorities in Auckland, and a depuation at the time waited on the Prime Minister thereon.

Cr Lyons doubted whether the time W3s opportune tor the scheme, as if enthusiasm was now aroused and had to be dropped it might be difficult to re-arouse enthusiasm.

It was resolved to reply that the Council supported the proposal, but suggested that in view of financial stringency in the country it might he better to delay the scheme for the present. AN AWHIIU CLAIM.

Mr A. G. Giles, the clerk to the late Awhitu Road Board, notified the Council that the work on the Awhifu-Pollok road, for which the Council had decided to pay Mr James the sum of £SO as compensation, was comple'ed, and he accordingly asked that Hie amount be paid into th >. Board's accojnt the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland.

Cr Renall said that the Council had decided to pay rompensation on condition that the work should be inspected by himself and the engineer. Thi3 would be done next week and a report would be furnished of the same at the next meeting of the Council.

NEW TAX SUGGESTED. A circular letter was received from the Southland County Council inviting the Council's support to a resolution passed by the Southland Council, viz.:—"lhat this Council is of the opinion that motor vehicles should be taxed, and considers that the only fquitable way of levying a tax is on tyres. That this Council ia also of opinion that the Government should collect the tax and distribute it pro rata between local bodies, a larger proportion to be paid to Cuunty Councils and Road Boards than to Borough Councils." Cr Henry expressed his inability to fall in with the proposal. He failed to see why drays, and traps should rot be taxed and motor cars made the exception. The Government received an ample taxjon motor cars from benzine, etc. Cr Lockwood agreed with the previous speaker's remarks.

Cr Renall was of the opinion that more often than not motor car owners paid large sums away in rates. If he had a motor car and was taxed he would expect owners of vehicles, which were doing much more damage to roads than motor car?, should alio be taxed. No action was taken. HOSPITAL BOARD CALL. Particulars of the rateable capital value of the district as at March 31st, 1914, as returned by the Valuation Department, was torwarded by the secretary of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Bosrd. The value as stated was £2,734,828, and the Board intimated their intention to make their call on that basis.

PUKEKOHU-WAIUKU ROAD. In reply to a communication sent from the County Council drawing the Pukekohe Borough Council's attention to the necessity of repairing the Pukekohe-Waiuku road from the dairy factory to Waiuku road, within the borough, a letter was received from the Borough Council stating that temporary rwpairs would be put in hand, but the road required regrading and reforming, and as the greater part of the traffic over it came from the County district a request was made that the County should contribute towards putting the road in proper order.—Cr Lyons remarked that many other authorities would make similar claims on the County if the request was acceded to.—lt was decided to reply that the County could not eee its way to give financial assistance as asked.

Another letter dealing with the Pukekohe-Waiuku road was recevied from the Waiuku Chamber of Commerce, which body pointed out that owing to the bad state of the road it was prcbable that the motor services between Pukekohe and Waiuku would have to be discontinued altogether unless the loads were much improved.—Cr Mclion mentioned that patching work was being carried out on the road and the clerk was instructed to reply that as fai as funds permitted the road would be kept in repair. 'IHE WAIUKU POUND. Advice waa received from the Waiuku Town Board to the. effect that a poundkeeper had beeo appointe) in charge of the public pound at Waiuku, at a salary of £ls per annum. It was suggested that as the pound would be of great convenience to a large portion of tbe County and as the tees would not be very material the Council should assist towards the poundkeeper's salary. Cr Motion said he for one was not prepared to contribute to the j poundkeeper's salary out of monies i collected in his riding.

Cr Henall considered that it was a matter for the Finance Committee to deal with. The letter was formally received. A MISSING PLAN. The clerk of the Karaka Road Board wrote enquiring whether the Council was in possession of a plan of the road through sections 12G and 139, parisn of Karaka, the plan having been forwarded tu the Council in Febr&ary of last year. The clerk was instructed to make enquiries.

SERVICES APPRECIATED. The clerk reported the receipt of documents, etc., from Mr F. J. Wootten, clerk cf the defunct Paparata Koad Board, and a resolution was passed expressing aprecihtion ot the expeditious and able manner in which Mr Wootten had completed the affairs of the Board before handing over the books to the Council. BOUNDARY LINE DIFFICULTY. Messrs Brookfield and Schnauer, solicitors, wrote on behalf of Mr T. G. Bryan, of Graham's Beach, Auckland, asking for the Council's assistance towards getting a boundary lire defined. It was explained that delay hid arisen through certain action on the part cf the Survey Department. Cr Re. all and the engineer were requested to visit and report.

ROAD DEDICATION MATTERS. Messrs Edmund Mahoney and Sons, solicitors, forwarded a dedication relating to a portion of the Fukekohe East main road, situate about half way between the school and the creamery, and asked that it be signed and returned to them so that it would show as a public road on Mr J A. Comiie's title.—Cr Wilcox recocted that although tot legally dedicated the road had been in public use for several years.— The clerk was instructed to carry out the dedication formalities. A letter was received from solicitors acting- for Mr William Ganderton, of Buckland, in reference to the dedication of a diverted, road on his property.-It was decided to ask tor further particulars as the letter was not sufficiently explicit. PATUMBOE TO WAIAU.

The District Engineer wrote acceding to the req'iest of tin Council in respect of expenditure on tha construction ot a bridge and approaches on the Patumahoe to Waiau straight ro:d. and intimating that on approval of plans the £250 grant would be available. BLACK BRIDGE, KARAKA.

Mr J. Batty, chairman of the Karaka Road Board, wrote drawing the Councils attention to the dangerous condition of the Black bridge on th 3 main County road from Karaka to Waiao. The bridge, he said, urgently required redecking.—Cr Henry stated that the engineer had the matter in hand, and the work of re-decking the bridge was teing attended to.—The clerk was instructed to reply acco dingly. BACK BLOCKER'S TROUBLE. Mr W. S. Pollock, of Hunua, comdained to the Coucc I that although he had been paying rates for the past 4'J years he had no access by road to his sections.—Cr Lockwood stated that there were anout one dozen sections in the Hunua district that had to roads of access, and he knew of no other district anywhere that was bo badly off. He had sooken to 'the Prime Minister thereon and had suggested that the Government should assist the settlers.—The letter was referred to the chairman and Cr Lockwood to ascertain what could be done in the matter. A STRIKE DISCLAIMED.

With respect to the increase of wages from 9& to 10s a day claimed by and acceded to the workers engaged on the Council's stonecruphing plant, fa letter was received from the men stating that therewas no foundation for the report in the paperß that a strike was intended.—The chairman reported that as a reply was asked for by a certain date he had conEulted various members and had egreed to the increaed rate of pay sought. Owing to the nature of the work he considered that the Council would in future have to pay 103 a day instead of 9s.—Ttn letter was received and the chairman's action was confirmed. OTHER BUSINESS.

A lengthy agenda included many other matters of interest, the reports of which either appear under separate headings or are held over for publication in our next issue. FINANCES. The clerk reported:— County Fund Account.—The overdraft at the Bank at tins date amounts to £5975 5s sd. There are unpresented cheques for £ll IBs, making the total debit balance £5987 5s sd. Accounts payable from this account amount to £B3B lis 7d.

The balance aheet for the year ended 31st March last is not yet ready for audit, and until it is marie up the riding balances cannot finally be fixed, Taking the balances forward from my last month's report the debit balances are, approximately, a3 follows:—Awhitu riding £99 15s 9d, Drury riding £1066 Is lid, flunua riding 1066 5s 4d, Mauku riding £1428 10s 2d, Mercer riding £l2O 13s 3d, Pukekohe riding £IO6O 19s 2d, Waiuku riding £llßl 4s. Waipipi riding £637 0s 6d.

"Government Grant Account.—The debit balance at the Bank on this account is £478 5a JO, and accounts payable amount to £6OB 18s lOd. The whole sum is recoverable from the Public Works Department. Interest and Sinking Fund Account.—The creuit balance at the Bank amounts to £73 15s 7d, and there are interests payable amounting to £Bl 2s sd. Hunua Riding Loan Account.— The credit balance at the Back is £2?.6 lis 9d.

Needles Wharf Loan Account.— Tbe credit balance at the Bank la £149 6s 3d.

The report was adopted and accounts as stated therein were passed for payment.