MANAKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 106, 10 November 1915, Page 3

MANAKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

The monthly meeting of tbe Manukau County Council was held yesterday in Auckland, the members present being Crs H. R. Mackenzie, chairman, A. I). Bell, J. C. Bryant, A. Muir, J. PearEO", A. E. Hattaway and Alex Bell, clerk.

MARAETAI-'JLEVEUON ROAD. The District Engineer wrote stating that he had previously notified that he had been advised that it had been decided to clnse th* road along the foreshore adjacent to Noble's magazine, but. that he had since been informed that the Prime Minister has decided that tbe road round the foreshore is not to be closed.

Regarding an enquiry as to whether the Public Works Department would allow any of the money provided for the formation of the Maraetai-Clevedon road being expended in clearing slips, the Premier wrote stating that it had been ascertained that the total quantity nf slips which required removal would only cost about £l7 10s at the magazine end and the same sum further eastward. The clearance of slips, he wrote, is purely maintenance work artd therefore the vote is not available for the purpns?. However, he was making further representations in tbe matter.

A deputati n waited upon the Council relative to the road deviation, which, upon being ir,form?d that ihe proposal would not be gone on with by the Government, asked whether the Council could not legalise the road in some way, so that the Government could not turn round in years to come and carry out its proposal. Tbe settlers now felt insecure and requested the Council to send its protest to the Government.

The chairman said thit the letter was not a promise by the Premier, but was a resolution of the Public Works Department, which could be taken bs final. The settlers also asked lor a culvert on the Maractai road.- It whs decided t> ask for authority to expend the £l5O, £ lor £, grant lor the road. MANUKEWA FOOTPATHS.

F. E. White wrote stating that he had interviewed the settlers interested and each had agreed to pay £2 per chain towards the cost of footpaths fronting their propertics. He trusted that the work wruld be proceeded with as soon as possible. FOREMAN'S REPORT.

Tho foreman reported as under: 1 inspected the dai;;age done by Smith's traction engine in the Wniron riding, from Papakura to Clevedon, and find there was a deal of damage done thrcugh overloading on tyres under the standard width. When I called the contractor agreed to have the work put in the hands of the County surfaceman, he to bear the cost.

Kc spawls tor metal lor the Government grant on the Great South road, Papakura riding, 1 have arranged wiih G. Thompson to delivet spawls on the ground ready tor crushing it 5s fid per cuhic yard, to tic crushed by the County plant. He now has the work in hand.

I have not yet had time to prepare the different costs of the two deviations on the Brookby-Whitford hill.

1 recently inspected the Kawakawa Hay to Hauraki Stream road, and found an cld deviation rcquir ing to he formed from the Wairoa Road Board's boundary. It has been washed out, and is dangerous for vehicles. The distance is about

30 chains.—The foreman was instructed t'i put the work in hand. 1 submit a report on the portion of the Wairoa Kaal Board's road, known as the Mataitai road, a distance of about 5J miles, that it wts tuggested should be taken over by the Council to connect with tbe County roads. This road is of good grade, having all been formed. A big improvement could be made to Ihe Nees Valley end of the road by deviating through Quinn's property. This will improve the grade and shorten the distance. The bridges are all in fair condition for a byroad. Good metal can be obtained in three places, two pits being on the roadsidf, and one half a mile distant. —Cr bell stated that he was arranging for a man to do a fortnight's work on tbe road alluded to.