FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 124, 22 December 1915, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting.

The usual monthly meeting of the above authority was held yesterday. Present: Crs J. Flanagan (chairman), R Lvons, T. Lock wood, R. Higginson, J. Henry, T. Woods, together with the clerk (Mr A - P. Day) a».d the engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur). An apology for absence was received from Cr Renall. A "CROOKED" ROAD. The Papakura Town Board forwarded a letter from Mr E Yates relative to the road forming the approach on the Papahura side to the Karaka Board's new bridge, and the Board expressed the hope that some improvement would be effected. Mr Yates, in his communication, styled the road as "crooked" as it had several turns in a short distance.

The chairman explained that the Karaka Road Board took the road over under the Public Works Act frun Messrs Tylden and Spiers. No satisfactory improvement could be made to it without heavy expenditure, and that the Council could not undertake at the present time. The engineer intimated that although the road was " very crooked " it could be straightened, but he could not give an estimate offhand to put it in order. It was resolved, on CrLockwood's motion, to forward a reply stating that the Council realised tbe importance of the suggestion and that the matter would be kept in view. It was further decided that the chiirman and engineer should inspect the road when next they were in the vicinity. The Chairman remarke l that the concrete abutment of the bridge was breaking away.

Cr. Lyons considered that as the Council would have to shoulder the burden later and as they had no desire to take over a "rotten" bridge the Karaka Road Board should be requested to draw the contractor's attention to it.

It was resolved that the Engineer should do this Cr. Henry remarking that the architect would never pass the bridge. THE AKA AKA DRAINS. Mr W. J. King, clerk to the Aka Aka Drainage Board, wrote informing the Council that his Board contemplate! making improvements to their drainage system and desired permission to take three feet off the eastern bank of the western drain from the Aka Aka creek to the Creamery, four feet from the Creamery to section 214, and four feet from the eastern bank of the eastern drain from Arrowville junction to the angle of section 238.

Cr. Higginson spoke iu favour of granting the necessary permission. Cr. Lyons proposed that the matter should be leit to the Engineer and Cr. Higginson. The Engineer considered it would be advisable for the Chairman and himself to first inspect the proposed improvements and then to submit a report thereon. It might be a serious matter he said, to widen tho drains as they were already of a fair width while the roads adjoining were on the narrow side. Cr. Lyons amended his proposal to read accordingly snd it was adopted. BOUNDARY REVISION. An offer to pay the sum of £152 in settlement af adjustment of finances over the borough roads to be transferred to the County was-re-ceived from the Pukekohe Borough Council on the understanding that the change was to tqke place forthwith.

It was decided on Or. "Wood's approval to accept the Council's offer, the Clerk to reply accordingly and to ask for payment, on the receipt 'of which, the Eogineer would ijiako preparations for meking necessary improvements to the roads. PENSIONS FOE SOLDIERS. The Petone Borough Council invited the County's support to a resolution they had passed urging the Government to so amend the Pensions Act as to pay out all pensions without deductions being made of any kind. The chairman said that he did not understand the Pensions Act well enough to support the resolution. Cr Henry understood from the Pensions Act that the dependents of those killed and wounded in the war were not certain that the rate as fixed would remain the same for all time, and considered it would be advisable to have a fixed sum so that it could not be reduced. He proposed, and it was carried unanimously, that support should be given to the first portion of the resolution, but not the latter part suggesting that Parliament should be called together to discuss the matter. AWHITU BEACH In reply to a communication sent by the Council asking ior permission to take shell from the Awhitu beach, in the Manukau Harbour, for road purposes without payment of royalty, a letter was received from the Marine Department stating that the Harbour was vested in the Auckland Harbour Boartf, to whom aplication should be njade.

The chairman proposed an 4 Cr Henry seconded that the necessary application shoa|d be made.— Carried.

EXTRAORDINARY TRAFFIC A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works acknow r ledging the receipt of the Council's request tor damage caused by heavy traffic to be made good on the roads used by the Public WorKs Department in connection with the construction of the Waiuku railway. The Minister stated that he was having the matter investigated, but was informed that there was at present no apparent damage to the roads in question.' the M)nu : ter went on to'say that in regard to a contribution towards the cost rf keeping the roads in order the Governnjeftt, by constructing the railway, was providing something that would relieve the Council for all time of considerable expense jn the maiijtenapce of thg roads, end he C3njd not accordingly entertain the Council'? application, Cr Henry considered that the reply wai unsatisfactory, and stated

that in other portions uf the Doanion the Department made good damage for wbich they were responsible. The Council Dad repaired the damage and it' should accoordiigly be reinbutsed. Be moved that a reply be forwarded accordingly. Cr Lyons cuppnrted the moticn, and suggested (hat the engineer might state the amount ot the Carnage done. "That letter," he said, "is a 'red herring.' " Cr HiggioEoi intimated that tbe main road ti the Waitangi, in the Waiuku riding, had alio beeu damaged by extra heavy traffic on it, 8s a result of tbe Public Worka Department's operations. Cr Lyons moved as an amendment thst the matter be left to Cr Henry, the engi.ieer and cl3rk to go into and submit a reply to tin Department.

The amendment was accepted bj Cr tienry and carried. COUNCIL AS DEFENDANTS Messrs Jackaon, Russell, Tanks and Ostler formally notified tbe Council that they were taking legal proceedings against Ihe Council in respect ot a fence atd gate obstruction on a toad at Awhitu, comolahcd of in a petition reeenMy aent to the Council by Mr W Douglas and 28 other persons. The chairman proposed that the clerk should forward a reply asking Messrs Jackson, Kuessll, Tunks and OstUr to serve the notice on the Council's solicitor.

Cr Lvona seconded the mothr, remarking that the Council abosld stand firm in the matter. The propoaal was adapted. MIRANDA'S CLAIM FOR RECOGNITION A letter was received fom Mr G H Stubba, of Mangatangi, claiming that in tbe Miranda portion of tbe outlying district of the Hnnua riding the rates levied for thi three years ending next March bad amounted to £897 and deducting £176 for management expenses left a balance of £720, out of which w?rks only to the extent ot £l6O (exclusive of Go«ernment grants) had been cariied oat bv the Council. He maintained that there was no community of interest between that portion of the district ard the late Hunua Road Dhtrict, where he understood the bulk of the expenditure had tiken place, and he asked that the interests of the Miranda district should be studied.

The clerk reported that by instructions of ihe chairman and Cr Lockwood be bad informed Mr Stubbs that tti3 Council intended prosacutitig wrt'l in bia district and that tendera had already been called for cne ccnt'act, viz.. toad formation starting at the jonctioo . of the Mangatangi-Miranda road and terminating at the beginning of the portion of the road already formed. Be bad also pointed oat to Mr Stubbs that he (Mr Stubbs) had over-stated the amount of rate recepts by £74. MISCELLANEOUS Mr B Veoland, ot Paparimu, wrote calling attention to the dangerous state of the road from the foot of Price'a Bill to the factory at the junction of Bappy Valley road, one of the bridges thereon, he said, being also decayed.—Cr Lockwood stated that (he engineer and h 3 hid given instructions for the wotktir be prcceeded with, and on bis suggestion it was agreed that a reply should be forwarded accordingly. Mr C W Short, of Awbitu Central, applied for permission to * liy a water-pipe acrots the rosd trom section 20 to section 24, Awbitu Koad District.—Permission was granted, subject to the pipe beinic laid in accordance with Conditions to be stipulated bj ths engineer. . s

Mr T Chrhti", oi Bombay, applied for repairs to be put in band on ths road adjoiuing bis property.—Left to the chairman and engineer to deal with. A ptetitioa wai received from Messrs J Land, E C Aehwin, B Lowe, C J West, H M Lowe, 4 Creighton, and A J Lowe calling attention to the bad state of she road leading from Mor ley's corner to Asbwin't at the intersection ot tbe Waiuku • Drury road.—Cr Higgioson: This la the road I referred to as having been cat op by the operations of the Pn6)ie Works Department.—On Cr Lyona' * proposal the matter was left to Cr Higginson and tbe engineer to deal with. 3 -

On the motion of Cr Lyons it was resolved that the engineer should* have the Koheroa road legalised and the ground adjoiniog surveyed, so that an unexpended balance of £3O, together with "thirds," could be expended in making a deviation there. Ihe matter of a bridge over tbe Aka Aka stream that required redecking and the nceeasity of forming half a mils of road in the Aka Aka was left to Cr Bigginsoo and tbe engineer to attend to. Cr Woods enquired when the Government grants would be available.—The clerk stated that be bad not received a reply to tbe applications submitted.—On Cr Lyons' proposal the clerk was instructed o renew the applications after the holidays. \

On the motion of Cr Henry It was agreed, subject to the Council having the necessary power, to grant Mr J Wansbone a yearly lease of the Landing Reserve at Waiau Pa. Tbe rental was fixed - at £2 10a per annum, the lessee to pay all the back rates and keep the noxioijs weeds down.

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR The engineer reported that ha was experiencing a difficulty in obtaining contractors owing to tin shortage of labour. Tenders were called but none were received. Work In connection with the Needles Whait was accordingly among the undertakings "hqrig up" on that account "HAPPY VALLEY" AGAIN Further reference to the disabilities suffered by the backblocks dwellers of Happy Valley came under the Council's notice. Mr C Home, ot Papatata, wrote that there was a danger even ot a person oa horseback getting bogged on the road in front ot Mr Ross* property. A petiton, signed by Messrs G D Smith and twelve other ratepayers, also st forth that |;be road was impassable even o6w in pecember and' they (the ratepayer*) ijad to pasi through private property to get in arid pot of ihejr fartps. They claimed that |t wag the worst piece ot rpad }n the _ County.—The engineer was in? structed to submit a report on tfce road.

A RATEPAYER'S THREAT

"I will hold the Council rrapunsibla for any accidert that bapptrs cfter December 13th through the daunt reus giatv cf the road," waa a i.otiticn'ion received from Mr D Smith, of Manid«ille, respecting the road leading from the mum road to hie property two of hia horses having been injured therton. Cr Wilcox said he waa quite aware that the road was in a very bad state. It was a track fifteen feet wide and the only one they had. It would take a month to make a job of it. He added that 'he hod arranged for the settlers to phegh it acd for the Council's surfaceman to level it off The ■(tilers had intimated their desire to h?*va a 1-an raised for the woik. Cr Wiicox'n ection was approved, and on Cr Lyons' proposil it waa deed d that the Council tlruld ainst the applicants in raising a loan, if they so desired, at same futu e date. HOGWOODS' DEVIATION A letter was received from Mr H U R Mjsop, solicitor, stating that his client, Mr Hogwrod, would accept the sum of £7O offered him by the Council for compersatioa for . land required for Hngwood's deviation, ard suggesting that the Council should pay all the legal expenses in c nnection with the dedicaticn thereof, etc. The clerk rotated out that the expenses would be practically nil. H The chairman repurted that Crs Henry, Woods and he met Mr \ Hog Rood on the property and went " over the road, which would so right through the property. He was pleased that a satisfctory settlement had been arrived at and that the work would be proceeded witb. Cr Henry lhar.ked Cr Woods and the chairman for inspecting the road, and also for settling the matter to satisfactorily. On bis motion it was agreed '.hat the amount due to Mr Hogwood should be passed for payment and the matter closed as far as the purchasms thereof was concerned and that the work shun Id be put in hand so that it coold be pioc;edcd with.