FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 154, 10 March 1916, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting The ordinary monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council was held yesterday, the members present being Crs J Flanagan (chairman), W. C. Motion. K. Lyons, H. Wilcox, E. Higginson, T. W. Woods and J. Henry, with the clerk (Mr Alan P. Day) and the engineer (Mr J. F. McAithur.) EXPENDITURE 01- GRANTS. A letter was received from the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) acknowledging receipt of particulars of items of the appropriations with the expenditure of which the Council desired to be entrusted as verbally explained to him by a deputation on the occas ; on of his recent visit to Pukekohe. Mr Massey promised that he would take an early opportunity of conferring with the Minister of Public Works and would advise the Council later in regard to the matie:. JAMILSONS KOAD LOAX. The State Advances Office wrote approving of the Council's application for a loan of £IOO for forming and metalling Jamieson's Road, JBuckland. It was resolved to ask the ratepayer to sign the nec2B3ary petition (ONTROL 01' DOMAINS. Correspondence was received from the Department of Lands asking whether the Council were prepared to accept control cf tho Awhitu and Drury Domains, which were formerly controlled respectively by the Awhitu and Drury Eoad Boards now merged in the County. —Held over pending Lr Kenall's approval PAPARIMU TO MAUNGATAWHIRI. A letter was received from the District Engineer in regard to the vote for the road Paparimu to Maungatawhiri. He stated that 9'5 chains of formation had so far been completed at a cost of £532 and 194 chains still remained to be formed, estimated to cost £I4OO or £9OO mor« than available funds. The Department, the writer said, understood from Mr Campbell, when he represented the Hunua riding, that the County had set aside £4OO for the work and he askoc 1 what turn wou'd be forthcoming from the Council. It was resoled to reply that any promises made by Mr Campbell were unofficial and that no rates were available fur the work SEA SHELL FOR UOADS. In respect of the Council's application to remove shell from Manukau Harbour the Aucklaud Harbour Board wrote that material could only be removed from places indicated by the Mauukau Harbourmaster and royalty at the rate of 6d per load (two yards) would have to be paid. u-lasson's creek juudgk. The clerk to the Karaka Eoad Board advised the Council that his Board had no money available for contribution to the work at Glasson's Creek bridge. AN OPAHEKE SUBSIDY. In regard to the subsidy of £4O offered by the Opaheke Eoad Board towards the cost of forming and grading Markham's Hill, Ararimu, the Board wrote that they could not accede to the Council's request for the subsidy to be transferred to assist in crushing and spreading metal above the creamery. The Opaheke district, it was explained, was divided into three wards and it was tho rule to expend all revenue in the respective wards from which it was collected. The Board was, however, willing to transfer the subsidy to forming and grading that length of main road (about 1chains) immediately past Markham's Hill. The engineer was instructed to proceed with the work as suggested by the Opaheke Board MERGING NOT ENTERTAINED. The clerk to the Maungatawhiri Eoad Board notified the Council in reply to the latter's communication on the subject that his Board did not intend to merge iu the County for the present. Cr Lyons mentioned that the decision as received only concerned the Maungatawhiri Board, but a meeting of ratepayers would te held to consider the matter a joint rorxn. A letter was received from the Papakura Town Board inviting the Council to appoint a representative to deal with matters relative to the approved joint pound and ranger. Letter received A CULVERT OBSTRUCTION. Mr B. W. Johns, of Mauku, forwarded a complaint in respect of willow-trees cut by telephone linesmen causing water from tho culvert opposite his property to back up on to his laud, and asking that the obstruction should bo reuiovod. The clerk reported that ho had forwarded a copy of Mr Johns' letter to the Postal and Telegraph Department, and pointing out that similar trouble hud been caused in other places he had asked that more caro should be taken in the matter. A NEW ROAD. Mr F. A. Oillott, of Koho Kobe, advised the Council that he was willing to accept compensation at the rate of £7 per aero for laud lielonging to him required for a new road,

EXPENDITURE IX WAR TIME. A protest was received from Mr P. Holt, of To Puriri, Papakura, in respect of the contract advertised by the Council for forming and culverting 24 chains of McLennan's Hill ' road, Papakura. He was, he said, , probably the party most interested in the road as its chief user, and he considered that the work should stand over until the end of the war was in sight and finance was easier. The road he considered, was in better condition now than it had been for the last seven years and would suffice for some time. In face of warnings for economy he thought only urgent works should be undertaken. No action was taken XOXIOU3 WEEPS. A letter was receivod from the Pokeno Eoad Board calling the Council's attention to the growth of gorse on the Great South road near the Pokeno cemetery, the sections from which it had spread being the property of absentee owners. Tbe clerk reported that he had inserted a notice in the newspaper to oifending owners, and he intended to serve lurtter notices id rtgatd to cases reported to him It was agreed to have the ruad cleared immediately, the cost to be charged against the properties A I'UXI ( O.Uri AINT. Mr W. E. Harvie, of Puni, wrote calling the Council's attention to the state of Walker's road, Puni, which was badly in need of repair. The grade, he said, was a dangerous one and the mud-hole at the bottom of the hill was even moro dangerous. The engineer wrs instructed to inspect and report on the road WATER OVER-IXOWIX<;. A le'ter was received from Mr S. Howe, junr., of Mauku, asking for steps to be taken to prevent the tlow of water from the rotd on to Lis property, as otherwise he would hold the Council responsible for any damage he suffered It was agreed that the member for the ndmg and the engineer should have the matter attended to IiAIK-HLOI KEK 7 S DU-TH ULTIES. "At present the only means of access to my property is a track overgrown with ti-tree, onding with a plank over a soft-bottom creek I have paid my rates and I want reasonable access to my property/' The foregoing formed the wording of a plea received from Mr Alex Campbell, of Water Park, Awhitu, for consideration by the Counei! of his difficulties. , It was decided, subject to the , approval of Cr Kenall, to adviss the applicant to apply to the Lands : Department lor access, as the Council could not undertake to provide to Crown lands >EXXLEKs' PETinOX. A petition was received from Messrs E. Gillon, K. B. Carpentor, ' A. Franklin, F. Klarich, W. Waller, ' J. Gillon, S. A. Hensworth and L. ' N. Zinzan, of Mauku, complaining of the dangerous state of Tramway road, on the Puni flat, fronting the ( properties of Messrs Murray, Klarich and Waller. It wa3 decided to place the ' matter of formation in the hands oi Mes3is Woods, Henry atd ' Higginson and the engineer, with ' authority to expend £2OO on such ' work as they deerred necessary, 1 such money to be rclunt'ed from < the Government grant ot JtiOO and i proceeds of tb2 tale of Tramway , road. The work to be put in hnd - at once and carried through beiore the wet weather sets in < A PUI'KV HE'jl'Esl. ! Messrs (Juiun and Peoples, oi Drury, wrote asking that the road in . front of their premises should bo melalle.l as under present circuinstancos it became a quaginire in , winter. The chairman stated that in such cas2s where ths ratepayers were endeavouring to help themselves the Goudcil should encourage them. —lt ' was decided on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Or Henry, ', to notify the petitioners that 20 yards ol metal would be granted ISKuWX's HILL DEVIATION. Cr Higginson reported that as empowered by the Council he had arranged terms with Mr T. Conroy, of Glenbrook, for the surrender of • the necessary land belonging to him ; for Brown's Hill deviation, the , terms being payment by the Council of £7O and the Council to fence both sides of the laud taken for the road. ' Cr Higginson propesed tlirt the road should be legalised, and that application be made tor the grant Cr Henry seconded the proposal, and it was carried A DEI Ei 11VE I'ULVJiKI. A letter was received from Mr W. Sharp, of Rama Rama, cunplainiug that improvements to the culvert adjoiuiug his premises and to the entrance to his gates, promised to be effected over a year ago, had not been carried out. The chairman said that arrangements had been made to proceed i with the work.—lt was decided to . proceed with it immediately, the chairman ar.d engineer V> arrange for the same I IlltOL'Ull .\\\ I IVi; I'KOI'EIiTV. Mr liobt. Hamilton wrote in respect of a road opened in the Waipipi district stating that the f track ran through the property of a ] Maori who was fencing it off and consequently tlio road would bo ! stopped for traffic. The road led to ; his Mr Hamilton's'') farm, and, he ; suggested, it should be made on its proper track.

The engineer reported that he had the matter in hand, end ha would do the best possible for the applicant IRAMWA? KOAD. The Department of Lands forwarded plans and schedules requiring signature etc., for the proposed partial closing of the Tramway Eoad. Cr Lyons proposed that the clerk be empowered to confer with the Council's legal adviser in connection with the necessary steps to be taken for the closing of the road. —Ur Henry seconded the proposal and it was carried WORKS AT UUNUA The Lands and Survey Department wrote stating thai they hoped to spare a surveyor shortly to carry out the road survey to Messrs Lilburr.'s and Jones' properties in the LluDua district. — It was decided to write stating that the engineer would grade the ro9d io preparation for the sjrvey thereof EAST ST KELT, f'APAKURA It W£K agreed to comply with a request from 'he Papakura Town Board that the Council ehoold sanction the expenditure of £2O on East street, a boundary road controlled by the i'%pakura Town Board as per arrangement between the two authorities REGULATION Of MOTOR TRAFFIC The question oi whether assistance should b* given the Tin am County Council to obtain authority to iicense the drivers of motor cars and bicycles was discussed Cr Motion upheld the proposal, as he knew of drive;s who after having hid their licenses cancelled io Auckland prrceeded to the country. Ha was averse, however, to making drivers pay a motor car licacse when" pasisng from one county to another . He considered it would be an injuatic: and would not be in the best interests if the district Cr Lyons suggested that tha Council should apply to the Counties Conference for authority to license drivers, and he proposed that the Finance Committee Bhould frame a remit covering the whole question and including the regulation of motor traffic to the Conference AN IMPORTANT SCHEME The Lands and Survey Department returned r'ans approved of a prorjoaed new route for the main Awbitu-Waiuku road so a? to lead from Te Tom to Pollok for a distance of three and a-half miles The clerk reported that ,in addition to consents of owners already obtained the signature of twelve other osners was necessary. —lt was left to the clerk to take the necessary procedure under the Lands Act ROADING AT MIRANDA. Mr Douglas, of Miranda, waited on the Council iu connection with the Mangatangi-Miranda R >ad aud asked that the Council should act in , conjunction with the Public Works Departuieut to put the road through this season, lie estimated that he had paid £3OO in rates to the Council since it was formed. Cr Lyons stated that Cr Luckwocd had depute! him to make a statement to the effect that as the finances of the riding were not in a flourishing condition to do all that wa3 required this year £IOO should be expended «ou the road for the present. 110 suggested that the engineer and he (Cr Lyons should meet Mr Douglas on the ground with a view of arranging as to what work should be done Mr Douglas suggested that £-00 should be expended on the road immediately. The chairman remarked that it would be impossible for the Council to do more than what Cr Lyons had offered on Cr Loekwood's behalf. Cr Lyons pointed out that there was another road on which money was to be expended that would benolit Mr Douglas' property. Cr Lyons proposed that the matter should ba left to the engineer and himself + o arrange for the work to be proceeded with.—Agreed to.