MANUREWA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 3

MANUREWA.

(See also Page 1.) The "mock" Town Board election, Vv-G-en's, carried out by tlie members of the Manurewa Methodist Guild Literary Society on Friday evening last, proved both an instructive and amusing event. Seven candidates on either side were nominated, nearly all of whom submitted views to " the electors'' in concise and humorous form, imperfections of existing administration being detailed, with possibilities and opportunities of better results accruing being freely set fortb. The lady speakers particularly scored in their addresses. Some 40 members took part in the ballot, the candidates being seven " suffragettes " and an equal number of " mere men." On the voting the ladies secured four seats to tbree secured by the sterner sex, those " elected " being Mr E Blenerhasset 31 votes, Miss F. Freshney 31, Miss Bella Craig 27, Miss I. Pegler 27, Mr H. Jackson 27, Miss M. Craig 24, and Mr S. Craig 21. The "unsuccessful" candidates were Misses A. Coxhead, J. Eleman, and D. Lovell, and Messrs J, Coxhead, G. Le Petit, B. Pegler, and D. Warlich. The next debate will take the form of a suffragette movement for women to receive the same wages as men and the exponents of either " cause " will be very similar in personel to the candidates last Friday. MANUREWA TOWN BOARD. FIXING THE RATE Tte usual fortnightly meeting of tbe recently formed Town Board was held yefterdav. the members present being Messrs T. J. Corin, chairman, E. S. Pesler, G. Cox head, C. Crxbead, F. E. White, and I'. H. Lupton, with tha Town Clerk, Mr A. G. Mabee. Leave ot absence was granted to Mr H. V. Burton by reason ot his illness. CLERKSHIP QUESTION AGAIN. Mr White, who was absent through lllntss at the last meeting when the appointment uf Town L'lerk was made, stated at the outset of the proceedings that according to the "Pukekohe Times" the chairman had reported that be (Mr Wbitc) was opposed to the petition of ratepyers which was presented Asking that ro single man, eligible for the Front, should be appointed clerk, and tor preference t:> be given to a returned soldier. As a matter of tact, he bad never seen the petition and never expressed his views either lor or against it. The chairman: In a conversation 1 had with you 1 understood you to Bay that you were agamst the petition. Mr White: No, I did not. I certainly think Mr Mabee is the very best man in the district tor the pjst of Town Clerk, but 1 considered it was no good giving htm a permanent appointment seeing that he had arranged to go to the Front in due course. Mr Mabee reminded Mr White that he was the first person to tell him (Mr Mabee) that a petition was being got up directed against his candidature, and when he also said that be did not approve of such methods. Mr Mabee went on to say that a large majority of tbe people who signed the petition did so without knowing that the petition was actually intended against bim. Mr Lupton: 1 think the chairman jumped to conclusions when he made ths statement at the last meeting. Tbe chairman: I jumped to no conclusions. I distinctly understood Mr White to say he was against the petition. On the minutes of the last meeting being submitted lor confirmation Mr Pegler said he thought the reference in the minutes to tbe chairman's statement that if Mr Mabee was not appointed it was equivalent to "throwing him on the streets" until such time as he waß required by tha Government were hardly in order. The Chairman: My remarks were perfectly correct and in order. If you are not going to give employment to a man who has enlisted and is waiting to be called up it is "throwing him on the streets" in the meantime. I decline to alter the minute?. The subject then dropped. STREET LIGHTING. The clerk reported that particulars of coat of lamps had not yet been obtained, but he hoped to bave them to hand by the next meeting. FIN A N CIA LADJUST M E N T S. The chairman Btated that tbe new Valuation Roll had now been received and the matter of adjust- £ ments with the Manurewa and Papakura Valley Road Boards was being proceeded with. BASLEY'S ROAD. In regard to the proposed taking over from tbe Papakura Valley Road Board of Basley's road it was arranged to take advice from tbe Board's solicitors as to whether the conditions attached to the dedication had been complied with by Mr Basley. REPAIRING ROADS. A sub-committce reported that two tenders were received for carting aud spreading metal on the road, viz., Mr C. Thompson 3s 6d per yard, and Mr McLaren 2s 3d, the latter having been accepted. The clerk reported that he had ordered 20 yards of metal from the Morningside Quarry Company, and it was arranged that the same should Le used to (ill up the ruts in Russell, Massey, Hill and Hall roads a3 a start. NEW RAILWAY BRIDGES.

The chairman reported that the deputation appointed duly waited on the District Engireer in regard to situ of the traffic bridge that th> Kaiiwav Department intended tn erect ii i itusstll road and the hi 71ni•r arranged to visit the di-tnct arr| to consult with the d<_ ~ the spot.—ln reply to a f'JfciVtion made by Mr Lupton, 1 hr Chairman promised to notify hj!: the mem'.•era of the Hoard of the date of the Engineer's visit so ihat fill ecu Id attend. The matter of she fcotbtidge 1o be erected at. the new station was referred to in n petition received front Me''ri (*'. A ,laroe:i :iihl yV J\) * liO Hl!gg( -I f I tlinl tt:(i l!»aid snooli riijiiebl the Kailway Department to provide an outlet from the footbridge to the

western side of the line as well as to the eastern side ss intended. If this wore done they expressed willingness to grant the Board a roadway through their land to Russell road, thus affording residents there a short route.—lt was arranged to brinfe this proposal before tKe District Engineer on the occasion of his visit to Manurewa in regard to the other bridge. NOT ENTERTAINED. A letter was received from Mr D. L. Nathann in reference to the suggestion made to him that in connection with the laying out of the road in Puriri Park, adjoining his property, he should present to the public the balf-an-acre of land he was buying. He stated that he had arrauged to purchaEe the area in question frrrn the proprietary Syndicate for £250 and was getting no concession from the Syndicate. His object in acquiring it was solely to preserve the trees. He was convinced that the public would obtain just as much benefit by the trees being preserved as he would, and it was his hope that the beauty and shade of those trees might be a boon to the public far years to come. He therefore thought it'would be unreasonable to expect him to abandon that area and further he claimed that the trees would run less risk from fire if under his close personal supervision than if part of a public reserve unless a caretaker was constantly employed.

The chairman said the price of £250 for hall-an-acre made it look as if Mr Nathan was to geb some concession otherwise. Anyhow a road right alongside his property, might be regarded as a concession taking into future possibilities of the property being sub-divided, more especially as the Syndicate at first proposed to put the road through the centre of the estate. Mr Lupton: I think we shall have to get the Government Valuator at work if property there is worth £SOO per acre. (Laughter.') Id RATE FIXED. The clerk reported that the new Valuatiion Roll showed that the capital rateable value ot the district was £119,485. Mr Lupton: That is more than the value of the Papakura Town District. The tlcrk went on to eay that on the valuation a £;l rate would produce £248 18s lid, a Id rate £496 17s lid, and a ltd rate £746 17s 3 id. He explained that the Manukau Conty Council would also be strikcing a Id rate over the district for the County road.

Mr White considered that it would be necessary to strike a fairly high rate as people would complain it no progress waß made. Mr Lupton cuuoselled that whether much ur little waß accomplished what was put in hand Bbould be rendered a really good job, the first necessity being to secure proper foundation lor the roads.

Mr White pointed out that the Board naturally had to meet heavy expenses in its first year and a rate should be struck accordingly. Mr Pegler was of opinion that tbe rate should be fixed at a figure that would enable substantial work to be carried out. His experience at Papatoetoe had been that £6OO went a very small way on roads.

The clerk mentioned that a small rate would, in edket, be simply a "patching" rate. Mr Pegler advised that members should not be concerned as to what the public would eay about the rate as there would be complaints if nothing was done by reason of a low rate being struck, whilst a high rate would similarly meet with disapproval. The eypenses of the formation of the Board, he pointed out, would bave tc be defrayed from the first year's income. He proposed that a rate of l£d in the £ should be struck. Mr White seconded, claiming that if a lower rate was decided on it would only mean starting off in debt.

Mr G. Coxhead proposed aB an amendment and Mr C. Coxhead seconded, that the rate should be Id in the £.

Mr Lupton advised that the rate should be l£d, and asked tbe chairman to accept euch as a further amendment. —The chairman agreed to that course, and seconded Mr Lupton'B amendment to test the feeling of the .meeting. Mr White thought Mr Lupton's suggestion "a happy medium" for securing a unanimous decision. On Mr Lupton's amendment being put to the meeting it was supported by Messrs Lupton, White and tbe chairman, Messrs Pegler and Coxhead (2) voting against. The chairman announced that be would give bis casting vote against tbe amendment, which was accordingly loßt.

Mr G. Coxhead's amendment for a Id rate was then noted on, the chairman and Messrs Coxhead (2) voting "for" and Messrs Pegler, Lupton and White against.

Tbe chairman gave his casting vote, for the amendment, which thereupon became the substantiate motion.

Mr Pegler then moved as a further amendment that the rate should be Igd.—Mr Lupton seconded. -'lhe voting was the same as in the previous instance, the chairman giving bis casting vote "against," which caused Mr Pegler to remark: "The chairman's voting puzzles inc. He says money is wanted and speaks one way and votes another."

Yet another amendment, proposed bv Mr Lupton ant seconded by Mr I'eglcr, for the rate to bo Jid met with the same fate aa the previous voting, and the adoption of a Id rate was in the end agreed to by the chairman and Messrs Coxbcad (2) voting "for" and the other three members abstaining lrom voting. KOAD MAINTENANCE.

During the diucusaion on the rate proposals Mr Lupton remarked that it was worth while considering whether they should not ask the County Council to give thum control of that part of tbc Great South road

in the Hoard's district so that the

Board could itsell spend the money on such road instead of the County

Council. The chairman said hq agreed with Mr Lupton that it would be better if there was only one controlling authority for the district. Mr White was ot opinion that by co-operating with the County Council ll,ey would tie aids to derive I he :ii|v:iiitage of being aide l<> lure Hie Council's plant. The clerk mentioned that, the County Engiueer had advised him

that Massey and Russell roads should be dealt with iti the same way as the Great South road had been, the cast being about £1 Der chain, exclusive of new material. Mr Lupton said his idea was that it should be assured that the rates collected by the County Council in the district should be expended in the district.

Mr C Coxbead remarked that last year the County Council spent on the Great South road in the Board's district double the amount ot the rates collected. It was agreed to let the matter stand over until another year pending developments in the meantime. Heavy traiiic on Kussell road, caused by metal cSrting operations from the lccil quarry were also referred to, such being recognised 8S bavins a damaging effect on the Board's roads and there was a unanimous opinion in favour of such traffic being prohibited by by-law during the winter months. BY-LAWS. A recommendation from the ByLaws Su'o-Committee for the Manukau County by-laws to be adopted for operation in the Board's district was deferred until the next meeting. PKOPOSED KIiCKEATION GKOUND. Mr Pegler recommended that steps should be taken to acquire twelve acres of the Puriri Park Estate as a Recreation Ground, and on the chairman's suggestion Mr Pegler promised to submit estimates of cost, etc., at the next meeting.— Particulars of the discussion thereon will appear in our next issue.