FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 190, 11 July 1916, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Concluded)

The following business was transacted at last Thursday's meeting of the Franklin County Council in addition to that reported in our Friday's issue, viz.: —

CABINET MINISTERS INTER VIEWED.

The chairman, reporting on the visit Cr Loukwood and he recently paid to Wellington in connection with Council matters, stated that they were well received by the Prime Minister and by the Minister of Public Works. The Prime Minister promised to assist in every way possible in respect to the urgent grants required by the Council, and they were advised by the Minister of Public Works to pay another visit to Wellington before the Supplemental Estimates wore issued. MERGING OF ROAD BOARDS. The chairman reported that the the petition in favour of the Pokeno Road Board merging, which was in the hands of Cr Lyons, had to date been signed by 60 out of 80 ratepayers in the district. He hoped that both the Maungatawhiri and Karaka Road Boards would merge. It was resolved to engage a man to canvass the Karaka district for signatures. The resolution passed at the previous meeting abolishing the Opaheke Road Beard and merging the district in the County was confirmed. BROWN'S HILL. Upon the clerk mentioning that the vote for Brown's hill, on the main Drury-Waiuku road, had not been re-voted. Cr Higginson reported tbat negotiations in connection therewith were so satisfactorily completed that the work could be proceeded with as soon as the money was available. —It was resolved to apply to the Right Hon. the Premier and to the Public Works Department with a view of getting the money re-voted. '

ENFORCEMENT OF BY-LAW^

It was resolved to appoint a returned soldier, if possible, for four months to act as an inspector under the by-laws to deal with offenders to the tvre and traffic regulations, noxious weeds, straying cattle and in respect to damage to water-tables, etc. NOXIOUS WEEDS. After a lengthy discussion respect* ing defaulters who had failed to 1 clear their road frontages of noxious it was decided to send notices to every ratepayer in the Hunua riding to attend to the matter, and to institute proceedings against j several who had been notified two months previously, but had failed to act. JAMIESON'S EOAD LOAN. The resolution authorising the levying of a special rate of i'd in the £ in the Jamieson's road, Buckland, special rating area as security for a loan of £IOO was confirmed. RATES LEVIED. In accordance with notice given a resolution was adopted striking a general rate of one penny farthing ou the Drury, Hunua, Mauku, Pukekohe and Waiuku ridings, and three farthings on the Awhitu, Mercer, and Waipipi ridings, together with a Hospital and Charitable Aid rate of one-sixth of a penny. HORSE TEAMS. The suggested purchase of horse teams formed the subject of a question by Cr Woods, who asked what provision, if any, the Council was, making in regard thereto.—lt

was decided t)ltold a full routine; of the Finance Committee at 1.30 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the next ordinary meeting when the matter would be considered. MISCELLANEOUS. An application from Mr W. Harper for improvements to the portion of road between Grey Street, Pukekohe, and the Karaka boundary was considered, Cr Woods and the engineer being appointed t'> report on the matter. A plan of a proposed deviation to pass between Messrs Chalmers and Dromgool's properties, Glenbrook, was submitted for the Council's approval.—lt was resolved that steps be instituted for the road to be made. An application' for repairs to a drain pipe culvert on the Great South Road near Mr Gadd's property, Pokeno, was forwarded by Mr Marsh, Pokeno, and the clerk received instructions to forward a copy of that portion of the engineer's last month's report, wherein the matter was dealt with. Cr Henry reported that Mr A. Hogwood, of Hogwood's Road, Waiau, had applied to him for an entrance from the road to his property, but the engineer stated that he had already given instructions for the entrance to be made.

A resolution appointing Mr W. J. King, of Waiuku, as valuer for the Tramway Road, was adopted. »

ROADS AT WHANGARATA. The intentions of the Council were asked for by the District Engineer in regard to two unexpended balances of £ for £ grants, namely one of £6B 10s for the Whangarata-Waikato River road and the other of £29 3s 6d foi Whangarata road.—lt was resolved that the grants should be taken up and the work put iu hand as soon* as possible. ADJUSTING EXPENDITURE. A report from the Finance Committee recommending that all wages, repairs and upkeep of crushing plant should be charged to the various ridings in proportion to the work done for such ridings, and that the engineering expenses should be similarly apportioned according to expenditure on works in each riding, was adopted. Engineer's Report. The County Engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur) reported as follows:

CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLY OF SPAWLS 1916-17.

I would suggest that tenders be invited for the supply and delivery of spawls on the different roads, where required throughout the County, and to be made returnable for the next monthly meeting of your Council. JERICHO-HARRISVILLE ROAD As instructed at the last meeting an inspection was made of the above road, in company with Cr Wilcox, it being decided to circulate a petition with the object of raising a loan of £2OO for forming and metalling. EXCHANGE OF ROADS WAIPIPI. In my report of last month it was mentioned that Mr Makgill was prepared to give laud for a deviation of road through sections 127, 128 and 130 Waipipi. The situation of the present road is quite unsuitable for road purposes. A good grade could be obtained if a deviation were made a little to the south of the present road. I would suggest that Mr Makgili's request be acceded to provided all expense in connection with the legalisation of the new road be paid by Mr Makgill. i might mention that the

property through which the road in question passes is being subdivided and undoubtedly the alteration as suggested would benefit the property owner. PROPOSED DEVIATION AT LEES GULLY.

A land transfer survey has been made of this deviation and the plans have been approved by the Survey Office. An engineering survey has been made and plans prepared ready to be submitted to the Public Works Department for approval. The Department has notified that £3OO out of the £SOO voted for the work is now available, but before proposals can be submitted the road must be legalised Two out of three owners of

land affected have agreed as to the terms on which the land required can be taken. The estimated cost of legalising the road including the necessary fencing is £275. 1 would suggest that the legalisation be completed to enable the proposals to be submitted and the construction work proceeded with. It might be possible to arrange with Mr Murray and others to hold over the fencing for some little time. I might mention that the present road is unfenced. WAIPIPI WHARF. Arrangements have been made for the necessary repairs to this Wharf. The work will be put in hand at an early date. MAINTENANCE OF ROADS. During the month a considerable quantity of broken metal has been used for repairs to a number of roads in the different ridings, viz.: Bombay - Paparata Road, Great South Road at Bombay, TuakauWhangarata Road, Maungatawhiri Valley Road, Tuakau-Pukekohe Road, Aka Aka Roads, Otaua to Waiuku Road, Waiuku-Pukekohe Road, Buckland Roads and Papakura to Hunua Road. ACCEPTED CONTRACTS.

Contracts as follows have been signed by the contractors and now require the common seal of the Council and the signature of two members, viz.:— Contract No. 172 : For supply and delivery of 450 cubic yards of spawla Brown's road, Tuakau—contractors, Madill and Poland; contract No.

173 : For supply and delivery of 500 cubic yards of spawls Brown's road, Tuakau—contractors, Madill and Poland ; contract No. 182 : For excavation of outfall drain and placing of concrete culvert Patumahoe road—contractors, Moore and Kavanagh; contract No. 179: For supply and delivery of 300 cubic yards of brown stone Maungatawkiri Valley —contractor, R. G. Pendergrast. CONTRACTS LET AND IN PROGRESS.

There are at present contracts let and in progress throughout the county as follows: Contract No. 100:--Forming a portion of Waiuku-Kariotahi road ; contract No. 101 : For carting spa wis at Puni; contract No. 114 a : For forming and culverting portion of Koheroa road, Dean's hill; contract No. 119: x.or forming and culverting portion of Patumahoe to VVaiau straight road ; contract No. 129 : For supply and delivery of spawls at Aka Aka landing; contract |No. 145: For forming and gravelling and culverting portion of Maungatawhiii to Mangatangi road; contract No. 149 : For forming and culverting portion of Mangatangi to Smith's road; contract No. 100:

For forming and metalling portion of the Great South road (Wright's hill) ; contract No. 158 : Carting broken metal at Buckland; contract No. 160: For supply and erection of bridge and construction of ap-

i approaches Putati:it creek; con r c l . i No. 163: for the supply amid--3 livery of broken metal at McUritfV, - Papakura; contract No. 105: For forming and culverting 52 chains of Pratt's hill deviation, Opaheke main road (first section); contract No. IG6: For forming and culverting VJ 1 chains of Pratt's hill deviation, Upa--1 heke main road (second section); 1 contract No. 107: For forming and

cnlverting 32 chains of Pratt's hill 1 deviation, Opaheke main road (third section); contract No. 168 : For formiDg 30 chains of Jamieson's road, Buckland; contract No. 170: For forming and culverting 46 ctiains of Hogwood's road, Waiau; contract No. 172 : For the supply and delivery of 450 cubic yards of spawh Brown's road, Tuakau (upper end of roadj; contract No. 173: For the supply and delivery of 500 cubic yards of spa wis Brown's road, Tuakau /lower end of road), Contract No. 17'J : For the supply and delivery of 300 cubic yards of brown metal, Maungatawhiri road. Contract No. 182: For excavating outfall drain and placing of concrete culvert, Patumahoe road.

Government Grants: Duriug the month proposals have been submitted for a number of balances of authorities held, chiefly comprising small balances of grants aft|r works previously approved had been completed. Claims for payments were made to the Public Works Department totalling £llß6 17s 2d. Stone Crushing Plant: The plant is at present operating on the Pukekohe-Waiuku road, but some del ly has been caused owing to the wet weather experienced. DISCUSSION. The chairman said that after going into the financial aspect he considered it would be advisable to ascertain the moneys available in each riding before letting contracts for the supply of spawls. Cr Lyons suggested that it would be advisable to proceed as the crushing plant would be left idle in , the event of the matter being deferred.

Conditionally that the accounts would not have to be paid before the rates were collected Or Henry, said said he would favour the suggestion that tenders be called.

Cr Lyons proposed and Cr Henry seconded that tenders should be called and the financial aspect considered in the meantime.

Cr Lockwood objected to tenders being called unless it' was certain that the works would go on. Cr Renall favoured deferring the calling of tenders until the financial position was ascertained. Ultimately Cr Lyons amended his motion to read that the engineer should be authorised to call for tenders for euch contracts as were approved of by the chairman and the member for the riding affected. The report was then adopted except that the matter of proposed exchange of roads at Waipipi was left over for Cr Motion's attention and the matter of Lee's gully deviation was referred to Cr Renall, the clerk and the engineer. Finance. The County Clerk (Mr A. P. Day) reported as follows: COUNTY FUND A/0

The overdraft at the National Bank on this account amounts to £6271 4s 3d. Unpresented cheques amount to £363 3s 4d. making the total debit balance £6634 7s 7d. The accounts due and payable from this account amount to £1053 3s Od. LOAN ACCOUNTS. The following are credit balances under loan accounts at this date:— Hill District Loan, credit balance, £ls 3s lOd ; Hill District (No. 2) Loan, credit balance, £458 7s lOd; Hunua Riding Road Loan, credit balance, £3l 6s Od; Hogwood's Deviation Loan, credit balance, £67 7s sd, less £67 7s 5d accounts payable ; Pratt's Hill Deviation Loan, £1123 «Js -3d, lets £202 10s fOd accounts payable; Needles Wharf Loan, credit balance, £2O 18s 3d. The motion was passed and the lepOrt was adopted, and the accounts passed for payment were made up of: General Account, £174 18s; Awhitu ridiDg, £4O 15s 6d; Drury, £B4 13s Id: Hunua, £55 19s 9dj Mauku, £74 lis Id; Mercer, £7B 18s 7d; Pukekohe, £312 0s 2d; Waipipi, £sl 17s Od ; Waiuku, £llO 16s; Government Grant Account, £1 12s ; Laud Fund Account, £27; Interest on loans, £2B 0s id; total. £1053 3s.