FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 197, 4 August 1916, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting, The regular monthly the Franklin County h'ld yesterday. Present Flanagan, chairman, T. "1. J. L-ickwood, H. Wilcox, J. Henry ana C. Motion, together with the County Clerk and Engineer, Messrs A. P. Day and J. F. McArtbur respectively. ARROWBVILLE ROAD, AKA AKA.

A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works acknowledging the receipt of a request conveyed by the Council for a Government subsidy for £IOOO for the formation and metalling of Arrowsville road, Aka Aka, and consenting to the same un a £ for £ basis, subject to the money being paid when available and the plans of the work being approved by the District Engineer.

The matter was referred to Cr Higginson and the clerk to deal with.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS. Notification was received from Mr R. F. Bollard, M.F., of the decision of the Government not to give any new grants to local bodies. The Minister of Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) also wrote that shortly after the close of the present session he hopel to visit the district and would then confer with the Cuuncil as to the expenditure of money voted. The chairman, Cr Motion and the clerk were em- v powered to draft applications for grants t) be submitted to the Miuister.

Letters from the District Engineer also conveyed the information that the expenditure of the grants for Jamieson's road, Buckland, and for Beloe road, would be discussed by the Minister of Public Works on the occasion of his forthcoming visit to the district.

Ia reference to the District Engineer's offer, made by letter at the last meeting, to complete road connection between Paparimu and Maungatawhiri by forming a 6ft track on payment by the Council of a sum of £154 in addition to the £SO previously due from the Council in respect of work carried out, which offer was accepted by the Council, a cheque for £IOO being sent "on account," the District Engineer now advised that the figure £154 should have read £254. Cr Luck wood stated tbat at a meeting ot the Moumoukai Ratepayers' Association held on Saturday night, they hid decided on his suggestion to raise a loan for the purpose of formiog the road as soon as it was put through, conditionally on the Government repaying the money later, and they desired ths Council to make preparations for the same.— The chairman and Cr Lockwood were authorised .tu submit a reply to the engineer. WAIPIPI CEMETERY • CONTROL.,

In regard to the trusteeship of the Waipipi cemetery, as to which a doubt had arisen whether the trustees as appointed in 1908 were still legally in office, the Department of Lands replied in the affirmative, the trustees being Messrs Furniss, Walsh, Harvey, Jones, Ridgley, Aylwardand Booth.

OPAHEKE AFFAIRS. Notification was received from the Department of Internal Affairs that the merging of the Opaheke Road District was gazetted on July 20th and took effect as from that date. As a sequel to the merging, a letter was received from the Department of Lands enquiring whether the Council wjis willing to accept appointment as a Domain Board to, control the Opakeke Domain ii place of the Opaheke Domain Board. appointment.

Messrs Parr and Blomfield, solicitors, of Auckland, forwarded for signature by the Council deeds of conveyance and dedication they had prepared by instruction of the Opaheke .Road Board of land purchased from Messrs S. Markham, 8. Nobbs and G. W. Shuker for the purposes of a road.—Referred to the chair* man and clerk to deal with. KARAKA'S BRIDGES. * The clerk of the Karaka Road Board forwarded particulars, as asked for by the Council, of the Board's request for payment of £2OO "on account" from the' county in respect of the cost of the recently erected Hingaia and Whangamaire bridges. The letter stated that the contract price for the bridges was 43-11)1)2 plus engineer's fee 7A per cent £37-1 Bs, making a total of £5306 Bs. Deducting the contributions due of £IOOO each from the Government and tty. Karaka Land Co. respectively tile" net amount was £3366 Bs, of which figure the Council by authorised allocation was responsible for 10 per cent. The Board, it was explained, was not yet asking for the full amount due because the legal proceedings for taking the land giving access to the Hingaia bridge on the eastern side had not been completed.

The clerk read the Governor's award stipulating the amount 'of the payments to be made by tbe different authorities.

Crs Henry and Wilcox both gave it as their opinion that it was understood at thj time the sward was made the Council was only to pay intetest and sinking fund on the ban until it was wiped out. The chairman remarked that such understanding was not provided lor in the award, but the Papakara Town Board took up a loan for the amount they had to pay. The matter was referred to the chairman and Cr Henry for consideration, a suggestion being made by Ur Henry that a loan might still be taken up for the purpose. A BOUNDARY ROAD.

The Papakara Tetfn iJard wrote asking that improvements should be carried out on the footpath and road of the Great South road near Mr A. Willis' property.

The chairman reported that the Town Board had in the meantime put tbe work in hand, the county to pay half the cost.

TRANSFERRED TERRITORY. A ro<|iiost. was voroiml from the Manukau County Council for payment of the balance of rates due on

the recent adjustment of boundaries between the two countips. / Top clerk teporti d thi-t hf had aiiju ted the accounts, and the umoun' due to the Manukau C'Ufity Cou: cil was £BS 2s sd.—A cteque Ahfefcvs ordei'et) to be drawn for the stated Bd TECHNICAL EDUCATION. K-*»,On behalf of the Pukekohe Technical Education Advisory Board, Mr Frank Perkins wrote renewing the application made by a deputation at the last meeting of the Council for financial assistance towards equipping the Pukekohe Technical School with typewriters. The Pukekohe Borough Council, Mr Perkins pointed out, had arranged to contribute the suuiof £8 ss—half the cost of one typewriter. Cr Wilcox remarked that as the classes were heirg held in the evening they woulJ rot be of any advantage to county residents. Cr Henry suggested that if a s Saturday afternoon class was siajrted the Council might be willing to contribute. No action was taken, the letter bci;ig formally "received." A BACK-BLOCK BOAD. In the matter of the proposed for- ■ matiou of a road at Paparata to give access to Mr J. S. George's property, by which Messrs Rudd Bros, and Mr W. Partridge would I also benefit, letters were read from Mr George agreeing to give the necessary land for the road and from Messrs Kudd Bros, and Mr Partiidge expressing willingness to share the cost of survey and legalisation of the road - estimated at £ls.

It was decided to put the wotk of formation in hand ts soon a3 po. Bible. OFFER WITHDRAWN.

Messrs Makgill and Middleton wrote withdrawing their offer for a deviation through their property at Waipipi as a protest against the Council considering that iu making the offer they (Messr3 Makgill and Middleton) had " an axe to giind." Cr Motion remarked thet Messrs Makgill and Middltton wtre the only parties who would have received benefit ftom the deviatioc. A REQUEST FROM PONGA. Complaint of the impassable condition of the road leading to their proparly from the main Ponga road, near Ponga school, was made by Messrs Whitford Bros., who stated that in the -past three years they had paid £3O in rates and had received no benefit whatsoever. Referred to the engineer. "INTELLIGENT GOATS." In acknowledging receipt of notice to clear weeds from the frontage of his property at Otau, Mr 0. A. Fawcett, of C.'evedon, wrote stating that the weeds were regularly attended to by 100 goats, but if the Council would let him know where the goats had failed to do their work he would at once instruct them accordingly.—The letter was read amid laughter, a member suggesting that perhaps Mr Fawcett would lend his goats to other transgressors. 4 ROAD CLOSING.

On behalf of Mr F. Hull, of Otaua, sanction was sought by Messrs Mason and Mason, solicitors, of Waiuku, for tho closing of a road lying between allotments 52 and \ 162, parish of Waiuku East, Mr A. Oldtiold as the only other interested owner being agreeable to the same. The Council agreed to take sters to close the road cn the understanding that all expenses connected therewith would be Daid by Mr Hull. ROAD BOARD MERGING. A petition was received praying for the Pokeno Road District to be abolished and merged iu the county. The signatures attached to the petition totalled 68 out of 96 names on the valuation roll. The clerk reported that he had advertised in the "Times" -that the petition would be submitted for adoption at the next meeting of the Council. A GRADE IMPROVEMENT. Advice was received frnn the Public Works Department that last year's appropriation of £l5O for improving the grade on the road from Pukekohe East to llunciman, via Kearn's, had been re-voted, and the Minister was prepared to authorise the Council to proceed with its expenditure as soon as plans and specifications had been approved by the District Engineer. The chairman mentioned that he understood an adcitional £l5O would be available tor the work. The engineer was, on the motion of Cr Wilcox, instructed to submit plans to the District Engineer for the expenditure of the £3OO. APPLICATION FOR A ROAD GATE.

The matter of the application of Mr J. i. Jones, of Wuipipi, to erect a gate on the "blind" road running through his farm was again considered. Referstica io the minutes showed that in September, 1914, sanction was given by the Council for the erection of tfee gate, but the decision was not conveyed to Mr Jones. The ehairamn explained that since the date of the resolution read by the clerk, Mr Jones had fenced both sides of the road, although he still wished to erect the gate. Tbe application was deferred till the next meeting for a report to be made thereon by the chairman and Cr Higginson. MISCELLANEOUS.

Letters from Mr A. M. Brown, of Mauku, and from Mm Hogwood, of Mauku, calling attention to the Hooding ot their propertied by water running thereon from the adjoining roads were referred to the engineer for action to be taker-

A '.tter vii 1 ! r.-a«! from Mr M. Kcw. uf I'okeno, renewing his cull.plain( a» "> .1 culvert drain VV.-r ;,..virt" on to his property, tin stated "'it he would hold the Council >■' pui'PiMe for damage and did not rciogf '< that the Waikato River board, as suggested by the Council, were concerned in the matter.-"Received." Mr J. W. Bambury was granted permission to plough the sides of the road adjacent to his property at Bombay in order to eradicate Mack berries. A letter was read trom Mr F. Robinson, ot Bombay, resigning by reason of ill-health bis appointment

as pound-keeper at Bombay.—lt was left to the chairman and the clerk to appoint another poundkeeper.

Detective culverts and the, growth of fern and gorsa on water channels formed a complaint received trom the Glenbrook branch of the Farmers' Union as contributing to the unsatisfactory state of the roads in the Glenbrook district. -Inferred for (Jr Higginoon's attention.

In urging the necessity of improvements being effected to the main rosd at Whangarata adjacent to his and Mr Brewster's propertie?, Mr J. C. Laing wrote stating that it was m a deplorable condition, neither formed nor metalled, but was full of mud and impossible for two vehicles to pssa one another.—lt was agreed to inform Mr Laing that the work would be put in hand when the weather was favourable.

- Mr K. J. Torbet, of Pollok, wrote offline to contribute the sum of £3 towards improving the road fronting his property.—Deferred for Cr Kenall's atlention. A letter was received from Mr J. Batty, on behalf of tbe Vestry ot St. John's Church, asking for a contribution of £5 towards the cost (estimated at £36) for laving a drain to convey away water which, it was alleged, the Council bad turned on to Church ground. —Cr Henry pointed out that although the Church was in hi" (Mauku) riding the water causing the trouble came f-«m the chairman's (Drury) riding, -it was agreed to contribute the sum of £5, to be equally shared by the Mauka and Drury ridings. Mr E. Henry, of Puni, wrote cn behalf ot the ratepayers of the Elbow complaining of the condition of the road leading to the river.— Ktfsrred to Cr Woods and the engineer.

The grant of a truck of chips for deposit on the road leading to the Drury Public Hall was applied lor by Mr S. Cossey, chairman of the Hall Directors, and was acceded to.

AN AWHITU REQUEST. Mr Alex. Campbell, o 1 : Awhitu, again wrote renewing his request for tha erection of h bridgs and for the widening of the present track to give him Hccess to his property. He submitted a price of £3O as the cost of a brijqe to meet requirements. It was decidad, subjsct to Cr Renall's approval, to accept Mr Campbell's quotation for the b? id«e. TKAMWAI ROAD. The clerk reported that Mr W. J. King, of Waiuku, who was appointed at fie last meeting to assess the values of the portions of Tramway road that were to be sjld, toped' to finish his work within the next few days and ihen the ne.cas'ary further steps towards the sale would be put in hand.