FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 229, 24 November 1916, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

(Continued from Pages 1 and 4.) SUNDAY SHOOTING PARTIES. A protest against the practice of Sunday shooting, similar to that recently before the Auckland Presbytery, was Tead from the congregation of the Drury Presbyterian Church. The Council's assistance was sought towards stopping such parties. Members, whilst expressing views in sympathy with the objects of the requisition, failed to see in what way the Council could act. Cr Henry pointed out that the shooting parties referred to came from Auckland He had seen them on the Drury road making a halt on some grass plot and cevouiing sandwiches and beer whilst one man was posted at either end waiting for the rabbits to pop out. The rabbits were so thick in that locality that shooting parties were always about. Cr Lyons remarked that Sunday shooting was only illegal by virture of an old and obsolete law, datiDg back to the time of Charles 11. He was not so opposed to the shooting of rabbits as to cases that occurred where men with the guns did not know the difference between rabbits and turkeys and made a haul of the latter. (Laughter). It was eventually resolved to ask the rpquisitionists in what manner it was thought the council could help thorn. A JOINT LIABILITY. A letter was read from Mr J. Batty, chairman of the Karaka Road Board, asking the Council to metal the piece of road from the end of the present on Beach road to Hingaia Bridge and offering on his Board's behalf to contribute £3O towards the cost. The chairman mentioned that the total expenditure would amount to £175. Although the road was in his (Drury) riding it was equally used by the people of the Mauku riding and he would be agreeable to furnish half of the balance required if Cr Henry contributed half from his (Mauku) riding. Or Henry expressed inability to such an arrangement as although the Waiau Pa people were said to benefit by the new bridge they did not derive much advantage thereby. The chairman stated that he bad not intended to refer to any Waiau liability as his idea was that if the money as he suggested was forthcoming it should be debited to the Karaka part of Mauku riding. Or Henry said that the effect of the chairman's proposal would be that taking into account the £3O from the Karaka Board the Karaka people would be paying more than the amount found by the Drury riding and he could not agree to' that. He would be willing to supplement the Karaka Board's contribution of £3O by a similar amount.

This arrangement was accepted by the chairman subject to the work being carried out as far as the money would allow. karaka's bridges

In the matter of the council's share of cost towards the construction by the Karaka Road Board of the Whangamaire and Hingaia bridges the chairman reported that the Board was arranging for a loan to be raised for the council so that interest and not capital would only have to be paid. TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

A letter was received from Mr Wm. Sharp, of Baraa fiama, complaining of the uniinished state of the work done on the road adjoining his property. His gate-post, he said, was left lying on the road and his fence wires were taken off the post and left loose. Mr Sharp concluded " I want a straight answer. Are you going to have this work done or are you not'? I have waited some two years or more now and do not intend to wait longer without taking further steps. Therefore I give you 21 days' notice from November 23rd to have the work done to my satisfaction." The Engineer informed the Council that the gate had not been in U3e for several years and thus no harm had been done by taking it down. He had, however, given instructions for it to be re-erected. It was decided to take no further action in regard to the letter. I'OKENO BO ADS DAMAGE!). Cr Lyons reported that in accordance with instructions received from the Finance Committe the engineer and he had inspected the Koheroa road leading from Mercer to Maungatawhiri in view of the damage done thereto by extraordinary traffic from Mr F. Douglas' flaxmill. On the occasion of their visit they saw a load of flax being hauled by a team of 16 bullocks, and they had requested the clerk to call on the contractor to make good the damage caused to the road.

lIOHSE* A>'D WORK. The chairman reported that the Finance Committee desired the council to consider whether or not teams of horses should be purchased so as to bring about better results in road work, In view of the fact that no replies at all had been received to 16 tenders recently advertised for road work he thought it was evident that very little would be done unless the council had its own horses. He therefore suggested that at least one team of five horses should be purchased—to be used for the grader. Cr Motion thought the purchase as suggested would be unwise at the present time since they could not rely on Government grants coming to hand for expenditure. If they were not in a position to keep the horses fully employed they (the horses) would be an expensive luxury. Further, owing to the shortage of labour there would be a danger of them not being able to get a capable man to look after the horses.

Cr Woods considered that the engagement of a suitable man was a difficulty unlikely to be overcome. Cr Ilenry concurred with Cr Motion's views.

Cr Lyons advised that the question of the purchase of horses should under the circumstances be '.eft in abeyance until the winter so that, if then thought alvisahle, they could be bought ready to start work m the spring.

Tho course proposed by Cr Lyons was accented by tho chairman anil the subject dropped.

A CLOSED KOAD. The matter of a closed road at Patumahoe, which farmed the subject of a letter received by the council at its last meeting from Mr D. McFadden's solicitors, was reported on by Ur Motion, who stated that, as requested by the counril, he had viewed the road in company with Cr Higginsin. They recommended that the road should be opened provided the Railway Department agreed to give Mr a crossing. Otherwise as the road would not benefit anybody they failed to see that the opening of the road would be of any advantage and it would only entail cost of fencing on the adjoining owner (Cr Henry). Cr Henry remarked that although the road had been in his family's occupation for 50 years he was quits agreeable to it being openei and if it was opened he would carry out the necessary fencing Cr Motion's report was adopted. A rATUMAfIOE FOOTPATH, Cr Henry referred to the recent formation of a footpath from the new post office at Patumahoe past the store of which he was the proprietor. He had overheard remarks passed to the effect that councillors were able to secure nice footpaths for their properties, but if the clerk would prepare a return of the entailed he intended to pay half of the same He desired to make application for the path to be kerbed and channelled, the estimated cost of which was £3O. Such work was necessary to keep the path in repair, and he would also be willing to pay half of such cost. Cr Henry claimed that the new building he had erected enhanced the value of adjacent premises. Cr Wilcox considered that users of footpaths were entitled to as much consideration as owners of vehicles, and urged that Cr Henry's application should be complied with The chairman- expressed the belief that Cr Henry had exhibited public-spirited action. Cr Henry's application was ac ceded to.

PATUMAHOE TO WAIAU. The desirability of effecting improvements to the main road from Patumahoe to Waiau was advocated by Cr Henry, who pointed out that with the opening of the railway line the traffic on the road woidd largely increase. He stated that the engineer had advised that a special rating area should be defined and towards that end he asked that the clerk should be instructed to convene a meeting of interested ratepayers. The course as suggested by Ci Henry was approved

hunter's road, patumahoe. On the motion of Cr Henry, it was arranged to call tenders for metalling the filling over the creek on Hunter's road, Patumahoe, previous fascining work having proved of little avail. Cr Henry mentioned that there was plenty of metal available on his property near at hand which he would give free of royalty. WANTED, A RANGER! In view of the cattle straying nuisance in the various ridings in the county, Cr Henry expressed regret that no suitable man for the appointment had been forthcoming in reply to the recent advt. inserted therewith.

Cjr Lyons mentioned that an official, when appointed, would also 1 have to deal with the damage done to the roads by the water-channels being used for the purposes of a brake for the wheels of vehicles. No action was taken, arrangements having previously been made that the appointment of a ranger should be again dealt with at the meeting in February.

uates ox koads. As a sequel to the rescinding at the last meeting of a previous resolution sanctioning the erection of a gate on what is known as the JonesRidgley road, it was agreed to notify Mr Jones that his application for leave to erect a gate thereon could not be entertained

NEXT MEETING. It was agreed that instead of assembling on the first Thursday in the month next month the December meeting of the council should be held on Thursday, December 21st, the Finance Committee to meet to pass accounts on Thursday next and also on Wednesday, December 20th. A STOFACEMAN'S ENLISTMENT. On the motion of Cr Lyons, it was decided to record on the minutes appreciation of the action in joining the colours of Surfaceman J. Butler, Maungatawhiri Valley.

ABROWSVILLE. BOAD, AKA ABA. On the proposal of Cr Higginson, seconded by Cr Motion, a resolution was adopted, to operate as a Special Order, authorising the raising of a loan of £IOOO over the Aka Aka special rating area for forming and metalling Arrowsville road.

CONTRACTORS PLEASE NOTE! In the course of his report, which will be published in our next issue, the Engineer reported that no tenders had been received for tenders recently advertised as follows: — Contract No. 204—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls, Wai-uku-Aka Aka road. Contract No. 203—Forming 22 chains Brown's road, Tuakau, top end. Contract No. 206—Forming and placing scoria Oolding's road, Pukekohe Contract No. 207 —Carting 600 cubic yards broken metal from Earaka quarry to Earaka-Waiau road, between Karaka school and Black bridge. Contract No. 208—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls on Pukekohe East to Drury road at Ballards'.

Contract No. 200—Forming two portions of Mangatangi to Miranda road. Contract No, 210—Forming and culverting 41 chains of Reid's to Mangatangi road at Friedlanders'. Contraot No. 211—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards ot spa wis, Puni road.

Contract No. 212—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls Maketu quarry, Rama Rama. Contract No. _'l3—Supply and delivery of 5u cubic yards ol spawls, Bom-bay-Paparata road near Creamery. Contract No. 214—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards ot' spawls, Portemouth road, Bombay. Contract No, 215—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls, Caies road, Bombay. Contract No. 216—Supply and delivery of 100 cubic yards of spawls, Great South Road, Drury. to Papakura. Contract No. 217—Supply and delivery of "2UO cubic yards of spawls, Great South Road, Drury to Pukekohe road. Contract 218—Supply and delivery of 10* I cubic yards of spawls, Great South Road, Pukekobe road to Rama Rama.

Contract No. .'l4 -Forming portion of Great South Road, Rama Rama to Bombay, Wright's Hill II was arranged that the chairman and Engineer should be empowered to let the tenders privately if possible.