PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 257, 9 March 1917, Page 3

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening last, when there were present the Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Mason), Crs C. Clarke, F. Hubbard, A B. Barter, Ivan Motion, and J. Patterscn, with the Town Cle;k (Mr J. F. Dean 6}.

KOLL OK ELECTORS. The Clerk presented the main electoral roll to be used at the forthcoming elections, the same containing the names of 831 voters. The roll was signed as correct, no objections having been received The qualifications of the voters as appearing on the roll were 565 rateable, 262 residential, and four freehold. ROADS AND STORMS. Referring to works authorised last September to the extent of £SO for Potter's Hill and £IOO for Barter's Hill, Or Hubbard mentioned that the Foreman of Works considered that in neither instance could a good job be made on the sum as allocated and his (the Foreman's) advice was that it would be better to spend the two amounts (£150) on one or other of the roads. He (Cr Hubbaxd) accordingly proposed that the £l5O should be expended on Potter's Hill as unless that road was attended to it would soon be washed away, whereas through the recent diversion of the water-course Barter's Hill was not now being damaged. Cr Barter thought that the proposal required careful consideration. He agreed that Potter's Hiil was in a deplorable condition but he did not want the other road to be neglected through the sum voted for it being transferred elsewhere He suggested that instead of a decision being arrived at that night Cr Hubbard should bring the matter forward at the next ordinary meeting.

Cr Motion remarked that had the works been carried out when authorised the money allocated would probably have been sufficient but bince then owing to phenomenal rains washouts had occurred.

Cr Hubbaid accepted Cr Barter's suggestion as to giving notice of motion for the next meeting.

In order that flood waters passing on to Mr E. F. Wilkinson's property in the Pukekohe Hill district should be enabled to be better carried away Cr Hubbard urged that an application from Mr Wilkinson for a crossing to be provided for the culvert on his farm, for which he would do the work if the Council founl -the material, should be acceded to. Cr Motion pointed out that all lands in the Hill district were liable to be flooded when rains fell of as severe a character as recently. Mr Morrow in that way was a worse sufferer than Mr Wilkinson and he (Cr Motion) also was a victim. No culverts would cope with storm-water under such conditions.

The Mayor having mentioned that it was a delicate business to spend public money on private property, Mr Wilkinson's request was referred to the Works Committee for consideration.

A JtAOKI CAMP. Or Hubbard brought under the notice of the Council a nuisance said to exist through the absence of any sanitary arrangements at a Maori encampment on Mr Jas. O'Connor's property on Bilker's road and it was decided to refer the matter to the Inspector of Nuisances.

ALLEGED EXCROACIIMENT

The result of a survey of West street from its junction with King street was reported by Cr Hubbard to have shown that starting with an encroachment of Mr H. Dell's property on the road line of six inches the adjoining properties encroached on the road some feet. He suggested that without taking stringent action for the present notice should be sent to the owners accordingly. Cr Motion considered that possibly the error had arisen on the other side of the road Cr Patterson concurred with Cr Motion's views. He believed that Mr Dell's section had passed through the Land Transfer Court and further that Mr Dell's actual property extended some oft beyond his building. The Mayor stated that so far as the properties were concerned on the other side of the road he knew that as part of Kennelly's sub-division they were dealt with under the Land Transfer and that accordingly thenposition was correct. He considered the matter was worth looking into as Dell's corner would have to be altered sooner or later and evury iuch of ground of the road there was of importance. Probably Mr Dell would object and it might lead to a Supreme Court case but the Council ought not to shrunk from that. Cr Patterson remarked that in any case the Council could not interfere with Mr Dell's building as even if it did encroach the Council would be rendered powerless by right of years of occupation as well as of Land Transfer authorisation. It was dec'ded to request the surveyor J. K Ledger) to submit a sketch showing encroaching properties and which had and which had not been passed by the Land Transfer Office.

BLACKBERRY GROW Hi. Cr Patterson referred to the free growth of blackberries on footpaths in the Borough and it was resolved to request the Agricultural Department to allow ihe.r Inspector to visit Pukekohe so that owners who neglected to keep their frontages clear of blackberrios should be prosecuted.

I'.EKKLMAX's ROAD. Cr Motion asked, seeing that it was improbable that the deviation of the railway line would take place before many years, that the sum of £ll7 paid by the Railway Department in respect of the alteration of Berriman's road should bo expended on grading the road and putting it into order from Dr \\ ake's residence, at the corner of East street, to the station.

The matter was refeired to the Works Committee and the Mayor and Cr Motion were authorised to interview Dr Wako in regard to it small portion of his property being acquired to afford an improved outlet to East street.