MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 259, 16 March 1917, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting.

The monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held at the Council's offices in Auckland on Tuesday last when there were present Messrs H. R. Mackenzie (chairman), A. Muir, A. D. Bell, J. C. Bryant, F. H. Brownhill, A- E. Hattaway, with the clerk (Mr A. E. Bell)

COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS. Mr A. Bell, the clerk of the East Tamaki Road Board, wrote asking for a new pipe culvert to be placed across the County Road opposite a road which the Road Board took over some years ago as the culvert now across the road was likely to be seriously choked. The Road Board, he said, would be prepared to pay half the cost.—The Engineer having reported favourably as to the advisability of the work being carried out it was resolved to construct the culvert as requested. A letter was received from Mrs E. Bullen, of Papakura, asking that the culvert in front of her property should be cleared so as to enable the water to flow freely.—The Engineer reported that the matter had been attended to.

Mr A. V. limewell, of Papatoetoe, wrote asking for sanction for a hitching post to be erected outside his shop on the Station Road.—On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Bryant, it was resolved to grant permission and the matter was left to the Engineer to arrange as he thought best Mr V. E. Miller, Mangere, wrote complaining that the six-inch pipe culvert in front of his property was not sufficient to carry off the storm water. It was suggested by him that a wider pipe be inserted to remedy the defect.—The matter was referred to the Engineer. A letter was read from Mr 8. B. Woolfield, of Papatoetoe, complaining that water was coming from Station Road instead of running through a culvert on Scott's farm which had been blocked as the result of a recent heavy flood. He asked for a new culvert —The letter was " received."

Mr E. J. Richardson, Papatoetoe, wrote asking for the drainage from his section on Station Road to be improved. The original drain, he stated, had been Ailed in by the previous owner in order to take the fence, the drain being inside the boundary of the section and the road. He asked that the Council do what was necessary to prevent flooding for which work he was prepared to contribute towards the cost.—The letter was " received." A letter was read from Mr James Baird, of Ardmore, complaining that the water channel in front of bis property was not properly graded.— The letter was " received."

brown's bridge.

Mr F. Goodman, the contractor for Brown's bridge, Clevedon, wrote that owing to work in connection with floods he was delayed at Gisborne but would start the work on Brown's bridge as soon as possible. The letter was " received," Cr Bell remarking that he hoped he would be given a " shake up."

A MANUREWA BOAD. The Manurewa Town Board wrote requesting that the Council should take over the portion of the road from the Great South Road to the new bridge in lieu of that portion of Weymouth Road from Great South Road past the creamery to a junction of the Station and Weymouth Roads. On the motion of the chairman the Council declined to entertain the suggestion.

LOAN MONEY. The State Advances Office, Wellington, wrote agreeing to the Council raising the £6OO loan in respect of Brown's bridge, Clevedon, and the loan of £750 for the Fapatoetoe Recreation Ground. The Auckland Provincial War Relief Association advised with reference to the £750 loan for Fapatoetoe Recreation Ground that they had no loan money available. It was decided to apply to the South British Insurance Company for the amount required.

OBSTRUCTING TELEGRAPH POLES. In regard to a complaint made by the Council the District Engineer of the Railway Department wrote that the telegraph poles at Manurewa in his opinion did not obstruct traffic and were well off the road formation. He stated that he could not recommend the Telegraph Department to remove th' m.

Cr Bell having stated that he believed the Engineer who had been transferred had promised to have the poles altered it was resolved to write the District Engineer again on the subject.

FLOOD DAMAGE. A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works in reply to the Council's application for a grant towards the damage by the late Hoods to Creamery, Bridge Park Bridge and Brown's Roads, that he would obtain a report on the application and would write later.

MANCREWA FOOTPATHS. Mr T. W. Bell, acting clerk to the Manurewa Town Board, wrote requesting that a coat of shiogle be placed on the Great South Road footpath from Hill Road to Valley Road, the footpath being in an unsatisfactory condition. It was also asked for shingle to be placed on the paths on the side road off the Great Bouth Road between Valley Road, the bridge and the Valley Road at the first culvert.

On the motion of Cr Muir, seconded by the chairman, it was resolved that the Great South Road footpath only be attended to.

workmen's wages.

A circular letter was received from the Public Works Department stating that the estimated cost of all plans and specifications submitted for approval must be based on rates of pay not exceeding those now being paid by the Government. The Government rate for labourers was 10s per day, plus Is war bonus, for men of average ability and physique. Where it was considered necessary, estimates would be revised at that Office so as to conform to that basis and payments would be made accordingly. The Minister declined to authorise the expenditure of Government money where excessively high rates of wages were paid or cosily contingent expenses incurred. On the motion of the chairman the letter was " received."

EBTIMATE OF FUTURE WORK. Cr Brownhill brought before the Council the advisability of the Engineer preparing an estimate of the cost of proposed work on the roads during the coming 12 months, the calculation being based on the same estimate as at present.

The chairman stated he was in favour of the suggestion as it would give them an idea of what the demands on the Council would be for the necessary work. It was resolved that the Engineer should present a report on the lines suggested.

foreman's report. The foreman, Mr C. Dixon, reported as follows : Fapakura Riding: That he had received an intimation from the clerk that the Railway Department had granted the sum of £lO to the County for repairs to the overhead bridge at Manurewa. Wairoa Riding : The roads in the district were in a very good state. The shifting of slips at Eawa Kawa Bay had been undertaken by Mr Beckett and had been carried out satisfactorily. There were a good many slips on Cashmore's Hill, but he had only been able to keep the road open. Mr Faton had made slow progress on the Orere Valley Road and that owing to the scarcity of labour he (Mr Paton) had had to withdraw his men for more urgent work for the Road Board. So far Mr Goodman, the contractor, had not made a start on Brown's Bridge Clevedon The report was adopted.

NEGLECTFUL OWNERS. Cr Muir and other members drew attention to owners of property on the Fapakura Valley Road neglect* ing to clear furze, blackberries, and other noxious weeds, which seriously affected the free flow of water and caused culverts and water-courses to be blocked. Complaints, it was stated, had been made throughout the County that there was much neglect on the part of owners in the different ridings. It was agreed to take proceedings against offenders immediately.

PROPOSED MOTOR TAX. A circular letter was received from the Mackenzie County Council asking support to a resolution passed by that authority urging the Government to impose a customs duty of not less than 10 per cent on motor tyres the money so collected to be refunded to Local Bodies for the upkeep of roads. The chairman did not favour the proposal as he considered that the City Council would probably benefit most.

No action was taken. THE RIDINGS.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Bryant, it was agreed that no alteration should be made in the present Ridings, except that Wairoa should on account of its increase in population be given two members instead of one as now.

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION. For the coming Harbour Board election it was decided that polling booths be installed at Otahuhu, East Tamaki, Howick, Mangere, Manurewa, and Fapakura, as at the last election, with the addition of one at Clevedon.