FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 267, 17 April 1917, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

ROAD MATTERB AND FINANCE The following reports were presented at the meeting of the Frankling County Council held on the sth inst., viz.: Finance. The clerk reported that on March 31 t, there was a debit balance on tli • County Fund account of £2431 13s fid. and the following credit balances on Loan accounts, viz.:—Hill District (No. 2) Loan, £3BB 16s (less £l2l 19s Hi accounts payable),; Hunua Ridin- Roads Loan, £3l 6s 9d; Pratt's Hill Deviation Loan, £493 8s 6d (less £5 11- 2d accounts payable); Needles Wharf Loan, £2O 18s 3d; Brown's Road (Tuakau) Loan, £361 5s (less £36 16s 3d accounts payable), and Hogwood's Deviation Loan, £lB 5s 3d. The report was adopted, and accounts totalling £1736 4s 7d were p.issed for payment, allocated as follows :—General Account (including crushing plant), £307 18s Id; Awhitu Riiing, £ll9 14s sd; Dmry, £l7l lis 8d; Hunua, £2Ol 17s sd; Mauku, £ll3 9s: Mercer, £93 3s 8d; Pukekohe, £220 6? 8d; Waipipi, £9B 16s 9d; Waiuku, CI3O lis Id; contractors' deposits, £2; Interest Accounts, £64 17s Id; Government Grant Accounts, £202 18s 9d. Engineer's Report. The engineer (Mr. .T. F. McArthur) reported as follows: Wellington Street, Papakura.—At a previous meeting of the Council it was decided that Councillor Flanagan and I should inspect this street and furnish an estimate of the cost of construction. After going into the matter, it is considered that the cost of the. work would be too ereat to be undertaken by the Drury Ridins at the present time. To form and metal the street from the Great South Road to the proposed saleyards would necessitate an expenditure of about £'275. Watkinson's Drain, Papakura.—The present culvert under the road is quite inadequate, and will require to be replaced with a concrete culvert. The road at this point fa formed very badly. I would suggest that in addition "to the placing of the culvert the road be straightened and metalled. The total cost would be £6O. Allington Drainage, Papakura—Mr. Allington has opened Jip the drain in his property as requested by the Council. The drainage of the road is now satisfactory. Arthur Street, Papakura.—A letter was received from Mr. A. E. Rbssman requesting that this street be formed. The matter was left to Cr. Flanagan and myself for a report. After inspection we would suggest that the. matter stand over.-as the cost' of the work at the present time would be too crreat. Rifle Range Road, Pukekohe West.— In company with Cr. Woods, an inspection was made of a portion of this road leading to_Halvetia railway station. At the present time it is quite impassable, being unformed and partly a swamp. The co3t of construction would be upwards of £l4O. When the expenditure for the current year is being allocated to the different roads, this expenditure should receive consideration. Kakaka-Waiau Road.—After an inspection by Cr. Henry and myself, we would recommend that this road be formed and the formation linked up between the Waiau end and Glasson's Bridge. This would mean an expenditure of several hundred pounds. We consider that an engineering survey should be made and the cost of the work submitted to the Council. As the season is well advanced, we would suggest that everything necessary for the construction be got ready and the work proceeded with early next season. An inspection was also made of the mad between the Papakura concrete bridge and the junction of KarakaWaiau Road. This road will shortly be under the control of the Council. It will require a considerable amount of construction work. An engineering survey could also be made of this road and arrangements made to proceed with the work early next season. Tenders.—Tenders were advertised during the past month for contracts, the following being received, viz.:— For carting scoria from Buckland railway station to Jamieson Road: A. Tozer and F. McKean, price 2s s}d per cubic yard; L. arid H. Bilkey, 2s fid; Charles McConhick, 2s sd; the tender of Mr. Charles McCormiek has been accepted. No tenders were received for forming Flexman's Deviation, Bald Hill Road. A contract for the supply of spawls, Bombay Road, Paparata, previously advertised, has now been let to J. T. Donovan at the

rate of 6s per cubic yard. Works in Progress and Completed.— Roads in the Whangarata district have been reformed and improved. Brown's Road, Tuakau. is now being formed. The contract for the supply and delivery of stone is now nearing completion. If the weather permits, the flat portion of the road should be ni.talled this season. Improvements have been made of some of the roads in the Pukekohe West Riding. Teams are now engaged in forming Cox's Road. The side roads in the Otaua district, towards Waiuku-Waipipi Ridin.', have received considerable attention, and are now in good repair. Men are still engaged clearing slips and repairing flood damage in the Hunua Gorge. Together with the work required on the Hunua Paparimu Road t]i>' flood damage on these roads will take some time yet to finish. Metal is being spread ou the Arrowsville Read, Aka Aka. This work is being carried out by the expenditure of loan money. Flood damage caused to Pi'iidergast's Bridge and other damiil'm iii the Maungatawhiri Valley is now receiving attention, and should he completed at an early date, including the patching of various roads with gravel. The Waiau roads are being re-graded. The work is now well under way; the total length of road to be done is about 15 miles. Formation work has been carried out during the month between the Wai-uku-Awhitu Road and Kobe Kohe. This work completes the formation of tin 1 flat portion of this road.

Contract? in Progress.—There arc at present contracts lot and in progress numbering 25. These contracts are mostly now well under way, and arc proceeding as speedily as might be exported under the existing labour difficulties. The eneinoerinc survey has been started of the Paparimu-Maungata-whiri new roail. The country is extremely rough, beinsr for the greater part through standing bush. The report was adopted, and it was acreed to inform the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. that m i funds were available at present for expenditure on Wellington Street, Papakura, leading to the site of the new salovards. Tt was resolved to r< place Watkinson's drain, Papakura. a* recommended in the report. With regard to the Karaka-Wainn Road. C\\ Henry mentioned that there was an unexpended balance of loan money mi hand, am! on his suggestion it was decided that the same should l>e exponded on the, road from Sutton's Creek to Lindsay's Corner.

Machinery and Plant. The engineer briefly mentioned that i).i definite action had boon taken with ncard to the purchase of an onsrino and plant. It ha.l. however, been sirruesterl that ?. Mmmi+te? should be f. lined with power to purchase a suitahlo eneine up to a certain price. Cr. Lockwood said he thought a committee should Yiot be limited, but -1i.u1.l have more scope. Ho Ci.ns'dered it nocssary that not only good machinery but a tr-am of hrpos should

be purchased, as then was much work which could well be done in the county if the Council had its own team. He thought the Council should have its own up-to-date plant provided, so as to cope with the work. It was ultimately resolved that a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Motion, Wood, and Lockwood and the engineer should consider the question of machinery and plant generally, and should report. Cr. Renall impressed upon the Council the advisability of purchasing a convertible engine, so that it could be used as a mad roller with scarifier at taohment.