FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting

The usual monthly meeting-of the Franklin County Council was held yesterday, the members present being Crs J. Flanagan (chairman), T. J. Lockwood, R Lyons, R. Higginson, H. Wilcox, J. A. Renall, T. Woods and J. Henry, with the County (Mr Alan P. Day).

COUNTY ENGINEER'S ILLNESS,

Mr J. F. McArthur, the County Engineer, who is suffering from an attack of pleurisy, forwarded an apology for absence from the meet ing.

HOSPITAL BOARD REPRESENTATION. With regard to extra representation on the Auckland Hospital Board a letter was received from the In-spector-General of Hospitals stating that he saw no reason why the Council's suggestion should not be given effect to for one member to be allotted to the Manukau County (with the Borough and Town Districts therein) and another member similarly to Franklin County. Two combined districts would therefore be represented on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board instead of one as at present. The Clerk explained that any new arrangement would come into force at the time of the County election next November.

CONFERENCE ABANDONED. A circular letter was received from the New Zealand Counties' Association stating that owing to the war conditions prevailing no conference would be held this year. The Executive committee of the Association would meet, however, in July next and would be pleased to consider any suggestions for submission to Parliament.

• WAR AND FOODSTUFFS. A circular letter was received from the Waipara County Council enclosing copies of resolutions passed by that authority suggesting that potatoes and wheat should be grown wherever possible to help the nation in the war. The Waipara Council asked the Franklin Council's support to the same.

Cr Henry reported as to a successful meeting held for his riding at Patumahoe at which it was agreed by nearly all present to grow wheat. He urged that growers, however, required to take into consideration the matter of what varieties of wheat to grow. Cr Renall thought that if people neglected to assist the Empire in the way suggested they could only blame themselves if trouble arose. Cr Wilcox stated that he had not yet taken action in his riding and before doing so he would like an indication from his fellow Councillors as to whether they proposed to grow wheat so that he could go and ask the people in his district to do what they themselves were doing. A chorus of intention to adopt wheat-growing greeted Cr Wilcox's request for information Cr Flanagan explained that in his district the Farmers' Union were moving in the matter. In the subsequent discussion it was suggested that loyalty to the Empire demanded resort to wheat production even if" it did not pay so well as other crops but Cr Wilcox mentioned that two or three years ago he was quite satisfied with the results he obtained with wheat, his yield giving him £l3 6s per acre for five acres.

I'AFAKURA SALEYARDS. The manager of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. wrote that the Council's decision relative to the road leading to the proposed new saleyards at Papakura was disconcerting and they could not think of erecting the yards unless they were assured of the road leading thereto being properly prepared. To leave it in its natural condition would make it a quagmirein winter and spring. No action was taken.

COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS. Mr James E. Laing(Whangarata) wrote asking if some broken metal lying at Mr Fulton's quarry could he put on the road in front of his property which would Ihen complete the roadwork to the foot of the hill He said he understood that the Council would be trebling the rates in the future so tliey would have a very large revenue from his district. —lt was explained by Cr Wilcox that the metal referred to by Mr Laing had been allocated for Ewing's road but that Mr Laing's request would be considered when funds were available A letter was read from Mr Win Douglas, jnr., of Waiuku, drawing the attention of the Council to the bad state of the road approaching his house which for two or three chains he regarded as being in a dangerous condition.—Cr Iligginson reported that he had already instructed the .surfaceman on the matter.

A letter was received from Mr A. Heaps, senr., Auckland, stating that he had not yet received any information relative to his sou's claim for wages in respect of contract for sprawls.—Referred to the Engineer for measurement of the spa wis.

Mr W J. L'jwis (Maungatawta,whiri Valley) wrote drawing attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road leading to his property. Owing to the road having been washed away in consequeuce of the heavy tijods he was obliged to pass over private proper ij to get to his land

He asked that the Engineer should inspect and report. —Referred to Or Lyons and the Engineer. Mr H. Mehaffy (Sunny Downs, Papakura) wrote asking what steps the Council had taken relative to the road deviation which affected the property purchased by him.—lt was decided to inform Mr Mehaffy that the Council were not responsible for any shortage in the area he had purchased and to warn him against blocking the road. Mr G Govarko (Patumahoe) wrote making application for a refund of his deposit of £5 made in December, 1914, as a guarantee for leaving in good order the part of the Tramway road rented by him for gumdigging purposes. —lt was agreed to refund the £5 subject to the Engineer's approval of the state of the road.

Mr Alex Campbell (Awhitu) wrote again asking that the track leading to his property be widened so that he could get a dray along it He also asked that the four barb wire fence across the county track leading to his property and erected by Mr Morgan, of Awhitu, should be removed.—The letter was referred to the Engineer with the understanding that Mr Morgan should be called on to remove the fence, leaving it optional for him to apply to the Council for permission to erect a gate in its place. A letter was received from Mr S. P. Henry (Puni) drawing the Council's attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road leading to the Elbow landing. He stated that there were no water tables and as a consequence the road was unfit for wheel traffic. He also pointed out that the bulk of his heavy goods were brought from Mercer by launch and landed at the Elbow. -Cr Woods reported that the Engineer was only waiting for the weather to improve to put repairs in hand.

Messrs W. Sands and Son (Pukeoware) wrote relative to the dangerous state of the road from Waitangi cross roads to the outlet near Mr Corbett Harris' farm. It was stated that all the culverts and water tables were blocked after the recent floods. They pointed out that even in fine weather a proprietor of threshing plant refused to use the road and that during the past four years no repairs had been effected. —Referred to the Engineer. Attention to the condition of the of the main road in the Waipipi Riding from the Awhitu Riding boundary to the Waiuku Town Board boundary was called by Mr 0. Ridgley.— Referred to the Engineer. A letter was received from Mr Alfred Sargood, of Glenbrook, again complaining of the state of Glenbrook road.—Referred to the Engineer with instructions to have the work done as soon as possible. tar R. T. Douglas wrote reminding the Council of a vote for £IOO passed for improvements to the MirandaMaungatanga road. He said that nothing had been done and the road was now impassable and added that since the £IOO was voted he had paid £IOO himself in rates.—Owing to the illness of the Engineer the consideration of the matter was deferred nntil the next meeting.

MANGATAJi'GI ROAD SCHEME. Mr G. H. Stubbs, Mangatangi, wrote asking if the Council would consider the question of forming a special rating area for the raising of a loan to cover the cost of road formation from the end of the present metal in the Maungatawhiri Yalley to the wharf at New Brighton, the loan to include payment of compensation for the road going through Mr Smith's property. It was stated that the following settlers had agreed to have their properties rated for such loan, viz, Messrs Walter Peters (Kaiana) ; J. Smith and Workman Bros. (New Brighton) ; T. L. Yining A. Waller, James Graham and G. H. Stubbs (Mangatangi). He understood that the Council's Engineer had estimated the cost (including compensation) ac £3500. The Clerk having explained the legal position it was resolved on the motion of Cr Lyons that the Clerk and Engineer take whatever steps might be necessarv. ROAI) OPENING WANTED. Messrs Edmund Maliony and Son, solicitors, forwarded a petition signed by Mr W. McNally and 15 others renewing the request for a road running in a northerly direction from the Pukekohe-Waiuku main road to be opened for its entire length in order to give access to the new railway station on the Waiuku lino.

On the motion of CrLockwood, seconded by Cr Higginson, it was resolved "that in the opinion of this Council the opening of the road is not of any great urgency and that the petitioners are not suffering any inconvenience through the road being closed and further that, owing to the difficulty and expense of getting the water off the road, if opened, the Council declines to consider the question of opening it at least until tho termination of the war."

It should be stated that during the discussion Cr Woods was absent and took no part in the discussion.

lIKOWN'S ROAD, TI'AKAI

A letter signed by eight settlers of Brown's road, Tuakau, was received complaining that the Council was not carrying out any work on the top part of Brown's road, known as Red Hill, which was the worst portion of the road in winter time.

The County Engineer wrote that it was impossible to complete the p ntion of the road referred to satis*

factorily this season but he had arranged to make the road passable for the coming winter. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. Mungall, A. Harker and J. Batkin waited on the Council in support of the complaint. The first named contended that the work most needed had not been done and that the road was now impassable. The Chairman enquired the hngth of the worst portion of the road and was informed that it was about six chains.

The deputation specially urged that the whole of the road work should be carried out. <

Cr Wilcox explained the reasons for the Engineer carrying out a portion of the road and said that doubtless but for his illness the work would have been completed. It was resolved that the Chairman and Cr Wilcox should visit the road at an early date and inspect. TOKENO VALLEY ROAI).

Cr Lyons was granted authority to make arrangements in conjunction with the Engineer for the repair of this road.