MANUREWA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 277, 22 May 1917, Page 1

MANUREWA

MANUREWA ROAD BOARD The annual meeting of the Mamirewa Road Boaid was held on Monday, the 14th inst. e Mr G. F. Druce was re-elected Chairman and the Clerk presented the balance-sheet for the year ended the 31st March last, which was received and approved and was considered in every way satisfactory. A report on the year's work was made by the Chairman. The monthly meeting was then held. Mr G, W. Saunders wrote asking that the trees and fence obstructing the road between his property and that of Mrßrodie's and Mrs McKam's should be removed. The clerk was instructed to write the owners of the properties accordingly. A letter was read from Mr D. T. Mcintosh, District Engineer of the Railway Department, in reply to the Board's request for the old railway track from Weymouth road to the Great South road to be handed over for the purpose of a stock road, pointing out that the Department had to pay heavy compensation for the new land taken due to severance and loss of road frontage and to hand the track over to the Board would benefit some owners to whom the Department had paid compensation. He suggested that the property owners largely benefited should purchase the land from the Department and vest it in the Board as a public road. Before considering the question of opening the road referred to he wished to know whether it would obviate the provision of a bridge over the new railway line on Weymouth road, —The matter was left to the Chairman of the Road and Town Boards to submit proposals to the Railway Engineer. Mr A. Muir, recognising-the good work of the Y.M.C.A, thought seme funds should be locally contributed towards the work and he expressed his willingness to give £5 towards the local fund. Mr T. J. Corin was appointed the local representative to receive subscriptions. The Clerk was instructed to take legal proceedings against all defaulters for the recovery of outstanding rates Accounts amounting to £76 Bs-6d were passed for payment. A special meeting of the Manurewa Town Board was held on Monday of last week, when there were present Messrs T. J. Corin (chairman), G. and C. Coxhead and H. V. Burton, with the clerk (MrT. W. Bell). The balance-sheet for the year ended the 31st March last was received and approved and the Chairman complimented the Clerk on the creditable way in which it was presented, especially as it was tho Board's first balance-sheet. A dance was held in t.be public ball on Wednesday last under the auspicies of the Manurewa Victoria League. There was a large attendance and it was not until the early hours of the morning that the merry party dispersed. Mr T. J. Corin, land agent, has recently sold ten acres of land belonging to Mr T. W. Bell on Massey road to Mr A D. Canham and the new owner has authorised him to erect thereon a commodious residence to the value of £OOO. A monster petition is in circulation praying the Railway Department to re-instate tho . r ).17 p.m train from Auckland to Papatootoe which was a popular train fnr business and working men. Miss J. Lupton and Mr 11. Bull prominent residents of the district were the recipients on their approaching marriage of a handsome silver teapot from the members of the Manurewa tennis club. Mr 11. Bull was president of tho club for some years. Their marriage was celebrated at St Luke's Church on Wednesday of last week. Mr F. E. White (chairman), Mrs Palmer, Messrs T. Bell, 0. H. Lup ton, Enos S. Pegler, Perry and Ed. Rule, were elected as the school committee at the annual meeting of householders.—Mr C. H. Lupton (honorary secretary) read the report showing an increase of children on the roll. The report showed that the accommodation was severely taxed even the porches being used for class rooms.—lt was reported that there was a satisfactory credit balance standing on the account.— Mr Pegler, in removing a vote of thanks to the retiring committee, said that the abandonment of the annual school concert was a financial loss and with regard to the education of the children it was freoly asserted that children learnt more from their play than their work, and he trusted somo local musical resident or teachor would train the children during the winter. Finance was sorely needed for the general improvement of the school grounds.— Mr H. Oram said what was of more importance than the suggestion of the last speaker was the fact that tho children as a rule were kept too long in the primers. The very lino record of passes and Miss Dieadon's scholarship award proved that though constant changes of pupil teachors militated against the efficiency of tho shift good work was being effected by tlio headmaster j (Mr McNaughton) and stall. Station road from the Road l>"ard ; Office to the South Road Corner is beginning to lose its verdant up- i penance. Messrs Landless and Me- '< Larnon are forming up a footpath to ' compete with the northern and post oflice side. Tho Railway Depart-! ment on the western side are making the approach to the new bridge a

full chain width. All these are very necessary improvements in the very centre of the township. Considerable interest has been manifested in the suggestion to acquire the Railway Reserve for a Town Recreation Reserve. The shape of this triangular Reserve, surrounded as it is by roads, could thus be made into an ideal beauty spot in the centre, of the township handy to rail and road. The suggestion has "caught-on." The Railway Department have been approached and no efforts should be spared for the town to obtain the Reserve. The uneven nature of the Reserve covered with blue gum stumps almost is worthless to the Government but it could be made a valuable heritage and would at least prove that the first Town Board had justified its existence.