MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 1

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held at the County Offices, in Auckland, on Wednesday last when there were present Crs A. E. Hattaway (acting chairman), J. C. Bryant, F. W. Brownhill and A. Muir, with the Clerk (Mr Alex Bell). TURANGA ROAD DISTRICT The Assistant Secretary of Internal Affairs (Wellington) wrote stating that the special order made by the Council merging the Turanga Road District in the County had been duly gazetted. HILL'S ROAD, MANUREWA

Mr E. S. Pegler wrote drawing attention to the drainage from Hill road being taken through his South road property. The Council, he said, had taken up about three chains of pipes on his property and relaid them to connect with pipes relaid across South road, which he regarded as inadequate He objected to such alterations, contending that the council should, if they required that water course, pipe it through and connect it up with the Massey road

drain. Cr Muir thought it would be best for the Foreman to see what was required, and it was resolved that the matter be left to Cr Muir and the ForeJian. CLEVEDON TO ORERE EOAD The District Engineer Public Works Department, Auckland, forwarded a plan showing the portion of the above road, containing 39 perches, which it was proposed to cloee. He asked for the consent of the council to close the road in question. The consideration of this matter was deferred pending the Foreman's report. hospital board lev*

The Auckland .Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notified that the contribution payable for the current year by the council (at the rate of one sixth of a penny on the rateable value of property in the county) amounted to £IBO6 12s lid. Iu reply to Cr Biyant's enquiry the Clerk stated the contribution asked for was about £SO less than ast year. AN ORERE RDQUEST Mr H. Wilkinson, of 32 Wood street, Ponsonby, wrote stating he was the owner of 387 acres of land at Wharakawa and asked the council to cut a bridle track through Ashby's property from the main road to Orere Point. He poiuted out that he had built a house on the section but had no access to it from the land side.

As the exact position was not familiar to the council the Foreman was authorised to get further particulars relating to the actual situation and proposed access to the property and to report at the next meeting of the Council. CLEARING WILLOWS FROM CREEKS The Clerk reported that in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting relative to powers being vested in County Councils to compel owners to clear willows from creeks he had circularised other County Councils asking for their support to united action being taken to secure an amendment of the existing law and for greater powers. Amongst several replies received, the Clerk stated, the Eltham County Council suggested that the council should submit a remit ou the subject to :he County Conference. The Council's solicitors (Messrs Russell Campbell and McVeagh) advisad that to secure the removal of willows growing in streams the better course would be to proceed uuder section 7 of the Land Drainage Amendment Act, 1913, and to serve an order upon the owner or occupier requiring the removal of obstructions.

Cr Bryant expressed his opinion that the land owners could compel the council to remove the obstructions.

The (lork stated that it was very doubtful if the Government would entertain any proposition submitted to them on the subject during war time.

Cr Muir thought that the council should give notice to the owners to have obstructions removed, and on Cr Hattaway's motion it was resolved to notify owners of properties on which there were water courses or drains obstructed by willows and other obstructions to remove the same. ALLEGED DEFECTIVE I'OLYEUT Mr W. N, Grant, of Wire, wrote complaining of the unsatisfactory state of a culvert on the Great South road in front of his property. He stated it was not large enough to take the storm water and as a result it Hooded about seven acres of his land. He pointed out that owing to the culveit being too high to allow the water to get away he could not get sufficient fall in his drains. No actiou was taken, the matter being dealt with in the Foreman's Report ianmure ii hi hoe loan Arising out of the consideration of the Estimai.es for next year ou the motion of Cr tlattuway it was decided to apply for an increase of the loan (£9,750) by ten per cent for the i'aiiinuro Bridge. This decision was arrived at in order to repay the amount already expended on the approaches to the bridge, which affecttd the Pakuranga, Turanga and Papatoetoe Ridings.

WAIROA ROAD BOARD In accordance with the application made by the Wairoa Road Board for the control of all drains in their area a Proclamation in Council was notified by the Department of Internal Affairs vesting the control and management of all drains within the Board's area in the Road Board., PAPATOETOE SURFACEMAN The Foreman asked that in view of the resignation of one of the surfacemen the appointment shouldjbe made of a permanent surfaceman for the Papatoetoe Riding where there was a good deal of work requiring attention. . .

Cr Muir expressed the opinion that there was a good deal of work for an experienced man. It was ultimately decided to employ a permanent and experienced surfaceman for Papatoetoe. DEPUTY FOREMAN Cr Brownhill drew attention to the necessity of engaging an experienced man who could supervise the work of o'hers as the Foreman had to® much work to properly attend to. Owing to the merging of Road Boards, he said, further help was necessary. Cr Bryant hardly thought such a man was necessary. Cr Hattaway saii men got dissatisfied with new men and asked who was "'boss."

Cr Bell pointed out that in certain cases work of an urgent nature needed attention in two districts and if such a man was available it would be a great help in the council s work. No decision was arrived at but Cr Brownhill gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he would move that an assistant foreman should be engaged. Cr Bell Dointed out that it was not intended that he should be permantly engaged.

RIDING ESTIMATEB. The foreman submitted an Estimate of expenditure on maintenance in the various Ridings for the currant year as follows: Turanga £398 4s 9d (excluding the cost of repairs to or replacing bridges tow in a bad state), Mangere £l6O 19s 6d, Papatoetoe £398 6s 9d, Wairoa £695 19s 6d (of which £207 was for the outlying portion of the Riding), Paku* ranga £206 15s These estimates excluded overseer's expenses and the cost of works authorised or now in hand. foreman's report,

The Foreman (Mr C. Dixon) reported as follows : Mangere Riding.—The scoria patching from Bell's corner to Massey Road had been done. The clearing out of main drain from Manson's Corner along the road and through Lloyd's property was now in hand. As the Black Bridge showed signs of collapsing he suggested that the Council should have his repaired and that a new headtock should be put in. Manure wa-Brookby Road.— On account of so much bad weather all the metal had been used and it was hoped to complete the work when better weather prevailed. As instructed by Cr Muir he had tried to get some scoria from the old Station Road for repairing Weymouth Road but on application being made for the same it was unavailable. Wairoa Riding.-The grader had done good work cleaning out watertables and general surface work. The patching on Ness Valley Road had been done. County roads at Otau : Cr Bell and he had inspected the contract let to Mr Paton some months ago. His contract was about three miles of reforming at 6s 6d per chain, but as the small amount carried out was so irregular he suggested that the contract should be cancelled and the work done by the County grader in the spring. It was also suggested that the Council approach the Wairoa Road Board and secure any work they had adjoining so as to make it worth while taking the grader so far. Brown's Bridge —Very good progress had been made with this bridge. The buttress, four beams and the decking had been completed. The whole bridge he expected would be finished in about six days. Papakura Riding.—Reporting on Mr Grant's complaint at Great South Road, Wiri (as stated in Mr Grant's letter) the Foreman said the culvert was an old stone one and certainly wanted rebuilding and replaced with a three or four-feet pipe culvert but it could not be undertaken on account of too much water in the stream. He considered the trouble arose through the drainage on the lower side of the road being blocked. ~ , , Turanga Riding.—Difficulty had been experienced in procuring the still for the piles and as the bridge was down and caused great i 110 ' 011 " venience Cr Brownhill and he had arranged for a temporary bridge to be erected. Further patching had been done at the Paparoa end of the Biding with 10 yard 9 of blue metal from the depot, r The report was adoptod. I ACCOUNTS.

Accounts amounting to £2,310 7s (id were passed for payment.