MANUREWA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 295, 24 July 1917, Page 2

MANUREWA

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD. At the usual monthly meeting of the Town Board held for the first time in the Board's new office at Mr Nield's premises, there were present Messrs T. J Corin (chairman), H. V. Burton, Q. Coxhead, C. H. Lupton, F. Woods and E. Peglet, with the clerk (Mr T. W. Bell). JOINT SPECIAL LOAN. The State Advances Office, Wellington, wrote asking for further documentary evidence re the Joint Special Loan to be submitted to enable the application for the loan to be proceeded with. HILL ROAD. The chairman alluded to the state of Hill road, due in a large measure to heavy cartage and the bad weather. To some extent, he said, it was occasioned by the contractors' carts. Mr Woods doubted whether the contractors were responsible for the damage sustained and the chairman replied that in his opinion the contractors were not responsible as the Board should provide better roads. Mr Pegler expressel the opinion that it was time some regulations governing carters were in existence. The chairman moved that sufficient rough material should be provided to fill up the holes on Hill Road and this was agreed to. WEYMOUTH AD APPROACH. The matter of the old railway station road formed the subject of much discussion, the question of whether the Board had accepted the responsibility for the same being a doubtful one. Mr Burton pointed out that the road in question was a dangerous one, there being several very bad ruts in it, which he felt sure the Railway Department were unaware of. He thought the Department should be interviewed on the subject. It was agreed that Mr Pegler should consult the engineer and ascertain the exact position with regard to the liability of the Board. HUSSELL AXD MASSEY ROADS. Attention to the repair of these roads was urged by Mr Lupton, who said it was better to have roads repaired when defects existed than to postpone such work. He asked that two loads of material should be supplied and this was agreed to. MYERS ROAD. Mr Lupton, speaking in the interests of Mr Bond, who he thought should receive some attention as a ratepayer, asked that the Papakura Road Board should be written to and asked to repair Myers Road, the Manukau County Council having disclaimed liability in respect of the road, Mr Lupton's suggestion was approved of. SEW ROAI) TO STATION*. Mr F. E. White attended the meeting and asked that the Board would consent to medium scoria being substituted by ths Railway Department instead of metal as agreed, since the Department were unable to supply the metal As Mr White promised to expend the full amount on the road in question the Board consented to the substitution as proposed. RATE DISCUSSION. In accordance with notice given, the chairman moved that a General District Rate of Id in the £ should be struck. Mr Burton seconded. Mr Lupton again expressed the opinion that a rate of |d in the £ would be sufficient and he moved an amendment to that effect. Mr Woods seconded.

The amendment was lost on the casting vota of the Chairman, Messrs Lupton, Pegler and Woods voting "for" and the Chairman, Messrs G. Coxhead and Burton "against." Tha Chairman's motion was then carried on similar equal voting. A special rate of five-eights of a Id in the £ for the joint special 1 >an was confirmed. CONTROL OF TOWX ROADS The Chairman briefly reported on the inte.view he and Messrs Lupton and Wood had had with tin Manukau County Council. Although, said the Chairmin, the Council did no', give their consent to a special rate being raised for the town area and the control of the 'town' roads being handed over to the Board the Chairman of the Council intimated that the Council would spend as much money as ill y c iuld in the district. Mr I. upton supplemented the remarks of the previous speaker by adding that the Council proposed visiting tin district to inspect the roads and would advise the Board of their intended visit. THE PUBLIC IIALL In accordance with the notici given at the last meeting, when a letter was read from the hall trustees offering to hand over the hall to the Board, the Chairman moved that the Board should take the necessary steps to acquire the hall and further that a poll should be taken o< the ratepayers and a plan should b9 prepared to provide accommodation for library, dressing room, etc , at an expenditure not exceeding £ioo The Chairman pointed out that the Hall was a self-supporting proposition and that it almost paid its way. Mr Pegler : It has not been paying for a year. The Chairman added that it would I not bo necessary to strike a special rate for the purpose. He believed the hall would return revenue to the Board, but if money was required to meet the interest and sinking fund it could be taken out of the general rate. Mr Pegler : Personally I shall be satisfied if it goes to the public. If it is the wish of the public let us luve it. Mr Burton seconded the Chairman's proposal

Mr Pegler enquired if the Chairman was prepared to submit two alternative proposals, viz., one to take the hall over as it was and the other the question of improvements. He thought the proposal would be spoilt bv forcing on the people the question of improvements. Chairman replied that no one Bhould be against improvements Mr Lupton said that the taking ovefr of the hall was dear to his heart but he regarded the present time as inopportune abd he submitted the following amendment: "That whilst thoroughly approving the taking over of the hall as a sound busines proposition definite action re taking over the hall should be deferred until a more suitable occas'on and that in the meantime the Hall Trustees be requested to obtain the necessary signatures of the hall subscribers agreeing thereto and also come to a satisfactory arrangement with the Tennis Club as to their interests in a certain portion of the ground." Continuing, Mr Lupton pointed out that according to the rules the Hall Trustees required three-fourths of the signatures of the subscribers to the Hall before anything could be done. The Tennis Club also had a vested interest in the land as they had raised money to acquire some portion of it for the purposes of a tennis court. The acquisition of the hall and ground therefore, said Mr Lupton, did not seem so easy as it looked on the surface. Mr Lupton also mentioned the expenses incidental to a poll being taken and added that although he was very keen to have the hall he thought it would be in the interests of the district to defer the question. The chairman pointed out that the respective interests in the property was a matter for the Trustees. He added that the rent for the Board's office would help to pav the interest on the mortgage whilst the hall would be a decided asset and improvement to the district. On Mr Lupton's amendment being put to the meeting it was lost, Mr Pegler and the mover only voting for it and the chairman and Messrs Coxhead and Burton against, Mr Woods not voting. The morion was then carried.

LUl'TON's road. Mr Lupton reminded the chairman that at the last meeting he (the chanman) had stated that if a proper outlet on Lupton's Road was not provided by the time of that mee'.ing he would move that the pipes which had been placed on the road should be removed. On the chairman enquiring if thi work had been done, Mr Luptoa replied in the negative and explained that the outlet ought to be done before his pipes were put in. Mr Burton suggested that as it was a busy time with farmers more time should be given to Mr Lupton. Mr Lupton said the work was a bigger task than he had anticipated, otherwise he had intended to do it before. After some discussion it was arranged the Board would make the outlet on the railway land and Mr Lupton said lie would do his best to have the pipes put in before the next meeting. WATER TROUGH. It was decided to provide a concrete water trough for horfes and the railway yard was suggested as the best location for it. On the motion of the chiirman it was resolved to write to the Railway Department asking for permission to have a trough placed at the station, the Board undertaking to provide the trough if the Department would agree to supply the water. board's new office The Chairman reported that in accordance with the arrangement made at the last meeting the committee had secured Mr Nield's offic# on the Great South road at the rent of 7s a week and had takon it for six months. Mr Pegler: Do you want the Board to endorse that ? The Chairman hinted that such a course would follow in the usual way. Mr Burton then moved that the Chairman's action be confirmed. Mr Pegler reviewed the circumstances relating to the giving up of the Road Board's office, as mentioned at the last meeting and, addressing the Chairman, said the Chairman had no authority for saying that the office would not be available for the meeting that evening. The Chairman: I have this authority that I rented the office for a period of 12 months and it appears on the Manurewa Road Board's minutes. Mr Pegler: Did not the Chairman of the Road Board tell you that you had no authority ? You stated you were the lessee. Mr Corin: Tentatively I am. I still hold that the old Road Board office is not available as an office, I have a valid receipt. Mr Pegler argued that the old office would have served the Board's requirements for years or at least until other arrangements were made " Yet (continued Mr Pegler, addressing the Chairman) you have com mitted the Board to an expenditure of £lB a year and perhaps that might go on for years, whereas the money might have been expended on roads. You are the chairman of the Hall Trustees. The hall hasn't paid for twelve months yet you wish to burden the ratepayers with the extra payment. You call that good finance and war economy, I do not. Wo could have had the old office for a few pounds." The Chairman : You could have it now perhaps, but as far as I am c mcerned we will never hold our meetings there. Mr Pegler: We can leave the public to judge as to why the money was spent. I think it is a scandalous waste of the ratepayers' money. Mr Burton said it was a scnndalous thing that a man should be expected to go to such a room as at the old office. It was unhealthy ; the place was untenantable.

Mr Pegler: It served the Eoad Board's purpose. The Chairman j That is no reason why it should serve us.—The Chairman then mentioned that some time ago—at the start of the Board—he had been asked to prepare a plan for an office on the Great South road, but he had purposely shelved the matter for six months. The old place was nothing more than an old shed. Mr Coxhead : A dog kennel. Mr Lupton objected to such a remark. The Chairman then intimated that the office for which he was to prepare plans would have cost about £6O. Mr Pegler: We want the money on the roads. Mr Lupton expressed the opinion that the Chairman was wrong in making the statement at the last meeting that the office would not be available. The only lease held was one at Is a year. Mr Lupton then read a letter from the Chairman of the Road Board which purported to confirm his (Mr Lupton's) contention. The Chairman explained that he was now given to understand that the office was available, but be added "we will use it as a tool shed, but not as an office. As long as I hold the confidence of the ratepayers it will never be used as an office." Mr Pegler : You only hold the confidence by the casting vote. The chairman : I hold it by the majority of the Board. After some heated words by Messrs Lupton and Pegler as to the way the chairman exercised the power he possessed in the casting vote, in which Mr Pegler contendei that the casting vote was the chairman's sledge hammer which he always used, Mr Burton's motion was carried on his casting vote, the chairman, Messrs G Coxhead and Burton voting " for " ani Messrs Lupton, Woods and Pegler " against." Mr Lupton moved and it wa 8 agreed that a vote of thanks b e accorded to the Manure wa Road Board for the use of their office, the chairman remarking that he would support it as he had no objection to it. The chairman then proposed that the necessary furniture should be procured for the new office and this was carried, Messrs Lupton, Woods and Pegler not voting, Mr Pegler interjecting the remark, " the Works Committee to select I suppise." ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £32 9s 3d were passed for payment. Tha meeting concluded about 11 p.m