FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 298, 3 August 1917, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting

At the monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council held in the Council Chambers yesterday there were present: Crs J. Flanagan, J. Henry, R. Higginson, T. J Lockwood, W. C. Motion, R. Lyons, H. Wilcox, T. W. Woods, with the clerk (Mr Alan P. Day), and Engineer (Mr J. F. Mc£rthur).

CE. recall's absence

Cr Renal 1 wrote that although he was progressing he was still unable to attend the Council meeting bmt he hoped to be present at the next meeting. He desired to thank the Council for the help given to his riding during his absence. On the motion of Cr Lyons it was resolved to grant Cr Renall further leave of absence and to express the Council's sympathy with bim in his continued indisposition.

ROAD PROCLAMATION The Public Works Department forwarded copies of the "Gazette" notice taking portions of Sections 33 and 71, Otau Parish, for the purposes of a road, Paparimu-Maunga-tawhiri.—The letter was received.

AN OrAIIEHE ROAD The Chief Surveyor, Auckland, notified the Council that the road on the northern boundary of Section 129, Opaheke Parish, was still in existence as a legal road but he did not foresee difficulty in steps being taken to close it.—Received. NEEDLES WHARF APPROACH A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works stating that the Council's application for a subsidy for Mission Bush road and approaches to Needles Wharf was under consideration.—Received.

A NEW ROAD The ' hief Surveyor forwarded a plan of a ioad surveyed to connect the roads between MauDgatawhiii stream and Section 171, Koheroa Parish, for the Council to obtain consent of the owners for the same.

On Cr Ljon's motion the matter was left to Cr Lyons to investigate and report.

north Auckland's development

The North Auckland Development Board wrote inviting the Council to send a delegate to the Board's annual conference to be held in Auckland on the 31st, when discussions) nill take place on Native and Crown Lands quos-tions, Public works legislation, etc.

Cr Lock wood moved that the Chairman should be a delegate to attend the Conference. —Cairied.

HAPPY VALI.EY A Utter was received from Mr J. Parr intimating that he intended to fence his property at Happy Valley and such would necessitate fnncing across the old track running through part of his section connecting Maungata whiri Valley and Happy Valley As the closing of it would cause some inconvenience to settlers he suggested that the proper chain road running down his eastern boundary should be cleared by the Council. On the motion of the Chairman the matter was left to Crs Lyons and Lockwood.

WAIROA RIVER BRIDGE The Wairoa Road Board forwarded copies of correspondence with the Public Works Department to assist the Council in the application to be made to the Department to re-erect the Wairoa )iver bridge. The Clerk read correspondence relating to the Wairoa Road bridge and it was resolved that the letter should be " received."

A CANDID CRITIC Mr M. Thorp, of Union road, Mauku, wrote complaining of flood water from the road damaging his and Mr Porter's properties. He added "the neglected state of this part of the road is a disgrace to the County Council." Cr Henry spoke in favour of the Council doing what they could to improve the roading conditions reforred to and on his motion it was resolved to instruct the Engineer to give the matter his immediate attention.

A TALE OF WOE A letter was received from Mr T. R Haslip, of Karaka, calling attention to the state of the road from the Karaka Road Board's office to Mehaffy's Corner. His comments included "Mud to the armpits," "open tranches across tl.e road," and "traps f >r the traveller at night."

£• The reading of this letter cau ed uiuch amusement, Cr Henry remarking that the letter was quite a " literary production," On lus motion it was resolved that the Clerk reply that the Council appreciated such an interesting communication and that the work would be attended to as soon as the weather permits. It was abo pointei cut that the w rk complained ei was not carried our liver III" Hipe. v sion of the ('ouiuii 11at Ky lie' Karaka Road l> Jin i. '1 ll ■; MJ:i;elvi '.U UtliY Mr M. I'. Jiutler wrote offering to >ell to the Cuiiueil his rights and

plant at Mercer quarry as he would shortly be enlisting. On the motion of Cr Lyons it was resolved that the mover, Chairman and Engineer inspect and report to the next meeting.

JOHNSTON-TUAKAU ROAI) A petition was read from seven settlers complaining of the unsatifactory state of the helf chain road leading from Jobuston's to the main Tuakau-Pukekohe East Road. It was pointed out that the road was positively dangerous and was an outlet for the Jericho road traffic. Cr Wilcox said he recognised that the road was very bad but he i id not see that anything could be done during the present inclement weather. Cr W'lcox explained that some temporaiv repairs had been effected but were not sufficient and the heavy rains bad seriously interfered with the road. Authority had been given some time ago to spend £3O on the road but he was of opinion that if the settlers were prepared to raise a loan for the work a better job could be done as it was not possible to sufficiently repa'r the road out of the rates. On Cr Wilcox's motion it was resolved that provided the settlers were st ;, l prepared to raise a loan the Council would support them.— The matter was left to the Biding member and the Coancil'3 Engineer and Clerk.

RAM A RAMA-PUKEKOHE EAST KOAD Arising out of the Engineer's Report that the settlers interested in the Rama Rama to Pukekohe East ioad (via Kearns) had intimated that they were desirous of forming a special rating area for the purpose of raising a loan for metalling that road, Cr Wilcox supported the suggestion and it was accordingly resolved that the necessary steps should be taken to comply with the wishes of the settlers. The road in question, Cr Wilcox said, would, when metalled, be used a great deal and be oi much value to the district generally.

AWHITU RIDING Cr Renall wrote with reference to the Council's rates stating that he was not ia favour of the rates being increased for his Riding as the district was a poor one and that the valuation was double that of two years ago. He pointed out that the wharves were good for ten years and he proposed that a ievy should be imposed on all ships plying for hire which, it was estimated, would produce £CO a year and he considered an increase or rates would be unnecessary.

It was reported that this matter had been considered by the Finance Committee and after some discussion the Clerk was directed to reply explaining the position so that Cr Renal woull be better acquainted with the /acts.

OTAU RIDING Eleven ratepayers of the Otau Riding petitioned that the portion of the road from the end of the metal near Mr Frank Deed's gate to Mr A. McDonald's property should be metalled during next summer. The petitioners, in order to have the work done, offered to contribute an aggregate sum of £45 10s towards the work.

Cr Motion, speaking in support of the petition, expressed the opinion that every encouragement should be given to those who endeavoured to solve the difficulties of road making themselves, instead of grumbling at the Council.

Cr Henry also concurred and thought it would be a good thing if more settlers showed a similar spirit to the Otau settlers. On the motion of Cr Motion it was resolved that the work should be done and the matter was left to Cr Motion and the Engineer to report.

ELECTRIC LIGHT Application were submitted from contractors with torm3 on which they would instal electric light in the Council oilices. Cr Motiou said ho understood that the Borough Council did not propose to instal a storage battery but it would be advisable to ascertain the Borough Council's intentions in the matter of supply. The Clerk was directed to obtain further information on the subject, the consideration of the matter being deferred.

HATES It was resolved on the motion of Cr Motion that tho rates should bo struck in accordance with tho olficial notice given by the Council.

WAIAU I'A Cr Ilenry briefly iej:orte(l on tho ratepayers meeting for the Jvaraka and Waiau districts held in tho Waiau Hall (as reported in the "Times" ol tho I:7th July last) when the mooting was in favour of tho Council proceeding to raise a loan of £'22,000 fur metalling thu roads in that distiict.

Tho Chairman pointed out that it wiis hoped tho raising of a such a largo sum of money would not hamper lt.au money being obtained for w./ik in other places. Tho ratepayer- 1 , said tho chairman, had given their consent to tho striking of a [loimy m the £ rate over the area and lie ielt f-uro tho metalling of the roads in that district would prove

not only a benefit to the settlers but a valuable asset. On the motion of the Chairman it was resolved that the Council would do all in their power to meet the wishes of the ratepayers in the area. The Chairman stated that in such a rapidly developing district good roads were essential to its progress.

KARAKA MERGING Cr Henry reported that the Chairman and the County Clerk, attended the meeting convened by the Karaka Road Board when after a good deal of d'scussion a resolution was submitted in favour of merging in the County.

TUAMWAV ROAD The Clerk reported that proceedings in connection with the stoppage of portions of the road had been completed and that the Council would soon be in a position to offer the same for sale to the adjoining land owners.

Itl.vi'A LOAN The Clerk reported that application had been duly made to tne State Advances ollice for a loan of £ISOO Lrroad'ig puiposcs at Hunua but that no reply had yet been received.