MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 304, 24 August 1917, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting. The.usual monthly mooting of the Mnnukau County Council was held in Auckland on Tuesday last, when there were present Crs 11. H. Mackenzie (chairman), J.C. Bryant, A. Muir, J. H. Brownhill, A. E. Tlattaway, A. Bell, with the Clerk (Mr Alex Bell). MAXfiEUF. STORM WATf.lt Mr Edgar Ashcroft, Clerk to tho Mangere Road Board, again asked the Council to remedy the storm water nuisance at the corner of Bosella and Massey roads, Mangere. He stated that his Board had attended to the water tables on Bosella'road and had thereby abated the nuisance, but the water was still blocked owinj; to the small culvert on Massey road being of insullicient size to carry it away. The present Gin pipe was too small and ho suggested that another should be put in furthor along the road to relieve the situation.

The Chairman reported that the complaint had been dealt with by the Foreman. KCCI.F.-TON' SETTLEMENT, OTAIIl'Ill' Mr Henry E. Maston, officer in charge of the Department of Labour, Auckland, writing in reply to a letter from the Council with reference to tho approach from the main road to tho railway bridge, stated that ho understood the Workers' Dwellings Board were having the road put in order and made passable and that he would writo again after receiving instructions from his Board.

Mr T. H. Murphy, of Maugero, waited on the Council and stated that the settlers of Mangero appreciated the Council's endeavour to get tho road made passahlo although they recognised that tho Council were not responsible. He added that the Eailway Department had debarred children going over the railway and it was imperative that a good road should be provided. He understood t.'io School Committee had taken the matter up in the interests of the children.

The Chairman expressed the opinion that from what he could understand the Otahuhu Borough Council had tried to shirk its duty. Unless something was done he intended to lay the matter before the Otahuhu Borough Council, adding that a local body was bound to honour and carry out the doings of its predecessors in office. The Chairman assured Mr Murphy that tho the Council would do the best they could to secure a proper approach road, HOSPITAL AND CI I ARITAW.E AH) HOARDS The Mt. Herbert County Council (Canterbury) forwarded a resolution as follows and asked the support of the Council to the fame, viz. "That owing to the largo annual sums required by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for tho purpose of replacing old buildings and extending institutions to meet the demands of an increasing population this County Council desires to represent to tho Honourable tho Minister for Internal Affairs tho need of an amendment to tho Hospital and Ckaritablo Institutions Act enabling Boards to borrow money for capital expenditure, duo safeguards being provided against over borrowing and that representations be made to the various Members of Parliament asking them to urge upon the Minister the need for such amendment to the Act under notice." Ou the motion of the Chairman it was resolved that the Council would give its hearty support to tho resolution and should forward a copy of the same to the Member for the district Sir F. W. Lang\

Tlid Chairman remarked that the County wero contributing as much as IMs a heail towards Hospital and Charitablo Aid maintenance, which seemed :t largo amount. Hospitals, however, wore wonderful institutions and it was largely owing; to the erection of now buildings and their equipment that the expenditure became necessary. 'i ho <'lerk reminded tho members that the Council wore entitled to nominate a member to represent the Council on tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard an I that tho election would bo hold in November next in con junction withfhoCounty elections. WAR LOAN - The Minister of Finance (the Ivt. Hon Sir J. G. Ward. M.IV in a circular letter drew attention to the far reaching and grave consequences before the nation as the result of the present war. ''The enemy Che said) who would for ever crush tho ireedom we prize so dearly is at the zenith of his power. I'y a supreme ell'ort we can hasten tho inevitable sotting of that enemy's sua but to accomplish it combined continuous and prompt action was essential." The War Loan, ho added, provided I one of these elements towards success and he asked the co-operation of the Council and the formation of active committees to obtain detinite promises of help towards the loan and to assist in every way towards tho object in view. Tho letter was ''received," the Chairman remarking that ho did not think anything would be gained by organising committees as they could rely on the loyalty of those who had money !■> spare to contribute in proportion to their means.

The Ciiiincil expressed its hearty approval of tho subject matter cf Sir Joseph Ward's letter. '1 I! K MKUCIXii c;rK<Tlo\ Kefenn'o was made by the Chairman to the advantage', both linancially and otherwise, to be gained by the various Road Hoards merging in the County and tho Clerk was instructed to prepare information I'.r (on-ideration at tho next meeting »hen tho question will be d' alt with in all its bearings. M"l'ni: I'M v>;::.s' I.K KXBES It was leportcd that complaints had been reeeived from residents in

the Comity that when applications wore made to the City Trallic Inspector for motor drivers' licenses undue influences had been brought upon thom to license with the City Council. On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to call the Mayor's at tention to the previous agreement entered into between the respective bodies that each local body should recognise each other's registrations. Should complaints continue the Council would have no alternative but to exercise their power to issue such licenses. STRAYTN'G CATTLE Attention was drawn by Cr Bryant to the damage done to the footpaths at Papatoetoo by horses and cattle which were allowed to wander on the roads and footpaths at night. The Chairman remarked that the Council did not wish to put owners to undue hardship but the roads and footpaths should be considered. The Clerk was instructed to communicate with such owners so that the horses and cattle should be kept off the roads, failing which the Council would bo compelled to take proceedings against thom. MEHf.IXO OF WAIROA lIOA.Ii I'.OAHU Cr Bell reported that he believed the "Wairoa Road Board would merge before the year was out. All the members, except one, he said, wore strongly in favour of merging. I iEMAN'D FOR METAL

Arising out of the Foreman's report in which lie stated that a supply of metal was urgent the Chairman suggested that a meeting of local bodies should be convened with a view to the Government granting metal from their quarry at Wiri.—lt was decided that such meeting would be held at the Council's Auckland office on Friday, the ,31st August, at 10 o'clock. OUTSTANDING RATES On the Clerk reporting that there were a good number of rates still outstanding lie was instructed to take legal proceedings against all defaulters. DOG TAX COT I.ECTOR The Surfaceman at Papakura was appointed as dog tax collector for that district. SURFACEMAN S WAGES Mr A. G M. Lucas, surfaceman, of Manurewa, in a letter to the Council applied for an increase in his wages and claimed that there was a certain amount of responsibility about his duties and that he considered he was worth, after five months service, more than 10s a day. An increase to lis per day was granted. foreman's retort

The Foreman (Mr C, Dixon) reported as follows: Papatoetoo: The draining at Station road in connection with the property owners has been completed and the culvert to Wile's gate is working satisfactorily. As to Tooman's complaint re storm water the Council was not liable. The laying of pipes and forming of watertables at Barton's on the Back road had been completed. In regard to the complaint of water lying in front of Mr Frank Waters' farm on Back road a s J,in. drain was necessary Mr Waters suggested that the Council find sufficient fiin. tiles and ho would givo the outlet through his property and do all the labour and the work had accordingly been j authorised. The Foreman asked the Council if they could see their way to stop cattle being driven along Kolmar, Station or Wallace roads as they | were continually being driven along | all hours of the night and it was im- | possible to keep the footpaths in ' order as well as being a danger to foot passengers and children. Papakura Riding : As authorised he had taken an inventory of the oiPice furniture and tools of the late Manurewa Road Board. Metal : lie had ordered six trucks I of metal from the gaol but only two j had arrived. The Manurewa-Brook-by road as far as Alfnston was in a | very bad state chiefly on account of t the Papakura Valley Board teams j carting blue metal and scoria in the ' wet weather. The Council had been ' short of material and were also trying to avoid carting in the wet J weather. As soon as tiie weather; improved lie asked the Council to j authorise him to get 100 yards of I spawds to be crushed or to approach • the Railway Department to allow : him to obtain metal from their j quarry at White's Mountain, Wiri, I as it was an urgent matter. Wairoa Riding : The roads generally were good and water-tables had ' been cleaned out. The roads to the j pit were weak so it had been decided to have the metal napped by hand. , The complaint re storm water and | drainage at the foot of Kirikiri Hill: had been attended to. Approach to , Page Bros' stables: Water tables had been damaged and blocked up. ' Brown's Bridge : Ho had inspec- i ted the approaches and the same J was satisfactory. ; The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS ' Accounts amounting to £'»o0 were passed for payment.