MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 318, 12 October 1917, Page 1

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting At the usual monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council held in Auckland on Tuesday last there were present Crs H. R. MacKenzie (chairman), J. C.Bryant, A. Muir, A. E. Hattaway, F. H Brownhill, and A. D. Bell, with the clerk (Mr A. Bell). HOSPITAL BOARD'S POWERS The Premier (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), replying to the resolution forwarded him by the Council asking that borrowing powers should be extended to Hospital Boards in connection with works requiring capital expenditure, stated that Hospital Boards at present had power to borrow money on the security of their properties, the only condition being that the consent of the Minister for Internal Affairs had first to be obtained to the offering of the security. That provision enabled the Board to borrow and spread the repayment of the loans over a period of years, thus reducing the amount required by way of levies from the local authorities concerned and also by way of subsidy from the Government. The Premier added that he did not think there was any possibility of introducing legislation on the subject this session but he would bring the matter before the Minister for Internal Affairs for consideration. LOGS.IN TAMAKI RIVER The Secretary of the Auckland Harbour Board wrote in reply to the Council's letter relative to the rafting of pine logs in Tamaki river that Messrs Wootten and Elliott were applying to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for a license to tow logs between the mouth of the Tamaki river and Pakuranga creek.

A JIANG EKE NUISANCE The Clerk oi the Mangere Road Board in a letter to the Council drew the attention of the nuisance caused by Chinamen dumping manure on their properties at Mangere near their boundary fence. He also asked that the Council take steps to prevent them erecting unsightly sheds and dwellings on the land occupied by them. The Foreman was instructed to inspect and report on the complaint at the next meeting. MANUREWA ROADS The Manurewa Town Board notified the Council that the Board had decided to reform portions of Hill, Oram, and Brown's roads and asked if the Council would be prepared to carry out the work at the expense of the Board. It was decided to do the work as requested. RATE SUHBIDY In reply to information desired by the Council the Valuer-General advised that according to the Appropriation Act, 1916, there did not appear to be any authority to pay a subsidy to a County Council on general rates levied over a town district. SUPPLY 01 METAL With reference to the representation made by the Council for the metal to be supplied by the Railway Department from the Wiri quarry and for railway charges to lie reduced the General Manager of Railways wrote that the haulage charges were already unremunerative and that the Department could not see its way to make any reduction. The Chairman reported that he with the Chairman of the Franklin County Council had inspected metal (juarries at Kiri Kiri and Drury but those could not be recommended as the haulage and other expenses would be heavy, ne thought that the quarry at Papatoetoe would be more suitable. No action was taken.

OI'iERE VALLEY Mr A. Rowland, of Auckland, wrote on behalf of the residents in the Orere Valley drawing attention to the state of the road between the saudspit and Mr Cashmore's proproperty where there had been very heavy slips. Ho asked that a vote should be made for the Council's engineer to effect an improvement in the road. On the motion of the Chairman the matter was referred to Cr 801 l and tho Foreman to do something to the road in question as soon as better weather prevailed. TAMAKI KIYKK liRIDGE Cr ITattaway in referring to the Tamaki iiver bridge, which was opened on the l ltli August, l'Jl'i, thought that the bridge was worthy of a suitable inscription plate being placed on it as the structure was a credit to tho Council. The Chairman acquiesced in tho suggestion. A I'A I'ATOEToK I >KI L"1"A 1 lON Mr E. Niccol (Cuairuian of the Papatoetoe Road Board waited on the Council and a-.keil il the Couueii would ho prepared to a>sist the Board in their doMie to purihaso a metal pit on Mr McLa tot ate which lio thought could he secured at a reasonable price. Tne Chairman in reply stated that lie, <'r Nivalin and the Foreman would arrange to mspejt tho property at an early date. Mr Niccol also asked that a footpath sliould be made along the western side of the Station road in front of the hall now being built. Residents, said Mr Niccol, wers espec-

ially anxious to have a footpath from the Wallace roid towards the corner. The Chairman informed Mr Niccol that the Council would inspect the road when in the district. brown's bridge loan A communication having been received that the Auckland Patriotic Committee could not grant a loan of £SOO as wanted for Brown's Bridge the Chairman expressed the opinion that the Council would experience a good deal of inconvenience by the withholding of grants from the Minister for Public Works which were much overdue. After some informal discussion on the motion of the Chairman it was resolved " That the attention of the Minister of Public Works be drawn to the serious financial position the County Council was now placed in owing to not receiving the grants that have been on the estimates for the last three years. Two bridges washed awav by floods had been rebuilt and the money guaranteed by the Councillors. In the Whitford district the bridges were all out of order and.might collapse any day and unless the grants were received very shortly settlers would be cut off from access to the public roads. Brookby and Wairoa were also in the same position." It was decided to forward the resolution to the Premier (the Et. Hon. W. F. Massey, M P.) and to Sir Fredk Lang, M.P., asking them to give the question their attention. NEW PLANT A report on the proposed purchase of new plant was presented tut on the motion of Cr Hattaway it was resolved that the same should bo deferred for consideration until the first meeting of the new Council in November. foreman's report The Foreman (Mr C. Dixon) presented his report as follows : Mangere riding: The repairs to the approaches to Favona Bridge had been commenced and one wing wall was well on although the tides had been unfavourable for the work. Pipes for the culvert near Grainger's property, Robertson road, had been supplied and the work was in hand. Papatoetoe riding : The repairs to the Tamaki main road near Guy's corner had been attended to. There was now a good supply of spawls at the depot and the crusher will be at work and all places that needed attention with blue metal would be done. A grader was necessary in the riding for cleaning water tables and repairing roads. —It was suggested that this be left until the county plant was working on the South road. Papakura riding: The countygrader had completed the reforming of the main road and side roads at Weymouth and the water tables had been attended to. A first-class job had been done and the settlers had expiessed themselves as well pleased. Arrangements had been made for spawling and carting .500 yards of spawls for Manurewa-Alfriston road. Repairs had been done on Wiri and Hill roads taken over from the Read Board. Wairoa riding : The Ness Valley road from Wharf to boundary had been completed and was now in a very fair condition. As authorised by Cr Bell he had had the work put in hand of improvements to the footpath and approach to the hall also of the building of cesspit with grating to the present culvert. Brown's bridgo : The contractor had completed his work and everything was satisfactory. The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS Accounts amounting to £1.50 0a N 1 were passed for payment