MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 331, 20 November 1917, Page 1

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly Meeting The usual monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held in Auckland on Tuesday last when 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 Alex Bell). shooting at night time Mr A. E. Brownhill, of Waikopua, wrote drawing attention to the night raids made in that district at night by an armed motor car. The writer mentioned that a bombardment took place usually from 11 o'clock to midnight for the purpose, it was thought, of shooting rabbits. The writer added that the night prior to the date of his letter a lady and some children were frightened by the noise and he said that as ho was walking home he heard a bullet pass close to him. There was not only the grave risk of stock being shot but as the shots were fired in the public thoroughfare they were a source of danger. He asked that the practice should be stopped. Cr Brownhill mentioned that he believed the practice had been yoing on for some time and he moved that the matter should be placed in the bands of the police and that a copy of Mr Brownhill's letter should be forwarded to the Automobile Association. —This was agreed to. MOTOR CAR REGISTRATION Following the complaint recently made by the Council that uadue influence hid,, been used by the City Council Inspector'to prevent owners of cars registering with the County a report was received from the Auckland City Council that as the result of their investigations there was little evidence to prove the complaint. The letter was received. APPROACH TO VIRI STATION ' Thn District Railway Engineer (Mr I). T. Mcintosh) forwarded correspondence that had passed between his Department and the late Manurewa Road Board in 1913 with regard to the making of a road from the main south road to Wiri station a full chain width instead of half a chain, Mr Druce, the then -chairman of the Board, and several of the settlers having undertaken to give the laud. He asked that as the Road Board was now merged in the Coi.nty the Council should keep faith with the Department in having a one chain road reserved. It was decided to communicate with the owners of the lands in question urging them to give the land as stated. OLD RAILWAY LINE, MANUREWA In another letter the District Engineer referred to the request made by the Manurewa Road Board for a portion of the old railway from the Great South road crossing to the new railway bridge at Station road to be given up for road purposes and he stated that the Department was prepared to vest the land in question for a road. He pointed out that the local bodies concerned were to undertake to erect at their own cost and to the satisffcction of the Railway Department a bridge over the railway at Weymouth road and he afked if the Council would agree to the same. He added that a deputation from the Manurewa Road and Town Boards had enquired if the Department would be prepared to give up the old station reserve south of Station road for recreation purposes but said the Depart ment was not prepared to do that. In connection with the old railway track agreed to be given by the Department as stated, a deputation ci>n?it>ting of Messrs T, J. Corin, S. Pegler and C. H. Lupton (members of the Manurewa Town Board) waited on the Council.

Mr Corin explained that Messrs Wood and Lupton were prepared to contribute their share (from £2OO to £300) towards the cost of the tni 'ge required and that the Manurewa Town Board had agreed to dedicate the road. Mr Lupton stated that the whole of his portion of the land was in the Couii y and not, as in the case of Wood, within the jurisdiction f ilie Town Board. Mr Lupton expressed the opinion that the road in question should ho a public road as ic would lie of great value in connection with the traffic from the railway station He suggested that ail parties concerned should meet on tin- ground s i that th« position of the land could he better understood. Mr l'egler, supporting the previous speaker, mentioned tfiat fie believed that as far as Messrs Wood were concerned they would be satislied if a footbridge was provided. Asked by the Chairman the amount which each party would bo prepared to contribute towards the cost of tile bridge, Mr Conn replied that Mr Lupton would contribute £")0 and Messrs Wood £IOO each. Mr Coiiu added that Mr Frank Wood (a number of the Town Board) w is not yet disposed to indicaie what sum li" w uld coiitiibute, but he thought tii" cost won d pro fittbly be boruo by the parties mentioned. After he iring the deputation the Chairman pointed out that only one member (Cr MutrJ wis familiar with the position of the road in question. It was resolved that a deputation should bo appointed at tho next meeting of the Council to inspect the site in company with the members of the Board.

manurewa's joint loan Mr Corin then referred to an application by h ; s Board and the late Manurewa Road Board for a pint loan of £2OOO from the Government to provide for the cost of the approaches to the high level bridge at the northern end of the Manurewa railway station and mentioned that the application had not been successful. In the hope that a loan could be obtained by a joint petition of the ratepayers he asked the support of the Council to secure a loan for the purpose. The Chairman informed Mr Corin that the matter would be referred to the incoming Council who would be visiting the locality at an early date. RUSSELL ROAII, MANUREWA Owing to the damage likely to be sustained to Russell road by the continuance of the heavy traffic over the road by the Council's carts Mr Corin next asked that the Council should I make some contribution to the Town Board towards the repair of the road. The Chairman assured Mr Corin that the Council would meet the Board in a satisfactory manner. l-UTCRE DEPUTATIONS So that the Council may bo better acquainted with the nature of the business to be brought before the future meetings of the Council Cr Brownhill moved a resolution that before a deputation was received particulars of the business to be brought before the Council should be first furnished to the Clerk. The Chairman explained that if that method were adopted the Council would be better prepared to receive deputations and in that view the Council concurred. COMPLAINTS AND BEQUESTS A request was made by Mr C. F. Biehler, of Weymouth, that some shell should be supplied for a distance of 3£ chains from his gate to the main road. He said that if the Council supplied one large load for the road he would also supply one and spread it at his own expense. —lt was decided t > accept the offer. Mr Alfred S. Buller, writing on behalf of his mother, Mrs (J. Buller, of Walmsley road, Otahuhu, again asked that the surface water which had been flowing from the road on to his mother's property, Lot 18, Favona estate, Mangere, should be diverted. The matter was referred to the incoming Council Mr M. Marshall, of Papatoetoe, complained that he had been unable to erect a boundary fsnce between his and the adjacent section occupied by Mr J. H. Pohlen as the latter had erected a shed 3i inches from the boundary which did not leave sufficient space for the erection of the fence. He asked that the Council should take action —The matter was referred to the Foreman to inspect and report. foreman's report The repot of the Foreman (Mr C. Dixon) was read as fol'ows : Papatoetoe liding: The patching on Kolmar road has been attended to with blue metal from the depot. Repairs and patching on the South road were in hand and fuither patching on Back road, Tamaki, had been done with scoria from Lushington's Mount. The footpath from Gane's Corner had been finished and the tarring and sanding would be commenced next week.

Papakura riding : The carting of spa wis from the White's Mount to Brookby road (M) 0 yards) had been let to Munro & Co. at Is per cubic yard and about 100 yards had boen delivered. On inspecting tho roads recently taken over from the Manure wa Road Beard, especially the one from the Wiri station, he found a greater portion of the road was only half a chain wide. Wairoa riding : Timber from the bridges at Kawakawa Bay had been delivered and stacked. The contract of removing slips and reforming Ashmore's and Beckett's Hill had been let to Edward Marsli & Co and the work commenced. Mr J. Paton has promised to continue with his contract on Orere Valley road. The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS Accounts amounting to £1526 IDs 8d were passed for payment. VALEDICTORY Before the close of the meeting Cr Brownhill in a pleasant speech voiced the unanimous wish of the Council that their Chairman (Cr McKenzie) would again be present after tho election to preside over them. They all, he said, appreciated the way in which he had conducted the Council's business during the past year. Cr nattaway endorsed the previous speaker's remarks. Cr Mackenzie returned thanks for the kind remarks made. Cr Bell made reference to tho retirement of Cr Bryant who did not seek re election. The speaker said that Cr Bryant had always taken a deep interest in the affairs of tho Council and ho only hoped that his successor would work as well with the Council as Cr Bryant had done. Cr Bryant brielly returned thanks stating that his association with them all had always been most pleasant ANNUAL MKKTINIi The Cierk announced that the annual meeting would be held on \ e.Jues iay tho 2ftth November I next.