FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 340, 21 December 1917, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

At the monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council held yesterday there were present Crs C. Motion (chairman), J. S. Montgomerie, T. W. Woods, W. H. Thomas, R. T. Eeid, T. J. Lockwood, 0. A Hille, H. Wilcox, J. A. Short, together with the County Clerk (Mr Alan P. Day), and the Engineer (Mr 3. F. McArthur). A MERGING O^DER An extract from the New Zealand Gazette was forwarded from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wellington, containing the Special Order merging the Maungatawhiri Road District in the county. KOHEROA ROADS The Department of Lands and Survey, Auckland, forwarded plans and formal consent by Mr R. G. Fmdlay for taking and closing of a road belonging to him, being sections 73 and 83, Koheroa Parish. The Depart ment asked that a form of consent should be signed by the Council.— The matter was left to the clerk and it was agreed to sign the form of consent as desired. Notification was received from the Lands Department, in reply to a letter from the Clerk, that as in respect of 'allotments 39 and 163. Koheroa Parish, taken for the purposes of a road there were so many parties interested in the allotments it would be advisable to legalise the road under the Public Works Act, 1908, and arrange compensation afterwards - On the motion of the chairman it was agreed that the road in question should "be legalised as suggested. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote that the i'ouncil had expended £l5O on the Reid's to Mangatangi Road and still held £l5O for expenditure on Enoch's deviation. He added that the Department held £9OO for the roading of the block in fchich these* two roads were situated and suggested that the Council should allow the Department to expend the £l5O which the Council had in hand for Enoch's deviation together with the £9OO held by the Department. The letter asked that the Council should consent to the cancellation of the £l5O and its subsequent issue to the Department for expenditure. On the motion of Cr Hille it was resolved to accede to the request. GOVERNMENT GRANTS A letter was received from the District Engineer, p ublic Works Department, Auckland, stating that on receipt from the Council of the usual proposals for expenditure the Minister of Public Works would be

prepared, without delay, to authorise the expenditure of the following items and amounts, viz : Beloe road £100; Bombay to Paparata, £1 for £l, £100; Creamery road, £ for £, £100; Drury to WaiukuviaKaraka, £250; Hingaia creek bridge (McPhersen's) £ for £, £250; Hunua to Railway station, £ for £, £482; Jamiesnn road, Buckland, £ for £, £SO ; Karaka to Waiau £150; Opaheke main road, £ for £, £101; Otaua to Aka Aka, £ for £, £75; Pollock Post office to Awhitu Central, £75 ; Waiuku to Drury, £ for £, £150; Waiuku-Pollock road to Te Toro wharf, £IOO. Total £IOB3. Tho Department also undertook itself to expend £IOO from Maramarau to Maungatawhin Valley in respect of Enoch's deviation. The loiter further stated that the amounts as stated could be regarded as a lirst instalment aud that thebai✓fcnte of urgent items would probably bo authoii ed early in the New Year. 'lhe Eugineer reported that he wa« prepaiing the proposals- for expenditure. Watty's road uridoe Replying t3 the Council's application for three chiins of the approaches to the overhead bridge on the Pukekohe Paerata (Beatty's) road to be metalled the Distriet.Enwmte (hat the matttrhad lituri referred to the local Assistant Kngiueer for a report. 'Cu.MI'IaI.NTS AND RE<}i:ESTB A letter was received from Mr Tlios Houit, of Karaka, stating that when hj« purchased Mr fUtty's pro petty on tliH Karaka ro-id he undergo >d thut the road from the Roao Board's i tfica to the black bridge would he metalled. As the metal hid If.-ii on the road for eight in.hitlis lim u»ked that the metalling -h .nM in- iluriH .it once A-The chairin oi iu"titioned that, the work was in the h m.'i- of die Hiijrineer and it was ies lveil to teplyto Mr Houit to thai . if i:t. A tr.jii--t was mil In by Mr Donald \i, l'h on. of Pokeno Valley, that tie ■.'. inn ! ii tw.eu Ins pr 'perty on t i. i,.-:i,> ihjam! tiiii! <<l >lr Ihoui.i.s I li id i,'. >h ill ; li ■ |iu!l"l! Up for a I i'h'ui i-.' oi abu« I '1 chains. He i ill. .1 t.. i, Mr lr nlon li id a fence I - >:i ■■s- id- -oa'li rtl t-ml ol til" r ad - km n-l to "a Mill- and the inglllr 1 ' I I ■'•' a I'M"'1 1. Mr W T. Wiight, of Patumahoe, coiuiii lin.tii of Hie st it.-i oi ill- road in It'.ut of his gate h.twe. n the metal and lie g.>. Ho stated that a uh'ilill-l liad iieen formed as the result of tho traffic and rains and asked [hut the defect should be remedied —The mat'er was referred to the engineer to report on at the next meeting. Uu behalf of the ratepayers around Brown's road, Tuakau, Mr Jama, Mungall wrote asking that the work left over owing to the bad weather last year should be now done. —lt was resolved to reply to Mr Mungall

informing him that the engineer had the work in hand and that it would be dealt with at the earliest opportunity. Mr E. H. Buckingham, of Pokeno, complained of the state of a portion of the clay road»leading to his property, viz. of about 20 chains in length. He mentioned that he thought it would cost £7 to reform and repair the road with a scoop and grader and if the Council would lend those implements he offered to find the horses and men subject to £3 10s being allowed him him by the Council.—Cr Hille agreed that the request was a reasonable one and nrged that where a settler showed a disposition to do any work he should be encouraged.- It was agreed on •the motion of the Chairman that the matter should be referred to Cr Hille and the Engineer for the work to be done. Mr M. Tobin, of Paparata, complained of the state of the drain running through his property. He pointed out that the Council were draining about two and a-half miles of drain direct into the property but no provision was made to carry the water away. He asked that the work should be attended to at once. —The matter was referred to Cr Thomas and the Engineer for a report. MANGATANGI-MIRANDA ROAD Mr B. H. Mattson, Manager Mangatangi Land Company, wrote stating that he understood there was a sum of £350 of the Public Works money available for expenditure by the Council on the MangatangiMiranda road. He asked that some of the money should be spent on the swamps at the Miranda end of the road. He also sought permission to erect two gates on the road, one near the canoe bridge and the other about 2£ miles along the road. The Chairman explained that there were no funds in the hands of 4he Council available for expenditure but that a letter had already been sent to the Public Works Department with regard to a grant and as eoon as a reply was received Mr Mattson would be written to. The Clerk was instructed to write Mr Mattson to the foregoing effect and also to advise him as to the procedure to be followed with regard to the proposed erection of gates. A CREEK OBSTRUCTION A petition, signed by Messrs J. Hogau, S Caddy, W. Steenson, R. Harper, V. S. Roberts, Miller, was received asking the Council to have the creek from the Paerata falls to the Pukekohe Borough boundary cleaned, the cost of the work to be charged under the Land Drainage Act to the ratepayers whose land is affected or drained by the creek.

On the motion df Cr Woods it was resolved that the owners of the land adjoining the ereek should be notified to clear it, failing which the Council would do the work and charge the cost against each owner proportionately. MOU-UOUKAT RATEPAYERS REQUEST On behalf of the Moumoukai Ra'epayers'i Association, Mr A. P. Home asked that the construction of the Maungatawhiri - Paparimu road should'be proceeded with at once so that the work should be carried out before next winter. He added that although special rates on loan for the Hunua main road were being paid the ratepayers received little consideration, A complaint wns also made of the state of the culverts on the Moumoukai Valley road. Cr Lockwood mentioned that all money allotted to the Hunua main road had been expended and the Clerk was instructed to reply accordingly. The complaint with regard to the culverts was referred to the Engineer to deal with I'OU.OK CEMETERY Cr Short asked for a grant to improve Pollok cemetery and it was resolved that the sum of £1 IDs should be spent on the work, such being the amount standing to the credit of that account. Watson's PLAT, awiiiitu A request was made by Cr Short for a portion of the road known as Watson's Flat to be formed and as the settlers expressed a willingness to assist by carting material the Council favourably considered the matter and it was arranged for Cr Short and the Engineer to inspect and report. WAIUKU ROAD Cr Reid, in asking that the work on the road leading to Messrs Boag's, Hardball's and Waiter's properties should be carried out, mentioned that some time ago tho owners had offered to pay a proportion of the expenses but the work had not yet been dona. Authority was given to Cr Reid to have improvements to the road carried out according to the funds available. lIKATTY S ROAD, PUKEKOHE Cr Woods asked that th-t formation work on Beatty's road should bo authorised and the matter was left with Cr Woods and the Engineer to deal with. [IRUKV STATION' AITROACI! ROAD In accordance with a request made by the settlors at a recent public meeting held at J bury when the question of the proposed now Post ollice at Drury was being discussed Cr Thomas enquired if the Council would bo prepared to take over as a legal road from the Railway Department the propesed access road on the east* rn side of the line leading from thelireat South Road at Runciman to the new central Drury Railway station. Cr Thomas explained

that it was understood that the Department would not ,be prepared to | procure land to make the road one chain wide and the expense therefore of obtaining sufficient land to form a legalised road would have to be borne by the Council. The Chairman mentioned that the Council, as far as possible, desired to accede to the wishes of the settlers, and with that object it was resolved that the Chairman, Crs Thomis and Montgomerie with the County Engineer should confer with the Railway Department's Engineer on the site, so that the Council's position could be considered and their liability ascertained. MAUXGATAWHIRI VALLEY ROAD Cr Hille asked that the formation should be made of the road, about 34 chains in length, from the Maungatawhiri to the Maungatawhiri Valley road which was in Mich a bad state that the mail cart + could , not gf t through in winter. If tint formation was made it would be a great convenience to the settlers. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Hille that tenders should be called for the work and tin matter was left to „Cr Hille and the Engineer, they being empowered to accept a satisfactory tender. RIDING HOUNHARIES The question of the alteration of Riding boundaries was raised by Cr Thomas who was of opinion that some adjustment was necessary. Cr Lockwood favoured an alteration of boundaries and ridings throughout the County, It would have to be faced sooner or later and the whole question should be carefully considered. Cr Montgomerie was in favour of an alteration and expressed his opinion that there was roam for two ridings in the present Mauku riding. The Chairman mentioned that some the question was considered but owing to a good deal of ill feeling bei»g introduced the matter was drepped It was agreed that the subject should be dealt with at a later date. NEXT MEETIXG The next meeting of the Couacil was fixed for Thursday, February 7th. KARAKA ROAD DISTRICT MERGING At a special meeting held subsequently to the ordinary meeting of the Council a resolution was, on the motion of Cr Montgomerie, adopted to operate as a Special Order, merging the Karaka Koad District in the County and abolishing the Karaka Road Boaul On the suggestion of the Clerk it was agreed that the work of the work of the Road Board should be transferred to the County pending the time when the Special Order should take effect. As the Karaka Road B >ar.l had not been collecting any rates for some time the authorised the Clerk to take the necessary s'eps to collect the rates due.