FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 389, 5 July 1918, Page 2

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting. At the monthly meeting of the Franklin County Council heid at Pukekohe yesterday there were present Councillors W C Motion (Chairman) H. Wileox, J S Montgomerie, C A Hille, W H Thomas, T W Woods, R T Reid, and J A Short, with the County Clerk (Mr Alan P Day) and the Engineer (Mr J F McArthur) A letter was received from Cr. Lock wood apologising for his absence through illness. CLOSING OF F.OAPB A cireular letter was received from the Public Works Department relative to future procedure to be adopted in regard to stopping or closing of roads with a view of expediting application for same, viz., the correspondence to be sent to the District Engineer, who will forward his report to the Department. DKURY STATION APPROACH The District Railway Engineer, writing with respect to the proposed new road, Drury to Runciman, to give access to the new Central Station, enquired what width of formation and metalling would be required if the road was constructed. He also suggested, in view of land which for the purposes of the road would have to be acquired from Mr Dickson, that the Council should assist in a settlement with Mr Dickson by kanding over a surveyed road, styled Swift Street, to him in compensation. The Engineer added that as a means of lessening the cost of the new road the former Chairman of the Council (Mr Flanagan) had made this proposal. The Clerk reported that he had replied that the Council's requirements would be formation to a width of 30ft and metalling 12ft wide by 9in deep With regard to Swift Street, he had also stated that the consent of the adjoining owners would be necessary and that the Council would also require to be satisfied that the street was not likely to be used for road purposes in the future.

After an informal discussion it was resolved that the matter should be left to the Chairman and the Engineer to be dealt with.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS A circular letter was received from the Whangarei County Council suggesting that other Councils should co-operate with them in asking the Commissioner of Crown Lands to supply particulars as to lands set apart for settlement by returned soldiers to avoid the men being put on* poor and unsuitable land, which could only end in failure to themselves and loss to the country. "Good common sense" remarked the Chairman when the letter was read. Land, he said, should be valued for what it would produce and not for what it would fetch in the market, Cr. Montgomerie said he gathered from the letter referred to that it was suggested that County Councils should act as an advisory Board to anyone who needed information. Cr. Hille mentioned that in some cases the Government purchased land which was quite unsuitable for returned soldiers as ordinary farm land but might be adaptable to fruit farming. The Chairman said that the men who needed the greatest assistance were those who were without capital. After further discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Montgomerie, to comply with the request contained in the letter it being understood that each local body should inspect the land offered in the district and should advise the Commissioner of Crown Lands as to its suitability for the purpose required. Cn the motion of Cr. Reid it was decided to suggest to the Government that a block of 500 to 600 acres of native land at Waipipi would be very suitable for purchase for settlement by soldiers. HOSPITAL BOAltl) EXPENDITURE In reply to the Council's applieation for particulars of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard's expenditure for last year so far as it affected Franklin County, the Secretary of the Board wrote that the same could not be supplied The hospital district, he said, was treated as a whole and particulars as to where patients came from were not recorded separately. To pick the same out from the files would entail considerable time and disorganisation of the staff, which was not warranted. The writer explained that the figures as recently supplied to the Onehunga Borough Council were not obtained through the Board but by a member of the district, who had a clerk specially engaged to pick out the information. It was resolved that the Clerk should write to Mr Rutherford, the member representing the district, asking for the information refeired to. BEP CROSS AITEAL The Assistant Secretary to the Drury Bed Cross fund (Mr S. Fielding) wrote protesting, on behalf of his Committee, against the action of (the Papakura Committee, who were working under the Manukau County scheme, in annexing to their district, more than one half of the Drury Road District as well as sum? of the Karaka district His Committee, he said, suggested that the Council should try to secure the amounts Papakura had collected from Franklin County district. MO KEEPING BY-LAWS As a sequel to the recent police prosecutions a letter was received from the Buckland branch of the Farmers' Union requesting the Council to modify its by-laws relating to the keeping of pigs. The Clerk was directed to reply that amendment* to the County ByLaws were under consideration. "TOWN 01 OTTAWA" The solicitors acting for the owners asked the Council to approve «f the plan of sub-division of part lot 05, Parish of Awhitu, to he <Viled "Town of Ottawa."

A ROAD GATE With reference to the Council's decision at its last meeting not to accede to the request nwte by Mr Donald McPherson, of Pokeno Valley, for Mr T. Gordon to be called upon to remove the gate on the road adjoining his and Mr McPherson's properties, the latter wrote that judged by the misleading statements made by Or Hillo, as reported in the " Times," it was evident that he (Cr Hille) had not inspected the road. No action was taken. WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS ! With respect to the Council's notice served on him to clear his road frontage of noxious weeds, Mr Jag. E. Lock, of Paparata, wrote that he was ignorant of the law on the subject but he would reo-uire the Council to send someone to define the middle of the road as a guide to him He did nr-t see what the Public Works Act had to do with the matter as no public works had been done on his road. POKENO STATION DUMP Notification was received from the Railway Department that owing to certain alterations the permission given the Council to utilise certain land at Pokeno station as a metal dump would have to be cancelled. LOANS ArrROVED The State Advances Office advised the Council that the applications for a loan of £2,200 fur forming and metalling Mission Bush and Eahawai road and of £4OO for the Tuakau Bazorback half-chain road had bien approved. In the case of the Tuakau-Eazor-back road the Council adopted a special order for the raising of a loan of £4OO for the special rating area. COMPLAINTS & REQUESTS Mr H Scot 1 -, of Mercer, wrote calling attention to the state of the side road off Great South lload at Gadd's corner.—The Engineer reported that the matter was being attended to.

A petition, sigued by Mr 0 L Thompson and six others, was received asking for the balance of the late MaiiDgatawhin Boad Board's rates to be spent on the WhaugaraU Razorback road to connect up the m«ial as far as Mr Coughey's gate. —Left to the Engineer to deal with. The Waiuku Chamber of Commerce asked for improvements to bo effected to the Waipipi, Otaua and Aka Aka roads —lt was decided to reply that the Council had made every endeavour to obtaiu tenders for the work but so far had been unsuccessful.

Mr. E Attenborrow, of Buckland, complained of water lying in the Buckland - Hairisville road.— Or Wilcox stated that if the settlers affected sank the drain themselves the Council would put in a culvert, but he could not recommend the Council to carry out the whole of the work.—The Clerk was instructed to reply accordingly. Mr W E Oldham, of Eamarama, drew attention to the state of the road in front of the Eamarama Creamery.— Cr. Thomas supported the need for a proper approach being provided and the Engineer was empowered to do what was necessary. • Mr E A Butcher, of Taera'a road, Pukekoho, complained of the condition of the road leading to his property. It was, he said, often two feet under water.—The mptter was referred to the Engineer to inspect and report.

Mr W. Sharp, of Ramarama, complained of a roed culvert being blocked, the sime causing his land to become flooded—Referred to the Engineer and Cr Thomas to inspect and repoit. Mr A J Coombe, of Pokeno, offered to supply fiOO cubic yards of spawls at 5s 3d per yard for use on the Great South Road and said lie was, if necessary, prepared to wait for payment tince the road urgently required attention.—On the motion of Cr Wilcox it was decided to accept Mr C'oombe's offer A letter was received from MrT. J. Hicks, of Pukeno, drawing a'tention to what he styled, the condition of lha South Road adjoining his and Mr Nome's properties lie also said he had jus; completed a new reti-iei.ee and asked that the 0 unci! should assist in affording him an approach thereto. He added that he understood that in o'.her places Councils were forced to give ratepayers entrances to their properties.—Referred tc the Ei gineer and Cr Hille to inspect and report. The state of Mile Road, Bombay, furmed the subject of a complaint received from Messrs E. Crosbie, H. : Wootton, and J. B McKinnoy—Referred to Hie Engineer for a report, Cr Tlj'iims Imwevor, expressing groat doub" as to whether "finances would permi'of metalling the road. Tint Williamson's Road hil\ Papakura was in a dangerous state was urged by Mr Win lihind, who slid he would hold the Couucil res ponsible for accidents happening to any of his family or himself.—Referred to Cr Thomas ami the Engireer for a report. Mr J. Blake, of Puui, waited on the Council and complained that storm wiver ovm flowed on to his property through th 9 absence of an < utlet for the drain taking the water iVom Mason's and Reynolds' roads. —The Chairman, Crs Reid and Woods and the Fngineer were authorised to view the locality and report. OPAHEKE PDMAIX. The tender of Mr E Knott for the lease of the Opaheke Domain at £ r > per annum was accepted. iiatk Ruiisrnv. The Clerk reported that the usual forms re rate subsidies payable by the Government had been received and that the amount payable would bo about £I,OOO. He added, however, that since all the Road Boards in the County were now merged the amount payable by the Government in future would be the maximum, viz. £2, r >oo. THE KATES. A resolution was passed striking rates for the current year in accordance with the notice previously published in the '• Times." OI.ENIIKOOK ROAD. Cr. Reed reported that he hal

boen nsked to suggest to the Council that the road from Glenbrook Station to Ti Tree ''oner should be metalled but In could only agree to the Bam* being done if the ru'epayers agreed to a loan bein» raised for the purpose HEAVY VRTUCLES' LICENSESThe matter of some vehicles en« gaged for hire in heavy traffic not being liceh-.ed, as required by the bylaws, was mentioned and it wa* resolved to adveitise in the '•Times" that the by-law would be stiicty enforced.