MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 391, 12 July 1918, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

At the monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council, held on Tuesday at the County office in Auckland, there were present: Councillors A. D. Bell (Chairman), ,T. Luke, A. Muir, F. H Brownhill. S. W. House, F. W. Waters, ajid A E. Hattaway, with the Clerk (Mr. A ; Bell). Stone-crushers and Passing Traffic.

In the matter of a claim received at the previous meeting for damage? sustained to a conveyance through a horse " .4iyin>_'" at the Council'* crusher whilst it. was in operation by the side of a road at East Tarnaki, the Council's solicitor (Mr. W. liasley) , to whom (he subject, had been referred, advised that the Council had full power to erect, construct, and maintain within the County any publie works necessary or beneficial to the County. A stone-breaker was a necessary adjunct, to Ihe formation and repair of the County roads, and for such purposes was a public work which the Council was authorised to use and place en any of its roads, provided that, all necessary precautions were taken to safeguard the travelling public against accident, and that, if need he, the employees of the Council employed on and with the stone-breaker <javo assistance to drivers passing the machine and engine. If (he danger of driving past a stonebreaker and engine on the road was so manifest that, no sensible man would incur it and a person drove past and an accident happened in consequence, such person could not, recover damages. Road Boards' Liabilities.

Arising out of a report that in connection with the recent merging of the Wairoa Road Board some outstanding accounts owing by the Board would have to be paid by the Council. Councillor Waters expressed the opinion that, different steps should be taken by the Council before merging any Boards in future. He strongly advocated that when a petition was presented by a Road Board if should be accompanied with a copy of the Board's balance-sheet at the time of such merging. He believed the interest on ans' overdraft on a Road Board's account was chargeable against the General Account of th« Council, instead of being ehaifged against the Riding, and the result was that a Riding had to bear such burden when it had incurred no direct responsibility. The Chairman raised the question whether the Council could prevent a Road Board merging if it so desir«d. He thought n«t. Councillor Waters replied that where there was any objection a Commission could be set up for the purpose of dealing with it, and the Commission could insist on a Special Rale being made to meet financial obligations.

Councillor Hattaway endorsed the views expressed by Councillor Wafers, and considered that a small Committee of the Council should b« set up to enquire into the financial position of those Road Boards which desired to merge.

Councillors Bell and Luke pointed out that it ought not to be overlooked that when the Wairoa, Road Board merged valuable assets were transferred tei the Council, and that tieroads were in such a state ot repair that little expenditure would be necessary in future. Councillor Waters said his remarks only applied to Road Boards generally, and not to any particular Board.

On his motion, it was resolved that when a petition for merging was presented from any Road Board it should be accompanied with a copy of the Board's balance-sheet, and it was agreed t« forward a copy of the reso-

lufion as a remit to 'the Municipal Association.

Papakura's Boundaries

Notification was given to the Council by the Department of Internal Affairs of the appointment of a Commission t.o enquire into the proposed extension of the Papakura Town Board's boundaries. Hospital Patients,

Replying to a request made by the Council to the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for a return of patients treated in the hospital who had not paid any fees, and also of those who received charitable aid, the secretary of (he Board stated that they could rrot, give the information, and thnf, the labour entailed by tlv Board would not be warranted Ivy the results.

Councillor firownhill thought that application fur ihe information required should be made direct to the Minister of Public Health, and on his motion it was resolved to communicate with him accordingly.

Returned Soldiers' Settlements

A letter was received from the Wlialigarei County Council advocating the co-operation of local bodies to advise the Commissioner of Crown Lands on the suitability or otherwise of lands proposed to be acquired for the purpose of settlement by returned soldiers. On the moiion of Councillor Brownhill, it was resolved that the Council should heartily support the views expressed by the Whangarei County. Foreman's Report.

The Foreman of Works (Mr. C Dixon) reported as follows:

Mangere Riding.—The ploughing up and carting of Buckland Road had been completed as far as the metal would allow, and the balance of the road (about 27 chains) had been lightly scarified and rolled temporarily for the winter. The T>lue metal coating of cutting and formation of Massey Road—about S chains—had been attended to.

Papatoetoe Riding.—A foot crossing had been constructed, as authorised, in front of the slvoe-maker's shop in Station Road. The laying of pipes and connections on the South Road footpath had been satisfactorily carried out. by Mr. Masters, the contractor. FurlJier patching on Back Road, with scoria from Lushington's. had been done, and an additional six loads of blue metal had been carted from the depot, to the main road, East Tamaki.

Papakura Ridiner.—All carting and heavy work had beqn completed in this Riding, with the exception of Wiri Station Road, which would be completed as soon as the weather paianits. V*ry little expenditure wrfuld lie necessary next month, witW Ihe exception of two surfacemen, as ample material was stocked where necessary.

Wairoa Riding—The driving- of three pilo-i and repairs to the wharf and butter-shed at Clevedon had been enmpleled A start had been made, teformimr and metalling Thorp's PitRoad. The stone culvert near Mullins' property, Ardmore, had been replaced with a new 15-inch concrete culvert. Tn resrard to a complaint from Mr. Wilkinson, of Orora, concerning Ihe dangerous state of his In-idle I rack in bad weather, he (the Foreman) suggested that £l2 should be allowed Mr. Wilkinson io carry out repairs to the track. The rep or I was adopted. Accounts. Accounts amounting to £1.40t)/s's were passed for payment.