PAPAKURA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 406, 3 September 1918, Page 3

PAPAKURA

TOWN BOARD ELECTION.

THE RIVAL TICKETS.

The Town Board election to take place on Wednesday, the 18 th inst, Mw forms the chief topic of con*Aation in local circles and a lively contest is anticipated. The party, known as the " Progressives,M are running seven candidates, viz , Messrs Baker, Craies, Gillespie, Holt, W. N. Mcintosh, Turner and the Bev. W. C. Wood, Mr D. B. Stewart, who was recently selected to stand, having retired in order to permit of Mr P. Holt's inclusion on the " progressive" ticket.

Five nominees are being put forward as " Moderates " by the Ratepayers' Association, viz, Dr Brookfield, and Messrs 8. Evans, P. Holt, D. W. Jones and J. Murray. Three or four '• Independents " are also said to be likely to come forward, including Messrs T. D. Campbell, A. Wallis and Markwick.

A meeting of the Ratepayers' Association was held last Friday evening for the purpose of selecting candidates with the result as mentioned above. Mr E. D. McLennan was also chosen but it is understood that he is not eligible for nomination as his property is in Manukau County and not within the existing Town Board district. The names of Messrs Campbell and A. Wallis were voted on at the meeting but they were the lowest on the list. At times the discussion was of a heated nature, Mr E. 8. Cole, who is a convert to the " progressive " cause, warmly criticising the Association's attitude, which, he said, aimed at opposing and destroying rather than being of a constructional nature.

A special meeting of the Papakura Town Board is to be held next Thursday morning for the purpose of signing the Supplementary Roll of Electors, which closes to-morrow at 5 p.m. The ordinary monthly meeting (the final before the election) of the Board takes place next Monday,

Something like 150 names are likely to appear on the Town Board District Supplementary Soil of Electors when it closes to-morrow, applications for enrolment having freely come forward in order to secure voting power at the coming election.

Commissioner's' Enquiry

The proposed alteration and extension of boundaries of the Papakura Town District firmed tho subject of a Commission, consisting of Mr FT. M Skeet, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Mr E. Morgan, district land valuer, who sat attheCourthouse, Papakura, on Friday last to take evidence.

Among those present were Messrs R. M. Gilbspie, P. Holt, W. B. Linstrom, T. H Maikwick, and T. T) Campbell (members of the Town Board), with tho Clerk (Mr Harold Wilson), and Mr Lockie Gannon (the Board's Consulting Engineer), Mossrs D. W. Jones, Alf Willis, 8. Evans, G. McMurray, and A. Wallis (representing the Papakura Ratepayers' Association, and Cr J. T. Thomas (Franklin County Council) with Mr Alan P. Day (the County Clerk) After the reading of the Warrant by Mr Skeet, which empowered the Commission to act, Mr Gillespie (Chairman of the Town Board) intimated that no official objection had been lodged with the Board as to the proposed alteration but if such objections had been made, he said, the Boarl would have considered them.

Mr D. W. Jones (President of the Ratepayers' Association) replying to Mr Skeet, stated that his Association were agreed as to the boundaries proposed but desired an additional portion of land included at the north east corner towards Clevedon. Tho boundary line of extension, Mr Jones urged, should be continued along the old Wairoa road (known as "Hewling road") a distance of sixty chains until it met Dominion road, having an area approximately of 200 acres. Mr Skeet at this stage intimated that it would be advisable for Mr Morgan and him to personally inspect the proposed extended area, and this was done by means of motor cars.

Arriving at Hewling road which runs almost paralled with Wairoa road towards Clevedon, Mr Jones explained that there were twelve owners on that road and that it had been recently opened up. The inclusion of that road linking up with Dominion road would, he contended, form a desirable addition, especially as most of it was subdivided and capable of greater development. Returning to the township the party then proceeded to the Wairoa road, leading to Clevedon, where several roads, formed but unmetalled, were inspected. At ono point Mr Campbell drew the attention of Mr Bkeet to a ditch on the roadside under the dual control of tho Town Board and tho Manukau County Council. Complaint had been mado, he said, from time to time of the state of the culvert lmt without any satisfactory improvement. Ho was opposed to dual control and urged that some remedy should be forth-

coaiing. Whilst inspecting cortain of the formed but unmetalled side roads Mr Skeet suggested that where better roading facilities were required ratepayers should form themselves into special rating areas.—Replying to Mr Skeet's enquiry why these roads should not be included in tho Town Board area. Mr Gillespie said he did not consider they were in a tit state to bo included.

0u Elliot street being visited, on which about £3OO had been spent on reading work including metal, Mr Gillespie mentioned that as itpiovided access to the new saleyards a certain revenue would be received towards such expenditure. After inspecting several formed but unmetalled roads tho Commissioners returned to the Courthouse where the enquiry was resumed.

Explanation having been given by Mr Gillespie of the agreement arrived at with the Franklin County as to boundaries at Beach road Mi Morgan pointed out that the Commission had power to alter such arrangement if thought advisable. lie accordingly asked if there was any objection to cutting off a portion of the land bo tween Kirk's bush. Mr Holt volunteered the statement that it was at iirst suggested that portion of Mills' property should be cut off but Mr Mills especially desired to be included Cr Thomas said the County (,'ouncil did not wish to 'divide Beach road, the Council's policy being to avoid dual contn 1 where possible.

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Speaking in support of tho extension the Association suggested en the north eastern boundary, Mr Jones stated that the approximate valuation of tho property concerned amounted to £IO,OOO, which would produce about £7O in rates per annum. In order to avoid dual control lie considered that in view of future developments Cloyed, n read —one of tho most impoitant r>ads

in the district —should come under the management of the Town Board The whole reading area fieni Ilewling road to Dominion road wis, he saul, within tor, minutes walk of the Pnpjkura station and fur sanitary, lighting and water supply developments he argued that they should be brought within the township boundaries.

Mr Jones went on u> urge that provision ought to lie made tor the population i.i' ten \ ears l.enee and, loplving to Mr Sko' t, wlm asked it lie thought such pupal I'ion would drift towaids the direction of Clevo don, Mr Jones s.iid that he was of opinion that the inclusion o! the area theio would tend towards more .settlement as the Wairea road was the main road to Clevedon and was close to the station. Mr Morgan enquired of Mr Jones if he had considered whethui u Would be desirable to cut t II an\ ji ution of the existing uistint. Certain portions, said Mr Jones, could be cut oil but he did not see aiiy special reason foi it. Mr Skeet: Ito you know of anyone in the Town lioaid district who desired to hack to the County ' "No," replied Mr Jones

Mr Skeet • Tlioy are. so satisliecl with the Town Hoard management, I suppose, that they have no wish to go bad; ?

Mr Jones: I do not knew about being satisfied with the Town Board management; that is another question (laughter) Mr Alfred Willis endorsed the views expressed by Mr Jones that the additional area referred to by him should be included. He was also inclined to suggest that an additional portion of Mr McLennan's property should be taken in. Mr T D, Campbell, who advocated the inclusion of the Wairoa road to a distance at least of 18 chains, pointed out that owing to tho overflooding of ihe land and the consequent bad state of the creek at one point he, as the owner of the adjoining property, had frequently complained of the defective culvert to the then Wairoa Road Board and the PapakuraTown Board but without redress. He was for that reason opposed to dual control. The scheme for the proposed water supply would, ho thought, be assisted if the area was extended. Mr S. Evans, a resident for SR years and a member of the Ratepayers' Association, was in favour of the proposed extension, whilst both Messrs McMurray and A. Wallis also spoke in support of the same.

THE BOARD'S VIEWS

Mr Gillespie, on behalf of'the Town Board said that although tho Board advertised asking for any objections to their scheme the only intimation received from the ratepayers' Association was that they intended to object at the proper time. The Board at no time were hostile to a reasonable am<n3ment of the boundaries. Wairoa Road, he stated, was not valuable for buildpurposes as it was in a fog laden atmosphere, and the locality was not sufficiently developed to warrant the extension asked for.

Replying to Mr Skeet, Mr Gillespie said that the development of the district was considered as from the Main South Road and not from the Railway Station. He added that the Board had been guided by probable developments in the future. With the new boundaries as proposed he anticipated in the near future that the population would be increased to 1000 so that the township could be formed into a borough. He did not, however, think it wise to put forward a borough scheme while the war lasted.

Mr Percy Holt next gave evidence and stated that it was he who had prepared the plan for the extension of the Board's district to a three mile radius, the same being subsequently sanctioned by Parliament in the Washing Up Bill. Mr Campbell was tho only member of the Board to object. His reason for suggesting that some portion of the area should be kept in reserve was that in his opinion it was better to watch the direction of settlement of future population He thought that if the area had been agreed to by Mr Campbell it would have saved much expense and the process would probably have formed a precedent for the addition of land as required later. Replying to Mr bkeet, Mr Holt s«id it was impossible to say which direction future buildings would take.

Replying to Mr Skeet, Mr Holt stated he was not in favour of disturbing the existing area as suggested by the Board. Mr Skeet enquired whether if the boundaries were adjusted so as to leave a margin of one hundred acres for further expansion Mr Holt would bo inclined to agree to such adjustment and Mr Holt replied in the affirmative, saying lie thought the Commissioners would settle the matter in a workable and convenient

manner. Mr Loikie Gannon, the Board's engineer, was the next witness. He stated that the cost of the formation and metalling and provision for storm water drainage of the three unformed roads inspected by the Cjmmissioners, of a total length of sixty chains, would amount approximately to a chain, total £l->')o. The formation of the old Wairoa road Rd) of about 75 chains in length controlled by the Mamikau County Couucil would cost approximately £220().

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Mr Holt enquired if there was any possibility of the result of the Commission's recommendations being made known before tho coming election to which Mr Skeet replied that there was doubt about that.

It was point©:! out to the Commissioners that if their decisions were not brought into effect before the coming Town Board election it would mean that the electois of the added area would have no voico in the constitution of the Board until two years hence.

The Commission then closed, Mr Skeet intimating that their recommendations would in due course be forwarded to the Governor General.