MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 418, 15 October 1918, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting The monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Auckland, last Friday, when there were present: Crs A. D. Bell (Chairman), F. H. Brownhill, A Muir, A. Hattaway, F, M. Waters, S. W. House, J. Luke, with the County Clerk (Mr Alex Bell). ROAD BOARD MEBGED Prior to the commencement of the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held for the purpose of confirming a special order merging the Papakura Valley Boad Board into the County. On the motion of Cr Muir, seconded by Cr Luke, the resolution was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS Mr G. B. Davis, of Alfriston, drew the Council's attention to the fact that there was no proper entrance to his property situated on Banfurly Boad and as the Council was about to take over the Alfriston-Brookby road and the subsidiary Banfurly road he trusted they would have the present terminus extended to the boundary of his property to enable him to have access thereto. He pointed out that a loan was raised to have Banfurly road properly formed and graded and the Papakura Boad Board promised him that as soon as the loan was raised they would give him a cart entrance. He hoped the Council would acc9de to the promise given him.—The matter was referred to Cr Muir and the Engineer to inspect and report on at the next meeting

Application was made by the authorities of St John's Church, Papatoetoe, for the footpath to be extended from Hunter's store to the church property, a distance of about five chains.—Cr Waters pointed out that at the corner there was a cattle drafting yard and as cattle were usually about he was afraid any work accomplished would only be thrown away.—lt was resolved to reply that the Council would give the matter earnest consideration but on account of the amount of cattle drafting that took place they were afraid any work undertaken would only be thrown away.

A letter was read from the Papatoetoe Boad Board protesting against the granting of building permits by the Council for the erection of small and unsightly buildings in the area which was likely to comprise the Town Board district of Papatoetoe The Board suggested that in future plans and specifications of proposed buildings should be submitted to the local authorities concerned before permits were issued.—lt was decided to accede to the Board's request. Attention was drawn by Mr George Walker, of Clevedon, to the dangerous state of Crighton's road, Clevedon, and of the Ardmore range road.—The matter was left in the Engineer's hands to be attended to. The District Telegraph Engineer intimated in reply to a letter from the Council that the Department could not undertake the work of felling the trees on the main South Boad near Papakura. He would be glad if the Council would keep the matter in view, and have the trees removed as soon as possible.—No action was taken. Thomas E. Bobinson, Wiri, drew attention to the bad state of the roads in the vicinity of the Wiri Bailway Station—The Engineer stated that he had the matter in hand. SUBSIDISED WORKS Begarding contracts for works subsidised by the Government the Thames County Council forwarded a copy of letter they had framed protesting against the delay that existed when plans and specifications were forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval. The letter went on to say that if in addition to that Councils have to submit the tender price for approval it would certainly mean further delay and a possibility of the contractor withdrawing his tender. They asked the Council's support in the matter. A resolution endorsing the letter was passed, the same to be sent to the Minister of Public Works, COMMISSION Eli OIi.IECTF.iI TO The question of the constitution of the Commission to take evidence in regard to the proposal to form a Town Board in Papatoetoe was again before the Council, a letter being received from the assistant Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs wherein it was stated that after duly considering the Council's objections the Minister of Internal Affairs had docided to recommend the Governor General to appoint Messrs H. M. Skoet (Chief Crown Lands Commissioner) and Edward Morgan (of the Valuation Department to the Commission.

The Clerk stated that the Act governing the appointment provided that the officer in charge of the Valuation Department should be one member of the Commission.

It was decided to renew the protest mado against the appointment of Mr E. Morgan on the grounds that such was illegal as Mr Morgan was not the officer in charge of the Valuation Department. TUANM'oCT DISABILITIES Mr 11. E. Pacey, the Managing Director of the N.Z. Dairy Association, wroto drawing the Council's attention to the groat increase in the cist of haulage of (ream owing to the condition of the road from Wl.ifoid to Brookby. He understood, he said, that a deviation had been agreed upon and he urged the Council to have tho work completed as it would considerably reduce the cost of haulage.

The Chairman stated that the Council had come to an arrangement some time ago with the Public Works Engineer, who had tho pro posals in his office but the Council had had no reply. Ho added that a Government grant was authorised for tho work but tho money was not yet available.

It was decided to write to tho Government Engineer urging him to use

his best endeavours to have the work proceeded with. PROPOSED HEW ROAD The matter of constructing a through road from Olevedon to Takanini was mentioned by a deputation, consisting of Messrs W. H. Beynolds, G. McCullough and T. St Paul, that waited on the Council. Mr Beynolds was the chief spokesman on the deputation's behalf and in the course of his remarks he said that the scheme had been mooted some time ago but it was then owing to some difficulties allowed to lapse. He claimed that there were no obstacles now because he had taken the opportunity of making every thing clear. He had received promises oi money and of land and that left very little land for the Council to purchase. The value of the land and the monetary donations promised totalled approximately £743 10s. The full length of the road would be two miles 29 chains and the amount of land the Council would have to acquire would only be about four acres. The proposed road would go through various properties from Burnside's terminus striking the main road at Takanim. In conclusion, Mr Beynolds asked that the work should be started without delay. The Chairman spoke in sympathy with the deputation's proposal. He pointed out that the proposed road would give the settlers a clear outlet to the main road. As it was there were five ratepayers in Fapakura Valley who received no benefits from the rates. The deputation having withdrawn the Council decided for the benefit of Councillors who were not acquainted with the locality to meet and inspect the route of the proposed road on Tuesday next. mOCEEDUBE FOB DEPUTATIONS A letter was read from the Clerk of the Manurewa Town Board asking the Council to appoint a date on which to receive a deputation from his Board. Cr Hattaway protested against the system in force for receiving deputations. He said they " blew " in at any time and considerably interrupted proceedings. Cr Waters also took exception to the manner in which huge questions were sprung on Councillors and he suggested that before a deputation was received Councillors should have an idea of what was coming before them.

Eventually it was decided that deputations be received at 2 p.m. on meeting days and that before any deputation was received it should forward particulars of the subject to be brought before the Council. A reply to that effect is to be forwarded to Manurewa Town Board whose deputation will be received at the next meeting. engineer's repobt The Foreman (Mr C. Dixon) reported on the various works as follows: Mangere Biding: Practically no work has been done in this riding but bad holes on the Main road had been attended to. As authorised by Cr House he had managed to have 400 yards of spawls quarried at Gray's quarry to complete Buckland road. The work would be pushed on at once. As requested by Cr House he was preparing an estimate of cost for putting down a concrete road in Mangere riding. Papatoetoe Biding : Bepairs to Back Boad had been completed, and all carting and casual labour had been dispensed with. Only the surfaceman was employed in attend ing to repairs on the main road. The roads in this riding were in good condition and there was no work in hand at present. Begarding complaints of building permits for Harrison's (butcher's) shop he had inspected the building and found the timber in first-class order but the building was certainly small. Papakura Biding: The County plant had completed the improvements to the South road. Further improvements were being done on the the Wiri road. Belative to complaints of trees overhanging the telegraph lines at Takanini he had arranged to have the trees cut. An inspection of the roads revealed the fact that they were all in good condition with the evception of one or two.

Wairoa Biding : Bad holes on thd Ardmore road had been attended to. A further 150 yards of maintenance metal had been carted and spawled. Bepairs to the main roads had been effected by the county teams. County plant: The county plant had completed the work on the South road and was now employed by the Mangere Boad Board. He suggested that the road grader taken over from the Papakura Koad Board should be put in thorough order. The report was adopted. FINANCE

The financial statement as submitted by the County Clerk showed that on September 30th there was a debit balance of £9145 the debits of the different ridings being Mangere £304, Pakuranga £1278, Papafeura £1425, Papatoetoe, £940, Turanga £1294, Wairoa £2789. The receipts for the half-year were set forth as £4641, included rates paid for current year £2290, arrears of rates £329, and Government subsidy £I3BB.