DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 463, 4 April 1919, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

TUAKAU. TUAKAU TOWN BuAßl> Monthly Meeting. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Tuakau Town Board was held on Tuesday last. Present: Messrs D. Fulton (chairman), B. G. Geraghty, C. Finch, W. Barnaby, G. Lapwood, J. Mungall,, J. Pirret and the Town Olerk, Mr A. H. Tapper.

9AXITARY BY-LAWS. Mr T. D. Campbell, a member of the Papakura Town Board, wrote asking to be favoured with a copy of the Tuakau Board's sanitary by-laws relative to the removal of nightsoil. The Chairman stated that the Board did not have a nightsoil service, and he did not, accordingly, think the by-laws would be of much use to the applicant. It was, however, agreed to send to Mr Campbell a copy of the by-laws. LOAN WORKS. The Board's Engineer (Mr John Boutley) reported that he expected Mr W. Smeed to commence delivering metal for tar-paving in George Btreet during this week. He also anticipated that the Beetar Company's men would commence work in a fortnight's time, The question then arose as to whether George street should be closed for vehicular traffic during the time the Restar company'i men were laying the restar. Mr Barnaby thought it advisable to do half the street at one time, so as not to impede the traffic. Mr Mungall urged that if the street «aa to be closed notification to this effect would have to be given at least two weeks previously. Eventually, the report was adopted, and the question of doing half or the whole of the street at the one time was left in abeyance uutil the Board could consult the Engineer on the matter. ACCESS TO QPARRY. With regard to the proposal to rent a paddock adjoining the quarry on Mr Bycroft's property, in order to facilitate access into the quarry, Mr Bycrnft wrote offering to least) to the board the eight acres of land for two years at 8s per week.

A letter was also received from Mr T: McDonnell, accepting the Board's offer to rent his property at 8s per week. [t was pointed out that Mr McDonnell's paddock afiorded better facilities than Mr Bycroft's, and the Board confiimed the offer for the same A BOUNDARY ROAD. In connection with the formation and grading of McFarland's and Geraghty's road, the boundary road between the Board's district and that of the Franklin County Council, the latter body intimated that it wa* prepared to call tenders for the work and to put it in hand at once provided the Board agreed to subtidis>- £ for £ up to £'so. The Council added that they understood that the Board had loan money for expend! ture on the road. The Chairman said the Council was under a njiitipprehen-ion as tin money allocated in the I- an wan not for that portion of the road at all but for a portion neaier the main r< ad He thought th« Board chotild ac »;ept the offer as it would prove advantageous to many ratepayers. r Mungall raised the question as to a minute existing on the Board's hooks that no further loan money be spent until the main roads were done.

The Chairman remarked that they could contribute the amount out of ratee rnd then could transfer it to the Loan account.

Mr Mungall contended that thereby the Board would only be quibbling over the matter. The Chairman said it would not be a case of quibbling as it was absolutely legal for the Board to do the work out of rates.

On the motion of Mr Barnaby, seconded by Mr Lapwood, the Olerk was instructed to write to the Frank lin County Council asking them to put the work in hand at once, the Board's subsidy to be £ for £ up to £SO. •iAT.E OF OI.D MKT AI. In regard to the sale of old metal to Mr Strahan as authorised by the Chairman and referred to at a special meeting held last week, the Chairman said he bad been speaking to the Engineer about it and the Engineer had stated that it was very good business to dispose of the old metal at 5s per yard. A CLAIM FOR DAMAOIB. Mr Geo. Ounnold wrote in reference to an inoident that occurred in George Street recently. He stated that he was driving his waggon and team along the street when the workmen stopped him and told him the road was blocked for traffic. In turning round the pole of his waggon was broken together with some harness. For this damage he claimed £1 88 9d, the cost of the repairs. Mr Mungall asked who gave notice to cloee the road? On that particular occasion, he said, the road was closed but no notice as to its closing was erected.

Mr Pirret said he saw the incident and thought it was partially the workmen's fault as they pulled Mr Ciinnold up rather suddenly with the result above stated. The Chairman considered that if the Board's men were partly responsible the Board should compensate Mr Ounnold by paying half the amount.

On the motion of Mr Barnaby, seconded by Mr Picrit, the Clerk was instructed to reply to Mr Ounnold expressing the Board's regret at the mishap and stating that the Board was willing t3 pay half of the amount claimed.

A WIDOW'S PINSION

In connection with the matter of a Widow's Pension brought up by Mr Mungall at the Board's special meeting last week and which was referred to the Pensions Department, a letter was received from the Department stating that at the present time the widow was receiving a pension of £-12 per annum plus £.'l6 as a War Bonus, which would continue for twelve months after the war. The Department pointed out that under the Act the widow was allowed £l2 per annum for the first child and £6 per annum for each child under the age of 14 years, while under the Finance Act 1918 a pension of £6 was awarded for each ohild eligible for the war pension. The Chairman said that when in Auckland recently he made enquiries and ascertained that a widow whose husband died during the influenza epidemic was entitled to 10< a week per child from the Epidemic Relief Fund.

The Chairman then moved that the Clerk should be instructed to apply to the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for the epidemic pention for the widow. Mr Lapwood seconded the proposition, which was carried. PROroHKD OOTTAGK UOSPITAL. The President of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, Mr R. F. Webster, forwarded a petition to the board, which he asked should be circulated in the district with a view to obtaining the nßmes of persons in sympathy with the proposal to erect a hospital at Pukekohe. The Chairman said that he was at a loss know how it was proposed to inn the hospital. Without infor tnation of any kind he was not prepared to subscribe to the scheme or to attach his signature to the petition. 1 be least the promoters ot the scheme should have done was to have invited delegate* from the

Board to attend a meeting in order that Tuakau oould get all the information required At any rate, he : added, the petition was from the Chamber of Commerce, a body who did not represent any ratepayers. The Clerk said he was afraid the promoters did not realise what it was going to cost to run such an institution. The cost of upkeep would be tremendous—too big to have anything to do with. If an accident, he said, occurred at Tuakau, whereby the patient required hospital treatment, such patient would have to be put on the train to be taken to Pukekohe. In that case, the patient would probably prefer to travel a few extra miles in order to get the attention of first-class medical men in Auckland. If a hospital was erected at Pukekohe he doubted if the services of a first-class medical man would be available. Mr Lapwood asked whether, in the event of a patient from Tuakau requiring treatment, and he wanted to go to Auckland, would he be compelled to go to Pukekohe. The Chairman replied that he could see difficulties ahead if patients were to be deprived of rights of admission to the Auckland hospital. On the motion of Mr Pirret, seconded by Mr Geraghty, it was decided to reply stating that the Board would take no action in the matter until further information was available. FEACE CELEBRATIONS. The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded a draft of proposed peace celebrations, but consideration thereof was deferred, pending a public meeting to dvcuss what form the celebrations should take at Tuakau RAILWAY' CROSSING MENACE. The District Railway Engineer, in reply to the Board's request for a disc signal to be erected at the Tuakau railway crossing, stated that years ago he wrote to the Pukekohe East Road Board, asking them to erect notice-boards at the George street crossing, bm no reply was received.

Mr Mungall, who biought the matter up at a previous meeting, said they did not require notices, but wanted the disc (or signal) as promised by the Engineer, t» give people using the crossing a warning of approaching trains He moved to that effect.

Mr Barnaby seconded, and the motion was carried.

Willi regard to the proposed overhead bridge at the level crossing, a letter was received from the District Engineer, asking what steps the Board had taken in the matter. The Chairman moved that the Clerk should reply stating thai the BoArd had the matter in hand, but as, under the Board's new proposal, private property would have to be acquired, some delay was n .cessary. This waa agreed to.

In reply to a question by the Chairman as to what he would take for the land proposed to be acquire d in connection wiih the bridge, Mr Qeraghty said he would give a reply in a few days.

The Chairman said the Board required "Yes" or "No" for an auswer, and they would then know what to do. If necessary, he a ided, the Board could take what land it required under the Public Works Act.

" I'll give you an answer in a few days," said Mr Qeraghty. " I waut a definite date fixed," replied the Chairman. The matter then dropped. finance. Accounts totalling his 3d were approved and passed for pay ment