FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 470, 2 May 1919, Page 4

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Yesterday's Meeting

The monthly meeting of Franklin County Council was held in the Council Chambers, Hall Street, Pukekohe, yesterday, when there were present: Crs W. Claud Motion (chairman), J. 8. Montgomery, T. W. Woods, J. A Short, W. H. Thomas, T. J. Lockwood, H. Wilcox, with the County Clerk (Mr Alan P. Day) and the Engineer (Mr J. F. McArthur). An ipology for absence was received from Cr R. T. Reid (Wahiku).

WAIUKU FOIXOK ROAD. With reference to the Waiuku to Pollok (Leo gully to Pollok) road, the actidg Under Secretary of the Pub'io Works Department intimated that the Minister had received a numerously-signed requisition from the residents of Koh» Kohe and surrounding districts for the item of £SOO appearing on the appropriations for the road through Lee's gully, to be made available immediately for expenditure, and that the Minister directed him to inform the Council that an authority for £SOO would be issued to the Council directly detailed plans, specifications, and estimates of cost, hod been submitted to and approved by the District Engineer at Auckland, In reply to the chairman the Engineer stated that some years ago the plans were prepared, but so far the road had not been legalised.— The Clerk said necessary steps were being taken to legalise the road, but the plans had not yet been sent in. On the motion of the Chairman the Engineer and Clerk were instructed to submit the necessary plans in order that the road should be legalised.

MANOATANOI. Regarding the road improvement scheme in Mercer riding, the UnderSecretary of the Department of Public Works, wrote stating that the Council's application for £1 for £1 subsidy on a loau of £5,000, which the Council had raised for the construction of the two roads known as Mangatangi to Miranda, and Mangatangi to Kaiawa roads, had been received. Ue pointed out that the Minister regretted that as the items appearing on the Public Works appropriations at present ior the roads were small ones, being £364 and £IOO respectively. He was unable to promise a large subsidy of £5,000 £1 for £1) until the necessary provision had besn.made by Parliament. The ruitter had, therefore, been noted for lurther consideration when the Minister was compiling the Public Works Estimates for presentation to Parliament next session The Minister was prepared to issue the small items at present on the appropriations directly plans, specifications, and estimates of cost had been submitted to and approved by the District Engineer. The Engineer pointed out that the legalisation was not completed, and he was instructed to interview the Department to have the road legalised in order that the Council could lift the money. The Chairman also moved that the Council take necessary steps to lift the £361 subsidy. Carried.

DRURY ROADS The District Engineer of the New Zealand Railways advised, in connection with the proposed road on the western side of the Drury Railway Station, that the Chief Engineer was prepared to recommend the proposal provided the Council was prepared to go on with the work at onoe and to arrange for the approach to the north sub-way to be taken out of the Railway Reserve The Engineer stated that a lady Drury was willing to give Jof a chain and the Department a | of a chain towards the road On the motion of Cr Lockwood seconded by Cr Montgomerie the matter was left in the hands of Cr Thomas and the Engineer to deal with, with power to act. With regard to the temporary diversion of the road crossing at the northern end of the now Drury station and of the Waiuku road crossing about one mile further south, the District Engineer of tho New Zealand Railways forwarded sketches showing; the Department's proposals The District Engineer of Mew Zealand Railways forwarder! sketches showing the Department's proposal in connexion with the overhead bridge near Drury Hotel and road deviatiou at Waiuku and Druiv road crossing. The Engineer stated tlie plans wero satisfactory and on the motion of the chairman the plans were approved.

KOUKROA The Department of Lands and Survey notified that arrangements were in hand to complete the road access to section lsl.K.ohoroa Parish through section 149. The Clork stated that Mr Peter Dromgool of Tuakau was the owner of sec: ion 151 Koheroa Parish.—Received.

\ A 1.1 .VI lONS The Valuation Department intimated that it was engaged upon the revaluation of ihe Drury ridiug, and portion of the Pukekohe East riding, atid asked the Council to nominate some person to ae' as the U.unni's assessor nn Assessment Court. 'lho Chairman suggested tlio name of Mr 11. E. K. I-. Wily, of Mauku, as the most suitable man for the position. Mr Wily, he added, could hold his own in un argument of tins nature. Ho (the speaker) remarked that he hud seen Mr Wily, who had consented to act. On the motion of Cr Wilcox, Mr Wily was appointed as the Council's representative nu the Assessment Court.

MISSION I'.UMI GH.N.V! The State Advances Oifico advised that a recent menting of the State Advances Boar J it was resolved to grant the Council's loan of £2OOO for tho purpose of forming and

nietilling Mission Bush road, and Kahawai rotd, and forwarded debenture and declaration forma. Payment would be made on receipt of the debentures satisfactorily executed.

On the motion of the Chairman, iP was resolved to affix the common seal of the Council to the debentures, and the Chairman and Clerk were delegated to sign the debentures.

REFUND WANTED. The Manukau County Council wrote asking the Council to refund to the Manukau County Council general rates amounting to £2B 13s Gd collected from the owner of Section 86 Otau Parish found lo be in the Manukau County, and which has been on the Franklba County roll by mistake. It was decided to refund the amount.

•WILLOW NUISANCE. The Papakura Town Board drew the Council's attention to the present condition of Settlement and Hay's creeks, Opaheke, near their junction. Owing to the growth of the willows and other obstructions to the flow of water at this portion of the creeks the properties above were seriously inconvenienced. The Board requested the Council to take steps to have the portion of the creek referred to cleared out. The matter was left to Cr Thomas and the- Engineer, to inspect and deal with.

OTAU REQUEST. The Otau Drainage Board intimated that the Board in improving the ten-foot drain, Otau, had placed the surplus spoil on the edge of the road, and asked the Council to have the material spread ever the road, the length of which was nine chains. The matter was left in the ha nds of the Engineer to deal with.

A BARGAIN. Mr A. D. Wylie, of Mercer, wrote offering to cut the blackberries on the Mercer Quarry reserve, free, for a period of five years, provided that he had use of the north-east side, of about four acres for market gardening purposes He also undertook to keep clean the school reserve Sobered, fir the free use of same. Referred to Cr Keith and the Engineer, to deal with, and with power to act.

TUAKAU PROTEST. Mr A. J. Watson, of Tuakau wrote protesting against the Council's actiou in conducting an open drain through his property, at Union Road, Mauku. Me claimed that the drain was a menace and danger to stock, as it remained at the present time. He requested the Council to pipe and cover the drain for about three chains, and to remove the bank of clay caused in the digging of the drain.

The Engineer stated that he and Cr Montgomerie had inspected the drain, and they saw nothing dangerous. -Cr Montgomerie said the only dangor was near a sub-dividing fence He thought the Council could do nothing in the matter. The Clerk was instructed to reply stating the Engineer would meet Mr Watson on the ground, and if he had any reasonable suggestion to make, the matter would be attended to.

HUNUA REQUEST. Mr L N. White, Hunua, requested the Counoil to notify Mr John Aitchison, of Hunua, to remove all gates on the Hunua-Clevedon road, and also to shift fence back on to the proper fence line. Cr Lockwood moved that a cony of the letter be seut to Mr Aitchesun. He saw no reason why the gates should not be there; there was no traffic on the road at all. The Chairman said if a man had a gate across the road, he should erect a proper swinging gate. Cr Lockwood's motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and ho further moved that notice he given to remove the gate; but if Mr Aitchesou so desires, he can apply to the Couucil for permission to erect a suitable swinging gate Cr Thomas seconded, and the motion was carried

INFORMATION WANTED. Mr R. B. Morgan, of Drury, wrote for information re the actual position iu regard to the erection of a new bridge on the access road to Jesmond Estate. He understood that about six mroths ag • Mr Harbottle offered to contribute £3OO towards the construct! m of rho structure, pjnvided it was commenced as soon as possible after the termination of the war. Ihe matter was left in the hands of Cr Montgomerie and the Engineer, to interview Mr Harhortle in ascertain what could he d'lie, with a view to obtaining £3OO towards the construction of the bridge. OENTI.E REMINDER Mr James Donnelley, os Kama Rama, reminded the Council of a promise made to send a traction engit.e to Makctn, to haul willows out ol thfl creek at the school bridge. lie pointed mi* that the wdlows caus-ed the cieuk to iLo.J in wet weather, mid the water ran on to his flat laii i Liu asked the Council to .'.jive she matter immediate attention.

Ci lj'H;k\vtit)(l s;iid lit* dil not think a promise was made -it was only an inference. The lotlor was merely " . eeive.i "' " 'M. M'iKE TK Wll VUK lit-! M.ikti !'«• Wimre, of M ■■ ■■> tuwli.n I i.l ! i.' 1 ;i ]. r I- i i \l ,<>ri, which 'transluti-t), was u ■ !.■• • IT-1-« that ho was satisfied lor the road known .s McDonald's deviation to bo take.! through h s land, provided th© CoiiM'il f( need tin* said road on botli sides Th« matter iv !■• Ii ft to Or Thomas and the Engineer to deal with. Some of ihn other matters dealt with are reported elsewhere in this issue. Matter hi Id over will appear on Tuesday.