MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 482, 18 November 1919, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting The monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held in the Cuuncil's office. Auckland, on Tuesday last when there where present: Crs A. D. Bell (chairman), F. H. Brownhill, A. D. Reid, F. M. Waters, J. Luke, S. W. Howse, A E. Hattaway, together with the clerk,Mr Alex. Bell and the Engineer Mr W J. Lopdell. I'.VI'ATOETOK ham, Cr Waters reported having waited on the Papato9toe Town Board with regard to Papatoetoe Hall affairs. He pointed out that the Government Auditor had intimated to the Board that as the Manukau County Council was the controlling body, all financial affairs had to pass through the hands of the Council. lie took it that the Council would have to furnish financial statements in connection with the Hall. The Papatoetoe Town Board had appointed a Hall Committee, aud had fixed a scale of charges, It was suggested that Cr Waters, as riding member be added to the committee. This the Council decided to do.

I.OAN" AKRA.VfiE.MKXJ'S In reply to the Council's letter, the Prime Minister advised that after conferring with the Minister for Finance he was unable to give the Council any assistance in getting the £30,00(1 and £9OOO loans from the State Advances. The Premier pointed out that the Act, which recites the purposes for which money may bo borrowed from the State Advances office, contained no provision that would cover the purposes tor which the County desired to borrow. - The Council's solicitors advised that the Auckland Saving's Rank, would advance £9OOO for the Machinery Loan for 15 years at 5{ per cent, ani that th»y were having the necessary debentures prepared. Councillors considered this highly satisfactory. It was reported that negotiations for raising tho £30,000 loan were in progress MANL'HEWA HKuI'KSTs The Manurewa Town Ik.ard drew the Council's attention to the drain at tho junction of Great South and Valley Roads, which empties itself in the water tahle. Tho Board urged tho Council, in tho interest of Public Health, that the pipes be continued to the cruek, a little further along the road. The Board also asked how the matter in connexion with tho overhead bridge was progressing, and urged the Council to push the work ahead. The Board pointed out that tho delay was impeding local development considerably. In connexion with the drain, the member of the riding, and the Engineer, were delegated to inspect and see what was required, while with reference to the overhead bridge, it was decided to reply that the Department was hanging the matter up to ascertain the legality of tho signatures on the petition.

W'AIUOA (fOKOE ROAII The Prime Minister in reply to the Council's letter in regard to the opening of the Wairoa Gorge Road, Clevedon to Hunua, for wheel traffic, stated that he was bringing the matter before the Minister for Public Works for consideration and would advise the Council later.—Received The Valuation Department notified that it had sent on to the Treasury £1();3S 1 (is Bd, being subsidy on rates due to the Council, for 1918-19l!i. The Clerk poiutod out that the amount was less than the amount received last year. They wero about £.'300 worse off than last year, and next year, would be worse off, because they would not receive the subsidy on rates collected in the old Road Board dietricts. They would only receive £SOO on outlying districts which were hitherto Road Board districts, and which have been merged. The chairman said the position was that until the remainder of the

Road Hoards merged, the County lost £ISOO a year in subsidies. Members thought an amendment in the law was necessary, so that Road Boards should be forced to merge, and not encouraged, as at present. The whole of the County suffered because a few paltry Road Boads had not merged. It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the i J rime Minister while he was in the district, and urge that the law be amended so that smaller Road Boards would be compelled to merge. It was also decided to solicit the co-operation of the Waitemata County Council in the matter, and the chairman, Crs Waters and Hattaway, were appointed a deputation to represent the Council. raynFRS The following tenders were accepted, for work in the County. Ranfurly road, Manurewa : Messrs Burnside Bros, £672. Mr Geo. Munro also tendered, but it was not complete. Park Road, Bridge, Turanga riding: F. Goodman, £896 10s (accepted) ; other tenderers were Davidson and Hefferman, £IOB9. A. M. Mackav, £1017: Traiger Bros, £1291 "os. It was decided to accept Messrs T. S. Bellaby's tender at 8s 3d per dozen for dog collars. d.EVEIiOX-TAKANna ROAIi It was decided to accept Mr Reynold's offer of land, for a road, from Clevedon to Takanini, the Council to defray the cost of the necessary survey: I'AY SIIEET The pay sheet, amounting to £641 was passed for payment.