MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 487, 5 December 1919, Page 4

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY'S MEETING, The Manukau County Council met on Wednesday. Present: Crs. A. D. Bell (chairman), F. 11. Brownhill, A. D. Reid, S. W. House, J. Luke. F. M. Waters. A. E. Hattawav; together with the clerk, Mi. Alex. Bell, and the engineer, Mr. W. T. Lapdell. Manurewa Theatre. With regard to the question as to whether, by reason of llie Council having granted a permit for the erection of a picture theatre at Manurewa. any claim for damages would be against the Council, if by reason of its proving unsafe, and collapsing, some person might be injured therein-, the Council's solicitors were of the opinion that no such liability attaches to the Council in the matter.—Received. It was pointed out that the rest would remain with the inspector when he was called on lo isMie a permit to show pictures. Howick Main Road. The under-secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs advised that the item of £4OO (£1 for £1), appearing on the appropriations for the Howick Mam Road, would be authorised directly detailed plans, specifications and estimates of cost for metalling had been submitted to and approved by the District Engineer. -Deferred until next meeting. Prime Minister's Regret. The Prime Minister regretted, owing to the extreme pressure of business, and hi< brief stay in Auckland, that it was not possible for him to receive the proposed deputation from the Manukau and Waitemata County Councils on the question of subsidies to local bodies. He pointed out that he had taken a note of the request: and when arrangements could be made he would receive the deputation. Clevedon-Hunua Road. With regard to the opening of the road from Clevedon to Huuua. via the Wairoa Gorge, the Prime Minister. Right Hon. W. F. Massey, stated that the estimated cost of completing the formation of the road was £2OOO, and the restoration of the bridge, which collapsed n few years ago during a flood in the Wairoa River, would involve an expenditure of a further £BOO. The Franklin County Council recently upplied for a tree grant for the road formation and the reconstruction of the bridge. Mr. Massey pointed out thai it was unusual for the Government to provide more than the £ for £ subsidy for the restoration of flood damage, and consequently the Minister for Public Works was unable to provide the full £2OOO. The sum of £3OO had been provided, and this amount would be issued to the Franklin County Council directly satisfactory proposals for its expenditure had been submitted to the District Engineer-Received. Finance. The Treasury advised that £IO3B 16'8 had been'placed to the credit of tKft Council's account.—Received. Council Acquires Tractor. On the motion of Cr. House, seconded by Cr. Brownhill. it was decided to acquire a Sanderson tractor. Next Meeting. The next meeting will be held on December 9. THE ANNFAL MEETING. COUNCILLOR BELL RE ELECTED CHAIRMAN. PAST TEAR'S WORK. At noon, the chairman vacated the chair, the clerk, Mr. Alex. Bell, presiding over the annual meeting. Election of Chairman. Mr. Bell called for nominations for the position of chairman for the ensuing year. Cr. F. H. Brownhill moved that Cr. A. T). Bell be re-elected. Cr. House, in seconding, said the chairman had shown a marked improvement on bis initial vear's working. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman then thanked members for the continued confidence in him.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT The following was submit ted by ll"» elininiian of lite Mami kan County Coun.il. Mr. Ales 1 Bell, at Ilio la.-i mcetim; |t is with pleaslllV I hat I 1' i«y before von my report on tin; !'';' ,-rrss and advan.vmonl ■•! ' ■«' Countv -in.o tin- Ul .i»»»-' ! " uv; , him. wlin-li w:i> "•< I'l on . Do.ciiil.or. I'.HS IJ.-i.M-- JM-.SV.M -•: furtiMT. i w.mil.i iik«« ! " r ! - I,l ' :'"•' ; i,!,| tin- i-on.sr<|ii.'iil initios. Since I In- ;»<:•.">■: "' >' u ' Armistice, public w.'rk ami onto. ~riso have naturtllv resumed (heir normal, pro-war activities Puring the influenza opidonii.- ot last year, we had llio misfortune to lose our oonntv foreman, Mr. Chas. lbxou We were then fared with the ad visabilitv of appointing a competent engineer, in view of the liioroasinp works of importance in the County. which had need of a qualified man to cope with them. Advertisement* i were inserted in various paper?

hU'OUghnut tllO Ni'Vtll Millld, Willi the refill (lint Micro were !50 appli i;t : . for ihe posiiion. Mr. W. -I.

!. ;jii. of Stratford, wa- appoint !'i| cll l; i n L-r-r. and took up his d lit it's i!ii tin'- t'.tth February, 1919. Tlic iMom 1 and onjiiiipr i:indr> p. iLor--11ul;!i iu^poHion of the County ro.ids and bridges in March, and found that tho roads were in fair mudi-

lit ill. Millionth in nfi'd of uiorf mot;il or n pprmanont surface of tar

or oilier bituminous material, to nreserve thorn. The bridges, many ill' them, were in need of renewal, more especially in the Turunda and Wairoa hidings. Tt was decided

then, that the Council make a trip "f inspection over tlio Taranaki roads, wliicli trip ultimately was

made in July. The outcome of this visit was that the Council went in for fairlv big loans for the purpose of tarring all the roads in Mangcre Riding (£30.000), renewing bridges and culvert", and reforming roads, in Turanga and Wairoa 'Ridings i £5,0(10), and a loan of .£9OOO for the purpose of purchasing a more up-to-date road-making plant. The ■ natter of raising these loans was, of

ourse, put to the vote, when they ierc all carried by large majorities. We have succeeded in raising the naehiiicrv loan ('£9000) from the ~nd Savings Bank, and negotiations are being proceeded with

for 'lie balance of the loan moneys. During the year the Papatoetoe Town Board has endeavoured to get out of the control of tbe Council, but owing to some irregularity in their communications to the Government they were unable to do so. They have since had an Order-in-Conncil declaring them out of the County jurisdiction as from 31st March, 1919. Cnder the circnm-

stances, mid at the request of the Board, Iho Council delegated their powers of ratine; to the Board, in Hip Town DistriH Area. Various small matters concerning the adjustment of assets and liabilities be-

tween the Council and the Town Board were arranged at a conference, hold for ilia! purpose. The Mannrowa Town Board, having the population required for a Town Board, have also obtained the consent neee'sarv, and will bo manag-

ing their own affair? after the end of the present financial year. The receipts of the General Account for the vear ending 31st March, 1018, were £11,614/12/5: for the vear on dine 31st March, 1019. £1. r ).P)O2/18/7 —thus making in increase for the past vear of £3OBB/6/2. Tt is expected thai at Ihe end of the ensuing year the Council's accounts will be again further increased a> a result of merging Bond Boards. Tn connection with tl'.e merging of these Boad

Hoards, the Council is now losing ■i considerable amount of money annuallv, througli the decrease of Government subsidv on rates, and there is no possibility of this being overcome until all Boad Boards within the County are merged. With the object in view of forcing small Boad Boards to merge, or having legislation otherwise amended, the Council, together with representatives from.the Waitomatn Countv,

ire to wait upon the Prime 'Minisor, at a date to be arranged later. During the vear the Council

have joined the New Zealand Connij os Association, ravine; an annual subscription of .£4/4/-. Being n member of this association entitles us to write and obtain leeal opinions on anv matter wliatever, and it is boned tbat mncb valuable and useful information will be obtained for tlie yearly subscription. Tn drawing mv report to a close. T have to thank the members and

(lie office staff for all tlie courtesy and consideration extended to me during mv term of office as chairman to this Council.