FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 503, 6 February 1920, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING* The monthly meeting of The Franklin County Council was held ,vcstorday. when there were present —Crs. W. Claud Motion (chairman). R. T. Reid, T. W. Wood;:, H. Wilcox. J. Keith, W. H. Thomas, J. A. Short, T. J. Loc'kwood. J. S. Montgo, lerie, Mr. J. F. McArthur (engineer), and Mr. Alan P. Day (clerk).

LOANS REFUSED.

The State Advance Office advised that it could not grant the council's application for £750 for Stewart, Cowan and Heald's Roads, Hunua. An application for £2OOO was also refused. The same office advised that no application for a loan for workers' dwellings could be obtained until after March 31.

Taurangaruru to Waipipi Road

The Public Works Department wrote that in regard to the above, the £1 for £1 condition was imposed when the original item was provided, before the Waipipi Road Board merged. "The whole of the present item of £375 (£1 for £1) is already held by your council. The Minister is prepared to find £375 (£1 for £1) for work on the road. The present authorities are being cancelled, and a fresh authority for £375 (£1 for £1) will be issued when satisfactory proposals for an expenditure of .i'7so have been submitted to the district engineer and approved by that officer."—Received,

Pukekohe East to Rama Rama, Via « Kearn's Road.

The Public Works Department wrote acknowledging receipt <■ ' belter from the Prime Minister ' i . • gard to the above. It was admitted that the road was dangerous. There was an item of £l5O on the appropriations for the work, but this was not sufficient. The grading, 1 in 11, would cost £4OO, and a new bridge £250. The Minister was prepared to issue an authority for £250 directly plans, etc., were forwarded and approved.—Received.

Clevedon to Hunua Road.

The Manukau County Council suggested a meeting on February 12 to discuss the matter of expenditure for the above road.—Chairman Cr. Lockwood and engineer appointed.

Watson's Flats Road.

Residents of Waipipi sent in a petition asking that the above road be shelled. The clerk said the letter had been replied to asking for the con?o> ' -f the Governor-General to rroso *■ k>..n under the Finance Act.— On ! •■■c motion of Crs. Lockwood a :>l K' • letter was received and Uv inaction approved

Waipipi Petition

A petition signed by Mr. William Watson and 33 other ratepayers of Waipipi requested the council to shell the piece of road known as Watson's flat from end of metal to Harvey's Corner.—Deferred, pending loan proposals.

Spawls Offered. Mr. J. R. Fletcher, Bombay, offered to sell a quantity of spawls to the council.—Left to riding member.

Noxious Weeds.

Mr. C. F. Green, Papakura, complained of the noxious weeds on the county reserve at Kiri Kiri, and requested the lessee be compelled to cut them.—Decided to inform the tenant that if the conditions of the lease, namely, that the noxious weeds be cleared, could not be complied with by him, the council would give him an opportunity of surrendering the lease.

Culvert Wanted. Mr. G. Pulnian made application to hnvp n culvert 011 the Pukekohe East as he wanted to drai tin* am p.—On motion of Cr. Thoi . , rc'.fjf-st agreed to. "Tjnia Rama Bridge. Mi < \ H'lllett, Rama Rama, drew i;;c . nil's attention to the access road and bridge to his property. The above letter was taken in conjunction with the following- one: Mr. W. Guinivan, Rama Rama, requested the council to adhere to a promise made some time ago that something would be done to the bridge 011 the road leading to nis 55 acres section.—Cr. Thomas and engineer to inspect and report. Papakura Request. Mr. J. Murray, Auckland, wrote with reference to the council's requirements regarding metalling of road on Oakland's Estate (J A Slack", Papakura), and asking that metalling conditions be waived.—Cr. Thomas said the owners were getting a good value for the land. He moved that j the original conditions be enforced. — C:1 ried unanimously. A Wail From Bombay. M»\ Jai;;-V Oliver. Bombay, drew ie . ohjk : 1 itvri>n to the forma--1011 of 1 i:e road k iding to his and Mr. C. E<U;e'.- properties. He asked that it be tend-4 to.—Cr. Thomas said it would cost £IOOO to make a road. There was little rates collected. He admitted that the road was the worst in the county.—Decided to try and get a grant for the work. Short's Deviation. The plan of Short's Deviation, Awhitu, with all consents required endorsed thereon, was returned by Messrs. S. Vaile and Sons—Passed. Beach Road. The Papakura Town Board wrote accepting the council's offer to do the work of reforming the sides of boundary portion of Beach Road, and patching the same for a distance of about 25 chains from western boundary of J. Kirk's property to western boundary of Argyle Park Estate, 'the council contributed £ls towards the work 011 condition the board contributed a like amount.—Received.

Papakura Water Supply. Permission to lay pipes for water supply for the township upon the county roads, from Hunua Falls, was applied for by the Papakura Town Board—Councillors considered that the laying of the pipes would inime the road. The board could take the pipes along the side of the creek. It was doubtful, to the lay mind, whether or not the acute angles in the pipes would stand the pressure of water. Finally, it was decided that the chairman, Crs. Lockwood, Thomas and the engineer meet the board today and discuss the matter. Drainage Trouble. Notice was received from Mr. Geo. Nicholas's solicitors, Paparata Valley, to clean out watercourse leading to his property before the winter.—The engineer stated he had the matter in hand.

Paparata Valley. Messrs. Bradstreet Bros., Paparata Valley, requested the council to clean out drains, otherwise when the winter sets in, they and other property owners would be under water.— Agreed to. Runciman Query. Mr. J. W. Dixon, Runciman, wrote asking what arrangement the council had entered into with the Railway Department relative to the overhead bridge on the Great South Road at Runciman. It was necessary that adjacent property owners should possess such information, as it would affect their building and general improvement plans.—Reply that applicant should write to Railway Department. «

Waiau Pa. The Waiau Pa branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union wrote stating that a resolution was passed at a recent meeting to the effect that the union was very much dissatisfied with the slow progress of getting a start with the metalling of their part of the Patumahoe to Waiau Road.

Cr. Montgomerie said he had explained the position to the complainants some six weeks ago, and they were satisfied. Delay had occurred owing to the machinery not coming to hand. The insinuation that he «vas pushing work at his end was very unfair; whereas, if coal were" Available, a lot would be done au. He could not believe that the union had ever seen the letter, and was cei'tain the members would not approve of it. The engineer said the ratepayers concerned would be better off than most others.

Jesmond Estate. Mr. R. B. Morgan, Drury, wrote suggesting a visit from the member for the riding and the county engineer, as there were numerous important matters to be attended to, including the question of roads and a proposed new bridge on Jesmond Estate. Cr. Montgomerie said he had, unfortunately, not been able to give the above the attention he wished to, but he would take the first opportunity of making a visit with the engineer. The contract for the bridge had been let. A Mauku Road. Mr. A. Smyth, Mauku, wrote asking for the position regarding the unopened road between properties owned by Mr. S. Rowe and hinpelf.— Decided to inform applicant that he had proper legal redress if the other party concerned would not contribute his share towards the cost of the fence. —Cr. Montgomerie and engineer to confer with Mr. Smyth. (Continued inside.)