MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 528, 4 May 1920, Page 2

MANUKAU COUNTY COUNCIL

ADJOURNED MEETING. The adjourned monthly meeting of die Manukau County Council was held at Auckland -on Friday Inst, when there w,£re- present: Cits. A. I). Bell (chairman), S. W. House, A. E. J. Luke. F. M. Waters. D:' A. Reid, F H. Brownhill, together with the clerk (Mr. Edgar Ashcroft) and the engineei (Mr. W. J. Lopdell). Request Granted. An application was received from the Otahuhu Trotting Club for the use of the council's grader for the purple of forming a trotting track at the club's property at Mangeie. Permission was granted at the rate of 25s per dav. It was pointed out that in an off season ratepayers requiring the grader would be granted use of same on the same conditions as above, providing every care was taken of the machine Grader Work- To Cease During Winter. The engineer reported that the driver of' the grader had left the council's employ, and in view of the winter months, and with a view, of studying economy, he recommended that a grader driver should not be engaged at present. On the motion of Crs Brownhili and Waters it was decided that when the gradeif had completed present engagements it be housed during the winter months. Maraetai Road. Cr. Luke moved that plans and s) ecifications be prepared for the Government grant for formation and metalling on Maraetai Road, and that as soon as possible tenders be called for the formation work to be commenced not earlier than October next. Ci\ Luke said his reason for calling tenders for the work in the spring would enable a good start to be made with the work, and have it completed before the winter months. If the matter was deferred and steps taken in the summer the good weather would be past before the work could be completed. In the latter case a start could not be made until the autumn. Members concuilred, and the motion was carried. Mataltai Road Deviation. Or the motion of Cr. Luke it was decided to take necessary steps to legalise the proposed deviation at the willow tree crossing on the Mai'titai Road. Moumoukai-Ness Valley Road. Cr. Luke said the settlers of N«*s Valley were unanimous in their wish to raise a loan to have the work on the Moumoukai-Ness Valley Road done as early as possible. He moved that the engineer prepare estimate? for the metalling of the road with a v4ew to raising a loan to complete the work. He thought in view of the unanimity of settlers to raise a loan that the'council should prepare estimates of cost to give them an idea of the expenditure necessary. Cr. Waters seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. Alfriston-Ardmore Road.

d\ Reid said the settlers on the Alfriston-Ardmore Road were anxious to have the metalling continued from the Alfriston end. He moved th?t the present metal be carried on f-om the Alfriston end.—Carried. Papakura-Alfriston Road. On the motion of Cr. Reid the engineer was instructed to prepare ulans and specifications for the expenditure of £7O, transferred from the Alfriston-Wairoa Road to the Al-friston-Papakura Road, for metalline, work. Housing Problem. Cr. House said the question of securing houses for the workmen in the Mangere Riding was becoming a very serious matter. Workmen in his riding were compelled to live outside of the riding and had to travel a cH.siderable distance to work. He thought that the riding foreman, who was at present unable i* obtain a house and who was going to live at Onehunga, should be resident in the riding. The chairman said the matter was a terious one throughout New Zealand.

Eventually it was decided to ob tain particulars as to the procedure adopted for the raising of money for workers' dwellings under the Government scheme, the clerk to report on the matter' at next meeting. The engineer was instructed to report at next meeting on the numbei of houses required by the council folks employees. Deputation. Cr. House moved that a deputation wait on the Minister for Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) with a view to obtaining a subsidy on the Mangere main road loan proposal of £IO.OOO The motion was seconded by Cr. Luke and carried. Insurance of Bitumen. The matter of arranging for the insurance of 200 tons of bitumen was left in the hands of the engineer. Request to Remove Stone. Philip Pegaelero (Manurewa) requested permission to remove stone from the Wiri quarry at Manurewa to complete the erection of a house en a property he has purchased. On the motion of Crs Reid and House the council acceded to the request. Destructive Rats. Mr. C. Arnold Jones (Whitford) drew the council's attention to the heavy loss and destruction caused by rats at the Whitford wharf goedsshed. He requested the council to ' take steps to have the shed made rat-proof. He recently lost a considerable quantity of oats and pollard through the depredations of the rats. Cr. Brownhill and the engineer were authorised to have the necessary repairs effected to prevent rats doing damage to goods stored at the above wharf goods-shed. Howick Complaint. A complaint was received from a resident of Howick to the number of cattle allowed to stray on the roads. They were a constant source of annoyance to residents through the damage to fences and hedges. The matter was referred to the riding member to report on at next meeting. Manurewa Overhead Bridge. With rega;\l to the Manurewa overhead bridge loan of £2OOO it was decided to af'ix the seal of the council to debentures for 1:2000 relative to the loan of K2OOO from the State Advances Oflice for the Manurewa highlevel bHdge approach loan. The clerk and chairman were authorised to sign the debentures. • Boundaries of Ridings.

The resolutions altering the boundaries of ridings as previously published in the "Times" was confirmed Dangerous Road. Mr. T. Paterson (Manurewa) drew the council's attention to the dangerous state of Hill's Road at Sela's corner 1 . He pointed out that the corner was overgrown with gorse, which h-.d grown to a considerable height that the view was obscured. The matter was'tei't in the hand' of the engineer to deal with. Th*n&. The Papaku**. Board thanked ~the council fcr offering to attend to the work Required on the old Wairoal Road-Hewlin's line.-*-Receivt?d.]