FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 595, 24 December 1920, Page 1

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY'S MEETING.

Tiie Franktiir*County Council met on Wednesday, when there were present: Crs. Claud Motion (chairman), H. 0. Mellsop, J. Dean-, B. Charles, J. R. Lowry, H. Wilcox, T. W. Woods, R. T. Reid, G. W. Heakl, E. C. Cuff, the clerk (Mr Alan P. Day), and the engineer (Mr. J. F. McArthur). In reply to the council's request for a Government grant for the purpose of land for the proposed deviation on the Pukekohe East to Rama Rama Road, via fcearnsr, the Prime Minister intimated that he would discuss the matter' with the Minister for Public Works, and reply late)'. — Received.

With reference to the question of rabbits and noxious weeds inspectors, the Prime Minister stated that he had had the matter further gone into. The Department had suggested that two or three of its responsible officers should meet the members of the council and discuss the whole matter with a view of arriving at a satisfactory understanding. He contended the suggestion was a good one, and requested to know if it commended itself to the members of the council.-- On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to reply stating the council favoured the suggestion, and would be pleased to meet the Department's officers at next meeting. The Public Works Department acknowledged receipt of plans, bpecilications and estimates for the erection of the Mangatangi bridge, also copy of a notice served on the Waikato County Council claiming halfnet costs of the bridge.—Received. The Marine Department advised ,that £225 as a subsidy 011 a £1 for £1 basis has been provided towards the cost of erecting a landing and goodsshed 011 the Aka Aka stream, and as soon as a certificate from the county engineer that the work has been completed, and a statement of the cost, was received the money would be forwarded.—Cr. Reid moved that the engineer submit plans and specifications as early as possible to the Public Work.; Department for approval, unit a-j soon as this was done the work In be proceeded with.—Carried. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, North Auckland, advised that the Ciovvn Land Board could not recommend that Crown land adjoining section 12'J, Karaka Parish, be vested in the council, but added that the Hoard resolved to lease the land to the council for live years at a nominal rental of £1 per annum for grazing purposes only. -The engineer and Cr. Charles were instructed f o Inspect the land, and report on at next meeting. The Public Trust OHice forwarded

ali documents required of security in connexion with the vIS,OOO machinery loan. -Received. The "same are to be completed and returned.

Intimation was received from 1 lie

Public Trust Ollice that £3OOO, balance of the Paerata loan of JI6OOO, had been remitted to the credit of the council. - Received. The New Zealand Returned Solders' Association forwarded circular letter,

pointing out that as there were still about 4000 soldiers who wished to take up land, and as the rate of settlement by the Government was considered too slow by 4he association, the latter had decided on a new land

policy, and with a view of receiving assistance from local bodies the association requested to know if there were any suitable holdings for soldiers in the Franklin district. They then could urovide soldiers for these if'secured by the Govern-

mcnt.—The chairman stated that sev<fral offers had been made to the Land Board, but they had been declined. — On' the motion of Cr. Mellsop, the matter was left to each member to ascertain if there were any holdings in their respective ridings, and if so to report to the clerk, who would forward particulars to the association. . _ The Piako County Council forwarded circular letter protesting against the closing of Te Waikato Sanatorium end solicited the council's support in having the institution retained. — The chairman said the sanatorium had been maintained at Cambridge for many years, and he thought, in the .interests of the relatives of patients, that the council should support tho Piako County in the matter—On the motion of Cr. Wilcox, it was decided to support the Piako County in the matter.

The Pukekohe Borough Council requested the County Council to furnish names of all soldiers from the county area, which it considers should appear on ths- Pukekohe Fallen Soldiers' War Memorial. —The matter was left in the hands of tho clerk to deal with.

The Society of Civil Engineers requested the council to grant facilities to enable its engineer, Mr. I\ McArthur, to attend the annual meeting of the society in Christchurcn on February 22.- -Received. It.was pointed cut that there were too many works in hand, and the engineer could not be relieved. Messrs. John 'P., und Arthur Douglas, Kohekphe, urged the council to complete the work on the lvoheknhe to West Coast road.—Left to engineer and meinjjpr for the riding.

Mr. G. Clark, Taitimu, requested tfie council to open up a road to h i property, Graham's Beach, to enable him and others to have access* to the Awhitu wharf. If it was necessary to go through his land he would give the land free, providing it was put through in a reasonable time.—Left to Cr. Mellsop and the engineer to inspect, and if they thought it woulc bo an acquisition, to have it surveyed and dedicated.

Mr. J. Sinclair and three others, Aiurimu, drew the council's attentior to the very bad state of Sinclair 5 ! Road, Ararimu, and requested repaired.— Left to Cr. Lowry and en !;ir.eer to inspect, and report at ne«! meeting as to what work was necessary.

Mr. E. Fielding, Drury, applied fo; permission to lay water pipes acros: the road between his and S. Field ing's properties.—Permission wa: granted, subject to the satisfactioi of the engineer. Messrs. Burfoot and Brewer, Kama raina, complained about the state o: Fiart's Hill Road, Rainarama, am uiged that much needed repairs b< effected.—lt was decided to have tb matter attended to as soon as th< work was completed on Pratt's Hil deviation.

Mr. Chas. A. Pollett, Ramarara? wrote relative to the sunken bridg on the road leading out of his pro perty, and requested steps be take to improve the bridge.—lt was re ported that the work was already ii hand. , ,

Messrs. D. and C. H. H. Finlaysor Papakura, drew the council's atter tion to the bad state of the KaTak roads, and urged that the metallin; thereof be pushed on expeditiously.— It was stated that the contractor wh was supplying stone gave up the jot and now it was difficult to get anj cne to do the work.—The enginee pointed out that since the contracto gave up the work, he had advertiser several times for tenders, but no on would apply. He had a man in viev who may take up a contract.—Th clerk was instructed to reply point ing out the difficulty the council ha< to contend with in procuring meta for these works.

Mr. H. A. Kimber, Runciman, or behalf of the Runciman postal com mittce, applied for permission tf erect "tying-up" posts in front of the Runciman Post Office.—The neceS ssry permission was granted, subject to the work being completed ti the satisfaction of the engineer. Mr. Joseph Henry and seven other •ratepayers of the Mauku Riding, and being users of Hunter's Road, petitioned the council to prepare plan.', and estimates of cost of forming anc metalling the road from D. FausettS gate to the junction with the mair, Patumahoe-Karaka-Drury Road foi," the purpose of raising a loan to dc the work.—Cr. Cuff said he and thd engineer had inspected the road, amf found there was a very bad hill there--on. The chairman moved that the necessary \steps be taken to fornr r special rating area, and that plans* end estimates be furnished.—Carried

Mr. A. H. Jeffs, Maungatawhit Valley, urged upon the council t metal the road leading to his property from the Maungatawhiri to Miranda Road. He pointed out that th' was the only practicable access to\ property, and in the winter time it became impassable for vehicular traf - fic.—Cr. Dean thought something' should be done to the road.—Left kc engineer and Cr. Dean to attend to. An application was received from Mr. T. E. Eyre, Mangatangi, for rifermission to erect a private telephone line on the county road from Mangatangi post office about three miles, along the Miranda road.—Permission was granted, subject to work beinp done in accordance with conditions imposed for the erection of private telephone lines. Mr. J. Parr, Auckland, drew the council's attention to the state of the piece of road lending off the mam Tuakau road at Mr. Piggott's cornei to his farm, late Potter's bloc'c.'- He urged that it be. attended to as soon as "possible.—The engineer and Cr. Woods were instructed to inspect, and report or. at next meetirg. In reply to Cr. Woods, the cierk said he would proceed with the necessary formalities in defining a special rating area for the proposed loan in connexion with th 6 Paerata creek early in the New Year. 4 Cr. Heald drew the council's attention to the state of St. Paul's Road bridge at Moumoukai, which was unsafe.—Engineer to attend to.

Cr. Heald mentioned that in spite of the council's action in declining to give permission to the Papakura Town Board to lay water pipes along the inside of the Hunua road to the Hunua falls, that he believed the Town Board's engineer intended to proceed with the work.—lt was decided to write to the Papakura Town Board that the council would hold the board liable, and would take action against it for damages if the proposed work was proceeded with.. It was pointed out that if the work was done the road would be. absolutely damaged.

At the instigation of Cr. CufF, the engineer was authorised to prepare an estimate of the cost of regrading the Mauku springs hills. Cr. Cuff said the road was becoming very dangerous—the banks were continually breaking away. The engineer was also instructed to prepare estimate of cost of improving the road at Gillon's dam. In reply to Cr. Cuff, the chairman said that the metalling work at Waiaa Pa would not be held up for the want "of loan money from the Public Trust Oflice. Finances could be arranged.

C<r. Cuff sard that l]jp saw no cliance of having the 17- chains of road from the Patumahoe station put in hand unless tin? council did it when the new traction engine and scarifier attachment came to hand. The engineer said it was not possible to have the work put in hand at once, but he would undeavriur to have it completed before the winter.

On the suggestion of (Jr. Dean, the engineer was instructed to attend to the ford near the Mangatawhiri school, which had been washed out by floods.

Cr. Charles urged that the roads in I the Karaka district be attended to j before Slack's Road work was proceeded with. It was pointed out : that the work on Slack's Road was ! promised some time ago, and would have to be done before other works in the riding. As soon as this was done the other cwrks would be proceeded with expeditiously. Messrs. (J. Yidak. W. McMurtrie, C. R, Sheppard and R. D. c Dunn made application for concrete keirbing opposite their business places .at Patumahoe, and agreed to contribute halfcost of the work.—The engineer was instructed to inspect and prepare an estimate of the cost.

With the object of obtaining a suitable site on which to erect 1 a public hall at Pokeno, the Pokeno Progressive League wrote asking that permission be granted to build on the north-west corner of Square.— On the motion or. Dean, he and the Engineer are to go into the matter report on at next meeting'

The Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that it was becoming seriously handicapped for want of funds to maintain its institutions, and requested reduction of'the amount of the council's allocation, namely £4,477 15s Bd. —lt wasj agreed to ontribute the quartojjy instalment of £ll2O. " - Crs. 1 (Hunua) and Lowry (Drury) were appointed the council's delegates on the Hunua hydro-elec-tric committee, vice Crs. Lockwoodj and Thomas, who did not seek ra-l election at the recent elections. <1 Mr. James Higgins, representing the Whangamarino Road Hoard waited on the council soliciting m assistance in connexion with procai* ing metal from the - Mangatanf stream. The board would have I cart the metal over the count roads. -Cr. Dean and the * engines were appointed to look into the mat ter with those conceaned to see whe arrangements could be arrived- afcri * Before the meeting terminated th ehairmari wiafoed all the compliment of thS^^Shr"

" ■■■' - J Prices of Glasgow ai f hc time of" last mail leaving thai :ity ' were extremely high. 3uttej was being retailed at 6s per lh ggs 5s per dozen, and sugarls 6* )er lb, potatoes, however, 3 6d per 141bs. Coal was 3s pßLcwi House rents had been increasejfcy 21 >er cent, over those obtaining las 'ear. Idleness was very noticeabl n the manufacturing portions of thi ity, the younger men appearing ti ind difficulty in again settling dowi o work after.' their experience ii .he army. To this idleness a grea eai of the present increase in th rime of Glasgow is attributed. ] Human nature in the colliery dii nets (remarks an English journal as not changed since the days c obn Leech, who drew for Punch licture of a miner kaying to his wif Where's t' milk?" "I gived it to i lild," said the woman. "Dang i iild," said the miner, "thee shoul 1' gived it to pup." At Newcastl i October, a miner said to be ear] j." £7 a week was 6ent to prison f< x months for neglecting his famil y giving his dogs the fresh mei nd milk which should have gone f if children. v A writer in the Chicago Breeders lazette estimates that there are alto ;ether 7000 American buffaloes let a the world, of which 4500 are 2 Canada. The claim that the buffal s almost extinct is not support* jy figures. Not only do adult'men >ers in the Goyernment herds enjo 'ld age, but their kind is being ma -iplied. -:l