WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 299, 15 December 1917, Page 6

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ADMINISTRATION PROBLEMS. The first meeting of the lutelv-elected » nltemata County Council was held yesterday, Mr. 11. Alikenliead (chairman) presiding. Metal Supplies.—The engineer (Mr. Gerald A. Jackson) stated in his report that eight ridings of the county required road metal that could be transported by water. Rungltoto stone nnd shmgle had been used hitherto—though they were not first-class roiidmaklng materials—because they were comparatively cheap. The price of both, however, hud steadily increased, and was now so high that it was doubtful If the use of them should be-continued. He strongly recommended that the Council should consider the acquisition of.n good stone urea on the waterfront.of the' Auckland Harbour for the purpose of supplying tho eight, ridings with bluestone for broken metal. If this were done, and the Waltuker'e quarry opened up. the question of metal for the county roads would be settled for a very eonsidcrable period. The Council authorised the chairman to obtain an option over a property that had been offered. Riding Boundaries.—A committee consisting- of the-chairman, "the engineer, aud Councillors Dye, Harrison, and -Foley, was set up to go Into the question ot readjusting the boundaries of. the. Takapuua, Birkenhead. Kmnen, Mairetahi. Fukeatun, and Kaukapakapa-Ridings,rand the reduction of the area unu>r the control of the Pukeatua and Kaukapakapa Road Boards, which were Bald to bo agreeable to the proposals. Control of Surfacemen.—Some discussion took place upon n complaint by the engineer that lift had little .or~no . control over the Council's surfacemen, who .received their instructions from the respective riding members. Several councillors declared that It was impossible for the engineer to exercise solo control, on account of * the great size of the county, and the difficulties of travel, while there was often a; great deal of emergency work which only the members could attend to in time. Tf was conceded, however, that members-would not Interfere with work upon coutrncts. and the suggestion was made that if- the engineer and tho respective, members would co-operate there need be no trouble. Tlie engineer. In explanation, said that while the dual control was maintained he could not lie responsible for bad work that was being done in various parts of the county. After more discussion it was decided that all aecdunts for work and material should pass through the engineer's hands In the first place. It was decided to call tenders for the repair of the roads on the Henderson gum reserve, and to thank the Minister of Lands for a grant promised for the purpose. • Roadmaking Systems.—The lack of unity of method In carrying out road works In the county was also referred to by the engineer In his report. " The rule." he stilted, "has been for ea-fh, respective councillor to have supreme control of all road construction works ln each riding, and outside contracts, and to cause his own particular method of. construction to be carried out. As a result some of the main roads are metalled with scoria, some with broken metal, parts have a high crown, parts a low crown, and parts no crown at all. There are varying widths, .clay runs or no clay runs, Just as each Individual riding member thought it should be. It would be more proper If the Council decided on a method of construction, adopted it, nnd made it npplicablo to the whole county." Consideration of the matter was deferred to next meeting.