COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Franklin Times, Volume 14, Issue 161, 16 February 1925, Page 5

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

... The regular meeting of the Franklin County Council was continued after the Times went to press on Friday. There were present: Crs H. Wilcox (chairman), W. Claud Motion, G. W. Heald, J.' R. Lowry, W. G, Hamilton, T. W; Woods, E. Q. Cuff, B. Charles, H. P. Garland, the clerk (Mr Alan P. Day), and the engineer (MrJ. F. McArthur). Mr A. R. Duthie, Auckland, requested the council to have fenc& across the end of Park Road, Papakura, removed to enable public accessto be obtained to the beach in* thafclocality.—Referred to engineer and Gr~ Lowry, with power to act. Messrs F. J. Cossey, W. A. Strong,. G. B. Gossey, and M. A. Gossey, Drury, 'wrote stating that they considered the time was opportune for the metalling of Browne Street, Drury, from Jeamond Estate bridge to Greek Street, and urged the council to proceed with the Work.—Cr Charles stated that' there was no money available for the : work. He pointed out that when steps were being taken to raise a; loan to metal roads localiLy have to be. paid for siit of. rates; which was an utter impossibility at the pretime. He moved that a reply be sent stating that the work could not be carried out, as funds were not available.—Carried.

Messrs J. .and B. Gamble, Papa- \ rimu, withdrew their consent to allow Mr Robertson the use of their fence under an agreement with the council. They asked the council to notify Mr . Robertson to remove fences erected by him across the Toad.-i—Jt ( was del-) J cidjed ’ to notify Mr Robertsqtt, ;.dT' ■: Messrs Gambles’ decision.

In connection with the council’s ap- ■' plication for the precedent consent of the Governor-General in Council', t to the raising of a, loan of £I6OO at a rate of interest not- exceeding 6 per ? cent., to metal Karaka North Road, - the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. R. £ Massey, stated that he was arranging ; tp have the matter completed.—A simliar reply was received with regard to ; Yates’ Road (Buckland) loan of £6OO. :j Want Exemption.

. The solicitors acting for the Board - of Governors of the Wesley Training College intimated that in connection -with a demand for cates made by the ' council in respect of the board’s property at Paerata, they had advised the § board that -it was entitled to exemp- i fion from payment of rates. They ' suggested, the matter should be refer- v red to the council’s solicitor fop an i. opinion.—The clerk said the matter ) was not one for the council but for *•'; the Valuation Department, which supplied a complete roll of all rateable ‘£ property in the county. The college ; property was included in the roll and V in view of that he could not help but * issue a rate demand. If the property .• was exempt the Valuation Department :| would have deleted it from the roll; \ He, the council to have noth* t ing? to 'do with the matter, which was* ‘ one for the Department and the college - '; solicitors.—Cr Charles said that if the .V property was exempt fromi the, pay- A ment of rates, it was a serious thing : for the riding, as the college property • consisted of about 700 acres. He pointed out that the college authorities used the roads (more : than ahy other ratepayers.—-The matter was re- ; ferred to the clerk.- : '/l

The principal of Wesley Training - • College, Paerata, Mr, R. G. Clark;,,) urged that ..repairs be .undertaken on.. ; the back road leading from Karaka ; to- *• Paerata, as the road was ip dangerouscondition. —Cr Charles said there wasno money available for the work, and: • the clerk was asked to reply accordingly. • . ' • Mr H. B. Lindesay, Karaka, requested that repairs be effected to the. road on the south-western boundary of his. property.—Left to Cr Charles, with power to act. Mr .T. Henry, Patumahoe, stated that unless something effective was done to have the creek, crossing Hunter’s old road, cleared through a portion of Mr Hutchinson’s property, he would instruct his solicitor to take such action as the position warrants. He pointed out that for years his property higher up the stream had been, flooded, and tie had suffered considerable loss and much inconvenience.—It was pointed out that several notices had been served on Mr Hutchinson to clear the creek. —Cr Cuff stated that Mr Henry’s complaint was genuine, and he moved that a further notice be served on Mr Hutchinson to clear the watercourse and that he be given 28 days in which to complete the work, and, failing compliance with the order, the council to undertake the work at Mr Hutchinson’s expense.— Seconded by the chairman and carried.

Water Backs Up. Mr A. C. Wright, P'a.tumahoe, asked the council to repair a broken culvert on the road adjoining his property. He pointed out that .water backed up on his land, causing damage.—lt was decided to reply stating that the work would be done as soon as the creek running through other property was cleared of obstructions.; In connection with an application, made bv Mr E. Gillon, of Mauku for a Government grant towards metalling the Old Tramway Road, running between Puni and Mauku, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, on behalf of the Hon. W. F. Massey, stated that the estimated cost of the work, was about £2OOO. At present there was no provision for the work on the appropriations, but if the settlers concerned were willing to raise a loan the question of a for £1 subsidy Would be given oonsideratiph yvlien the Public Works Estimates for the next financial year were being complied.—The clerk (Mr Alan P. Day) stated that Mr Gillon suggested the council should proceed to raise a loan of £looo.—'The clerk was asked to take the necessary steps. Mr J. Robertson, Pokeno, complained of. the delay in providing him with an access road to his property.—The engineer stated that there was some difficulty in regard to the legalisation of the road, and until it was completed nothing could be done.—lt was decided to reply accordingly.

A Special Rating Area.

A petition signed by 33 ratepayers in the Waiau Pa district, requested the council to form a special rating iarea, to be- known as the Waiau Pa district special rating area, and raise a loan of £6500 for the purpose of—(a) metalling Creamery or Clark’s Road, £3500, and (b) metalling the road from the post office to Mackenzie’s landing, £3OOO. They pledged themselves to sign the formal-rate-payers’ consent to the levying of the .special rate to be struck as security for the loan after the special rating area was formed. —The clerk said that a majority of the ratepayers had signed the petition. In connection with the matter, Messrs W. Hack and T. Irvine waited on the council, and said that while they were in favour of metalling the main road, they . were opposed to being rated for the work on the Creamery Road, becauste it was a by-road, and served only those who lived on the road. They considered it was very unfair and unjust to expect them to help to pay for this road in view of the fact that they resided on a byroad which was not included in the scheme. They wanted fair and proper treatment. —The clerk stated that, at the present time the rates in the Waiau Pa district were fairly heavy, and a special rate on a loan of £6500' would increase them to about 3 3-8 d in the £i, which he considered ■ a crushing rate.—Cr Cuff said Creamery Road was not a by-road; in fact, it carried as much traffic as any other of the road. He moved that steps be taken to raise a loan of £6500. — Carried. —It was pointed out that a Government grant would reduce the amount of the loan.

The No. 2 District Highways Council, stated that the question of declaration as a Government Road the unmetalled . section of the PokenoWaihi highway lying within the Franklin county was considered at the last meeting of the Main Highways Board. The estimated cost of metalling this section of the road amounted to £4680. The board was agreeable to find £4IBO, provided the council found the balance, and that payment be made by three yearly instalments. —-Cr Motion moved that the offer be accepted.—Seconded by the Chairman and carried. , Mr Alex. Bell, of Auckland, urged the council to metal the road, in front of his property at Maungatawhiri.— Referred to Cr Dean and the engineer.

Mr F. R. Shirtcliffe. Mangatangi, was granted permission to erect a private telephone line on county roads, subject to the usual conditions.

Carting Kauri Logs.

The Morningside Timber Company, Auckland, stated that they intended to cart kauri logs from Wairamarama to Tuakau, and asked for permission to cart over the county road. —The clerk reported that he had replied stating that permission would be granted if application was made in... accordance with the by-laws, and a deposit of £IOO was paid to ensure against damage to roads;—The clerk's reply was approved. Mr M. J. Lowry, Buckland. reported that Mr R. Wright had not yet removed gates off his access road, and requested that he be compelled to do so.—lt was decided to give Mr Wright 28 days to do the work. The ratepayers in the Bothwell Park Road (Otaua) special rating area consented to the levying of a special rate of 3-8 d in the £l, to pay interest and sinking fund on a loan of £SOO to metal the said road. —Cr Motion and the clerk were asked to apply for the Governor-General’s consent to the raising of the loan. Mr W. R. Barriball. Pukeoware, drew attention to the condition of the road leading from the main road past Mr S. Barriball’s property to the Bald Hill Road, and asked for it to be repaired.—Referred lo Cr Garland and the engineer. . . The Papakura Town Board asked the council to reconsider its decision to take legal proceedings against carters carting metal from Guillard’s Quarry at Hunua. —It was pointed out that such restrictions imposed a hardship on the board, as they required metal for road repair work.—Councillors made it quite clear that if the Town Board applied for permission, as required under the by-laws, permission would be granted. There was no intention whatsoever to prevent another local body from .carting metal over its roads. Council’s Attitude. ■ Cr Heald said the matter arose over the council’s attitude towards Mr P. Guillard, the owner of the quarry at Hunua. As soon as Mr Guillard was prepared to carry out the conditions laid down by the council, i.c., that he finds sureties amounting to £2OO against damage to the roads, nothing further would be heard of the matter. Cr Cuff said that a report in the Times under the heading of Papakura botes would not give a" correct; impression of the position. It was clear the Town Board did not understand the true facts of the case. ' On the motion of the chairman it was decided to reply staling that the council would not refuse the board permission to cart metal over county roads, and also that it was quite agree- j able to allow' Mr Guillard to do likewise. provided he found tile sureties asked for by the council. The clerk reported that the consent of the Governor-General had been obtained to the raising of the following loans: Rutherford Road £400; Clark’s

' Road, £800; Harris-Road, £400; Good- ' win Road, £IOOO ; at a rate of interest not exceeding 6 percent. per annum. He also reported that the South British Insurance Company was prepared ! * to underwrite the various accounts. ■ It was decided to apply to the company to find money for Yates’ Itoad (Buckland) £6OO, and Karaka North Road, £6OO. A letter signed by Mr A. C. A. Sexton and others urged the council l<> raise a loan to metal the PaparalaBornnay Road.—-It was decided to circulate a petition for signature. Mr C. B. Herrold, Waiuku, drew' attention to the stale of the road from Waipipi Main Rond to Taurangaruru. —Left to the engineer.

GlOnbrook Beach. Mr H. C. Hay, Waluku, asked the council to form small section of road adjoining Williams’ and McChrystal’s properties.—Work to be done. Mr J. K. Ledger submitted sketch plan of subdivision of McLarin’s property abutting on. to Glenbrook Beach. —Approved. It was decided to serve notice on property owners to clean out their portions of the Mauku creek.

The Public Trustee, Wellington, forwarded documents fior sinking fund in connection with the Patumahoe Hall loan of £2500. —To be sealed and signed.

Mr W. R. Barriball, Pukeoware, drew attention to the state of the road leading from the main road past Mr S. Barriball’s to Bald Hill.—Referred to Cr Garland and the engineer.

Mr Ivor Barriball, Waiuku,. applied for access road to his swamp property. —-Left to Cr Garland and the engineer. It was decided to improve the approaches to the Bombay Post Office and Jublic Library., The work of improving the corner at the Puni School is to be put ,in hand as . soon as possible. Mr M. Gardiner and four others urged the council to expedite the raising of a loan of £IOOO for work on the Bombay-Rama Rama Road.—Referred to the clerk.

A petition is to be oiroulated. for signature asking the council to raise a loan to metal Cameron Town Road, near Puni. On the motion of the chairman, .seconded by Cr Motion, it was decided to strike and levy the following rates in the Pukekohe West Drainage District: A class land, Id in the £1; B class land, 2-3 d in the £1; C class land, id in the £i. ‘ , y Messrs Craig, Keogh, and Aylward, waited on the council and asked if there was any loan money available for work on Craig’s Road, Awhitul — Referred to Cr Hamilton and; engineer.