WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 543, 19 February 1913, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held at Te Kuiti on Monday evening. There were present Crs Scholes (chairman). Juhnston, Gregg, Were, Berry. Smyth, O'Dwyer". Pungarehu Road. The assistantengineer for the Public Works Department, Te Kuiti, wrote with respect to the erection of two small bridges to enable the plant for the proposed dairy factory to be got to Ratanui. As the road was in the bands of the council, Mr Donaldson, requested the council to inform him what was intended lo be done in the matter. — The engineer said that temporary bridges had been erected, and he was endeavouring to get the widening done by day work in order to facilitate the work.—Cr Were said he thought there was some misunderstanding as some of the men were expecting tenders to he called.—The engineer explained that he was endeavouring to meet the settlers in the matter as the work was urgent. He had seen Mr Thomas on Thursday, and had explained the matter to him.

Owaikura Road —The assistant engineer of the Public Works Depart ment, Auckland, wrotd stating that work on this road could be carried out by day labour, but that plana and specifications should be submitted and approved.—Received. Arapae Telephone.—The Postal Department wrote stating it was not the intention of the department at pres3nt to dismantle the telphone line. Received.

Mangarapa Loan.—The Public Trustee wrote provisionally approving of the council's application for £250 for the Mangarapa special rating area.— Received.

Horse Hire. —The assistant road engineer wrote for information concerning the payment of 8s for the hire of each horse for working the grader.— The clerk said he had furnished the required information. Awakino County.—The Survey De partment wrote forwarding lithos of the Awakino County.—Received. Kaeaea Road. J. Spriggs wrote with respect to spending his thirds on a drain fronting his property.—Referred to the engineer. Mairoa Road —G. J. Bevege wrote concerning repairs to Mairoa road between the two and three mile pegs. The engineer said the work was being done.

Honikiwi Telephone.—B. Budden wrote stating the amount of the defi ciency on the telephone service was being collected. —'Received. Kio Kio Level Crossing.—W. Hud son wrote to the effect that the decision of the council with respect to the providing of a level crossing at Kio Kio railway station was being placed before the settlers, but stating that it was unlikely the settlers would relieve the council of the responsibility providing a proper thoroughfare.

Electric Ljght Installation —Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd , forwarded an estimate of £l6 2s for installing the electric light in the Council Chambers.—The chairman said he had accepted the tender and had the work carried out.—The chairman's action was confirmed.

Carrier's License.—R. L. Bradley wrote atating that he paid his license fee of £2 from the middle of December and now found that the term only extended to March 31st. He requested the council to make a reduc-

tion in consideration of the short term for which the license operated.—Resolved that the applicant receive a concession next year. Removal of Gravel. H. Hine, solicitor wrote on behalf of G. Petrie. claiming 3d per cubic yard royalty on all gravel removed from his section known as Mahoenui 38, No. 4, and that he would expect compensation for any damage done to the land by the council's employees.—The engineer said very little metal was being taken from Mr Petrie's place. They were merely taking some limestone spalls and were not disturbing the ground.—Cr Smyth said he thought there would be no trouble in arranging with Mr Petrie, who had allowed the council to go anywhere on his property, and he should be considered. —Other councillors agreed, and it was left to the chairman to arrange terms.

Waipa Bridge.—The Under-Secre-tary Public Works Department telegraphed as follows: "Re Waipa river bridge: Cabinet has just approved issue of authority. You may therefore accept tenders if satisfactory." —The chairman said Messrs Scott and Forsyth's tender had been accepted, it being the only tender re ceived. —The action was confirmed. Otorohanga Kihikihi Road. Wallace Bros, wrote concerning the projected repairs to the road near their property, and suggested the engineer should see them with respect to the same.—Referred to engineer. Access to Section. R. Mclnness wrote asking if the council could do anything to give bim access to his section at Otorohanga.—The chairman said the council had no money to provide access. The matter was in the hands of the Lands Department. Concerning the matter of the blocking of the river the same position existed.

Potaka Road Drains. R. Kidd wrote giving notice of hia intention to take action against the council unless the drains of which he had previously complained were put in order so as to prevent the water flooding his property. The notice was to extend for one month from February 14th.—Cr Smyth said that instead of his property being injured by the drains it had been benefitted. Prior to the drains being put in its was well known that the place Mr Kidd'a house now occupied had been three feet under water. The application meant that the council was requested to go on to private property to clean out the drains. He moved that the council take no action. The motion was seconded by Cr Were and carried. Hauturu Road. W. Frederick wrote requesting to have slips shifted and also to have the road between Mahoe junction and Kaimangu June-

tion widened. —Cr Johnston said the road in question was incumplete and it would take considerable money to do any work worth while. If the council could do anything towards getting the money granted by the Government expended on widening this and the Mangapuhue it should be done. —Resolved to make enquiries with a view to getting the road

completed. Paro Road Bridge. —F. Elvvood wrote requesting that a bridge on the road near Kaeaea school should be repaired. —Cr Smyth said he understood the bridge urgently required at tention and trusted it would be seen to. —Referred to the engineer. Sign Posts. —The secretary of the Kio Kiu Farmers' Union wrote suggesting that finger posts should be placed at various places on the main roads of the county.—The engineer was instructed to attend to the request where the posts were needed. Ohura-Mokau Road. A number of settlers petitioned that the thirds accruing on their sections should be devoted to metalling the bad portions of the road to the Paro junction. —Cr Smyth said the distance of road affected was about four miles and the fillings got bad in winter. It would be advisable to do as much metalling as possible. Referred to the engineer. Oparure Road. —J. M. Boddie wrote requesting that a culvert should be placed on the road close to where the stone crusher had been working.—Referred to engineer. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Since your last meeting I beg to report upon the works under the charge of the council as follows:

Potaka. —A contract has been let to Mr H. E. Lewis for metalling the whole of this road, a distance of three miles thirteen chains. The contractor has all arrangements ready to start metalling immediatley. Totoro. —Messrs Hickson and West have now about 20 chains of metalling completed and considerable quantity of spawls quarried. The metal now being übtained is of excellent quality.

Te Kuiti to Mokau. —In response to instructions I inspected the portion of this road under the control of Ihe council. The metal is cutting through rather badly between the four and five mile peg 3, and also in patches along other parts of the roads. In order to put it in fair order for the coming winter, the sum of £3OO will require to be expended. Mairoa.—-About three and a quarter miles of metalling has now been completed by Mr Rothery on this road, a number of pipe culverts have also been put in by Mr Summerfield. Pungarehu.— The metalling of this road within the loan area, a distance of one and a quarter miles has been completed.

Arapae.—Mr Innes has now removed his crushing plant to the Pukeruhe road junction, and should com' plete his contract if the weather is favourable within two or three weeks. —Mr Ormsby has now made a start with his metalling contract on this road hetween 9 mile 27 chains and 11 mile 27 chains. I completed plans and specifications of three bridges on this road, and invited tenders for same. The successful tenderers were Messrs Scott and Forsyth.- -About 60 chains of the uuncompleted gap in the dray formation on this road has now been completed by Mr Rothery. I propose shortly to prepare plans and specifications and invite tenders for metalling the remainder of this road, with the exception huwever of the portion along the formation contract recently completed by Messrs Smith and Horniblow. for which intend to ask the Public Works Department's authority to complete by day labour. Te Kuiti to Te Kumi.—The metalling of this road h now completed with the exception of a little trim ming up. Hangatiki to Waitomo. Messrs Tarry and Cartwright have now completed about one and a quarter miles of metalling on this road. Mr Lawson has also commenced metalling on his contract near the Cave 3 road junction, but owing to the unsatisfactory Working of the new crusher, very little metal has been laid.—As a considerable amount of improvements to the formation is required in places on this road, before metal can be laid, there will hardly be sufficient fund's out of the original loan to complete, the work, I would suggest therefore that a further sum of 10 per cent, be raised. Caves Eoad.—ln company with the chairman and Cr Johnson I inspected Mr Powell's contract on thi" road. The crushing plant is in good order and is conveniently fixed, but owing to difficulty in getting and keeping men and teams, the work is proceeding very slowly. Te Rau Mauku Road.—A start was made during the month wtib the carting and laying of metal on this road. A distance of about 20 chains has now been completed. Otorohanga to Pirongia.—lt was found necessary in order to save expense in fascining, etc., during the coming winter to complete the metalling of Poisons hill, and also to metal several other places which in the past have given trouble. Altogether a distance of about 32 chains was metalled. General.— I inspected for the purpose of an est ; mate the metalling and culverting which it is proposed to do on the Otorohonga - Otewa, Otorohanga to Managwhero, and Otewa to Tahaia road. Good metal is easily obtainable. A sum of £3200 will be necessary to complete the work required.—With regard to the scheme of re-forming, culverting and metalling proposed on the' Kumara, Paraheka and Kie Kie roads, a total distance of 13 miles 38 chains, a sum of £15,000 will be required. I understand, however, that it is now proposed to reduce the distance on the geveral roads to 7 miles 13 chains. If this i 3 done the amount required will be reduced to £BOOO. —E. R. GOULD, County Engineer.