WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 81, 26 March 1914, Page 2

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

COUNCIL’S MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly,i meeting of the Whangamomona County Council was held on Tuesday. Present: Crs. Meredith tcnairman), Roberton, Bacon, McCutchan, Cleland, Coyne and Mounsey. ENGINEER’S REPORT. j The Engineer (Mr E. C. Robinson) reported: Metalling 74 chains of Brewer-Kirau Road: This has been completed in a very Satisfactory manner, and the portion of road carted over in obtaining the necessary metal repaired and trimmed 'up. Brewer Road metalling: This contract is rapidly approaching completion and all the metal will bq on the road within the next day or two. The shellrock pit out of which the metal was procured lasted out much better than anticipated. Strathmore Bridge; The hardI wood timber for the renewal of this j bridge is due at the end of the present week. The decking, etc., is now being delivered and the contractor is about to commence the construction of a temporary bridge to take traffic whil/it the - new one is being built. Mangarewa Road: Work is proceeding steadily tm the first formation contract on this road, and the contractors hope to be able in a few days to Secure additional labour in order to put in hand the; second contract. I have located the old road linp from end of second contract to end of where it is proposed to carry the dray road formation out of loan expenditure. A line is now being cleared for pegging and levelling, and I- propose to carry out the latter work next week, so as to endeavor to have plans and

specifications ready for calling tenders to close at next meeting. Kohi Road formation: I have arranged with the Resident Engineer to spend the subsidy available (j»n the above as far as it will go from end of present dray road formation, ami propose faying the work off when I am in next week attending to the Mangarewa Road work. Upper Putikituna Road: This lias been cleared of slips atid repaired over the whole length under the control of the Council. Lower Kohuratahi Road; Good work has been done on this road, and the repairs to it are well on towards completioir. Culverts on Whitianga Road: The pipes authorised have been obtained and are now being delivered. Township improvement : This work is now approaching completion. I have' had the old papa stripped and stacked and how "think it would answer well for the footpaths, thus effecting a saving in not having to obtain new metal for such. Whangampmona No. 1 and Putikituna Road bridges; The necessary timber is under order for these structures, and as, soon (js word of its coming to hand is received tenders will be invited for thp erection of the latter. Maintenance: The roads generally are in very fair order, there being, however, some maintenance work •' required on'Upper Mangaehu, Akama, Mohakau, and

Junction Roads. This work will he attended tp during the coming month. Rimuputa Road bridge': This contract has been signed for and the*work will bo put in hand forthwith. unbusinesslike finance? ■ Settlers on Brewer Road petitioned I to have metalled a gap between the present metal and the new metalling, a distance of about thirty chains. The petitioners desired to have the metalled and also a further half mile at the far end, thus completing seven and a half miles of irfetal. They were prepared to raise a further loan or to pay a separate rate. They desired to have the metalling done before the winter.

Cr. Coyne said it would be an advantage to allow the contractor at present on the ground to go on with the work; Cr. Bacon said that the Council should see that no injustice be done to the settlers on the far end bf the road. The Council could authorise the work and leave over till next meeting the question of how the money was to be raised.

Cr. McCutchan said he objected tc work being done in advance of finance.

Cr. Coyne asked why Cr. McOutcliaii liad not objected to the novk being done on Ohura Road. There was no security for the finance of that work.

Cr. McCutchan said the Government had provisionally made a grant.

Or. Coyne: Provided the han is raised.

Cr. McCutchan said the loan vrr.s sure to be raised. In respect of Brewer Road the petition forwarded was not sufficient authority for doing the work.

Gr. Bacon moved that the Engineer be instructed to proceed with" tlio work, providing the Hiding are satisfied'as to the contract price Or. Roberton moved that a special rate lie struck over the whole of the Brewer Road district, extending back to Rentonl, Pratt and Olipimit. He said that there was no chance of Julian’s price (17a 6d per yard) being accepted, and tenders would have to be called.

Crv Bacon said be opposed t lie amendment, as it meant the poatoonement of the matter for a month, and a postponement for a month at this time of year really meant a postponement tilf next season. Cr. McCntchan said the Riding member's could not grumble if other members objected to authorising ilie work. The Riding members knew months ago that the work needed to be done, and they should have spoken of it earlier. Tt was not right to bring the matter up at the’end of the contracting season.

The amendment was lost, Cr», Clo-

land, Roberton and McCutchan vot- % for it % The motion was carried, Ors Cl«land, Roberton and McCutctuvn voting against it. It was further decided that the Ridug members decide on -the district ior the special rate. THE TOWNSHIP ROADS.

Cr. McCutchan moved pro forma r motion of which notice had been

fiven by Cr. McCluggage, in the direction of making a grant from the Central Hiding special fund towards ;tie cost of metalling Ohura Road for die full width through tbe township. Jr. McCutchan said be did not personally support the motion. He had [strong views regarding the special dmd, holding that it should be reserved for special purposes. The Clerk said the bulk of the uoney for the extension of metalling was being provided by a loan being raised by the township residents. • Cr. Coyne seconded pro forma. He was not desirous of the County’s contribution coming from the special ,'undj But ho thought the township residents should be helped. After further discussion the motion was held over till next meeting.

Messrs F. W. Court and 1). Bradley waited on the Council to urge the immediate metallitig of the township roads. ' '• t

Mr Court said it was hardly necessary for the deputation to indicate co the Council what condition the roads would he in unless the metal was put down at once. If the whole of the Ohura metalling contract could not be done, then the portion through the township should be put down eighteen feet wide. Last week there iad been a few days’ rain,, and with, 1 heavy carting from the station the nud was very soon axle deep. In answer to Cr. Bacon the Engineer gave it as his opinion that the most urgent work was to do the metaling of the road past the shady bend. The next most important porno n was that in the township—in vhole or in part. A good deal had been done on the township roads in ailing, and if this was cut up the colal cost of the work would be inm eased. At present four chains a day was being spread, but the rate of progress depended on the amount of metal available. • The two sections mentioned were about 45 chains in jxteut.

Gr. Bacon said that if the road would stand the metal this winter the work should be done. The bend the Engineer spoke of was important to settlers living on the road,' but the ;ownship roads were of greater importance. The population was fairly .hick and there was a good deal of traffic. In the township the metal should be at least 12ft wide. When ie had moved that the filling be done tie thought that metal would be available for spreading as quick as the Ailing was done. He moved that the Engineer be instructed to have the road through the township metalled 12ft wide as early as ho can get the Petal. It was a dismal thing, said Or. Bacon, for one to put his horse in ■the stable, and then trust to luck to get across the road to the store.

The Engineer said the township metalling totalled about 13 chains'. Mr Bradley said that unless the metal was put on at once it would sink right' down into the filling. The motion was carried. GENERAL. The chairman reported that Mr Cornish had completed the draining work required of him. The Engineer was instructed to carry out 1 his suggestion to use papa on the'township footpaths. * It was decided to write to the Health Inspector regarding certain alleged nuisances in the township. Mrs M. .Temisou, poundkeeper, wrote resigning her position, and it was decided to call for applicants for the position.—lt was stated that in the past a great number of stock had been illegally released. The suggestion was made that a foreman’s whare should be erected near the pound, the foreman to act as poundkeeper. The Lands Department, New Plymonth, wrote that there were no funds available for payment of rates due on section 7, block X, Mahoe. There were np improvements on the section when the holder forfeited it.—it was decided to remit the second half-year’s rates, the land having been occupied' only during the first half year. The Strathmore Riding members were authorised to have blackberry on a County section at Strathmore out and to lease the section cn east’ terms on condition of the blackberry being kept down. The secretary of the Backblocks Local Bodies Association wrote stating that a conference of the Association was to he held at TaiVniaruuui on April 14th and asking that the Council forward remits before April 7th.—lt was decided not to be represented at the conference.—Cr. McCutchan said there was no use in attending such a conference until a comprehensive amendment of the local body law was carried.

H. A. Julian applied for an extra j payment on his metal contract. He | had made his contract to ship the stone, j from Smart Road, hut had to shift to Tariki. The stone cost more, but the freight was less.—The Engineer said the claim worked out at a total sum of £316 13s 4d.—(*!r. McOutchan said he favored giving the contractor something, but not the whole of his claim. . & , ■ , ~ —.'The chairman said Ins view was that either tire Connell owed the whole amount or nothing at all.—Or. McCntchan moved that the saving ho equally divided between the Council and the contractor. This was lost, Ors. Cleland, Bacon and McCutchan voting for it, and it was decided to make the payment in full. A number of settlers asked that the condition of Junction Road be improved. There was water running (

down the middle of the road. It was their nearest outlet to the railway. The condition of the road was particularly bad between the Confiscation Line and East Road.—The chairman said all the signatories were ratepayers of Clifton County.—lt was decided to reply that if the signatories had their rates paid to the Whangamomona County Council the latter would spend the amount on the upkeep of the road.—The chairman said that very little Whangamomona County traffic used the road.—The Engineer said the condition of the road could not be very bad, as two motor cars had got through last week.