TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 216, 6 November 1900, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho Oeunty Coucoil mat on Monday Present: Messrs. Okey (Chairman)' Horrocks, Price, McDonald, Adlanv Phillips, McCullam, and Lepper, Mr. Tate (who was absent at Christchurch) wrote stating that he had arranged with the Maori (Isaae) to pay 2d per yard royalty on metal taken from the pit, on condition that the furze was cleared from the frontage. The Moa Foreman asked for an extra SO yards of metal for repairs to the Junction Road; also 30 yards for the zig-zag, and 15 yards for the Junction Road East, for repairing the road from the railway crossing to the cemetery. He also requested a new wire fence near Durham Road, as the place was dangerous owing to a deep pond being near the road, which was narrow there; also 10 yards of metal to make out the approach to the Mountain Dudley Koads, the Moa Road Board being willing to supply same at 63 per yard. He suggested that the approach to the Manganui Bridge should be newly fenced.

■ - On the motion ef Mr. McDonald, the 30 yards of metal for the zig-zag was ordered. With reference to the metal for the Junction Read East, Mr. McDonald stated that 150 yards was really' required. He thought that it was reasonable there should be a proper road te the township, Dr, Valintine waited on the Council on behalf of the Inglewood Town Board, and submitted a request that 175 yards of metalling be done by the Council from Standiah-steeet to Elliot-street, as at present there was an undesirable accumulation of slop-water close to the township, which was prejudicial to health. What he was asking for was 11 chains of metalling, 13ft. by 6ft. In answer to the Chairman, Dr. Yalentine stated that the Board would be willing to pay one-third of the cast. Mr. McDonald moved that the request be complied with. Mr. Price, in seconding the motion, pointed 1 out that .the application was reasonable, and that it only entailed one side of the road.

Mr, Horrocks advocated ploughing the road up and remaking it. The Chairman pointed oat that to he on the same footing as the Opunake Board, the Town Board shonld pay half. Eventually it was decided that the Oouneil undertake to metal the road the full width from the hotel to the bridge on condition that the Board pay one-third of the cost. The wire fence near the Durham Road was ordered to be renewed and the fencing at the Manganui Bridge repaired.

The Waitara Foreman reported that he had examined all the bridges and repaired same where neeessary. The Mangoraka Bridge, on the Oorbett Road, would shortly want deck planks. An order was given for the work. Tenders were opened for a supply of 400 yards boulders at Omata.—The tender of E, George was accepted at 4s 'per yard.

Mr. .Adlam moved that the Foreman be informed that when any Councillor sees that any work can be doqe better than in the way authorised by the Council, the Councillor is authorised to stop any such work until after the' next meeting of the Council. The Chairman: That means that a Councillor is empowered to'override the Council.

Mr. Lepper seconded the motion. Mr. Horrocks moved that where any Councillor and foreman are in accord [that any work authorised can be done more efficiently or more eionomically than as ordered by the Council, then j that such work be delayed until after the next meeting of the Council. | Mr. McDonald could not see how the proposal would work. An order given by the Council should, be carried out. Mr. Adlam spoke to the amendment and withdrew his motion.

Mr. McCullum thought the Foreman should not have the responsibility of stopping work, but that the members should alone be responsible. On a division, the motion was carried by 6 to 2.

The Omata Foreman suggested that tenders should be called early for supply of metal. It had been necessary to cart 20 yards of metal up a r-ye-road, and the Omata Eoad Board had complained about it, but there was no help for it and a further 300 yards for the coming season would have to be oarted over the same road. He reported that before long the decking of the Timaru .Bridge would require renewing, He suggested that Mr. Billings be called on to remove furze near,the Tataraiuiaka School. I

The Omata Road Board is to be called on to prevent the silt from stopping up the Hurford Road bridge. The Omaita Foreman submitted tho amount of metal required for the coming season, amounting ta 1950 yards. ; Mr. Price thought the amount was excessive. .

Mr, Adlam moved that tenders be called for supplying the metal. Carried; The Omata Foreman wrote, calling attention to the carting over the Barjrett Road of metal for thd County reads, and stating :that the road was badly out up.

!_ Mr. Lepper said it was perfectly ridiculous to spend money in repairing the bye-roads. Mr. McOullum { You don't know you are talking about. Mr. Lepper: I'll bet you I do. . . The Chairman suggested that the usual course should be adopted, and fcho, Foreman be instructed when the dry weather came to fill up the bad holes. Mr. Lepper said he was not going to have that game going on any more. He would move that as the Council Have no control over '.ho bye roads und no control over the route by which stone is carted by the contractors, it is' not responsible for the state of the byeroad.

■■ The Chairman, rjotateu" x that under the Publiif Works Act the Council )y have to pa,v for dajfis'ge caused by the oxtraordini ''. Mr. McDonald sneonded the motion. He thought tho oijntnebr wis responsible. The motion was lost. Mr. McOullum inquired how the matter stood. The 'Chairman: The same iym<,sp| will be taken as in the pasi, the l<\. , j man will fill up "ho holes. j , sfe\ U '£«» to& to*« »'

tho offer of .£IOO for the sale of his frontage at Fiteroy. He et/ibrl that! although he had sold the property he still retained the frontage, and his lowest price for same was .£2OO and expenses of survey. Mr. Lepper thought that the Council' should adhere to tho £ 100 offer. The Chairman mov;;d that the off=r of £IOO be withdrawn, and pointed out that matters were in a very different position now, as, under the Public Works Act just passed, anyone cutting up their land must give up sufficient of their frontage so as to allow of the rond being 66 feet wide. The motion was carried.

Mr. N. H. Julian applied toppurr r ohase the spare strip of land at Harekame Hill West, and also, the unused road formerly part of the county road. —The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman to value and fix up with Mr: Julian.

• The tollgate keeper(B. Morris) wrote relative to the evasion of toll by settlers at Omata, owing to a bye-road being formed, and stating he was losing from £3 to £i a week.

Mr. Horrocks suggested that the' Ornate ratepayers should be informed that any, compensation paid in respect of the loss, through evasion of the toll, should be deducted off the amount to be spent on the roads. He moved that Mr. Morris be instructed to keep a list of personß evading the toll, and take note of the number of cattle taken by way of the private road, with a view of ascertaining the amount- of his loss'. The motion was carried.

Mr. D. P. Greenway-gave notio to repair the dividing fence between sections 38 and 34, Okata. On the motion of Mr Phillips, it was decided to offer the land by tender. Sub»equently the resolution was rescinded and an offer of £1 a year made by Mr, MoOuUum and accepted. An application for transfer of slaughter-license from O. P; Atkinson to Mr Dixon, in lieu of J. O, Smith, was complied with.

The Opunake Town Board wrote with reference to metalling main road through the township, stating that it was necessary to metal the full width of the road, and if this was done the Board would contribut» its proportion of cost the same as for works already agreed upon. The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman and the members of the d;'atric. with power to act.

Mr. T. S. Weston, on behalf of Mr. Dan Fenwarden, wrote relative to an encroachment en hie clients land, which was injuring the water supply to bis clients butter factory, and enquiring what steps would betaken to abate the nuisance. It wus decided that the Foreman take steps to prevent the nuisance.

The Chairman rej itted that owing to meeting with an acsident, the Parihaka Foreman was in the New Plymouth Hospital. The questiun of appointina a temporary substitute Wi* disoussed, and it was decided that tk matter be left in the Chairman's hands.

At the request of the Chairman, the' Clerk read a copy of a letter aant to the Minister of Lands asking that tho grant for the Junction Eoad bo increased from , £2OOO to £26oo—tho amount urgently required to pat the road in order. In reply, a letter was received stating that it was considered the £2OOO was sufficient, Copies of the letter asking for tho increase had been sent to Messrs. E. M. Smith and Syme, aequesting their co-operation in securing the additional £6OO, but tho Minister declined not to give way. Subsequently, a letter was sent to the Surveyor-General asking that immt Hate instructions be given to proceed with the work.

On the motion of Mr. Horrocks, it was decided that a telegram be sent to tho Minister of Public Work* urgiug that tenders be at once called for the work covered by the £2OOO grant, as the road was impassable. The Clerk of the Egmont Road' Board applied for a grant towards cost of repairing the bridge on the Hursthouse Road over the Awai stream. The estimated cost was £l9 0s 6d.

Mr. Lepper moved that the Board cannot see its way to expenditure of this nature. -t Mr. Adlam seconded the motion.

The Chairman did not agree with treating Road Boards in the way proposed by Mr. Lepper. He was inclined to meet them half-way, and ho moved that a subsidy of one-half the cost be granted. / ... Mr. Price urged that the Egmont Road Board had a good claim on the Council.

Mr. Lepper contended that as tho Oounf.il could not do w.hout toll-gates for maintaining the roads, it was not justified in making grouts to bye-roads. The amendment was lost on a division by 5 to 3.

Tiie Waiwakaiho Road Board applied for assistance towards building a new bridge. After some discussion, it was decided that the Board be written to and asked to supply the Council with plans and estimate for the n»w bridgo, and that the Council will favourably consider the question of a subsidy. Notification was received from thei Postal Department .hat favourable consideration had been given to the fact that the Sentry Hill wire was run on the tame pole 3 cs the Lepperton wire, and a reduction amounting to .£lO 6s per annum had boon allowed, A refund of £3 12s lOd would be made ins soon an the overdue subsidy was t .<id. The amount due was ordered to bo collected. The effect of the concession will be to reduce the cost to Lepperton subscribers to about one half.

Mr. Horrocks said he desired to alter the motion of which he had given notice relative to the purchase of a portable stonebreaker and road He moved that a s'one-! breaker, and scarifer bo obtdned, but oliat before, it is purchased steps be token to ascertain the b' t machine for i;ho purpose, and wi'.h that view a Committee, cimnistin'" of the o'h.snman. Mr. Tate, ant! tno muv.er, bo appointed to inspect the difl'orent inaohiPoHfind report theiwn. On division the immbiirp wei-a npipj, >vmi the Chairman gave his usstiujf vote in favour ot the motion. Mr. T. J. Tvidd. pmpne ir or the ' i'llthiim -Cnuti- ■ :<■■ rty.rU v i.f 0l «mi .'(. '.».i;.ij.; i'.i-»..i, I.lil. -a i._ :,., oi . m i u. i i.nd us to bio ;uiu ."■'. i.'co.'reads ;ir ; m. M t.-' ii'- • v . i <i\ r,'n»

could only go at a walking pace. Mr. Hotrocks gave notice of motion of a series of resolutions re told, etc* The Board roße,