TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 226, 8 October 1901, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thb ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Oounoil was held on ; Monday. Present: Messrs Okey (Chairman), Wareham, McDonald, i Brown, Hopson, Phillips, Grey, Tate, and Lspper.

Mr Gray brought up the question of payment of royalty for gravel taken from native reserves. He said Mr Fisher, the Native Trustee, had seen him, and had expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the matter was arranged by the Council at present-. It was desirable that no money for gravel should be paid direot to the natives hut to the Trustee, who would distribute it to the beneficiaries equally. He quoted a case where £l2 had been paid to a native who had only a fortieth interest in the land. He moved that in future all royalty for gravel taken from native reserves be paid to the Trustee. Carried. At the suggestion of the clerk, it was decided to have each pit in the County numbered. The Moa Foreman reported On the necessity of .repairs to a culvert, also on the spread of ragwort. The Waifara foreman asked that the bridge carpenter should inspect the decking of the Waiwakaiho bridge, so that the necessary timber might be ordered. [To be attended to]. The Omata foreman reported the roads in fair order, with small exceptions, He mentioned short supply of metal on two contracts. Mr Wareh&m moved that tenders be called for further supply of stone. After some dhcuesion, the matter was postponed. The Faribaka foreman reported that there were bad ruts near Oaoaui, and he asked for authority to employ two teams to cart metal. Granted, It was decided that a supply of pipes ba authorised for a culvert south of Honi road. The foreman asked for an extra 300 yards of metal to repair the road from Warea to Funiho road. Mr Qray paid if the 300 yards were not granted now it would take 600 yards in the winter. He mov*d that 300 yards be granted, the cost to be the same as previously. Mr Phillips pointed out that this road had never been metal'ed, but had only been graveled. Mr Brown protested against tbe continuous overdraft on this riding. He pointed out that such a state of affairs could not be allowed to continue.

The motion was carried. The Waiau bridge was reported to be in a dangerous state. The foreman suggested that a temporary ford be made. Mr Gray urged that a new bridge should ba erected and tolled till paid for. Mr Phillips moved that the ford be made. Mr Gray: On the understanding that the present bridge is used till it falls to pieces. (Laughter.) The motion was carried. Mr Gray men*ioned that the engineer had been idle for ten days waiting to know who was going to make the road to the orusher. A desultory conversation enbueJ, but had no practical result. The bridge carpenter in his report urged that the Council should take steps to prevent fast riding and driving over the bridges during repairs. Mr Hopsoa moved that the foreman be supplied with red flags, one to be placed on either end of the bridge; and that he report any case of furious driving over the bridges.—Carried. The Mangorei Road Board wrote stating that tbe dog tax collector of the , Oarriugton Boad Board bad collected j 10s for tbe tax on a dog which belonged ito a man living in the Mangorei dis-' j trict, but working in the Carrington ' road district. The matter was referred j to the Oounoil for arbitration. i It was decided that the tax in ques-1 ticn be tbe property of the Boad Beard' j in whosa district the owner resided. i The Crown Lands Commissioner for | warded a list of 16 gravel reserves j which the Board had decided should be j vested in the Council. The Chairman pointed out that it ! would not be right to allow the rents of ■ these reserves to be paid to the Public Trustee. I Mr. Brown moved that the fore mm report on the le't'ng value of etch of the reserves io question.—Carried. [ At Mr. Hopson's sugges'ion it was decided that the condition acd letting values of all reserv< s should be reported on by the foremen and that steps be taken to ascertain in whom such reserves were vested. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote relative to the burning of bush on the side of the Zigzag. The Clerk stated that the foreman reported that tin fire had cot been made by the Coun-il's employees. Tbe Minister for Lands wrote stating that £I4OO had been voted for placing on the Estimates for the extension of metalling on the Junction Boad East, but it must not b9 assumed that the money was available as it depended on whether tbe grant was pasted and whether there was sufficient money for the purpose. The RiadsD partment wrote stating that the Tikorangi bridge was to be vested in either the Taranaki or Clifton County and asking if the Taranaki County was willing to take it over. Mr. Tate pointed out that the bridge was erected without consulting either couuty in any way. It was a political job ami was not wanted. He movrd that the Department be informed that as the Council was not consulted as to j the erection of ths bridge and had not sufficient funds to properly maintain its ' present bridges it objects to take over ; the Tikorangi bridge.—Carried. A copy of tbe foregoing resolution is to be forwarded to tbe Clifton County Council. Mr. O'Sullivan wrote asking for pay- ' ment on carting contract and for return ' of deposit. It was decided that on '. condition that O'Sullivan gives an in- 1 ' demnity the deposit be returned. j Messrs. Okey and Lepper were em-,' powered to execute the leasb of the) Heimama toll-gate. J The Moa Road Board was given' permission to metal tbe road from Bin- j aio'a Hill to Ratapiko Fcbool. I ( The Opunake Town Board wrote relative to payment of its share of

cost of culverts (£289) of whioh II bad already paid £l2O. Mr. Gray moved, that as the Bond had promised to pay tbe balance oa receipt of the license fees and such fees having been paid the Council expects the promise to be fulfilled. Tbe Valuer-General wrote accepting the Council's offer of £IOO for preparation of the roll for 1900. There was a further sum of £6l also due. The Clerk stated that there wen several discrepancies and olerical errors in the rolls for which the department was responsible. These errors caused a considerable waste of time and might lead to friction. Mr. Gray considered it wis tin* tin Council showed its hostility to tb» Department. Tbe Chairman said he was under the> impression that the Council's offer wiped off the £6l, bat it appeared that. this was not so. After some further discussion its we* decided to pay the £l6l, I The Harbour Board wrote stating that it would supply the waste spoil as arranged and deliver tbe same at 2s per yard at the breakwater; also that the time had been extended to ten years. The Chairman explaiaed that Jm bad already authorised the worst phase to be mended.—Action confirmed. It was resolved that steps be taken to authorise tbe Harbour Board to gazette the road as a county road. The Clerk stated tbat the Road Department had the £IOO ready to ho paid over si soon as the work was: done. A. H. Clarke, contractor, waited on the Council with reference to his contract for caning metal. He asked for some compensation in oonteqaenoe of additional carting consequent on m alteration in the depth of metaL Tho; carting had all been at long distances, those parts of the road near the pit being left undone, The Chairman pointed out, and Mr. Clarke admitted, that tbe specification ' had not been broken and that as the grant made by tbe Government bad all been expended the Council oould not compensate him, but if a further grant was made and more work done ttsf Council oould then adjust matters. Messrs. Phillips and Gray urged tbat a concession should be made. Mr. Brown ssid be understood when the contract was altered the contractor wa* not to be injured. The Chairman explained tbat Mr. Caddy had reported that the contractor would not suffer. He onuidered the only way was to leave the matter over till further work wes done. Mr. Gray'moved, that as soon ee the money was available Mr. Clarke be given the contract for the abort length! at the same price as the original contract. Harland Manby wrote asking the* Council to keep back £1 Is out of Hearickfen's contract. The Clerk stated that the attachment had come to hand after the expiry of the 80 days allowed by tbe Act and was therefore invalid. J. Ptarce, Tataraimaka, wrote with reference to width of tyres. R. Stewart, Opnnake, complained of the number of rattle running on tbe main South-road and Eltham-road and stated that tbe nuisance was bscosalng a source of danger at night. Mr. Brown moved that Mr. O'Brien, poondkeeper of the Opunake Board, bo appointed ranger for the county road. Mo. Qray advocated a ranger being appointed for the whole of tbe ridings. On a division the motion was lost bjr 5 to 4, Mee are. Warebam, McDonald, Hopson, Gray, and Lepper voting with the noes. Mr McMaous asked for authority to take two loads of stone from the Waiwakaiho. The clerk was authorised to give permits for the removal of paving stones and sand from the river, on tbe payment of Is per yard. Mrs Lawson and family returned thanks for the Council's vote of oandoleoce aud sympathy. Mr Kennedy asked to be appointed foreman of the Junction-reed to Tarate and Tariki. It was decided that tbe following division should be mads in the Men riding for supervision by separate foremen :—(a) Norfolk-road to Walongone, and Inglewoodto town, about 18 miles, (b) Junction-road, Inglewood, to Tarata, and from TarikWoad to Norfolk-road, also Tarild-road, abort 18 miles. Tbe Council went into committee to consider four applications for the position of foreman of part of Moa riding, and four applications for a similar position for the further end of the Farahaka riding. On resuming, G. Walker, recommended by the Waiwakaiho Board, •as appointed foreman for part of tbe Moa riding. It was decided to call for fresh applications for foreman of part of tot Parihaka riding. Mr Tate, who with Mr Brown was appointed to go to Auckland to inspect the trial of Waiwakaiho stone in the Gates crusher, he stated that they had not seen a portable crasher bat one (a No. 3), erected by Mr Hedley, Tbe foreman stated that the wwMnt would crush 300 yards of Waiwakaiho stone per day. It was a question whether a No 2 or No 3 crasher should be obtained. ANo 2 crusher would take a stone as luge as could be conveniently lifted. He spoke in high terms of prais* of the Gates'crasher, which was much more easily fed than the jaw crusher. He submitted the simples iu threa sizes of broken metal. There would be to difficulty in ™»Hrrg the plant portable. The prhe of a No, 3 complete was about £SOO. i Mr Brown said from whit he oould see of all the crushers in Auckland, tbe Gates crusher was the best. Mr, Brown moved tbat a small No 3 machine with elevator be purchased, Mr Warebam seconded the motion, which was ca r ried. Mr Phillips landed in his resignation as a outcillor, as he was leaving the district. The Chairman, in moving that the resignation be accepted, expressed bis regret at the loss of Mr Phillips' services. Mr Tate, in seconding the motion, spoke in high terms of the ability of Mr Phillips' whom he characterised as one of the best members who had sat at the council. The motion was carried. Accounts amounting to £7BB 4a 8d were passed. It was decided that the committee who went to Auokland ou the matter of the crusher be reimbursed tbeir expense*, and be thanked lor their abb A services. It v.OB decided to shift the stone crusher to Stony -rv«r. The Council adjourned.