TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 86, 7 April 1903, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Oouncil met on Monday, Present: Ors, Okey (chairman), McDonald, Brown, Hopson, Gray, Hill, and Andrews. The commitfcpe appointed to open tenders for work out of (iovernuunt gr.mt for Junction Riad Ka t reported hiving Hcceped J. T-trry's tend r of 7s lid per yard for delivery of B';nne. — Adopted, the t-nder to b) forwarded to the Roads Department-. Or. Gray brought up the question of | the cottage on a section at Okato. It ivas decided to put it in order and endeavour to let it. The Junotioa Road Foreman, J. P. Kennely, reported that good progress had been mide with Olark'a con r ract, : He asked for a supply of screenings for the nsw metal.' H.>3 inquired whas was to be done with the scrub on the zig-zag, and asked if he should rut it. The blackberries at Bish H's w«e cot yc-t cut, alh'jugh the Inspector hid promised to atWnd to the matter, All the crushing depots were finished. If thecrmuer would no; be soon going to the Mountain and TaHki Roads he would like to ba supplied with hard broken m?tal for urgent repair*.— Blinding to ba done if the cost does not excaed 2s 6d par yard, Or. Hopson b.iiog empowered to deal with the nutter. The Department is to be wri-.ten to with a request to cut the crub on the z : g-zxg. The question of veeds at BishitTi's was referred to the clork with a view to investiga'iog the title of tbe reserves on the Junction Road and report. The traetioa engine is to go to the Mountain Road as soon is possible, meanwhile the Fjreman was authorisad to obtain broken metal.

The Chairman's arrangements for hire of crusher to Mr Oolesby were j confirmed. The Waitara Foreman is to be instructed to get the stone at Waiwakaiho ready for the crusher. The Moa Foreman, G. Walker, reported having take a down the Henui Road toll gate, and kept the gate posts for strainers at Mangorei Hill. He had taken Tarry's engine and trucks off the road, as it could not cross the Upland Road Bridge, and was all day tiking one load. He wcu'd rather it did not go on again. As there was a lot of blinding to be done he requested authority for employing necessary labour, and intimated he would like the traction engine to roll the road.

It was decided that the trucks were not to ue used at Mangorei, as the place was inconvenient for same. Tbe foreman was authorised to employ extra Übour for blindine, but very little is ti be put on. The filling near the Upland Road is to be attended to. The Chairman's action in authorising the re-decking of the Chain Bridge was confirmed.

The Waitara Foreman reported that to make a proper job of the work opposite the Tannery at the Henui, a culvert should be put in of 12in pipes ,to carry off the surface water for about half a chain, and do away with the open gutter. He suggested the County and Road Board should each pay half the cost.—Agreed to. The Oraata Foreman reported that a small culvert near Mrs Looney's, at Oakura, needed attention. A culvert near Mrs Clarke's, at Okato, also needed opening up and cleaning. He suggested that while the crusher was at Funiho two or three hundred yards of stone at tb.it end should be crushed, T. Barr would bj willing to reside at Okato if he got permanent work on the road. The Stony River bridge would soon need re-deoking with 8 or 9x4 timber. Larger tensbn bolts were also required. The Timaru and Tapuae bridges required a few deck planks. Richardson, while carrying out his contract, had playrd havoc with the wster-tables, and should bo culled on to do something towards repairing sime. He recommended calling for carting tenders from town to the tollgate, and from Morris' to Hsu. The earthquake had shaken the whoh face of the cutting on the seaward side and damaged the tunnel at Woods' hill slightly.

The culverts at Oakura and Okato are to be attended to. The question of metd at Puniho was deferred for the present. Part of ihe amount due to Mr Richardson on his contract is to be retained until the Foreman is satisfied that ropairs are effected. Tenders are to be called for carting out for the whole length of section. The temporary driver of the crusher, T. Urry, reported that during the mrmth 913 yards had been crushed. The machinery had been ahifted to the OLain bridge. Mr Irvine had taken charge again on 30th March. The bridge carpenter reported that the old bridge near the Upland-road hid broken through, necessitating tern porary repairs, A temporary bridge had been provided for heavy traffic and the old one posted as dangerous. He had found the joists of the Chain bridge in a rotten state and had been authorised by the chairman to rojoist ■and repair the deck. The metal cars had meanwhila broken through in t«.o place', and the bridge hai to be clos H for repairs. Tha filling at the nort'i end of the Ngatoronui coull be gon>< on with at once.

Timber for the TJpland-road contract is to b'e obtained* locally. Filling a' Ngatoronui to be attendel to by Mr Kennedy, tenders being dealt with by Or. Brown. The cish of rebuilding the Snake bridge at; Sentry Hill was estimated at £BOO. Tfce estimate to be forwarded to the Treasury as being one of the bridges to be rebuilt out of the bridge loan.

J. P. Kennedy wrote asking the Oouncil to allow him a grant towards the expenses of his son's treatment at the Hospital, consequent on the ac ident at the Maketawa bridge.—Declined except as to preliminary ex as the Council considered the insurance money covered all other charges. The Ooujfcil went into committee to consider relating to one of their employees, and on resuming it was decide! to dispense with his services at the eod of the month. The tender of the Sash and Door Company of 15s par cask for 100 casks of cement was accepted. The Egmont Roid Board wrote applying for a grant towards the Awai bridge.—Declined, the Oounty not being in a position to contribute. Dr. Valintine waited on the Oouncil relative to a grant towards the salary of the Sanitary Inspector. Mr. Roy, solicitor, also attended. The Oouncil agreed to pay £SO a year provided the Department agrees to indemnify the Oouncil against a possible over charge by the Auditor find that they are not liable for anything beyond that contribution.

.Consent was given to the Borough Oouncil to lay a water imin to tbe abattoir site. It was decided to pay £lO to Mrs Biohardson for land-taken to widen the road at Fitsrpy,

An account sent in by Mr T. K. (Skinner was referred to the chairma to deal with. A depuation from tb? Mo* Road Board, consisting of the chairman, Mr Harolu TrimMf, and Messrs Ch im- j ney and Aiktm, waited nn tn • Council wi h a nqnest «h -t it wou'd take over i thu Taviiti -loid fr i;n 'h . M.ij.a.in bridge. Th«> fully xpl iu*d < V por.i----i tio i of matt, is, pointing out that the i mad bad always lieeu considered a county road.

Of. Gray mov d, that while sytnpatbising with the ftjad Board, the 0 tuticil could nut see its way to accede to the request. Or. Andrews seconded the motion. Or. H pson moved ti refer the m ittor to the solicitor for his advice as to wliuth r thu road was or was not a county r< ad. Or. Brown, in seconding the amendment, H>il tha l ; sooner or later the county would have to take over the ro»d.

Or. McDonald would agree to take over the road if funds were available for m iin'(lining it. The amendment was lost and the motion carried. In thanking the Council for its courtesy Mr Trimble intimated that the question was not yet done with. A letter was read from the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company, stating tint an Amending Act would come into force in April, whereby compensation would be piyable from the date of the accident, and therefore an additional premium of £1 13s 4d for the hahnce of the year's insurance wou'd be payable, tocov-r the additional liability.—Authorised.

The Faribaka Road Board wrote on behalf of their contractors, Messrs Twomey and Moor?, asking for the hire of the crusher. I The Chairman said he had arranged terms for letting the crusher, and had appointed Mr Gill banks to drive the engine, and have have charge of the plant—Action oorirmed. Toe Fatea Council wrote relative to obtaining metal, pointing out that tha only available supply for the district was obtainable from Mount Egraont, and urging that united action should > be taken to induce the Government to lay do*n a light railway from Mid< hirst to the mountain. They also submitted estimate of cost of metal obtained by this means, and the probable swing. They suggested a conference of delegates, and the compilation of information to lay before [the Government.

The Chairman agreed with the suggestion, as he considered that the time was opportune (or moving in the matter, especially in view of the Premier's recent pronouncement on the subject. Ors. Hopaon and Gny suggested mutes for the railway, the latter advocating it b ing nude down the coast to Stony River, Or. McDonald moved that the Chairman be appointed thi Council's delegate. Carried, A circular letter was read from the Tarannki Educitfcn Board, asking for c -operation in securing the benefit of the Opaku Reserve revue ue for the higher education of children in the Taranaki Province. It was resolved that the Council endorse the action af the Conference aa detailed in the circular, J. Hali wrote pointing out the rick of accidents by proximity of the crusher to the Junction-road, also by the carting by engine and trucks,—No action taken.

Mr Roy, solicitor, sent for signature a disohsrge in respect of .£SOO to be paid by the N.Z. Accident Insurance Company iu respect of all claims relative to the death of the lata Mr Gledhill. He also reported that Kennedy's claim had been settled cut of Court for £175. A formal resolution was passed authorising the Council's seal to be affixed to the discharge.

The Ch lirman said tha utmost liability of the Insurance Oompmy was £4OO with £IOO costs, and the Company had me; the case most fairly aod liberally by granting £6OO to Gledhill's representatives. Oq the motion of Or. Gray, it was resolved to express tin Council's appreciation of the liberal manner in which the Company hid met Gledhill's case. Th i Committee appointed to osnfer wi'-h the solicitor relative to fixing charges for heavy traffic reported on the charges proposed. Considerable diseuesion took place as to the exemption of farmer*, and as to the drays or waggons carting stone, timber, etc. The Chairman pointed out that by fixing the free limit at one ton the expresses in town would not be taxed. He estimated that £2OO would be raised by the tax on heavy traffic, The standing resolution relating to the imposition of a wheel tax was rtsoinded.

The proposed charges were then discussed in derail, and after some amendments were Adopted, and steps ordered to be fcskeu to put thorn into force. H. Irvinp, driver of the crusher, rep rfc*d having again resumed duty and founl the plant in order. He aske'l the Council to provide a stove fo<- hi-wh-ve and offered to Bill a Dov*r stove for £2 10s.—L;ft with the Clerk to deal with. Accounts were passed amounting ts £lO6 as 2d for administration, £613 13s for Moa Ridi-n?, £52 2s 6d Wai- 1 tara Riding, £169 6s 91 Omata Riding; total, £1066 8« 9J. Attention was drawn to the large and continuously increasing coat of the bridge carpenter's dep trtment. The Chairman said that it was never intended that the bridge oirpenter should hav* charge of such large works, and it wr uld be necessary to out down expenses, as the County could not stand the s'raio. Cr. Gray that as soon as the bridge in ha'id was fioisbed tha eta ft'should be reduced to an assistant.

Or. Hopson, pursuant to notica, moved for the app liniment of a parmanant engineer He pointed ou' that the expense in the County iu respect of loan works would bi over .£9OOO a year, and he claimed that an engineer was not only recessary but would be economical. He alluded to the waste of money consequent oa larger culverte than necessary b ing put in. Moreover, an engineer would see that the Council's bye laws wsre observed. The Council also required expert ad vice as to works advocated, and by having such advies would save money. He considered a good man could be obtained for £250 a year. Cr. Brown seconded the motion. Or. Andrews agreed th*t the theory of (he proposal was all right but it did not work out in prac'ice. What was wanted was a good practical working foreman. He admitted that for pirns of bridges an engineer's services would be necessary. Or. Gray objected to the system of keeping too many p-rrm*nent officers employed, be. oppose the proposal.

The diroussioa «m at4)[is poiut aejourned, and the Council rose.