County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 208, 6 September 1904, Page 2

County Council.

The monthly meeting was held on Monday. Present: C'r. Okoy (chalrnian), and Crs. McDonald; Brown, tira.v, Hill, and Andrews. Cr. Hopson was granted leave of absence Qn account of an accident. —Foremen's Report.— Mr Oit (Moa foreman) reported on work done and required. He was instructed to get metal for repairs on Junction Road East. The contractors at Mangawhiti will be notified when to proceed with their contract. Mr Clarke's offer of metal was not uccepted. The crusher sit* at Ztiiimiermaji's- was closed. A new one will probaMy be 'established at Munganui.

Mr Walker (Moa West foreman!) reported on work done and required. Me was instructed t 0 see about draining utonu water at Mangorei Hill.

Mr Holmes (Waitara foreman) reported on flanking required at Waiwaktiiho bridge, and tho matter was referred to the bridge carpenter. The foreman also reported on tho repairs effected on Uie I)cv 0 n line and Mountain and Richmond Roads.

Home discussion took place on the <])iestion of persons taking boulders from the bed. of the Waiwakaiho River, and thereby imperilling the safety of the bridge. Cr. Gray moved that tho council will pr o secuto any persons taking boulders within five chains of the bridge.

Cr. Andrews seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Evetts (the Omata foreman) suggested that the road between the town ■boundary affld Lister's store at Moturoa should be widened, and he eati'iiiated that 2400 yards 0 f metal would be required. The Chairman said tho council could not entertain the proposal at present, as it would mean an exlienditure of £IOOO.

The foreman's report about accepting un o ffer from Mr Monteflore to supply stone at Is Bjd a yard at Okato was referred back for explanation.

The Chairman remarked that the Council did not want Mr Monteflore to do its business.

Mi- Urry, crusher driver, reported that Mm, crusher had worked 5J days crushing 181 yards. There had been a good deal of delay owing to bad weather.

Mr Lambert, .bridge carpenter, rePorted that he tod effected repairs at Waiongona bridge (Mountain Road) and %atoro. . Ho had no large order for work to recommend .this month. Some of tih<s bridge decking needed attention.

—Werekino Road Board.— Mr C. T. Mills notified the election of Messrs J. I'\ Eustace, N. Grant, 11. Gray, W. H. Robinson, and J. H. Wooldridge ns members of tho new Werekiao Rood Board. The, first meeting wns fixed for September l'lth at Mr Robinson's, house. —Driving Cattlo.—

Ihe town clerk reported the result of the conference of delegates from local ihoclies interested in tho driving of cattle to the Fitzroy abattoirs. 'lhe conference recommended that cattle bo driven along tho main Devon Road to, Normonby-street, thence along that street to tho old Devon road, and thence to the abattoirs • the hours to be after 4 p.m. and boforo 8 a.m. No cattle ore to be dnvon along old Devpn Road from Ar o a's c o rner to Normaii|bjy-street. ."'heep can be driven along any ,'treet at any hour. The council agreed to the arrangement.

The Egmoot Comity Council wrote with reference t 0 the position of the Kltham Road loan. A copy of a letter from the Treasury was forwarded, .bearing 0 n tho Walmato Road loan, and, the Egmont Council considered the Eltham Road loan was in the same position.

Finally the matter was referred to the council's solicitor for advice. Correspondence relative to the maintenance of tho Tik o rangii bridge, was received from the Clifton County Council and the Department of Roads. Tho Clifton Council objected to bear any cost 0 < niaiiiitenamee, and gave reasons, pointing out that the bridge should be maintained by tho Tarajvaki County Council and tho Waitara West Road Board. The Chairman suid that tho Clifton Council had not treated the Tarunaki Council fairly, as the two councils hod always taken joint action over the ■bridge. The Clifton Council hud gone behind this, council's back in sending „ lotter to Mr Shortt, tto Commissioner. He connidercd this council should fight the matter out on its own. He had seen Mr F o rem a n, a member of the Clifton County Council, that morning, and had learned that tho letter to Mr Shortt had tVen withdrawn. Cr. Andrews said that tlhe bridge was only built for political reasons, and for tho benefit of a few settlers on tho Clifton side of the Waitara River. The two councils and the Waitara West Road Board never desired the bridge, which was principally UMod for cattle traffic. Finally the chairman and Crs. Hill and Andrews' were appointed „ committee with poweri to act.

The Chairman and Cr. Brown mentioned tho matter of citing the New Plymouth borough as the road from tho bridge led to town. The manager of tho Bank of New South Wales notified that from October Ist the interest on overdraft would be increased to 5} per cent. The foremen wiK be instructed to economist) in the employment of labour.

A letter fr 0 m the Department of Roads was received, stating the council's - claim of £llsO for repairs on the .Junction Road East would

bo considered when the estimates were being compiled. Tho Stratford County Council forwarded a resolution protesting against the suggtstd extension by the Premier pf local bodies franchise. The resolution was endorsed. Mr A. .). Mcintosh claimed £6 12s,

council's share of pipe-laying at Uenui, near Strandon estate.

Tho uccount was passed. Tho Clifton Council sent in an account of £7 17s sid, 'being the Taranaki County Council's share of the Bginont licensing expenditure. The Chairman said tho Taranaki Council only got £25, and the oxpendituro seemed out of proportion. Tho account was finally passed. Messrs G. and' H. Spencer, contractors for tho Waipuku bridge approaches, asked for a draw of 75 per cent, on £2O worth of work done. As the engineer, Mr J. Skinner, had reported adversely the council refused to grant tho draw. Mr A. 11. Kendall, Government Sanitary Inspector, reported on complaints made to him about the untidy state of McLean-street, Waittft-a, and asking that tho foreman's attention should be drawn to. It. Cr. Hill said as Waitara was tp bo a borough to-morrow it would havo jurisdiction over this part of the street.

Mr Kendall als fl reported that ho had materially altered soma conditions, especially us to pig styes being too near houses. ILo had also visited several localities. The court, adjourned till 9 o'clock. 'i'ha C o uncil resumed at 2 o'clock. Messrs (Hogg and Lnshibrook, repvuseuling the Elliot., Frankley and Carrington iload Hoards, waited on the council, and asked for a rebate

ol road rates aa in previous years. A rebate of ihalf tho Government subsidy was granted. A letter from tho Ilawera County Council relative t 0 tho licensing of vehicles, etc., wan rend. Tim clerk was instructed to reply, The Treasury notified that a special order, striking a rate for the Waiongonn )miigo loan of £IOOO would have to bo made, An order was made accordingly. The council considered the clauses in the agreement between the New Plymouth Borough and l County as to electric light lines. In answer to. Cr. Gray the clerk stated ho was waiting for a complete property roll before suing for rates. It wa9 decided to instruct the clerk to employ clerical assistance

and sue for overdue rates before next meeting. An application for time to pay till January next was not entertained. C'r. Hill brought up the question of the Eginont National I'ark Hoard not allotting any pary of a grant o( to the north committee, ( ond lie asked the council to back the committee in a protest. The council passed a resolution protesting against the allocation, and asking the Minister to hold over the grant until a lair distribution was made. The question of getting up a counter petition about the Tariki Road was left to the chairman and clerk to arrange, Cr. Drown mentioned that a misleading petition was being circulated in lhe Moa riding asking that the Tariki Road be placed under the juriMriKlion of the council. It was decided to vest certain land encroaching on 'he railway bey o nd Sentry i i'l In tho council. C'r. Mcb.,'; M stated that a Mr, Capper had complained that the Moa foreman overlooked lii» and his team in employing labour. No action was taken. Accounts wero passed •.—Administration, £B7 17s 10 ; Moa riding, £294 19s 2d ; Waitara, £SO 4a lOd; Omata, £495 8s 6d. The council roso at 3.30.