Taranaki County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7732, 7 February 1905, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

The Council hold its ordinary meeting on Monday. Present—Mill. Okey (chairman), Crs. Andrews, Hill, Gray, Hopson, Brown, und McDonald. —Huirangi llridge Inquiry.— The Chairman reported that the inquiry into the Huirangi bridge maintenance had been held at Wuitara, and the result would be noti-

lied in due course. Cr. Hill warmly congratulated the Council on the able way in which the Chairman had represented the Council, and the interests of the ratepayers. In reply to Cr. Drown, the Chairman stated it was agreed the Cliftim County should execute necessary repairs and charge the Taranaki County with a portion of tho expense. —l' orcineii s Reports.— •'• W. Orr, Junction Uoad east foreman, staled temporary repairs had been elfected at the Norfolk- road i bridge, but the stn.clure was in a dangerous condition, and Mr Skinner's advice was that the bridge was too far gone for further repairs. He suggested an offer being made to Messrs Sole and ISayley for the 12 or 11 yards of stone at the Mungawhili. He also reported as to vehicles subject to taxation. The question of repairs to the Norfolk road bridge was deferred. Authority was given for obtaining the stone, as suggested. T. Urry, acting foreman on the Junction road, stated that owing to all the stringers on the Norfolk road culvert being rotten, and the decking in worse order than anticipated, it was necessary to get additional tim-

bcr. The decking on the Maketawa bridge was in bad order, owing to being patched so much with short planks, and the nails failing to hold same down. The question of repairing i the . Maketawa bridge was referred to Cr. Brown with power to act. John Holmes, Waitara foreman, suggested that a stonemason should be employed to do the repairs at the Waiwaknihi bridge, and he stated that it would tuke a good quantity of material to fill up the part that was washed out. He suggested that tenders should be culled as soon as possible for No. 7 contract on the

Mountain road, as the top end was t very tliin. It would,take 400 yards of metal at the top end, and 400 yards at the lower part. On the motion of Cr. Hill it was decided to employ a mason for the apron work at the Waiwnkaiho bridge. Tenders are (o be called for 800 yards of metal for the Mountain road, and the Wailara members, with the Chairman, were empowered to deal with same. W. Evetts, Omnia foreman, reported that owing to the dry weather the roads were breaking up in places. He suggested using the best of the decking from the two small bridges beyond the Werekino for repairing the Kihi bridge. The drain near the , Okuto hotel required attention, and I he suggested putting in S6 feet of 12 inch piping. At Watson's Gully, Oakura, the creek had silted up, j causing the water to stand two or three feet above the culvert. The adjoining owners would not oiwn up a drain to allow the water a free course, and . live or six chains of

•drain at least would be required. At | the entrance to Omnia Church acu - ,vert was much needed, and he suggested that a grant of 18 feet of six inch pipes would meet the case, as the congregation were willing to do ,the work. He inquired if contractors under the Council were exempt from the wheel lax. The question of renewing the Watson's Gully culvert was referred to the Chairman and Cr, Gray to report upon. Cr. Hopson objected to the Council spending money • on n culvert ut the entrance to church property, and he movtd that the Council consent to a culvert being put in by the church authorities, subject to the oreman's supervision.—Carried. It was decided to instruct all the foremen that in their spare time they should clear out the grass from tlie sides of tho roads.

—A Severance Difficulty.— In reply to a telegram sent, to the Treasury inquiring if any money was available for bridge loan, a telegram from the Department was read stating that no further bridge loan money would be available until the sum ]of £l(s ;Ss 7d, overdue interest, plus .interest on £O7, was paid. I The Chairman explained that the difficulty arose over "tin; formation of the Egmont County, who had taken over the special rating area and liability in respect of the interest claimed by the Government, tlie Taranaki Council lieing advised ,that they could not collect the amount. Hp moved that the following wire be sent to thp Treasury :—" The Council is surprised at thp nature of tho tplegrani from the Treasury, considering the mat-top in dispute is sub- | ject to amicable settlement between the County Solicitor and the Treas- I ury."—Carried.

Cr. Hill moved that the clerk write ' to the Egmont County pointing out ' the clause in tho agreement in con- , ncctjon with the adjustment of no counts, setting forth that the loan is to be taken over by the FJgmont County, and regretting that thev will ; have the matter rjgh-tpd, as the Tien- I ury was pressing for payment pf pver'duo accounts. —Borough Water Supply.— ThP town clerk wrote stating that thp borough water scheme was nearing completion, and asking that, to Rlivjate frequent applications for the council's tp mokp conceptions, that a genera) consent be givr en, the borough undertaking to immediately make good any damage.— The request was complied with on the condition that the borough took a|| the responsibility, Disputed Claim,— Thp Secretary of the Sash and Door .'Company wrote- pointing out that the council was jn error in mak- ] Ing a claim on the company, and asking whether it was not Mr Biggs, I the contractor, or hj.s carter, who, 1 was liable.—A claim is to be made I on Mr Biggs.

—Claim for Compensation.— Mr Harold 'lTiomson, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Mr John Newland, claiming £loo,damages for injuries sustained through his horse stepping into an open trench on the Junction Road, on November 30th last.—lt was decided to forward the letter to the Borough Council, to whom permission had been given to lay pipes on condition that they took all risks.

—Daagerous Crossing.— Thp Moa Road Board wrote drawing at!pn'tjon"to |.he dangerous condition of the crossing from the Junction Road to the Toi Toi Road, at the foot of the Zig Zag, and asking that the same should be put in order.—The foreman was authorised to undertake one-half of «ie work jn qupstjon.

—Mptalljng Junctjon Road East.— The District Road Engineer wrote approving the specification for metalling tho Junctjon Road from Inglewood to Tarata, and asking to be notified of thu result of tenders. —Defective Drainage.—

A. George, Moturoa, wrote asking that the drain at the back of his section should be. attended to, as it was stopped up.—The foreman is to be instructed to report on the urea of land damaged by water from time to time. —Road Deviations.— Tho Chief Engineer of Roads forwarded a copy of proclamations taking lands at Bell Block and Carrington Bond, and closing certain roads.—lt was decided to return t.he notices to the Survey Department, with thu notification | jhat the council was not interested in the matter, but suggested that notices should be sent to the road hoards concerned.

—Thp o|d Crusher.— The Chairman reported that he had lent tho old crusher on hire to Messrs' Sangster and Phillips, contractors, of Stratford, at £3 pelweek.—Act lon confirmed, Cr. (Jray advocated an endeavour being made to dispose of ,the old crusher, as it was not wise to keep it and let it rust out.—No action taken.

—Protecting River Bank.— On the motion of Cr. Hopson it was decided to remove a coil of wire! from the reserve at Ngatoro, Junction Road, and use it for protecting the roadway along the river bank. —Noxious Weeds,— A. H. Clark is" to bo notified to cjear the noxious- weeds from the reserve occupied liy him and to pay the rent as arranged. —Sanitary Inspection.— The Borough Council wrote inquiring if the County Council could see 'Hb way to appoint Iths borough san-

itary inspector as honorary county inspector.—lt was deckled to inform the Borough Council that the county is not concerned with the matter of public health, which is under I lie jurisdiction of the roud hoards. —Slaughtering License.— A renewal of slaughtering license was granted to F. Olsen, at Kgmonl Village, i —Wheel Tux.— It was decided to tuku proceedings against those carters who have not paid the wheel tax.

pmu uic wncei lax. —Counties' Association.— A circular was read from the Counties' Association forwarding a copy of a legal opinion relative to rates, and stating that members of councils should regard as confidential all such opinions sent by the association. —A New lioud, 1 The Chairman of the Moa ltoad Jioard wrote relative to a new road between the Alfred and Hgmoiil Roads, and asking that in accordance with Mr (I. Samuel's advice the council should make a special order vesting the control of such road in the Waiwakaiho ltoad Board, both boards being willing for that course ito be adopted.—As no communication had been received on the subject from the Wnhvakniho Hoad Board, consideration of the request was deferred. I '■ —Hopairs.— I Cr. llrown reported on the. action he had taken as to the culvert on the Mangaonu Uoad.—Action confirmed. | —Bog Tax.— It was moved that the dog tax should be the same as lust" jear, and that applications be culled for collectors.

Cr. Gray moved that farmers lie allowed one dog free. The amendment was lost on a division by 4 votes to 3, and tho motion was carried. A deputation consisting of Messrs Foreman and H. Laurent waited on the council on behalf of the Clifton Council with a request that the owners of licenses of vehicles plying for hire in both counties should only be required to pay a tax in one county. Mr Foreman urged that as 0 matter of public policy carriers should only pny fees m one county. He thought a mutual arrangement could be made.

i The Chairman pointed out that this matter hail some time hack been under consideration, and n resolution was then passed agreeing to the request on condition that the fivs should be divided. He was doubtful >vhethcr in point of law such nn arrangement as was now proposed could be carried out, but even if it were possible there were cases where the arrangement would not work well. It was, he considered, better to take each case on its merits, i Mr Foreman suggested that a joint committee should be set up to go into the matter, lie pointed out that ratepayers nt Tarata were contributing towards a road in the s Tnranaki Codnty. . ! I The Chairman replied thot the loan referred to was a road board loan, and had nothing to do with the county. Mr Andrews thought some concession might be arranged, but he con- . sidcral 'there were cases in which it would not bo right to remit the .whole of one of the fees.

| Cr. Gray suggested that licenses issued in one county should be endorsed by the other, and that at the end of the year a statement, of receipts from fees should be laid before both councils and nn adjustment made. The Chairman considered that each case should be considered separately, and that a committee should lie ai>pointcd to consider details _ns to , paying over fees. | Cr. McDonald moved .that Crs. Okey and Andrews be a committee to confer wiith the representatives of the Clifton County for the purpose of dealing with the matter. ! Cr. Andrews declined to serve on the committee, as he considered that those members who were responsible for the abolition of the tolls should serve on the commit kv. He moved that Crs. Okey ami McDonald represent the council.—Carried. I —Tenders for Metal.— I The following tenders wore opened for the supply of metal : —Junction 1000 yards, .1. Mulrce. .'Jin. Ts fid, liin. (is KHI ; Cariwright and Kyngdon, Hin, 6s lljd ; Doyly and Sole, Bin. fis 9d ; 0. Tapp, 3in, 7s, (iln. 4s 3d (accepted) ; 'Parry, (is 3d. Waiongona to Inglewood. 100 yards : J. H. Magoe and Co.; 3s 5d (accepted) ; J. Tarry, 3s 9d. Norfolk Road to Inglewood, . r >o yards : J. Tarry, 2s 9d (accepted). Inglewood to l pland Uond, , r >o yards : ,1. Tarry, broken metal, 6k 3d (accepted), Kent Road to Mangorei, 30 yards : Bayly and Co., 4s 3d (accepted-). Mungorei to New Plymouth, 100 yards : Uayly and Co,, 4s 3d ; Magoo and Co,, 3s 8d (accepted). I —Accounts.—

I Accounts amounting to £239 19s J.d weii; passed. —Overdue Rates.— I It was decided to 'ndvertisc that ilO per cent, would bo added to all rates unpaid at the end of February. I —The Clerk's Salary.— The clerk reported that good progress had been made with the ar- ; rears, but the list was not yet comIplpted. It was decided to postpone consideration of thp clerk's salary till next meeting.