Taranaki County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7756, 7 March 1905, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

MONTHLY JKElfiTli.es. i I The luontfaly mooting of the Turanaki County Council was held on At outlay. There were present: Messis 11. Okey (Chairman), McDonald, ll'rown, Hopson, Gray, Hill'and Andrews. —Moa Riding.— ! J. W. Orr, foreman at Inglewoo.', in his monthly report, jfelaled that three weeks had been spent on tl:! new bridge at Patterson's. It ha . | been raised 3l't 3in, according t • plan, 'higher than the old bridge This would necessitate a lilling in 21 chain.';', and the whole <-f !'-■ work would coirl about JtfK) for l.i our and .curling. There was »vn 1,1,1.- diout SWift of old decking worth s per iK'Uft. The culvert at t'.e c-r:e" of ! .Manylione lioad hud been taken up. jA piece of road near the twenty mile peg required attending to before I Ihe wet weather set in. Crs. Krown and Hopson had visited the site, and the work •wo,::.! cost £l6. Toi Toi lioad ended ut about the centre of the cutting leading lo the Waitara bridge, ami tho entrance needed grading, at a cost of £3 or £4. In conclusion the foreman staled that he was at) preset employed stripping the road at Knimate. j The foreman was instructed to dispose of the Umber referred to to the | best advantage. Tho matter of tho road near the twenty mile peg was referred to the representatives of the riding. With reference to tho cut-j ting the council declined to act, as they considered the work should be done by the Road Board. T. Urry, engine driver, reported that he had been Winding the Junction and Mountain Ko-ads, as the long spell of dry weather had loosened the metal on the hills, the forner road being in a bad state. In company with Mr Brown, ho had inspected the Maketnwa bridge, and it would require 3584 feet of timber to repair it, at a cost of £26 17s Bd. The Ngatoro-iti twidge also required attention. The boiler inspector had examined the traction engine on Feb. 22, and reported it to be in good , order. Ho had visited Stratford on the 22nd to take charge of the old crushing plant for Messrs Songster Bros., and had to get new wedges and belt for • the crusher. Otherwise the crusher and engine were in good order. They started crushing on the 25th. In regard to the two bridges, consideration was deferred' until Foreman Walker's return. —Waitnra.— John Holmes, foreman for the Wnitara riding, reported that as instructed by tho Chairman he had engaged Mr Hooker to repair the pier al the Wniwakaiho bridge, where the water was washing out under the foundations. This was cleared out and replaced with fresh concrete. Mr Kyngdon carted 16 yards of metal for one pier and 15 yards of shingle from 'the river. Tho large wooden culvert near Mr McTaggert's being rotten, it was udvisuble to replace this with concrete, as the cost would be cheaper in the end. For the remainder of tho month tho workmen had' continued making up side roads and cleaning out watertables in the worst places. It was agreed to have the culvert repaired, and the secretary was instructed to inquire as to tho cost of concrete pipes. —Omnia.— Win. Evetts, foreman for the Omnia riding, reported that the roads hud broken up somewhat owing to the dry weather, otherwise they were in fair order, with the exception of portion between the town und the Mission Hall, and portion of the Breakwater Road to Bayley lioad. • This road had lately been subjected to heavy traffic, and pavts of it were fairly worn out. He , recommended that it be remetallcd for about 70 chains and the balance repaired as required. The work should be put in hand as early ns possible, as portions would the very had if not rel puirod before the wet weather set in. He had inspected the beach on the Omata side of the I'ai-itutu, .and found there was not stone in sutlicient quantities to warrant taking the stone crusher there, though a small quantity for repairs could be got thore if necessary. With respect to tho culvert mentioned by Mr A. (jleorge, the amount of land affected by the water was about half a chain, and should the Council decide to put in a culvert fifty feet of (iin. piping would be required. It would bo necessary to get a few planks for the Hurford Road bridge Ho had had to repair Oakura and Tapund bridge decking, •during the month, also handrails fiat Plymouth lioad bridge. Owing to the sand drift and the material that had' fallen from the cuttings it would be necessary lo remove about 40 yards of sand on the Breakwater Road. In connection with the boulder contracts Oliver and Kendall had not carted any stone this month, and should be asked to complete cpntracts while tho weather was favourable.

Regarding the Breakwater Hoad it i was resolved to lot the matter re- . main in abeyance until the Harbour Board was waited on with reference to obitaining stone. No action was t taken regarding Mr George's complaint. , —Tikorangi Bridge.— i The Department of Hoads forward- • ed a copy of the report by Mr Corai missioner Short ,'jon the Tikorangi I bridge inquiry, whose recommenda- < tlons (as published) are to be given ; effect.—Boceivcd. s The Secretary to the Treasury re- , quested payment of £7 4s 7d, ex- , penses of the inquiry. The charge was! considered high, I and tho secretary was instructed to write inquiring whether £7 4s 7d represented half or all the sum iixed as expenses, j —Tenders.— I The sub-committee appointed to i deaf with the supply of 700 yards lof gravel in tho Waitara riding reported having accepted the tender of \ w, Oartwrigiit, I This was confirmed. i —District, Valuer's Expenses.— Th» Valuer-General acknowledged the Council's letter in reference to the charge of £36 9s 4d made against the Council by the Department. In reply he pointed out that tho charge represented the Council's proportion of the cost of the District, Valuer's time and travelling expanses incurred in keeping the pounty rolls up to date, also of the clerical work involved in making the necessary amendments. The charge did not include any sum in respect of the work done for . the Inglcwood borough, but £4 5s (id of the amount represented the cost of work done for the then existing Raleigh Town'Counpil, which was, however, now merged with other lands into the Waitara borough. The Depart- , meat -was unable to make any , charge against a non-existent body, ( and if. would therefore appear that ~ •fhe £1 5s (jd was rightly charged to . the Council. Any adjustment should be between the Waitara borough ( and the CpunciJ. j Comment was made on the rate of I charges, which were considered ex- j 'ccssive. . Cr, Gray pomplained that though r Ihey were paying a stiff price to t have their rolls kept up to date, the J result was not satisfactory, Tho . Council was 1 losing money through , t the rolls not being kept complete and ( accurate. j It was finally decided to pay the amount, though one councillor sadly ! shoot his head, with the remark that . the Government were "making a pro- . lit on this business. "-

—Hospital and Charitable Aid The Clerk to the Horowhcnua County Council forwarded a copy ol tho following resolution passed at their last meeting '.—"That the local between Wellington, New Plymouth and'Nap.ier who contribute to charitable aid be asked if, in the event of the Government being willing to receive a deputation re the more economical ami equitable levies for, and distribution of, .Hospital aiml Charitable aid, they will be willing to appoint a delegate on such deputation'."" ' Cf. Gray pointed ouj, thnj. ns (.he largest cojitributjng body the Council shouljl resolutely take vip the hospital question, 'Phe Huwera and Stratford districts,/ 1 whjch had severed, were consenting bodies for tho erection of tho buildings, and now the maintenance would be thrown upon the smaller area. They should call evidence and point out the unnecessarily large accommodation for tho smaller community. It was decided to write forwarding a. strongly worded protest, and to jn' u'very way with the Hospital Hoard, whose Chairman, it was slntai, wn's. inking )ip iV ni'nfc.tcp, Regarding the resolution forwarded lOr Gray said it was an effort of the ilocal bodies to arrive at some relief from the ever-jticreasing charitable laid, taxes,

I It was agreed that a delegate should be appointed. I —Cement.— j Tho offer of Okey, Son and Arnold, Ltd., to supply 20 casks of Knight IJcvun'.s cement at 15s (id was acceptedi , —A Withheld Subsidy.— , The Clerk to the Egiuont County | Council wrote forwarding the follow- i ing resolution passed at last meet- ' ing :—"That the Tnrnnnki County i Council bo informed that this Coun- | cil would, at this meeting, have ' passed for payment a portion of amount duo under the adjustment of accounts, provided this Council had received a credit note for the amount of subsidy, £125, duo by the Taranaki County Council, ns per this Council's letter of July 5. IUOI, and subsequent ones of July 10 and Aug. 15 of same year." : The Chairinun' staled that tho amount due to the Egmont Council was £llß, which it Wus onlered to pay over without further delay. i —Eltham Road Loan.— Messrs Hoy and Wilson forwarded i advice received from Mcusrs Martin 1 and Atkinson, solicitors, Wclling- • ton, with regard lo the Kit hum 1 Road loan. Tho position, as they 1 understood it, was that the Trcas- ' ury, which was nn administrative ' Department, and could not decido the present question, referred all tho ' papers some time back to the Colonial Treasurer, and, pending 1 the receipt of instructions from him, could not give the County ! Council a reply. They had placed " the matter very strongly before the ; secretary to the Treasurer. '■ A further letter, dated March 6, was received from Mr Roy, county 1 solicitor, stating that he-received '! the I #>H*>,\via'g tedogifani rroni Mr Mpr- ■ tin :—" Colonial Treasurer refuses ' pay bridge loan moneys until intcr- " est paid." As tho Colonial Treas--1 urcr (Mr Scddon) was in Auckland ' ho thought that any reference to him - by the Trcasurery had not put tho position clearly before him.. He nd- * vised that the Council send a repre- " sentativc to Wellington to see Mr " Seddon personally on his return there. 1 Cr Brown reiterated his opinion 1 that tho County Council, as the 5 body raising the loan, were the ones r responsible for the collection of the ' rate. \ The Chairman differed am) poinjted , out that the Council were backed up by the opinion of their own solicitor and Mr Martin. He was satisfied the Government were in the wrong. " He thought if all the circumstances were put before the Premier he would see that the Council were not tied up in that way. "It is," remarked <Uie ~ Chairman, " practically blackmailing , us." ' Cr Gray said that the sooner some " decision was come to the better, as .' tho collection of the rate should be ' put under way. ! The Chairman was appointed to . wait on the Coiloniol Treasurer to ; put the case plainly l>cfore him. > —Representation.—

The subject of representation was ditscussed, and a statement was read showing that the Moa riding hod a rateahilio value of £583,302, with 644 ratepayers ; Waitara u rateable value of £4&2,611>, with 840 ratepayers ; and Omata a rateable value of £621, 853, with 800 ratepayers. The rateable value ojV tho Waitara riding, excluding the borough, was £40i>,366. The Chairman gave notice of a special order increasing tho Council from 7 to 8 members, uhe extra momiier to represent the Onrata riding. —Specia|l Meeting.— It wus decided lo hold a special meeting of the Council on Monday noxt to go into the question of arrears of rates, tho resignation of the Clerlfl, etc. The Chairman remarked that on tho arrears lists were many names and properties which required " washing up,"—Licenses.— Defaulters in regard to payment of licenses under the heavy trallic byelaw were ordered to be proceeded against). —Deputation.— Messrs Jones and Zlmmermann waited on tho Council and presented a petition signed by twenty ratepayers, asking that tho Turiki road, from Manganui bridge to Kalnpiko road corner bo put in order before the winter season. A neglected drain there had done considerable damage through being blocked up, and the petitioners were agreeable to pay portion ol the cost of rectifying the drain.

i The Chairman said the road had i been /orced on the County Council without being roquctsted. The Coun--1 cil were trying to get rid of it, but I the Government were very slow in i the matter, and were only now ini quiring for information. In any i case the Council had no funds availi able for the work. The Council had aome time ago offered £OO per annum tf the Road Board would spend £3O, but this had been declined, i Mr Jones stated that unless the drain was cleaned out the ratepayers interested intended lo sue the County Council for damages. If something was not dono to the road it Would go to pieces, and the monev already spent would bo wasted. The Hoad' Hoard absolutely declined to recognise responsibility' for t'ho road, as it was gazetted a County Council road. After further discussion the deputar tion left with a copy of the offer made to the Board, and the n*urancc that the Council had done all they could in the mailer. —Bog Tax.— Mr Tipping was appointed dog tax collector for the Omatu riding at the rate of 3d per dog and 1s for sporting dogs. Mr Street was appointed for Waitara at the same rate. The tender of Mr Hansom to supply dog coHai's for one year at tVJd per collar was accepted. —Slaughterhouse.— The application of Mr Richard I rice,, chuirmon of provisional directors of the Tnrnnaki Pork a nd Bacon Factory, New Plymouth, for a license in respect of a slaughterhouse on section 37, Fj tzroy-Te Hemii road district, was approved. -HalMloliduy.— A circular letter was received from the Minister for Labour notifying that Thursday aftui-noon had been gazetted as the weekly half-holiday ' for the County. J '