Taranaki County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7917, 5 September 1905, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

Monthly Meeting. The Taranaki County Council met on Monday. Present, Mr H. Okey (chairman), and Crs. Gray, Hill, McDonald, Hopson, Brown and Andrews.

—Moa Riding.— Foreman C. P. Lord reported that he had found Mountain Road, with the exception of some of the bridges, in fa'ir order. Tariki IRoad as far as Brown's mill was in a very bad state, and he had a man employed for a few days to assist in repairing (he worst parts. The Manganui bridge was in a bad condition. The ! controli! abutment at Ngatoronui I bridge had been stripped and the timber stacked. The report was received.

Foreman E. Bennett reported that he had been over the whole length ! of Junction Road east and 1 found there were a few holes that required patching near Mr Brittain's, and on Swauson's flat. Some 30 or 50 yards of broken metal at the foot of the Zig-zag could be utilised for this work, and would make a good job of it. Twelve two-feet pipc-s were on the ground near Mr Patterson's and would be put down at once. The • Tariki Road was very narrow in places, and the foreman inquired, what money he could spend on it. The recommendations were adopted. Regarding Tariki Roud the Council instructed the foreman to do only small repairs, as required, and keep the water tables clear.

Foreman Walker reported that Colcsby's contrac), for metai near the racecourse had been concluded. The fence by Mangorci bridge required repairing at small cost. A culvert should be put down by the Kent Road corner to carry the water off the side road ; 40 feet of 8-inch piping would complete the work. Tho report was adopted. It wbr agreed that Cr. McDonald should inspect the site for the Kent Road tunnel, and report. —Waitara Riding.— '

Foreman Holmes stated that there had been no bridge repairs done during the past month. Regarding the Waiwakaiho an inspection by a carpenter should be made before the engine and crusher were taken over, as one place on the north side sunk down when heavy loads passed over it. The culvert near Te Henui had been made safe, and the foreman was waiting for the necessary 9-inch pipes to finish the work. Six hundred yards of metal had been carted on to the different roads. Colesby had carted out 432 yards for Fitzroy and Waiwakaiho flat, and Cartwright 32 yards /or the crossing to the new bridge at Sentry Hill. A bad piece of road near the Sentry Hill railway station, on the main road, needed 150 yards of metnl extra. The report was adopted.

The matter of arranging with Cartwright for the 150 yards of metal necessary, was left to the foreman, and Cr. Andrews.

On the motion oi Cr. Hill it was agreed to call tenders for the supply of boulders from the Waiwakaiho from time to time, not less than 100 yards on each occasion, as directed liy the foreman ; the price to bo a fixed one, and the metal tipped at the crusher site. —Omata Riding.—

Foreman Evetts reported that the road was in fair order, with slight exceptions. He had made repairs in

several places and prepared % site for the crusher. A culvert had been placed at the small stream near the beach, partly with the timber from the Wcrekino. Pipes had also been laid to divert _the water from Mr A. George's land. The expected lo make repairs to the culverts at Oukura and Plymouth Road and Timaru bridges. It was decided that the policy of carting stone at so much per yard be adhered to in the future. —Engine-Driver's Kcport.-# T. Urry, engine-driver, reported that during August the crusher work-, ed 15J days, crushing 710 yards, distributed as follows :—Egmont Road 1,00 yards, Foreman Holmes 434 yards, Foreman Walker 90 yards, J. H. Colesby 80 yards. Vehicle Licenses.— • Messrs Bennett and Lord, the new-ly-appointed foremen, were appointed inspectors of vehicles. Cases of vehicular traffic on the county roads without licenses were reported. In one case it was decided to apply for the cost of a temporary license, and in case of refusal to take action.

The Council agreed upon stringent action against proprietors of unlicensed vehicles. —Change of Boundaries.— > Mr J, 15. Hoy, county solicitor, wrote with reference to the special resolution dissolving the Taloralniaka Koad Hoard.

For tho re-election of the Oakura Road Board consequent on the change of boundaries, the Council appointed Mr C. T. Mills (clerk) as returning offlcer. The election will be held at Oakura.

—Bridge Loan.— The Treasury notified that the sum of £2OOO for tho rebuilding of tho Waiongona, Werckino, and Waipuku bridges had been paid to the Council's credit.

—Egmont Roa<| Board.— The Egmont Road Board accepted Ihe Council's offer of 100 yds of broken metal at 3s per yard. The Chairman stated that the cost was 4s 6d, the Council assisting the Board to the extent of £7 10»,

—Outstanding Rates.— The Government Auditor reported to the Council the amounts of rate.\ struck, collected, and outstanding, as follows :—General rates < 1901-03, struck £5251 Is Id, collected £4058 lis Id, outstanding end of vear £595 10s ; 1903-04, outstanding at beginning of year £B3O Ms 2d, col« lected £143 13s, outstanding at end of year £192 10s 2d ; 1902-03 £122 7s 4d, £-10 10s Bd, and £Bl 17s 8d • old arrears £389 3s lid, £l6 lis 3d, and £342 12s Bd. The hospital rate was reported, as follows, 05, struck '£B7l 4s 2d,' collected £772 15n lid, outstanding £9B 8s 3d ; 1903-04, beginning of vear £37 18s lOd, collected £l7 17s 'id, outstanding £2O Is 9d ; 1902-03, £23 8s lid, £fi 19s 4d, and £l6 7s 7d. The clerk reported that no rates had been written off by the Council for the past. 12 years. There were over 120 absentees, pr persons unknown who had been oh the roll with accumulative rates for over 12 years. Rates on forfeited Crown lands were still included in the above figures, and disputed rates and any errors such as duplicate charges were all added on from time to time,

The Clerk was instructed to re port upon the portion of rates that should be written off as hopeless to recover, and to take proceedings against all other defaulters. —Council Offices.— The various offers of office accommodation for the Council wore gone into in detail, on the report of tlw coiumiltoo being sui nil tied.

It was finally <|,-cid«| to rent suitable offices sit it-led in Q UC on Street, on tonus siil.niitted bv Mr Stanley Shaw. The Chairman and Os. Andrews and Hill were appointed to deal with the matter of furnishing.

. —Miscellaneous.— Mr W. T. Jennings, Jt.lt.R., wrot« that he would be pleased to assist the Council's, rennet fur assistance towards the Tai-iki Road. A complaint made by Mr A. Wright regarding holes made by the Council employees 'on sections -17 and 48 fronting to South Road was referred to the foreman. The Chairman stated that at the request of the Chairman of the Kgmont County Council, who is proceeding to Wellington on the subject., he had instructed Mr Hoy to stay proceedings in connection with the Elthflin loan until the end of September,