TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8075, 3 April 1906, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the iTaranaki Comity Council was held on Monday. Present: Crs, G. V. Tate (chairman), Adlain, Hill, Andrews, Julian, Brown, and Stevens. The foreman at Junction road east reported that his staff had been engaged milking side-tracks and banking up metal Pipes had been put in on the Zig-Zag and on the Razorback. Mr Magec had carted out 65J yards of metal for Horrocks' hill contract. The engino driver, Mr T. Urry, reported that up to tho 30th of March the crusher worked ltij days, crushing in all 992 yards, including 24 yards for Mr It. Jaiues, and 12 yards for Mr R. A. Yeoman. The crushor had been shifted from the Chain bridge to the Mangorei depot, where it would be engaged for a few days yet. Messrs Bayly and Sole had had to curt more stone out of the river to finish their contract.

The Omata riding foreman reported that he had been cleaning out undertakes, and had improved the South road by widening and gravelling. The road at the Tapuae contraot was very bad for trafflo. Ho reportod the drifting sand was a continual nuisanbe, but the lupines and grass seemed to be getting hold of the front of the bank and would possibly remedy it. He recommended that a tunnel be driven in Watson's Gully, and also in a creek near Mr Looney's. Tenders for these works will be called.

Foreman Moore, Omata Riding south, reported he had been engaged in general repairs. The contractor for hauling boulders on Pitone road had completed, and should be asked to mako good the road. The main road from the Oakura dairy factory to Stony river bridgo needed repairs, owing to heavy rains. He would attend to footpaths at Okato during April. The foreman will be granted the use of a horse and dray as requested. Mr G. P. Lord, foreman of the Moa ltiding, reported he had been employed most of the month doing slight repairs to bridges, clearing culverts, and watertables. A couple of yards of stone had bocn utilised in building a bit "of wall at Ngatoro bridge to prevent tho filling washing away. The Manganui bridge on the Tariki road was now sinking, and this had been pointed ont to those carting timber. Symous Bros.' draining contract was proceeding satisfactorily. Other contracts in the riding were going on well. A culvert near Mr Simons' required renewing. Pipes were required to take off water year the Tariki railway station, and the foreman asked for a horse and dray m order to get all available metal on to the roads. It was decided that pipes be procured for a culvert near Simnis' mill. Cr. Brown said that the state of the Durham road- be'oro the car()ng and since should be ascertained.

Mr George Walker, Junction Koad

foreinau, reported that Messrs Bayly & Sole's contract for 'looyds of stone was complete, and 542 yds had boon got out for their, contract at Mangorei. A wooden culvert had broken through on Mangorei Hill, and seventeen 6-ini'h pipes would be wanted to repair it. The Foreman will he supplied with tho necessary pipes. On tho motion of the Chairman, it was docided to instruct Mr Cartwright to immediately commence his Richmond Road metalling contract. Messrs. Orbell & Mackay, ongineors, recommended that the contractors for the Slippery Hill deviation be granted a fortnight's extension- of time.— Grantod. The Waitara Riding Foreman, in his monthly report, stated that some of the deck planks in the Waiongona bridge, noar Loppcrton, broke through during the month, and he had replaced them with new-ones, and he had pulled out some of the others that were getting rotten, and replaced thom with new ones. He had employed a man, horse, and cart for a few days, making up side-roads and filling up worst places. The Engineor reported that he had prepared plans for a concrete and steel bridgo over the Piakau stream, Mountain road, providing for two arches as ■giving moro waterway than one, and as being moro economically constructed. He had examined Waiongona bridge on tho Junction road, and also on the Mountain road. That on tho Junction road requires a new bridge, but is safe for the time being, as the understruts put in temporarily wero doing good work. The bridgo on the Mountain road required a new bridge of 60ft. span, with two piers and wing-walls. Including filling and approaches, he estimated the cost of an undertruss steel bridge at £9OO. Mr Skinner said he had obtained an estimate of cost of a new steel bridge for tho Waiwakaiho on Devon road, and this was lower than his estimate, The bridge, of four spans, with two four-feet footwalks, was estimated at about £ISOO. Tenders could be in by the June meeting. The work of cutting the Tapuao tunnel was practically complete, and, with the exception of a few minor matters, could be taken over. The work had been far heavier than had been anticipated, and the contractor had done more work than the contract prieo would cover. At the same time, under Mr Lobb's management, the work had been faithfully carried cut. The work at the Oakura deviation was being carried on quietly and systematically, and the contractors were making good progress.

The engineer was instructed to prepare plans and estimates for the Manganui bridge, on the Tariki road, and for the Waiongona on the Mountain road ; to call tenders for tho Waiwakai-

| ho bridge on the Mountain road, plans to be submitted to tho Borough Council, who will be asked for a £750 subsidy, and to call tenders for a concrete arch bridgo over the I'iakau stream, on the Mountain road.

Mr ,T. Tarry will be informed thai he must pay heavy trallic fees, as other: had to do.

The tender of Lobb and Jarrctt for tunnel at Tapuao, at (is Od per running foot, was accepted. Mr It. Rowan, Inspector under the Department of Agriculture, asked the Council to clear gorse, etc., from a section in Oakura township, and the deviations at Katakara, and near tho Tataraimaka sehoolhousc. The Chief Veterinarian wroto that

as soon as the necessary buildings had been erected, a slaughtering liconsc would be granted to C. Lawsoii, subject to usual conditions. Mr F. J, Morris waited ou tho Council and complained that, owing to the Council making a big cutting at the Oakura hill deviation, his sou-was unable to take his cattle on to a large portion of his property, and considered lie was losing £1 per week. He asked that as the entrance had been blocked, the Council should make auother. To reach his paddock ho had to travel quite half a mile.

Referred to the riding members. Mr Morris' account of £lO for fencing was passed for payment. Tho Treasury will be asked to pay £750 to the Council out of the bridge loan, for the Piakau bridge. All ratos not paid by the 30th April will be sued for.

The tender of H. Maekay £-190 10s for the Oakura piers was accepted. Mr F. M. Grayling, £Ol6 10s, was the only other tenderer.