TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81839, 4 September 1906, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Taranaki County Council met on Monday. Present; Crs G. V. Tate (chairman-, J. Hill, G. A. Adlam, C. Andrews, A. George, M. Ilopsun, J. Brown, and R. Stevens. ' OFFICERS' REPORTS. The bridge overseer reported that the Matakaia biidge, at teppeilon, had been repaired by the addition of two new stringers alongside the old ones. The bridge, a very weak strucli'.o, had been rc-deckcd. The engine-driver. reported that the crusher !i ri, in 15 days, crashed 1711 yards of metal. The boiler tubes in the old crushing plant needed repair. Mr E. Bennett, foreman 011 Junction road east, icported having had assistance in metalling. Pipes had been replaced on the Tariki road. The crossing" required at Kaimata school would require eleven 9-inch pipes and one load of metal, with little earthwork The last-named work will be done.

Mr J. Jones, foreman in south portion of the Moa riding, icportcd having repaired damage done by incessant rains on the Mountain and Tariki roads. It was decided to invite tenders for breaking 100 yards of stone on Mountain road between the old tollhouse and the Norfolk road, members for the Moa riding to deal with the tenders. Mr John Holmes, Waitara riding foreman, reported that contractors were proceeding satisfactorily with meta'ling. Extra men, horses, and drays had been engaged to repair badly damaged roads. The -Junction road foreman (M> G. Walker) reported having fenced a gully on tie Mountain road. The foreman will be instructed ic repair the side-track near the New 1 t-lymouth Ilig'i School. | Mr W. Evctts, Omata riding fore man, reported the ioads in fan cr 1 tier. The Bre -.k water road had oeou ! ie-me aUed. oettlers ah ng the load night with wantage take a little [ more trouble with the furze; the genj i.j al thing seemed to cut it down and ' leave it in the water-tables, with the r< suit that tlicy are often blocked | >• iili it. Foreman Evetts will be asked to ' explain why the cost of spreading metal on Breakwater road was so ' heavy. The chairman's action in authoris 1 ing extra metal for the Breakwater road was confirmed. I The Southern Omata foreman, Mr ' F. Moore, reported having attended ' to general road repairs during the past month. Roads and bridges were in good order, considering the ' time of year. s The foreman will be informed that 1 complaints have been made that his ~ work is not satisfactorily performed, , and that unless great improvement is shown his services will bo dispensed with. ~ A ROAD BLOCKED. ? Mr G. Cliff complained that the r road running past his property, part .] section 63, Avenue road, was b'ocke :'d by a wire fence, and as he would r require the road to harvest his crops v and cart material 011 (lie ground, asked that the obstruction be remove ed. —Referred to the Road Board, the road not being a county road, t ELTIIAM ROAD RATES. 1 The Egmont County Council wrote 0 expressing willingness to collect the ¥ Lllham road special rate. —The clerk t is awaiting a reply to his letter to > the Treasury, asking them to approve e the arrangement. OLD MANGOREI ROAD, t The Department of Roads, Wellington, wrote that the warrant for n the issue of title to Mr Saxton, for s the closed Mangorei pad, had nlready been forwarded to the Lands |. Department, duly certified by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and .1 had b"on signed by the Governor. — l 0 The application for the title had been v m:d" about a year ago. " CAREFULLY NOTED."

Mr W. T. Jennings, forwarded a communication from the Minister for Public Works, that t!i<applications for Government grants of £31:0 for the Junction road, and C2lO for the Tariki road, had been can-fully noted. TUNNEL OUTLET. Mr M. Watson, Oakura, complained that the outlet of the new tunnel was damaging his property, and asked that slc P s taken to obviate the damage.—The engineer is attending to the matter. MOA RIDING . MATTERS. Cr. Stevens reported that the foundations of the Waipuku bridge were being undermined; there was no maintenance metal 011 a very longstrip of the Tariki road ; it 'would be advantageous to have a drain cut 011 'lie Tariki road; pipes were required on the Mountain road near Ml Coutts' frontage, beyond Tariki; the lYaipuku bridge required painting.

Traders will be called for the 'train ; the foreman will put in pipes required, and attend to' the bridge repairs.

Mr M. J. Jones, foreman, mi authorised to impound cattle from the Mounta'n and I'ariki roads under Ins supervision. ENGINEER'S REPORT,

The engineer reported that the con ; tractor lias completed tin: Oakum piers for over thirty days, and the work showed very well. Final payment was certified. The contractor for the lowering of the bed of the 1 apuae tunnel would complete his Work tilis week. The contractor for the Oakura hill elevation had not completed his contract, but as the ■li l was in a muddy condition the line had been extended; it would I'robably bo completed before next roewinjf. The Plakau bridge was Hearing- completion. He had predated plans for a small arch bridge o.ei the Makete linau (Ngamangapurua) stream, near the Norfolk foad station. The present bridge was very rotten, and dangerous.-—Ten-tiers will bo called for the Makcteiinau bridge; the engineer will bo asked to submit to next meeting an jitimate of the cost of the Waiwakaiho bridge, and to forward to the office plans of the Waiongona, Manganui and Mak(!tehinau brig'deSj for which tenders arc to be called. GENERAL. The clerk will apply to the New 1' ymoulb Borough Council for paynu nl of /lio, its contribution to, wards the upkeep of Devon road, on account of Un: extra abattoir traftic. 1 enders were accepted for carting : Oniata riding, from New Plymouth to Ciomp,oil's, c. Oliver; Malioctalii to Waitara boundary, H. Kiiuckey ; Waiongona to ' Ing'lewood boundary, R. Clough ; Bell Block to Anu Plymouth, —. Sampson. THE TAPUAE CONTRACTS. All Bartie Harford, contractor, asked why the progress payment of /..too, passed at the July 'meeting had not beln paid to him. "Toil know very well 1 am entitled to it,'' end if I were not entitled,'' lie as'k"wliy did the engineer pass it for payment,:* I am entit'ed to considerably more than this, and I trust the Council will reconsider tlie matter ■iml, tfive me fair treatment." This matter was taken in commitie.\ wit h Mr countv solicitor. i\o report was made.

At a later stage, Mr Harford interviewed the Council concerning the /.ion, and the Council again went mto committee.

Accounts were passed and the Council adjourned.