TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81855, 2 October 1906, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

A special meeting of tlic Taranaki County Council was held on Monday, when thero wire present,—(r->. G. V. Tate (chairman), R. Stevens, J. liiown, M. 1 1 opson, A. George, C. Andrews, G. Adlam, J. R. Hill.

On the motion of tile chairman, seeoncled by Cr. Brown, the annual bal-ance-sheet, audited by the Auditor and Controller-General, was settled, and ordered to be printed. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting was then held.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman EveUs reported having used 342; yards of broken metal for the month between Oakura factory and Omata Hill, 202 yards in contract 57, and 140S in contract 56. He had found it necessary 10 shorten tae Watson's Gully tunnel, as the »iippeiy clay was caving in. He had repaired the decking of Oakura bridge; a few deck planks were ,required in the Tapuae bridge. The inland bridges 011 the Plymouth and Hurford roads needed overhauling.—The deck' joists were very rotten at the ends in the latter bridge. Mr Clare, bridge carpenter, had told him thai neither the Kaihihi or Stony River bridges were fit to carry the engine and stone-crusher, and the foreman recommended establishing a stone depot on the north side of the Kaihihi stream.—The foreman will be asked to attend to the planking in ti!*> Tapuae and Timaru bridges; and a report will be procured on the other bridges mentioned.

Foreman Holmes, Waitara riding, reported having carted out 075} yards of metal on different contracts. Extra nten had bee n engaged for 8 days in this work, and in picking up the road and blinding the metal. The engine-driver reported that the crusher had in six days' work crushed 341 yards of metal, and had finished at \\ anvakatlio on the ißth ult. He had spent four days in rolling- new metal for Foreman Holmes. The boiler had been repaired in accordance with tho requirements of the inspector. Ihe crusher had crushed 90b yards for Parkins' stone contract.

Foieman Walker (Junction road) reported on the estimated tost of repairing the avenue road side track. A side track near Mr Todd's required £2 spent. He had employed a man help in fencing and repairing approaches to the chain bridge. Roads and bridges were in fair order.—The foreman will be instructed to prepare the side roads for the summer traffic, and to report on the position of the electric light poles on the Avenue road.

Foreman E. Bennett (Junction road easi) reported Messrs Pikett and W'il- - had delivered 100 yards of metal from Middlemas' pit from Kaimata to Bristol road. He suggested that three places on the Zig-Zag required widening. The filling also needed raising, and ihe pipes should be sunk deeper, as the water had been running over and damaging the road. It would require a horse and dray for 10 or 12 days to do this work. A very bad filling on the Tariki road should be attended to, necessitating tlie use of ten Q-inch pipes, and the toad should be widened at the summit. The Council decided <0 make an allowance to the Moa Road Board of per cent of the quantity of stone carted on the Durham road, as compensation for damage done.

Foreman Bennett was authorised to | do the work required on the Zig-Zag, and he wi'l be instructed to cut the overhanging scrub. Foremap Moore (South Omata) reported he had been engaged in putting on new metal, and in general repairs.—Roads and bridges were in good order. It was decided to call tenders for and crush 800 yards of stone at the Stony River depot, and fioo yards at the Timaru depot. Foreman Jones (South Moa) said !ic had widened the Waipuku bridge filling, and had put in pipes at Waipuku near the bridge. The Tariki road drains had been conneced. He asked that Messrs Svmons and Jones should raise their tramline, where it crosses the Tariki road, to the level of the road, that metal be p'ated on each side of the line, and that they remove timber from the wati ratable. Mr Symons had removed abou l 30 yards of earth from the road-side, where it was most urgently needed. METAL CONTRACT. Cr. Brown reported having let to H. Masemann the contract tor supply of metal betwen Norfolk road and Inglewood, the price being 2/ a yard; the only other tender was at

5.3. The contractor had declined to pioceed with the work, and his deposit had been forfeited.

SUBSIDIES. On the motion of (Jr. Brown, it was decided »> ask Messrs W. T. jennings and Smith, M.sll.R. for L«mont and Taranaki, to oppose the Local Bodies Subsidies Bill. Cr. Brown remarked, "It won't fit in at all with ihis Council's ideas of finance,'' and poimed out that by the proposed legislation the Council would lose 1/6 n the £ subsidy on rates. If, as promised, the rate were lowered next year, the loas woy'd be greater still. The present subsidy <>f 5/ in the £ could 1)0 continued only by raising a penny rate.

"How ridiculous they are,'' interjected Crj Adlam. The Chairman said tluu Mr Jennings intended opposing the Bill. The measure looked ridiculous. The motion was carried. TENDERS.

Tenders were opened :—Maketehinau bridge: Boon lircs., /13N7 to ; !•'. M- Grayling. .6455 ■ I'ikett and wilkie, £405 ; Geo. Sangstcr, £l4l : 11. McKay, 4 (atccpled); Bayly and Sole, /.44N. Manganic.. Boon Bros.. /.■' --5 ; Turner and Beadle. 1-. M. Grayling. ,£i2<)3; P'kett and Wil kit', .£1243 io, ; G. Sang-ter, £Mi? \

11. McKay. Waii'iigona : Boon Bros., /I 700: Tunui and Bead'c, /Itjcj.S; K. M. Grayling, /1793 2/ : P'kett and Wilkie, 10 G. Sangster, /<)32 ; 11. McKay, /.930; Bayly and S"ii'. £')')(>. Breaking stents 'Norfolk road to Inglewood: J. l-'ioyd, 3 7 yard (accepted) ; Okaio footpaths, \V. J. Clare, 12 per cliain( acceptI'd).. TAPUAE. Mr Roy, county solicitor, waited upon the Council and gave his opinion on the Tapuae contract, his report being taken in committee. On resuming, it was decided to authorise the solicitor to call upon I!. Harford, ihe contractor, to proceed at once with the work.

TARIKI. Cr. Sk'Vfn- t! 1<■ fin making a mnivi undn the Mountain ri-ad and another under the Tariki road. The hrn would drain tin*

M'hofi'tfround, which was now not suitable fur a p'aygmund a' all. lie believed (If lauduu nei in lei t st»-d would hel|). The wooden culverts lii'p- were in need of at <>iv<\ as they \vre umafe.

Th n was authoiised »o prepare the plans. GKXKUAL. Th» foremen will be «n.-t lu< f< cl not t » employ extra labour without the authority of the Council or of die j member of the lidinjj.

Mr Morris' account for fencing du outlet of the Tapuae lunm'j was diand mdcpd <0 be paid. Cr Adl.nu pioirMi-d again>t the eiiarge. Th<- Council passed a vole «• thanks to die ne'inbct-, for tlie dihie'. \\\\., itad K'iv'Mi valuable assist

whilst a«i!in; a- th<- Council'-, delegates to in !i 'ivi' , a in Wellington. Accorvrs. A' p-e -c.l p., p,,., men' ; —Admini-traiioii. ;i 1 id ing. £\: 1 5 f,; Wail.ua, £2 11 4 11 ; Omata. 411: to'a! general £/<<7 if) in; ioan accounts. /jfij 10