TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 7 May 1907, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Taranaki County Council held i,s i ordinary monthly meeing on Hominy. Present: Councillors .I. Jirown (Chairman), (i. A. Adlam, (.'. Andrews, A. George, j. K. Hill, j|. Hopson. 1!. Stevens, iind If. V. Tate. THU LATIO AIR. S.\MTl[, M.11.1i. liefore passing on to ordinary business tin' chairman referred to ihe death

of .Mr JO. M. Smith, J1.11.1t., and nu.uil a resolution expressing regret and i.ym patby with Mrs Smith and family. .Mr llvowu said that even though men differed entirely from the late Mr Smith in polities they all rocigni-cd "the grit of the man.'' Cr Tate seeondjed, and referred to many aets of the late member bv whieh the Council hull lii'-ue- \ filed. 'The motion was eam'eil ttnaiiiinoii-ly. CIIAIItMAK'S KF.I'OKT.

The ehainnaii reported having attended tlie publie meeting at Stratford eoneerning tie- < Ilium road, lie aNo referred to the conference of T.il'niiiiki eoiuity eonneils 'with the Acting-I're-mier at Wellington. Me had notic-d by the "Daily News" that the Valuation Departnien. had taken exo-plion to some Ma Lenient niacin hi him. ||e thought that there liml been put inlo llis moutli things lhal he hid not -aid. He admitted having used some fairly c-lrong language. The Valuer General evidently expected the elerks to compile th'.- valuation rolls for lliem. and this seemed rather rough not only on ilic elerks but on the eouneils. ' lie had told the Acting-Premier that it was a bit, rough that they should have to pay so much for the work of tile Valuation Department and then found it incomplete. In respect to noxious weeds on native lands, the Acting-Premii-r seemed favorable to the suggestion that the inspectors should have power to enforce the law on Crown lands. The deputation also poinied out that it was absolutely impossible for the inspectors to properly administer the law owing to the very large districts assigned to them, instancing Mr Crockett's district, extending from South Taranaki to the Mokau; and askcj that they he allowed to employ assistance during tile summer months. The Minister was approached with regffrd to the loss of revenue owing to Crown lands being forfeited, and he agreed with the propo-

sal that the local bodies should have a charge on the.land. After the deputation had finished, Mr Brown said he placed before lllc Acting-Premier the position of the Tariki road, and the Minister practically promised to place £SO on the Estimates for the road. Returning to native lauds, the chairman said the Valuation Department miisl) know when natives died or left the district, and should amend the rolls accordingly.

Or. Adlam considered it unfair to Jiave to pay for the. compilation of rolls and have to do the work, too.

The chairman: Well, at any rate, .1 have raised Cain in the Valuation Department. Let's hope it will do some good. The chairman's action was approved, and his expenses will be paid.

A hearty vote of thanks to Jfessrs Jennings and Syines'*M.'sll.R., for assistance, was unanimously accorded.

OFFICERS' REPORTS.

The Junction road foreman (Cr, Walker) reported on various contracts, etc. The Waitara riding foreman reported regarding repairs to Woiongona bridge, and work at the temporary bridge over the Waiwakaiho. A culvert on the Mountain road needed lengthening, and asked for pipes for it.—Pipes will be given. The foreman on Junction road East, Moa riding, reported that he had been engaged on the Tariki road, and wet weather prevented 4ys completing the work. The .Mountain road near Inglewood had worn very thin.—Authority was given for pipes for culverts on Tariki road.

The North Moa riding foreman reported having completed culverts near the Jlanganmwhete bridge and "near Durham road. Quickfall hail finished his stone contract. The Tariki road had been under repair, the exceptionally heavy traffic lmving broken it up.

The chairman's action in accepting the tender of H. Hunt for breaking stone north of Inglewood at 3s Oil per yard, and that of A. ]& Looney for delivering metal on Mountain road South at 2s a yard was confirmed. The Omata foreman, in his report, mentioned the rotten state of the Plymouth and Hurford road bridges. Tlie Tapuae bridge decking had been paired. Various road repairs had been carried out during the month. The South Omata foreman sent in his first report. Ho had found culverts and water-tables much neglected as regarded proper outlets. To put the road in good repair he would need casual labor for two months. The blocked culvert at Okato school had been attended to, necessitating the cutting of a channel for six chains, 3ft Gin deep by (Ift wide. He had patched some holes in the Katakara bridge and the approach to the Stony River bridge. There was insufficient metal stacked for repairs. He asked for the erection of a small tool house in the centre of the to obviate the necessity of "planting" the tools in the hedges, with frequent loss.

The engine-driver reported that during the month the crusher worked on ten days, crushing GB7 yards] Of this 240 yards were at the bacon factory site and 447 at the chain bridge. He requisitioned a new elevator of buckets and elevator belt.—These will be ordered.

The bridge carpenter reported having repaired the Waiongona bridge at Lep° perton.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Mr John Skinner, county engineer reported that all contracts ' under his control were going on satisfactorily The culvert at Norfolk road had been completed by Mr P. Grayling, who was well forward with the AVaipukuiii bridge. The heavy ironwork for the Manganui bridge was being (ixed in position by Messrs Okey ami Rollo. The beams of the Oakum' bridge were complete and preparations were being made for decking and parapets. The old ffaiwakaiho bridge had been dismantled, and the work was going on satbfactoriTy. As he understood the Government had been approached with regard to protective works at Stony river" lit, had done nothing further in tlie matter pending their reply.

TIMBER TRAFFIC.

Correspondence was read concerning heavy traffic by Messrs Simons and Jones, sawmillers, on the Tariki road. The firm wrote that they did not consider they were damaging' the road, having reduced their loads to 1500 feet of timber.

The chairman and Cr. Stevens said that up till recently the five-horse wagons had been carrying huge loads, and 1300 feet of green timber was altogether excessive. There was legislative means of preventing loiifls of upwards of there tuns, including the wagon itself, but ihc 1500-fcet loads weighed fullv three tons exclusive of the vehicle. " Tlioy liavl suggested to the firm the advisability of making arrangements for payment of license or compensation for heavy trailie. It was mentioned also '.bat the maintenance met:! 1 provided for the winter had already hem used up. ami even then the road was in a bad state.

Omnia riding members stated lie. winie .state of affairs existed in tin South end.

After some discussion i. was decided to notify sawmill owners tiiat unless they limit their loads to three tons, ineluding the vehicle, the Council „j|j lake action to prevent .further trahic. tiJJNKItAU _ The maker of the disposal of old timber from the Waiwakaiho bridge was held over, iiv U. Clare will report as to its value.

A toolhouse will be erected on the Council's land at Katikara.

The clerk was instructed ; 0 sue for overdue rates forthwith.

It was decided to write to the lioad (Department in connection with the required protection works at Stony river. Cr. Adlam asked that foremen' be in-' Structed not to take earth from so close |to property boundaries as to damwc fences.—Left with the the chairman. -Mr T. Parkins stone contractor in the Oniala riding, applied for a rebate of the line of £ls indicted for brecah of specifications.

J'l"! Council decided that in all future contracts the Council will pay royalties ou stone.

A special meeting will be held] on

Tuesday, 21st inst., to discuss tile model by-hiws and proposed Local Government liill, and to frame remits for the next Comi.lc-s' Conference. The'chairman and Crs. HiJl and Tut-; were appointed to confer with the Fitzroy Town Botml in adjusting accounts. TKXDICRS.

Tin- tender of J. X. Nielson was ac-t-:-[ili-il for 200 yards of boulder stone ai the .Manganiaivhetc depot at 2s 10(1 a yard; 100 yanls of boulder stone at IWaitcpukc depot at ">s Id per y.srd; 1011 yards at :js oil at Durham road; and lot) yards at ;ls 3d at Tariki road.

ACCOUNTS. Aeeouuts Were passed for payment: Administration .ClOli lis Mil; Moa riling £■!.)« 17s; Maitara CO.") lis till 1 ; Inialii riding .C 387 7- 3d; total .Cl-t'.i? lis Bd. lltlAI) BOAIiUS' SITISIDIES.

A deputation representing the Frankley, Carringtou and Eliot liuad Hoards waited on the Council ye-terday, and asked for a renewal of the Council's sii.liisidy of -C2OO granted to the road boards' last year. The deputation pointed out that the ratepayers they represented made no use, or, at any rate liN.le u-e, of the county roads, (or then was no county road in their district* Therefore they received no direct bene lit from the ' expenditure of count,\ funds, ,o which they contributed .CIUK per annum in rates.

Cr. Tate moved, and Cr. Hill seconded that a grant of .C2OO be made, to be di viilod among the three road districts oi a valuation basis. Cr. Andrews moved an aiiieudnien that, the Council grant the full ainoun of the Government subsidies on rates.Tlicre was no seconder.

Cr. Hopson moved, anil Cr. George seconded, mi amendment, that half the subsidies be paid, amounting to £B(i.

Cr. Hill considered the amount iii'iifllcient, in view of the rapid growth of the suburban districts and the consequent increase in valuation. The amendment was lost.

Cr. Adlam moved a further amend nieiu. seconded by Cr. Andrews, tha .Cl2o be granted.—Carrcd.

Or. TTeorgc said lie was surprised, and a little amused, to hear tlie deputation allege that they did not use the county roads, lie (Cr. George) was a county ratepayer, but he didn't use the county roads once for twenty times that Jlr Okey did. The amendment was carried, only Crs. Tate and Hill opposing a division.