TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 6 August 1907, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

1 The Taranaki CJounty Council met on Monday. Present: Crs J. Brown (chairman), R. .Stevens, 11. Hopson, A.George, C. Andrews, G. A. Nolan, U. V. Tato, and J. R. Hill. OFFIOERS' REPORTS.

I K. Bennett, foreman on Junction road east, reported that he had fenced in I three of the bad plates on the Zig-Z:ig, ihad repaired all the old fences, cleaned out and repaired inlets and outlets to | culverts. The rest of his time had jheon put in at general repairs. 1). Urosnan. in Omata South, reported I that 538 yards of stone had been carted out and put on it lie road from Katiikara Ito the Oakura dairy factory. He had I attended to the Timaru bridge and .minor rep fire. j M. J. Jones, foreman in Mon riding i (south end), reported that Mr T/toney had finished carting gravel at Makctawa factory; Mr Xeilson h■>:] stone carting contracts at the different depots, and further carting aufhoriVd by the Council.

I The engine-driver reported that dnr- . ing the month the crusher had worked lon eight d'iys, crushing 452 yards. | The Waitara foreman (j. Holmes) .reported having carted out 410 yards of metal for repairs and re-metalling, j Foremm Evetts reported that the Breakwater road contract was completed. He had repaired Tapuae md bridges. One of the Tapirtc | bridge piers hail been undermined during a Hood. Waggons were now using the Plymouth road bridge, and he thought the bridge should be posted as dangerous. THE STONE CRUSHER.

I (V. Tate said that the Wtiitara Itorjough Council wanted the county crusher ito crush stone dredged from the river, offering Is (Id for stone or Is if stone 'and silt were put through together. | The Council discussed the matter frr over half ail hour. A resolution on the minutes fixing the price was rescinded after various proposes had been submitted. A further motion that the matter of making arrangements for letting the stone-crashing plant be left, in the hands of the chairman was carried, defeating an amendment to set up a committee of three for the purpose. OUTSTANDING RATES.

The Chairman moved that the solicitor be instructed to take proceedings gainst all defaulters in the bridge ratiiuj and Tariki road special ratinz districts.

Mr Roy, County solicitor, wrote that he understood from Messrs Malone, Anderson, and Johnstone that they' proposed in the event of any further summonses bein<r issued by the Council to take proceedings in the Supreme Court for an injunction restraining the levying of the Tariki road special rate's. He advised that proceedings be taken forthwith so as to arrive at a definite result ns to the position onee for all.— The motion was carried. THE WAIWAKAIIIO.

The Taranaki Bacon Company repudiated the Council's statement that die erosion of the (bank of Waiwukaiho had been effected before the commencement of the construction of the new bridge, as the directors had proof to the contrary—No action taken. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Air John >Skinner. county engineer, reported that Boon Bros. h;iil completed their contract for bridge over Mangntiui river, and he expected to take over this contract before next -meeting. 'Die approaches should be attended to at once. Ife recommended llii.t this work lie left to the road foreman, 13 lie could pick over the cutting and take out the stone for metalling. The Wai-piiku-iti bridge bad been completed and looked well. The road to this bridge required lifting and re-grading; this would take altout 200 yards of earth. Tre AVaiwakailio bridge should lie completed liy next week. He hoped to have this bridge ready for traffic bv the end of next month, and would idvise that the floor be asplialte with at least four inches of good tar asphalt. This would cost about £BO. It. would not be wise to put metal difeetly en the concrete work without a, softer maerial to take off the Jar to wlnel traffic, and form a wearing surface. The whole of the centering had been taken from the 0 i.kitra bridge, and it stripped well. This bridge was one of t.ie longest of its kind. beiiiL' (12 feef span of ribbed flat plate, reinforced with steel bars and expanded metal. This system was very* much cheaper than the ;'.rch design, and should be used more than it has .been. The contract for Tapuae had been taken over, and the contractor was now oft the work. The men and tonus were working at widening the, main filling pending furtVr in-1 met ions. The work d<)ne sinee Mr Monfifioro took charge had been widening the main filling liv lilt Din and running the hatter to its natural run, lifting the tilling by about G feet and making up as bank settled: completing west filling and grading cutting and other work, at a total cost of £lO7. He estimated this work had been done at 5d per yard. As the work was progressing cheaply and satisfactorily, be would advise that it be continued on the same lines and under the same management. Under contract no specification would eovcr requirements. As the bridge was in a very unsafe condition, in fact dangerous, lie recommended that arrangements be made to ha.ve the road metalled as soon as possible. He had taken fresh levels of Oakura, hill deviation, and had plans and specifications ready. Tenders could be in by next meeting of the Council. Levels bad been taken of several lines of road for the proposed Junction road deviation at Cpiohn's hill. He had a line laid out which was very direct, and the cuttings were for the most part side cuttings. The height of bridge required would be 40 feet, and cost of formation much less than the others. A section of this was prepared. The length of the new road was only 34 chains, and part of this was now an unformed roid. This road was practically a continuation of Elliot street, and ran up the lfenui river for some distance. The "Vad.-s would I,C 1 in 15.

Tu answer to Cr. Andrews, Hie en -i---lieer said be Was satisfied willi i?„. widlh of t Jin Tapnae filling and ro.idwav generally.

Or. Andrews considered (he work was a disgrace 1o tbe Council and to (he engineer. "'When we go past, it we oiK/lit |o blush.'' b" continued. Cr. Adlaju said lie w.ik not satisfied that the engineer should continue <be Tapnae under tbe same management as heretofore. Tt should be placed under the road surf icemen's sunem'sion. lb' was no! sati-fied that the ratepayers sbrmld be railed on to pay li's a <1 >v wet. and dry to ai man to look on. A surfaceman would be able to fill hi his time by cleaning side-channels, etc. The Council decided to maintain Ibe present arrangements, with Mr Mnnlefiore in charge. The engineer resented the tone of Cr. Andrews' remarks. Cr. Tate also objected lo the rrniaA*. which he considered totally uncalled for and an indication that Cr. Andrews was

biassed. Mhi> engineer s i,id it appeared that "ie Aias no| satisfaction to +hc Omata members. He never had done. aiM prolialdy never would. Cr. Andrews was not satisfied witli a 24-feet filling on the Oikura deviation. He would like the Council's instructions. (v. Andrews said 24 feet Mas .lot eno!i;rb lor two five horse waggons fo nnss. and moved that the fillings on the Oal.ura donation be .'to feet wide. Cr. AiHii.i Seconded.

The Chairman said it was unfair io tile engineer. Mr Skinner had had his instructions to make the money l:o as far as possible. t'rs. Hop'"", nnd Tate were fraid of the extra cost, but the motion was carried unanimously. TirAYKS. The Chairman moved that a. very hearty vote of thanks be accorded Messrs Okey, Jennings, and Svmes, M.ll-Tl's.. for assistance given to' him in arrijiinng deputations to the various Ministers recently in Wellington. f r. Stevens seconded, and the motion was carried. ACCOt'VTS. \c. onnts '.vere passed for navmont: — VdminWration. t.IW ]os Id: Mon ridIn"- C7tt 10s: Oinafa ridin f r. C2OS I.ls 111: W litnra riding. ,£28,1 5s M: l.Oi'lls, '£1.120 7s fid.