TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 3 September 1907, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tile Taranaki County Council met oil Mo'' iiy. There were present: Coun-eillol-s J. Brown (chairman), R, Stevens, M. Hopson, A. George, C. Andrews, G. A. Adlam, G. V. Tate, and J. R. Hill. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Jones (Moa Riding South) reported having completed approaches to the Waipukuiti bridge, at a cost of £3O 12s. The decking of the Manganui bridge was getting beyond repair. Foreman E. Bennett (Moa, Junction road east) reported slow delivery of metil on contract 80. lie aske'd for additional 10 yards, as the 100 yards would not properly complete the work. The road near Inglewood was breaking up. As he would not lie able to yet the crusher there for some time, he asked for authority to obtain 100 yards of metal from Clarke's and Tanner's pits, 60yds from each.—Referred to Cr. Ifonsoil witlv power to set. Foreman Walker (Moa, Junction road) reported the ro.iil in good order except a small place near the Inglewood Baeon Factory. The Chairman reported having hired

out the crusher to Messrs Tarry and C'artwright at Mahoetihi. They were to pay Is a yard when breikin« fiOyds a day, Is lid at HOvds a day, and Is fid at 40vds a day. th" hirers to provide coal and water. Cr. Tite considered it would lie advisable that the Council's feeder should accompany the crusher in such easrs - The Council thought (his might he 'eft to the contractor::. Tn discussion it was stated that contractors preferred to have their own men— Cr. Tate uracil that it would he good business to have the regular man engaged. Bring, the Council's feeder, had had i good deal of experience, and it would be- "better for both the. Council and the contractor to keep him. He moved that in future iMie a condition that the Council's feeder must accompany the evusb ß or.—Cr. Stevens seconded.—Cr. TJill said I

this man was recognised as a competent "steerer."—Cr. George said the scale of charges would ensure r-.pM work.—The motion was lost, on U-e easting vote of the chairman.

Foreman nolmes (Waitara riding) reported having prepared th" Mahoe-

tahi crusher depot, and ex-cutod general repairs.—On his recommendation V 1 was authorised to provide 00 feet of ■'» inch iron pipes for the drainage of ibe| road near Mr Olivers' house at Wai-I wakaiho.

It was decided to call for tenders for procuring ."00 yards of boulders from the Waiwakaiho to be stacked at thel crusher depot.

Foreman F,vetts (Omnti) reported roads in fair order with the. exceptio-n of tho lower portion of (he Breakwater road. Til ore was a shortage of metal for repairs at Omata, »win<» to the late contractor not completing the extra 100 yards asked for. Tie hnd repaired i the decking of the Plymouth road bridge.—O. Adlam considered it unwise to cart out metal just now, for the roads were too soft. «

Foreman Brosnan (Omata South) leported general repairs to iroads and watertables. He recommended that, something be done this summer as regards lowering Hi o jj]-i f l e 0 f the road through the Okato township, as the road was two to three feet higher than the level of the footpath. This would help to do awav wiPi the gully which ran along the side of the road.—The engineer will be instructed to prepare plans, with a view of proceeding withi the work. A PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE. I

The Omata Road Board asked (lie Council to contribute a share of the £ll 13s Cd expended by the Board in suing W. 11. Jury for rates on Crown lands.

Cr. George explained the circunv Btances.

Cr. Stevens asked why the ease had been given against the Board. Cr. George said it was lieciuse of informality in the rate card. Cr. Tate moved, and Cr. Andrews seconded, that the Council pay onethird of the costs incurred. The Chairman said that if local bodies were not careful in making their demands, and cases were dismissed on a technicality, he did not see why the Council should assist. There had been several cases lately directing attep.tion' to the proper fonu of demand. I Cr. Tate said there was also involved | tho question of whether tlx 1 man Mierf Kviia roallv nil occupier. Th it wis of interest to the Council. 1

Cr. lfopson considered Hint if flio 1 failure to collect were due in nofflcet ' tfir* Council should not «i\-e nm- aiil. In answer to Cr. JTonsnn. di" pWk J said (he Council was tnkin" plops io collect rates frnm Spotsiv,nd. r It was decided to conlribute oiv H ' third of the costs. TIIK WATVVAKATITO HI?TDOE. Cr. Hill moved and Cr. Tate seconded ] that application be made to tlio Trc.i- , suit for 10 per cent. on (he Waiwa- j kaiho bridge loan of £2~M.—Cr. Hop. son raised tlie objection thai the mr, j ii m \va; out of order. The Waitara riding had had more than its share of the bridge loan, which the Council hid allocated on a valuation basis.—Cr. Hill contended that the Waitarn riding 'iiad been lending the riding money for years. Ife considered that the W.iitara riding had h'd to help to build the Waiongona bridge, which was really in the }foa riding.—The motion ivas carried, (Vs. Stevens. Ilopson. and George opposing. TIIE ENGINEER'S IIEI'ORT. The County Engineer, Jlr John .Skinner, reported that during the iast month the contractor for the Waivakaiho bridge completed his work ;md tile bridge stripped well. The concrete was hird and solid. He had arranged with ill- Spencer to lay the asphalting as authorised at last meeting. The contractor would keep the temporary bridge open and would not remove the understrutting of the new bridge t-MI the asphalting was completed. This would give them more time for setting before the bridge was brought into use. The work should be completed before the end of this month. Nothing further has been done to the Tariki road bridge by the contractors, and strij. ping had been delayed on act-omit oil the Hooded slate of the river. As in-1 structod. he had interviewed Clill'l and also Messrs Corkill (as agent fori Miss Buckley) and Sole Bros., as ten-' ants, with regard to the Avenue, road! deviation. Mr Cliff was willing that work be proceeded with at once, ,md would accept as compensation for land taken for new road the closed roads and other land made available for traffic. This would amount to about an equal area to what the Council would require. Mr OorlciJl was in communication with bis principal, w'.io is in laiL'lnnd. and would assist as far as it is in bis power to meet the Council.

Sole Isror-., a« tenants, would j al><» assist and give their consul to] I the Council to proceed villi the work. As a considerable length of now road would ?o through nitive land under the jurisdiction of the Public Trustee. Mr Skinner advised that, if (ho Co; ir« cil decided on going on with the work.j steps lie taken at once to take the land under the Public Works Act. GENERAL. I

It was decided to return the dog-tax collectors* deposits. Foreman Walker will report on the Mangorei Koad Hoard's request for s*nn<» road alteration* at the Mangoivi store.! Cr. fleonre reported bavin? stopped] work at Morshoful's Hill, <m"the South road, as it was costing quite C2O more | than expected.—Action approved. Mr T. P. Lister complained that ns yet nothing had been done to imprwc the approaches to the Omata store.— Cr. Adlani said be bad informed Mr Lister that there was as vet no mei'il to spare tor the work.—Approved, and further referred to Or. Adlam. \ The engineer reported that in bis opinion the construction of the new {Waiwakaiho bridge bad not caused thei erosion of the bank of the river at! the Taranaki TSacon Company's pro-, perty.

Accounts amounting to -COOfi fa 2d. were passed for payment, beiiu' for -td-l I ministration £OS 13s 7d. Moa ridingl

-f!l40 lis lOd, Omata Cl4-t 2-- Id. .;',kl AVaitara £615 17s Bd.