CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 4 November 1907, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held on Friday. Present-Councillors J. W. Foreman fchar) T.Mackenzie, C. O'Sullivan, Cll.'GaushvJ.U.T.Joll.andW.A.

W M f William Murray asked that someX U T&*« -W throve, Vnts out of money * r f\^ rl at I he dcl«ycd.-Tlie engineer was autlions cd to get the work done. The Minister for Public Works wiote that the application for £ for * BuB " sidy on the unexpended balance ot the Mataro road loan of £2OO would receive attention when the estimates for the year were considered. The Lands and Survey Department forwarded £lO5 12s 3d, amount of thirds to September 28th.

DAMAGES CLAIM. Mr. Wrieht reported that from enquiries he tad made, Mr Uleakleys axle was not broken at the time of the 'accident to the bridge.-It was deeide4 that Mr Bleaklcy be informed that tne Council could not recognise his claim in respect to damages. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

■ The engineer reported, inter alia, that . in the Ngatimaru riding, in spite of the ' stress of Wither, very little damage had > occurred since last meeting. Work was ! laid out for formation and metalling on • the Oapui road for a distance of about • 105 chains. The contract for the ■ maintenance metal was let to Mr J. N. f Neilson at 8s per yard, the price was i higher than last year, but the metal was 1 harder to get, and teams were scarce. f The complaints about wanderng stock ' were somewhat acute in this district, and ■ should be relieved by the appointment

1 of a ranger or the erection of a pound. - In the Urcnul riding lie had been unable to arrange so far with anyone to 5 repair the Matapo rond. in the Mo--3 kau riding nothing had occurred during the past month with the exception of a 0 general "creep" in various places bc- * twecn mile pegs 20 and 30 on the main " road. Work was laid off during the v mouth for metalling portion of the Clif- ■' ton road. Messrs Cartwright and Tarry 1 expressed themselves unwilling to enter e imo further liabilities with respect to ■" maintenance gravel until the completion of existing contracts. The shell rock facing the Uruti road was much the 0 same in quality, quantity and conform--0 ation as that showing behind Mr ? Jones' house fronting the main road. ? In fact, it was found that it crossed ._ under the main ridge and showed at I* about the same 'height on two similar

and connected spurs. There would he no difficulty in obtaining it for use, but, if it were found to be used from the Uruti road face, this road would require to be metalled before any quantity of heavy cartage were done over it. '■We are already in possession of the fact that labor is too scarce in this distr.ct to get any contract taken ' up loculiy for sin ill quanut.es, as the cail for tenders for this class of work was abortive. The only apparent hope is, therefore, for contractors going in from outside for a fair-sized job, which cannot be done without loan, subsidy .or grant. With reference to the purchase of a crusher and engine, there is abundant proof that good metal in quantities exists in several places. Assume we use the crusher for two months, or My 00 days, with an average capacity of twelve yards an hour or 100 yards per day, producing 0000 yards at say Us on the road. This works out at

£2700 expenditure with the engine and crusher lying idle nne or ten months of the year, if funds .were forthcoming for any quantity of metal, I should recommend that a crusher and engine should be hired for the purpose, stipulating that crushed metal should oe .rsed in any contract let, but I take it that the Council is not warranted in purchasing a plant by reason of ita financial position limiting its output, and its plant remaining idle for such lengthy periods. I think it is quite possible that Mr C. Johnston, if guaranteed the, county crushing, would favorably consider the purchase of an up-to-dite crusher, which arrangement would, I think, be satisfactory to both parties, as I am led to believe that crushing could take place continually during the montns of November, December and January of each year—a period of time which could not suit the Council better," The report was adopted, the Council taking no action in regard to the procuring of a crusher. TENDERS. The following tenders for the Oapui road were received:—C. Henricksen, sen., £OB4, and J. N .Neilson £B4O. (Engineer's estimate £ooo).—Ercsh tenders to be called. THE GRADER. The following applications were received for the position of grader;—O. ". Davis, lus per day during grading season and Us for balance or season; A. E. MacdonulJ, £3 3 3 per week, lid months' engagement; E. Richards, junr., 1U» pur iluy; ». Duherty, 10s per day; O. K. Johnston, 10s per day. me chairman thought the wages asked were ioo high, it would be better to let the grader lie idle than to pay them. In answer to Cr. Jolt, the' engineer said that there were six months' work ahead of the grader, after which the grading would not be heavy. Or, j oil thought a man should be got without delay. ° Or. Wright thought that in spite" of 1 the wages the work could be done more cheaply with the grader. On the motion of Crs. O'Sullivan and it was decided that C. a. Davis should be oilered 10s per day while working the grader and 9s per day for the remainder of-the time. GENERAL,'

Crs. Gaustad and llishell were appointed a committee to deal with matters of compensaton connected with me Ot loroa road deviation. The engineer undertook to at once inspect pungas supjilied by Mr Jb'alcouer. Bad weather had been the cause of the delay. llr Wright's offer of 12s C'd per annum for a years for lease "of %-acre at I'reuui was accepted. Mr A. It. Davis' tender for lease of Pukearuhe Domain Reserves at the upset price of Is per acre for seven years was accepted, lessee to clear all noxious weeds w.thiu three years.