CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 309, 4 January 1908, Page 5

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clifton County Council met yesterday. Present: Messrs J. W. Foreman (chairman), T. McKeuzie, Wright, O Sullivan, J oil, and Gausfcad. -Messrs Tipping and Tucker asked that "thirds" accruing from their sections be spent in giving them an outlet by the Pita road.—Lelt in the engineer's hands. John Theobald, who was supplying the teams for the grader, complained that some of the roads in the Purangi district were danjjerous for his team.—Noaction taken.

Mr 11. Trimble, chairman of the Moa Koad Board, wrote asking if the county grader would be available for rounding up the Toe Toe road, and &s to the probable charge.—To be informed that the grader would be available at the conclusion of the Council's work, and before the grader is taken to the Ngatiniani riding.'

1!. F. Langman, surfaceman in the Wailii riding, wrote that he could not obtain a house close to his work and had to live in Waitara, at very great inconvenienre. lie suggested that the Council should erect a house on the Onacro gravel re-erve for him.—To be considered al next meeting. The Superintendent of Electriv Lines forwarded a statement showing receipts and expenditure on account of the Matan and I'urangi telephone olliecs. The working showed a deficiency of C2l 7» 4d, and In requested the Council to forward this amount.—To be asked for further details.

Mr G. T. Murray, district road engineer, advised that the following authorities had been issued to the Council:— Junction road, metalling, Purangi to Ma tan, €100; Kaka road, widening and repairs, £100; Mimi and Mokau re-for-mation and metalling (.€3l, £1 for £1) £156 5s 1(1; Mimi to Mokau (£3l, £1 for ,£l|, re-formation and metalling, £200; Okoke road (£B, £1 for £1), metalling, £47 15s lid; Okoke road ( £B, £1 for £1), metalling, £IOO, &1 for £1; Otaraoa road, formation and culverts, £loo.—With regard to the expenditure of the £3OO for the Otaraoa road, Mr Murray was of opinion that any work of a temporary character would be injudicious.—The Council decided to call tenders for the following works:—Pnkearuhe road, deviation; Mimi, Mokau, Okoke, and Purangi, formation and metalling; Kaka and Pika, formation.

The matter of the pressing on the engineer to cany out all these works as Well as others previously authorised was also considered.—Mr Dowsett pointed out that lie was working all sorts of hours, but was still unable to keep pace with the demands.—Asked if he csuld suggest a way out of the ditlicuity, Mr. Dowsett said that the Council might adopt, the practice followed elsewhere of appointing a competent overseer, thus leaving only professional work for the engineer. Cr. .Toll said he had been thinking for some time that some reorganisation might lw effected, so that the roads could receive more attention. Very often Mr. Dowsett was busy in the oHlee when he could bo better engaged outside—The chairman said the cost of administration was already very high, and this proposal would make it s"ill higher. He needed some time for consideration.—Cr. Wright thought perlia]* Mi'. Dowsett could obtain temporary assistance—The chairman agreed, and tho Council authorised Mr. Dowsett to appoint a temporary assistant. Tn answer to Cr. O'Siillivan, the engineer said the expenditure of thirds on the Tooi road was left, in the hands of the district road engineer. A. L. ScliolefieWs tender, at £2OO, for the metalling of the Clifton road was considered too high, and was not accspted. The matter was referred to the engineer and the riding members to arrange.

The, same course was adopted with regard to the Oapui road metalling. Tt was decided to pay the permanent staff, but not the grader staff, for the holidays. It was deeitied to call for tenders for metalling five chains on the Inland North road and two chains on the Waihi road. Upon the inotion of Cvs. Ganstail and O'Sullivan, it was decided to grant the Purangi Domain Board €2 10s to improve the road to the cemetery. Crs. (iaustad and Bisliell were granted nn extension of time in .which to report upon the amount of compensation payable in connection with the Otnraoa road deviation. Accounts amounting to €78!) 8s 7d were passed for payment, and the Council rose.