CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 240, 3 October 1908, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

( The ordinary monthly meeting of thej Clifton County Coitm-il was held yes- 1 terUay. Presrut; J. Foreman (chairman I. T. Mackenzie, l. O'Sullivan, H. X. .)oil, A. Rishcll, aud C. 11. tiaustad. tHi Ti hoad loan proposals. The Secretary to the Treasury telegraphed:—Dillercutial rating is illegal, and cannot be accepted as security for ! loan raised under Local Bodies Loans i Act, 1!H>8. The Chairwau .stated that lie had j seen the Secretary to the Treasury and | Mr. Jennings, M.P., in Wellington, and ihe had understood that the dul'erential ! rating would be accepted as security. ! Mr. Jenuings had told him that*his assurance was based upon the Opinion of the Crown Law ollicers. it would cv very regrettable if the settlers' loan' proposals were to be blocked. There was on the Estimates, a vote of £2OOO for work On the Uruti road, and he took it that this was in response to the petition of the settlers there.

Cr. O'Sullivan said lie had not seen any such grant noted in U>u prcs*. The Chairman relied upon information gleaned from .Mr. Jennings. Cr. O'Sullivan s iat«l thai the settlers were determined to go on with the construction oi the road, excluding the Aioki road settlers, and raising a level rate. One loan would be raised for the lower end of the road, all the ratepayers being included in the area. U was hoped then to raise anuther loan for metalling from the -Moki bridge u.'i-j wards, and he thought that the same' area should be rated for it. lie thought the Council should suggest what course the settlers should adopt. The Chairman thought the initiative 'should be taken by the settlers themselves. Cr. O'Sullivan doubted whether the settlers would get the work under way this year. The discussion ended and no action was taken. Kti'OlU,

The engineer reported as iouows: — \Vuiiii itiuiug —buyers uad been quarrying ttutuer gravel for repairs, and two contracts closed to-day m respect of metalling, lie had specified mat all boulder stone is to be deposited in the gravel reserve at Onaero (a) on account of its central position, \o) to obviate twice shifting th e engine aud •crusher, (v) to prevent tile possibility of being charged royalty for use of native ground, (d) the proximity ol water. Dependable upon the positiou from which the metal is, obtained a portion would have to be carted back a short distance after crushing, but he considered the greater benefits were with the central site. The Ohanga culvert (concrete) had been inspected, and he considered it might have been lowered another twelve inches with advantage, but could not agree "that even as is stands that any material damage is being done to adjoiniug property through the backing of the water. The old culvert should certainly have been j removed, as at present there is a fairly ; strong iiow running through it. All rubbish should be removed and the batters find their natural slope. On the upstream side th e road should be widened fully four feet and more earth placed on the filling. In addition two chains of metal should be put down to connect with that already laid. This, road, the Ohanga, although dry, is in a bad state for vehicular traffic," and badly required th e attention of the grader. Tikorangi riding (Terrill's application)—To take this road through lie military reserve of 35 acres, being section 87, block IX., Waitara .S.D., land,

occupied by Richards, would entail a length of about 28 chains, comprising about 2% chains of breast cutting.; about 8 chains of surface I'/.elm ins of filling, and about 1(1 chains of siding formation, the latter oa a grade of about 1 in 8, the w1)ol e requiring about 1100 yards of material to be shifted, together with four culverts and fencing. The estimated cost for a 12ft road would be about £BO, without compensation. The reserve is held under lease from the Crown for a period of 30 years from March, 1800. being about 12 years to run at a rental of 3 guineas per annum. Through this reserve and also through an adjoining reserve (an education j'ase) ttifiTe exists a dray road, -which with a little expenditure could be made into a gradient of about 1 in 10, this road gi/Mag rear access to Mr. Richards louse. Mr Richards had informed him (the engineer) that Mr. Terriil had always had access by tliis road to the back"of "his property and that Mr. Terriil had given a similar privilege to Mr. Richards in respect of a section of his (Mr. Rich) arils') beyond Jlr. Ten-ill's, and higher up. Jlr. Terriil preferred no obligation and wanted independent access. Mr. Rieliards objects to the proposed road and objects to part with any land for the purpose. To form a second road through a 35-acre section could hardly he deemed satisfactory, and his proposal to Mr. Tvrrill was to use the existing road up lo its boundary with the 'education reserve, with permission as aforesaid, and then connect with newformation to the native settlement. There were two ways of doing this, either one of which was estimated to cost about £3O. The topography of the section would necessitate the proposed road to cross the reserve diagonally, thereby leaving an awkward corner. His suggestion to the parties interested was to draw up a memorandum of agreement recognising each other s right to get and give equal access during the currency of the reserve lease On the Otaraoa road bad weather for carting and the ill-health oi ■the contractor had somewhat delayed this work. I renui Riding—The hardwood timber for the I reuui, Nelson road and Paipatiki bridges is to hand, aud will be 1> laced m position when Clare is avail*'u,rtl!er Wol 'k Will be laid off on the Kaka road, absorbing balance of the grant. Jlokau Riding.—With reference lo erecting concrete culvert at the lUwcra stream, he found on inspection that the superficial area of tile section of run--ning water was 12 square feet, bein" practically the same area as provided by a four-feet culvert. An examination o, the banks aud flood marks indicated a flood section of about. SO square feci, A four-feet culvert, therefore, al'tliotHi being equal to normal conditions, would apparently be inadequate for the lar-'er volume of water. This site, with other sites, crossing boggy streams up the U'uti \ alley, woultr, he considered, be best served with a plate girder -bridge of moderate dimensions, supporting a flo„ r of buckled steel plates filled with tarred macadam, th e posts to be of tee-iron and rails of tubing, the strength being up to main road requirements, without being c-ostly. Main-to-nance would be a small item «uh2 would be designed to last manv yoar« On the Jlaagamacho road Barker reports haying widened a further nine chains with culvertingand repairs. The timber of the chute is to hand, and repairs will be shortly effected thereto, lire work of extending the Parraninihi tunnel had been let to Davis: also the formation work at the Taumarunui creek.

SCKFACKMKVS KKI'ORXS. John Telfer, surfaceman ill the Uren.ii riding, reported flint the gravel kid 011 the main ,-oad la«t season was ljrcakins up as the result ol' the heavy loads by (~ J.ohfi-oii'> {ruction online. m itb. tins exception llie road was in fuirl order. The. recent heavy rains eaiij.'d •1 number nt slip, throughout the ridia <.| On the I'iko l-oad heavy slips liad blucK-l ed ihe road, and he had been unable obtain labour to eJear them awav. On the Okoke and 'l'iko roads a man to lake charge was urgently required. Pipes to replace old wooden culverts wen- required on the Ouaero lijll and near the llawera bridge, main load. •J. McNeill Adams, Ngatiinaru ridin-», reported that he had -hilled slip, oli the, zig-zag. Jrle had lu>en unable t,, do much to the koro road, on account o!' the drains being full uf water. Uaiepayer s were enquiring of him for poisoiled wheal, as small birds seemed more plentiful than usual this year.

If. 11. Martin, Mokau rifling, reported thai the .Mangahia road nom the main road to JlcKellar's was in fairly good order, with the exception, of the watertables. which required lowering. Opposite McKellar's live chains of the rnail was low anil in a bad -tale. and ii ir. is aWi bad opposite Drains' needed attention, and a pipe cniu'vi

fchould 'be made. All". Mar*n would assist wiili the work and cart the pipes free of charge. A drain for :l ] /« chains was needed near Mr. AleMusler'a, where (he road was bad. Moki road was in iair order. There were several bad i places oil the Lruti road between the ! end of the metalling ami the I'ruti bridge, notably in Hie vicinity of the school residence, where about eigat chains of sandstone tilling were needed, from the Lruti bridge to the end of tlio 12ft road slips had blocked the watertables, which needed lowering from end to end. Jle was afraid thai the slip at the I'ruli ford was going to cause a Jot of trouble. It had been cleared oil three limes within L'wo weeks, and now he heard it was down again, lie suggested fixing up the old road for tradic whiisr. he made a good job oi it for i> 11 time. The Tangitu road also needed considerable attention owing to slips. The foreman drew attention to the fait that several settlers grazed cattle 211 the road, and the result was that the side-channels became blocked.

The reports were adopted. HACKED BY SIMM'S. .Mr. A. 11. Greenwood wrote tliiil 0i:il part of the KaipiKari road skirting sec-] tiou 8, block 12, Waitara, was hloc'iedi by slips, and in other places the road had partly slipped away, leaving ilie track dangerously, narrow for traHie. lie had written to the District Uoad Kngineer, but lie replied ( li-iI as there was no vote for the road at present, he advised application to the Oain.'l to have the wurk done out of accrued thirds. Other repairs were neccssaiy. ■ Xlie letter from .Mr. 0. T. Murray, I District Engineer, was read, showing that tile thirds accrued amounted to £ll IDs 10d.

Cr. O'Sullivan said the roads were l-.0l under the Council's supervision, but it had power to expend tile thirds, and lie hoped the work would lie done at ouce. lie moved that the surfaceman be authorised to put on labor. The chairman concurred. If the Roads Department would not keep up the roads under Us supervision, the Council would have to protect the settlers, for they were ratepayers. The motion was carried. I'UKEARUIIE.

Messrs. Fisher Bros., I'renui asked the Council to extend the metalling on the main road near Pukearuhe. .bast year the full amount of metalling contracted for had not been completed. The ch'ail'iuau said that last year's contract had been discontinued because the supply o£ stone ran out. Cr. O'Sullivan said he had gathered from ill'. Davis that there was plenty of stone available now, and lie advocated further work being done on the road. If there were £l3O or £2OO available the settlers' wishes would be met. The chairman said that this information placed the matter in a different light. The engineer said that the surfaceman's reports had been very contradictory. Of late he seemed to be of opinion that a fair supply of stone was in site. it was decided that the engineer should take steps to ascertain definitely whether there was sufficient stone in sight to warrant letting a large contract.

TENDERS. I The following tenders were accepted; Contract Ko. 1(30, l'iko road formation, T. O. Waite, j:81 lis 2d (Falconer, £10!) 14s); contract 11)2, carting bonders at Oiiac-i'o, E. \V. Jlarsh, 2s lid per yard (J. Coleman 4 S Od). fresh tenders will be invited for carting metal at Waipapa, and the chairman was authorised to deal with the same. STOKE-CRUSHI.XC. The chairman reported that Mr. 0. 11. Johnstone had offered to crush metal for tlic Council at the rale of Is a yard for 8U yards aud over, on condition that the Council prepare the site for the crusher, a concession to he allowed if water for the engine can he obtained without carting. —The terms were accepted by the Council, and an agreement wiil be entered into according'..'.

JIOKAU BRIDIiI-;. Cr. .101 l asked it the Council were go ing to pass without comment the paltry amount of 1)250 placed on the Estimates for the construction of the Jlokatl bridge. The chairman said the Jlokau bridge was a pretty hig undertaking. Cr. .loll: tiood gracious! liig undertaking'; Why, they're spending £150,000 on a poi't olliee at Wellington and £150,000 in Auckland, and when we for a few thousands for a bridge of national importance, we're told it's a big undertaking! The Council was afraid that any further bridge grant would be made at the cxpeii>c of the Jlimi-Jlokau road, which was of paramount importance to this county. it was pointed out that often the mails anil other tlii-nugh traflie were blocked by the si ate of the loads. Sl'dtsES-TED TRAM UNK. Jlr. L. Jones, L'ruti, suggested the construction of a tram liii" from the face of the metal in .llipp's pit to tile chute. This would save expense. lie offered to cart the material. The chairman thought that at present the Council could not act on the proposal, for there wa ri a possibility of getting good shell rock, which would be cheaper than the gravel from Jupp's pit. The engineer said it had been reported that the shell rock was crushing very well.

f GENERAL. A native named I'iwa waited on the Council and demanded immediate payment of royalty on stone taken from a quarry on property which he claimed belonged to himself and two others.— lie was advised that when Jlr. Jack, Reserves Agent, certified that, the property was owned as stated, the Council would pay as asked. The District Road Engineer wrote in reierence to the proposed deviation of the Mimi-Jlokau road, and suggested ! postponement of a decision upon Liie exact plans until it was ascertained what Government money would be available. By that time the .proposed cuts may have been formed iu Jlr. Eraser's, and their effect ascertained.—H was decided to proceed with the "cuts'' referred to, a s soon as possible. Jlr. T. Watson, Tarn la, asked for inmediate attention to about eight or (en chains of the Wiri road. The road was unnietalled, and the deep ruts made it practically impassable for his two-horse milk waggon.—The foreman will be instructed lo fill in the ruts.

Mr. .James llutclicns applied to have a polling booth in the Makarakia Valley, Tongaporutu, at tlio forthcoming County Council elections.—Cr. O'Sumvan supported the application, statin;; that at present these rate-payers had to travel over thirteen miles of (iridic 1 track to record their votes.—App'ieation granted. Jlr. J. D. Jack, Reserves Agent, wrote, asking the Council lo re-open the Clifton road, afljout iliali a mile north of the Xopera road, to give access to grant 5233, section 41, i'ukearulie district, block. 10, Mimi. He diel not require the voud fenced.—The chairman stated the section was but a small one, vested in the Public TrnsUe, and, according to the late-roll, was occupied by Mr. CI. Riddell. He would like alittle mOr c informal ion upo;i the matter before deciding.—Consideration deferred. ACCOUNTS. ; Accounts amounting to £2BB 18s Sd were passed for payment.