CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held yesterday. Present; Crs. J. W. Foreman (chairman), F. Julian, T. JlcKciizie, C. O'Sullivau, A. h. iluntcj', S. J. Keuuinglon and 11. Sander. THE WAITAKA BRIDGE. The Waitara Harbor Board w|rote that the erection of a new bridge over the Waitara river in the borough was contemplated, and new approaches would be needed. The Board asked if the Council would be prepared to contribute half the cost of the earthwork I and metalling for such approaches. ' Mr. Dowsett, county engineer, noted j that the cost of the approaches and metalling would be about £l4O. The cliaii'iiuin saiil that the Board was asking the County and Borough Councils to, share the ciist.of this work. As a member of the Board, he had not opposed the idea, lie thought, however, that this Council had its hands pretty full of matters entailing considerable expense and of great importance to the ratepayers. ', Cr. O'Sullivau said he could under- I stand the Borough Council being asked ) to contribute, but could not see wueru the county liability came in. The chairman said the llarbur Hoard undoubtedly had a show of justice on their side, ior if the Borough Council or any other local authority had been constructing the bridge lliey would undoubtedly have a-'ked ior a contribution from the (,'ounly Council, and the county would have had lo pav. But the Waitara Harbor Board was not -j local authoritv within the meaning of the Public Works Act, so they could not compel the adjoining local authorities to contribute, lie was not certain of this Council's powers to vote the expenditure of money outside the Council, lie understood that the cost of the bridge was not yet fully estimated, the 'Djistrict lioad Engineer having some suggestion, to make concerning the plans. Cr. O'Sullivau thought that if the Clifton County were liable, so was the Taranaki County, for its traffic used the bridge. The chairman said the cases were not on a parallel, for the greater portion of the countv lav on the northward side of the bridge, and settler., had lo cross it lo get to market. They could not very well do without the bridge. The matter was deferred for further consideration. , ACCIDENT INSURANCE. .Mr. J. Baton, branch manager of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Co., notified that, as the Workers' Compensation Act, 1008, provided for additional compensation payable by employers, it had been found necessary to increase the premium to cover the added liability as from Ist January, 100!). The Council's extra payment would be 10s Sd for the remaining six months of the term covered.—The amount was passed. ENGINEER'S REPORT. ■ The engineer reported as follows: Waihi Biding—.Johnston had to date crushed SOO yards of metal at Onacro, and this had been carted out by Coleman, covering a distance of il chains. Coleman also carted and stacked about SO yards of boulders at Waipapa. fikorangi Hiding—On the Otaraoa road, T. West was trimming up his two contracts and putting in some remaining culverts preparatory to the work being taken over by the Council. T. O. Waite was also on the ground, and would lose no time in getting to work ■on his contracts. Specifications for fencing had been prepared, and later, when time permits, the road surveys will be carried out. Ngatiiuaru Riding—An inspection was made of the gravid deposits located oy Tarry and Cartwright in Capt. Smith's property, adjoining the Oapui road. Provided all foreign matter such as papa, sandstone, etc., were sorted out, mill also if the same on view were maiiitain- , cd, the Council was justified in accepting the sample. L'renui Riding.—Clare had completed repairs to the L'renui bridge, comprising putting in new caps, straining blocks and joists. Further work had been done on the Kaka ruad in widening on the Hat and clearing slips on the hill. On the Piko road Wa'ite had satisfactorily completed his widening contract. An anticipated Government grant on the -Mataro lioad failing to materialise, the settlors requested an expenditure "f about .U25, as an aid to widening the present track lo Mr. Wilson's section. This expenditure he recommended. Mokau Riding—Miuii-Jlokau road: Clare would commence repairs next week on the Uimi Valley bridges, ami upon completion would raise the girder bridge near .Murloy's by lift, in com-

pliance with the District Road Engineer's request, and in conjunction with the metalling contract. Simultaneously

the cuts in Eraser's should he pruceedoil with. In addition to past recommendations tile crusher while in this district should crush about .Kill yards of stone for re-coating the. existing section of shell rock and also for future repairs. The report was adopted, and the engineer's recommendation* will be given ell'eet to. Sllll-'ACEMEX'S lIEI'OIITS. 11. 11. .Martin (Ciiiti) reported: Mangahi road, in good older; culvert to be •attended to when material available. Moki road: Approach to bridge needed raising, otherwise in good repair. I'riitj ■road: in good repair; had ill led in old creek bed at site of concrete culvert, and raised road according to Mr. Dimsett's instructions; Idling opposite Mr. 'R, McKeu/.ie's needed widening by at 'least six feel; water-tables needed cieaulie would do with a. plough and a ''concern" he was making to' reduce the cost. Mimi-.Mokau road: Filling badly required at :l(i-mile peg; stringers and decking in bridge opposite 'Mr. doll's were ipiife rotten, and the •next one little better; bridge between •Ilea's and Murloy's should, be pulled up "and the space beneath filled, as it was ■cailangei big the new filling by feeding •Kelly's swamp: gravelled road between 'Mr. 'lupp's and the store roi|iiired main•tenance metal at once, as did the piece 'from the store to the dairy factory—•thi' worst piece on the road. The snv'faccman reported two nurorw escapes from accident, owing to motor-cars ■mooting horse, vehicles on dangerously sharp and narrow beads. He suggested

'the erection of guard-rails, ami the passing of a by-law to limit speed of ■motor-cars. Tim practice of grazing cattle, including bulls, on the roads

should be dealt with. Ju a subsidiary ■report the. .surfaceman asked for an inThe riding members were authorised ■to arrange for widening the road at a ■narrow point near the L'vuti factory. •I. Adams (Xgatimaru riding) reportvd that metal on Junction road was ■wearing verv thin. Several wooden culverts on Hie Zig-zag should be replaced 'with nine-inch pipes. Timber was required for repairs to bridge decking. TIiXNKUS. Tenders were dealt wilh as under: ■.Miini-.Mokau metalling: .lames and Co. (accepted), .CHI-11l 5s J/id; W. Mapp and Co.. Clo'iO Ills, l'uraugi metalling: .1. X. Xeilson. (declined). Oturaoa road: T. it. Waite (accepted). .Cl3l} Ss 2d. Okokeroad inetalling: I'iripi (accepted). i.CS per chain. ' THE COt'XCII/S SEKYAXTS. • W. T. I'rosscr forwarded his resignation an keeper of the Waibi toll-gate. and 11. Young, now of Tikurangi. was appointed in his place. There were two for the post—A resolution Was passed appreciative of the services •rendered oy (lie late keeper. H. T. Langnian was the only applicant for the position of surfaceman in the 'Waibi riding', and lie was appointed. • .1. McN. Adams resigned his post as Surfaceman in the Xgatimaru riding. CEXERAU 0. l'\ Atkinson wrote from Awakino drawing attention to the state of the I tunnel at J'nkearnhe and the track from 'there to Tongaporutu. lie understood there was a surfaceman in charge, but 'he failed to see what the surfaceman Mid to the tunnel. Il had not been clear of slips lor months, and unless seen to the top end of the tunnel would be blocked altogether. The engineer explained that a contract lor improving the tunnel outlet had been let.-.Mr. Atkinson, will .be informed that the mutter is roeeivijig the Council's attention.

MUs A. Ovles. teacher of tin- Waihi school, wrote tliiil slu' h:itl to .paw IliiMUgli 111.: Waihi 1011-gatc every day. and asked for exemption from tin." charge.—l'lic loipiest was not acceded to.

If. T'\ Kiley applied for the position of surfaceman on the Kak-.i. Okoke, and ■Piko roads.-.ipplication made under a uiiscoaeeption.

N. R (lla.-gow, I'uraiigi, asked for repairs to ihe I'nki'iiialioi' road., which was being badly cut up by storm water.. ■ —K-'r. Sander was givi'n authority to bave tile work done.

0. W. Fougeve. of Tarata. asked that portions of the Wiri road be metalled. ■The road was sleep and slippery, and difficult to negotiate will] lu's load of milk, which would be "really increased next season.—Repairs to be effected. 11. D. O'DomieN, of Tonga porntu, applied for- a slaughtering license.—Referred to the Stock Department. Accounts amounting to £OB7 18s lOd were passed for payment.