TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 135, 6 July 1909, Page 4

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

The Taranaki County Council held ordinary monthly meeting yesterday. Present: Councillors 3. Brown (chairman), R. Stevens, uM. Hops'on, C. Carter, C. Andrews, J. J. Carpenter, G. V. aim J. U. JiiH. FOREMEN'S' REPORTS. Engiue-imver Crry reported: The crusher worked on seven days, crushing 470 yards of =tune. Started crushing Stony river contract on the 7th. Rolled new metal iu Timaru and Stony river contracts (three days). Was working on uie road for two days, and the lemainder of the month was' working and doing sniall repairs to engine and crusher. The assistant, J. "Driiig, was eleven days on the i'oad working with Foreman Bresnan, and fifteen days shifting and feeding the crusher. The engine-driver "will he requested to report details of time worked on the roads by himself and his assistant. foreman Jones (Moa south) reported that, with permission from Cr. Stevens, he employed Mr. Kerr's horse and dray for two days to make up the filling at the Waipuku'-iti bridge. He had finished the drain on the Tariki road through Quinton and Co.'s. Had put two sets of pipes across the Tariki road. foreman Bennett (Moa east) reported that .Mr. J. N. Xeilson had completed contract No. 133 and had delivered about 300 yards of boulder# at tho crusher site, Maketawa. He had employed a man for sixteen days this month on the Zig-zag to help to spread metal, rake in, and bank up where required. 'Seven wooden culverts had broken through. Two had been replaced hv ftin pipes, and the others repaired. There had been several slips during the wet weather, and the road was starting to Ibreak up very fast. Mr. J. Turner had finished the pier at Ngatoro bridge, 2nd had made a very strong job of it. Progress payment on Ncilson's' contract was approved. Foreman Cheffings reported that during the month he had been engaged chiefly in patching the road and clearing water-tables. Had cut scrub oft of bank of cutting on Mangorci hill, and cut scrub away from all 'bridges in thq riding. Had cut gorse and blackberries on county ground at Kent road. He had repaired the Waiongona bridge on the Hursthouse road. Required a man for four days for making drains and watertables on the Mountain road. The road was .breaking through between Henui hill and the racecourse, and would require 300 yards of stone for repairing. Kyngdon had carted about 400 yards of boulders over this part of the road. The road was also breaking up in front of Mr.. Hale's at Mangorei, and he had no maintenance metal on this <part of the road.

Foreman Huse (Omata north) reported that he had been engaged for two days with two drays clearing slips from the Breakwater road. Had got 25 yards of metal from the Harbor Board, which would cost albout 3s fid for napping, carting, and placing on-the road. Roads were in good order except from the Breakwater to Cutfield road. He would repair it with metal from linrbor quarry. Another pipe culvert was required opposite the freezing works, as the present pipes were too smalfan'd the water ran over the road. He had .planted willows on the Oakura filling. He suggested having a level crossing across the railway in front of the Breakwater Hotel. He also suggested that the Omata. Road Board foe asked to turn off the water that runs down the Barrett road for half a mile and across the Breakwater road. The pipes in front of the petroleum works on the Breakwater road were too small.

The report was adopted, and the recessary steps will be taken to have larger culverts placed as noted. "file foreman will be empowered to procure stone from the ibeach as recommended. Foreman Brosnan (Omata South) reported that the crushing plant commenced work at Stony river depot on the 7th June. Mr. F. G. Sol®, contractor, had carted out and deposited on the roads for the .month 470 yards of broken metal or stone. Bad weather, wet, and unsuitable roads for carting had delayed the contractor. The crusher 'had not been kept going properly at Stony river depot. The sixty yards limit was 'too small, and ho. would recommend that it he raised to eighty in future contracts. The stays under the Stony river bridge had been washed away iby the recent flood. He had repaired the damage done to water-tables oh the Petone hill by the contractor at a cost of £1 4s. He required fourteen l?in pipes to replace a wooden culvert on the iPetone hill. The proprietor of the Stony River iHntri~(Mr. R. Gray) should be requested to overlap his trees which were growing over the road. The Okato carriers were making a practice of unloading boxes and planks, etc., on the side of the road opposite by-roads, causing great danger to the people at night. 'Mr. De Castro has cut iback his trees as required, hut Mr. Wood had failed to do his yet.

Mr. F. G. Sole will he charged with the cost of repairing on Pitone hill.

It'was decided to advertise a warning against depositing merchandise on the county roads.

Mr. Gray will 'be notified to lop trees which are unduly shading the roads. Mr. Wood will be notified that, failing his cutting trees complained of, the Council will do the work at his expense.

(Foreman Eva (iHurworth least) reported that the roads under his supervision were in fair order. Only two yards of maintenance metal were left on a length of three miles on the top end of Carrington road until the crusher arrived. Mr. Goddard had completed contract Xo. 139 on Ratanui hill.

Foreman Xorris (Hurworth west) reported that roads were in fairly good order, considering the yiell of wot weather recently. There were a few weak places eliowiag up which would lie repaired as soon as the weather improved. Regarding Mr. A. Thompson's request for metallipg on a Side-road, it 'would cost at the lowest estimate £5 per chain for formation and metalling. He suggested leaving it to be formed next summer. If tt set all right it would stand all the traffic there would lie on it, as it was only a "one man" road, and it never got very had. Regarding Mr. Knapman's complaint that water from the roads was damaging his property, he suggested that Mr. Knapman should find the pipes' and the foreman put them in. If he were not agreeable to that, be was afraid the coiraty could not do anything more for him, as the fall of the ureter was in the direction of his house.

The foreman was authorised to have maintenance metal carted from the upper to the lower Frankley road, at 2s per yard.

Foreman Holmes (Waitara) reported that they had carted out 5(1 yards metal for the past month for repair-. The continual rains had caused the roads to cut lip badly in places. There had been no bridge repairs required for the .past month except the fence on the •"proach to the "Waiougona .bridge on ; l " e •""'ra road. He had inspected the I'ier of the Waiwakailio with Mr. Skinner. The recent ilood"did not seem to have lowered it any move Jt would he impossible to do 'anything to it till the summer weather came THE WATWAKAIHO RlilDflli. 'Mr. John Skinner (county engineer) reported that, in company with" Fo"eman Holmes, he had examined the weir and piles of the Waiwakailio bridge on the Devon road. Stone and sand had accumulated around the piers to a era-snlera-ble extent. The groini erected to protect the .piers were intact. J[e I*™ informed that the foundation was put down fi feet flinches below the then river bed. and in that case thfoundation was still three feet below the present level of the river-bed, ,nd me silt was being increased rather tiun

diminished. On account of the 'enormous quantities of stone constantly being removed from the river-hud helow the bridge, it followed that the bed would be lower under the bridge, and he recommended the Council to have apron walls fault Tound the centre pier, as he had advised two years ago. "In my opinion," lie wrote, "the bridge is perfectly safe for tile time being, but for the reasons above elated the foundations will have to 'be watched." The wire netting weir had prevented scour as intended. Mr. Skinner added that Foreman Holmes had not examined the bridge himself, but reported what he had heard from others. The report was adopted. GENERAL. Cr. Carter moved that a return b'e prepared, showing (a) the amount of stone paid for 'by the Council since March, 1009; (b) the actual amount of stone put through crusher since that date; (c) the number of yards put on the roads, and .where; (d) the amount of 6tone still unused, and where.

It was decided to inform the Mangorei Road Board that the Council could not find the Kitchener road, for which the Board had asked repairs.

It was decided to renew the accident insurance with the South British Insurance Co. The Council decided to endorse tho resolution of the 'Mackenzie County Council asking for payment of "thirds" and "fourths" on pastoral leaseholds. The Council declined to recognise any liability in the matter of Dr. Walker's account for attendance upon one of the Council's employees, who was injured recently. It was explained that the man had drawn his accident insurance.

Cr. Andrews reported that he had made satisfactory settlement of the claim for traffic dues made by the Oa'kura Road Board, and of the Council's claim against the Board. They had agreed to "cry quits." Upon the motion of Crs. Carter and ITopson, it was decided to ask Mr. Laughlin what remuneration above the fees he would require for acting as poimdkeeper in the Omata riding. Mr. W. A. Collis, n s secretary to the Whiteley Trustees, asked for diversion of surface .water which was detrimentally affecting the property of one of the tenants at Moturoa—Referred to the foreman to deal with. It was decided to invite tenders for the erection of toll-gates and toll-house at Puniho.

Mr. P. P. Corkill will 'be requested to defer the advertised sale of tire Bell Block pound. The matter of terminating Mr. C. Kyngdon's contract On the Brooklands road (Vogcltown) was left with tire chairman; and should it be determined the 350 yards of stone will be broken by hand at 3s per yard. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £O3l 19s 4d were passed for payment, being: Administration £lO4 Gs 9d; Waitara riding, £47 6s Odj Moa riding, £144 Os 3d; Omata riding, £lßl 18s Od; liurworth riding, £154 10s 2d. The Council adjourned for a Iweek.