TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 162, 3 August 1909, Page 4

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

The Taranaki Couaty Council held its ordinary monthly meeting yesterday. Present: Crs. Brown (chairman), R. : Stevens, M. llopson, C. Carter, C. Andrews, E. Allanson, and J. K. Hill. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Jones (Moa Riding South) reported for the month of July that the Tariki road was breaking up and needed metal badly. He had repaired the Ngatroiti bridge at a cost of extra labor £1 IDs Gd. A culvert near Tariki was very rotten, and required replacing with 12in pipes. There was a box culvert between Waipukuiti and Mangamawhete which required replacing with a 3-foot concrete culvert. The 12in pipes were authorised. Foreman Bennett (Moa Riding, Junction road east) reported that the road from Kaimatae to Tariki road was breaking up very fast witli the wet weather, and most of his time had been taken up with patching the metal he had on hand, which was beginning to get rather short. Mr. E. Surrey had delivered the decking for the bridges. Mr. J. N. Ncilson had carted 8000 feet ui timber out to the Waitara bridge for the Clifton County Council for re-deck-ing. There seemed to be a lot of heavy traffic this winter, and every year the trallic seemed to increase.

Foreman Cheffings (Moa Riding North, Junction road) reported that he had been engaged in repairing the road, clearing out water-tables and doing general work. This had been a bad month for the roads. There were several holes along the r oad, which lie would repair as soon as he got a fine day or two. He had a man for five days clearing drains and water-tables on the Mountain road, and also had a man for two days clearing slips away on the track going into Matthews' depot. He had repaired the Mangorci bridge. The heavy r nin on the Bth of the month blocked the mouth of the tunnel at Kent road with timber, but no damage was done. He had now cleared away the timber and cut the scrub away from the mouth and outlet of the tunnei.

Foreman Cheffings will be granted 200 yards of metal for repairing the Junction road between the High School ;.nd licnni river, tenders to be called and returnable by 10th August. The foreman will be informed that he must have the sanction of the Council before employing extra labor.

Foreman Holmes (Waitara Ridin«) reported having carted out 170 yards of metal during the past, month' on contract No. 132, for rc-mctalling and repairs. The heavy rain had caused the loads to break up a great deal in places. They had ...ntinucd clearing out water-tables, letting water off the road and lowering the grass from the side of the road. Be had carted some metal and spread it on the Waiwakaiho bridge, as there was a considerable quantity of water lying on it. The foreman expressed regret that the Council gave Colesby and other contractors permission to take his metal that was deposited at the Waiwakaiho M6t year for repairs. If this bad weather continued he should require it all for repairs, but there would not be enough available.

Upon the application of Cr. Tale, pipes were authorised for replacing a culvert just beyond the Waitara borough boundary.

foreman Huse (Onutta North) reported that he had been engaged in cleaning out water-tables, patching and lepairing culverts. He fixed up the culvert at Oakura that was partly washed out. The roads were in fair order. He was engaged from the Dth to 17th repairing damage done by the heavy rain. He suggested that the timber that was laid at Tapuae by the engineer for Hurford and Plymouth bridges be removed, as it was getting covered over with silt by tlie heavy rain. The matter of removing timber at Tupuae was left with Cr. Andrews to arrange. It being reported that the endless chain had been stolen, councillors considered that the action of the foreman in leaving the chain lying idle about the roads was one that called for explanation, and the foreman will be asked to report. Foreman Brosnan reported that throughout the month his time was taken up in spreading metal, cleaning out water-tables and general repairs to Boads. J. Drin& the engine-driver's assistant, had been working on the road when the crusher was not at work. F. G. Sole, contractor, had carted out and deposited on the roads for the month 7112 yards of broken metal and had completed contract No. 12.1 The crushing uhmt was now engaged by the Oka to and Wcrelrino road boards. F. Woods has made a start to cut his scrub off the banks at the Timaru tad. 'the over-lapping trees at (Jkato publichouse had also been cut down. The Okato Koad Board had carted over the county road 02 yards of boulder stone. Mr. Telford, Oakura, should be requested to put in an 18-inch culvert at his gate entrance to the county road to take storm water.

The last clause was referred to Cr Andrews.

Foreman Eva (Ilunvorth East) reported that tlio roads under his supervision were in fair order considering 'the spell of wet weather. Time had been occupied during tin' month in patching, raking in metal, cleaning water-tables, culverts, and general work. If heavy trallic still continued oil Carrington road it would take a lot of metal to keep it in repair, as the road was very thin. He reported on damage done to the Carrington road by haulage of firewood, lie required 350 yards of boulder stone to lie broken as soon as possible, as he had no maintenance metal on the top end of Carrington road.

It was decided to claim £0 8s 6d from I!. Wallalh in connection with the damage done to the Upper Carrington road by the New Plymouth Wood and Carrying Co. Foremen Norris (Hnrworlh West) reported mi general repairs. Ke the crusher site, the engine-driver had been up and together they measured the site at the end of Vcale road and found there was not suflioient room. He had seen Mr. 11. Okey since and the latter had offered a, site, in his paddock free on condition that the foreman would make good any damage done to fences or paddock. A BOUNDARY BRIDGE. Mr. C. F. Dowsett, engineer to the Clifton <'ounty Council, wrote that it was proposed to rc-dnk iii<: Tarata boundary bridge with Tasinaniaii hardwood, which bad now arrived. Upon the complete stripping of the old decking a thorough inspection would be made of the iniderstructurc, and timbers won id he renewed where necessary. He intiicatcd that the cost would be from fljn to £l5O.

Several of the councillors expressed surprise that such a large expenditure should hive been decided on without this Council being consulted. It appeared that all the Council had to do, said the chairman, was to pay. That would be all right in regard to small repairs, but in such a large matter as this the Taranaki Council, which had to pay half the cost, should have had a chance of being professionally represented.

EvenLinillv it \v:is decided, upon the mntioii of f'rs. Stevens ami Tate, Thnt in the opinion of tliis Council the Clifton County Council was not justified in anthovi-iiiLC ho large nn undertaking us Hint, of re-decking the Waitnni bridge at Tarata without first consulting with this CuiiPieil, and that before any further step- he Ink™ this Cbmicil have nn opportunity to lie represented by n professional ninn and receive a report. EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC. Cr. Ilopson moved ami Cr. Stevens seeo-nded. Thnt the Clifton County Council he written to, drawing attention to Hie constantly increased traffic from Xgatimaru Tiding over the Taranaki county roads and asking if they are prepared to meet and confer with ihis Council with a view of contributing an annual sum towards the upkeep of the Junction road.—Carried.

Cr. Ilopson was empowered to arrange with Foreman Bennett to take icturus of the traffic coming from the Xgatimarti riding along the Junction road into this eountv. FLOOD WATERS. "Mr. John M. Parli drew the Council's attention to the fact that water was being dammed back on section 135. Moa. district, to the extent of nine chatas. Of late the water had run over the road and washed away the metal.— The chairman said the trouble was that the Government railway culvert close by was 100 high, and it was useless to

lower the Council's ' culvert until the railway culvert was lowered.—Application will be mode to the Railway Department to have their culvert attended to. Messrs Quinton, Haylock and Co. wrote with regard to repairs needed to the drain recently cut through their property to carry the water from the road t'o the river.—Referred to the chairman.

Mr. J. T. Collins asked the Council to clear out a culvert on the Veale road, which was damming I'uack water en to his property, Hooding about an Jicro.—To be attended to when the weather moderates. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. A lengthy letter was received from 'Messrs Malone, Anderson, and John- ( stone on behalf of Mr. J. H'. Sheppard, of Vogeltown, claiming the fulfilment of an alleged agreement in connection with the recent widening-and raising of ll.e Carrington road opposite his property, and £SO damages. After explanations in committee by Cr. Carter (formerly chairman of the Carrington Road Board) and Mr. L. G. I*. Spencer (formerly engineer to the Board), it was decided to ' refer the matter to Messrs Govctt and Quilliam, who had had the matter in hand when the road board was in existence. STRAY STOCK.

Mr. W. Laughlin wrote, in answer to the Council's query, that he would be prepared to act as ranger in the Hurworth riding for £ls a year. He explained that there was a lot of night work, for stock was turned out on the roads at niglit.—Consideration deferred, Mr. Laughlin to be asked to continue in the position until next meeting. ELIOT ROAD LOAN. Mr. J. B. Roy forwarded a copy of a telegram received from the Treasury by his firm as solicitors to the Eliot Road Board in connection with the

Eliot road loan: "No progress payments will be available until after all steps to obtain loan have been completed and legally passed. No reason to doubt loan will be available when steps satisfactorily taken.—R. B. Vincent, Secretary Treasury," TENDERS.. The tender of .1. Nielson was accepted for supplying 100 yards of stone on Junction road east. ACCOUNTS.

Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Administration, £SBB 3s lid; Moa riding, £64 15s; Omata riding, £221 lis lOd; Waitara riding, £O3 10s 3d; Hurworth riding, £142 17s 3d; total, £lO7l 4s 3d. MISCELLANEOUS.

The chairman's action in authorising further metal for the South road from New Plymouth .boundary to Mission Hill was approved. The chairman reported upon the Franklcy road pit. The contractors, Hendrickson and Wills, had done a lot of work in clearing up the pit and making it workable, for it had been left in a wretched state. In the special circumstances lie recommended that these contractors be charged sixpence a yard on stone taken from the pit.— Approved. The chairman's action in authorising the calling of tenders for stone supplies on the .function road east, and Cr. Carter's action in calling tenders for carting metal from the crusher site to the Carrington road, were approved. Cr. Tate brought under the notice of the Council the fact that the Railway Department had abandoned the gravel pit at Sentry Hill. That pit, which was the most valuable in that portion of the countv, had been taken from the Waitara West Road Board, and he fiugficstcd that the Railway Department should be asked to restore the pit to the local bodies.—-Application will be made accordingly. Mr. F. G. 'Sole wrote protesting against the Council's claim of £1 4s against them on account of damage done to I'itonc road by his drays. The damage could easily have been'repaired ly n man in less than a dav.—The chairman and Cr. Andrews were of oipnion that Mr. Sole was about rieht in Ins contention, and it was decided to aek the foreman for an explanation.