CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 181, 4 September 1909, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday. Present: C'rs. J. W. Foreman (chairman), A. L Hunter, H. Sander, F. Julian, C. O'SulJivan, S. Kcnnington, and T. McKenzie. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

Mr. F. Sayers asked the Council to pay £2 Is, the cost of repairing damage caused to his cart by the had state of the Tikorangi road.—The chairman explained that Mr. Sayers was carting on the road. The surfaceman, under instructions from the engineer, was lowering a culvert across the road. Portion of the work had been completed, and the trench filled in. The dray stuck in the soft earth, and the sudden jolt threw a strain on the piece of old rope which acted as a bellyband, and broke it. The shafts flew up into the air, and the leader .pulled and broke them off. Whilst Mr. Sayers held that the accident would | not have happened but for the Council's | interference with the roauway, it was I equally true that had the harness been | reasonably sound no damage would have ensued.—Referred to the solicitor for his opinion.

A ROYALTY CLAIM. Mr. K J. M. Thomson, solicitor, of inglewood.. wrote: "I have your letterof the 28th August to the effect that your Council is unwilling to pay Mr. Corkill royalty at the rate of 6d for the !ast (metal taken, but that in future the price be fixed by arbitration. In answer thereto I am instructed to siv that as Mr. Corkill had duly notihV.l your Council of his intention to charge fid before the last lot of metal was taken, he is unwilling to accept 3d, and' instructs me to proceed with the matter. With reference to his claim for compensation for loss of a. steer, I shall be pleased to receive cheque for its value, £3."—Several members expressed the opinion that the Council should resist the claim.—The letter Tras received. The paymeat for the steer had be?n authorised. NIKORIMA ROAD. A deputation of three Nikorima road settlers waited on the Council and asked for five or sis chains of metalling. The road had received scant attention for many years past, and a good team was required to haul a load of half-a-ton.— Referred to the engineer lor ;i report. The same deputation asked to be jllowed to .pass through the Urenui todgates "with their milk carts for aa annual .payment of five shillings. They would use only fiv<\ or six chains of the main road.—'Some .liscussion ensued concerning the right of the settlers to use private land adjoining, and the liability I to penalise for evading the toll. The .chairman was of opinion that ao breath would be committed if they left the road and delivered their milk on Mr. Cole's property, so long as they did not go on the road again after .passing the gate.. The deputation wili act on this advice. It transpired that Mr. Cole had Offered to allow them to traverse his property for 5s a year.—Later, the Council declined to accede to the request^

PUKBARUHE. A deputation, of settlers on the Pukearuhe Toad', iPukearuhe, asked the Couaciffio take steps to raise a loan of £.OOO for deviation, formation and metalling ivork. They also asked the Council to make a grant of £3OO towards the cost. —The application was favorably received, and the Council agreed to vote the* amount asked for.—The engineer will #0 out and arrive at estimate of the co.it to report to the Council. The necessity for replacing a rough bridge on the Wai-iti road was brought before the Council, and 'the matter was referred to the engineer, with power to act.

THE TAHATA BRIDGE. Mr. R. Ellis, .clerk to the Taranaki County Council, wrote with reference to the Tarn to- boundary bridge as follows: "There appears to be nothing more than a resolution of this Council passed on, September 6, 1893, handing over ciatrot of the bridge to the Council, viz. Moved by W. Bayly, seconded by W. Gray, 'That the Clifton County Council be aslfed to take over control of the I Tarata bridge.' This the Clifton Council I evidently accepted, for the next reference I can find to the bridge is this Council sending a cheque on 15th December, 1894, value £36 15s 3d, ?or half cost of repairs to Tarata bridge. The councils of the different counties- at this time did not adopt the correct procedure in th"e matter, as the bridge should have been by proclmation placed under the exclusive care, control, un.li management of the county of Clifto:) under section 4 of the Public Works V,:', Amedment, 1887, the Act in existence ji. .this particular time governing these matters. However, as my chairmnu states, things were done in the 'good old style' at thi6 particular period, a great deal being taken for granted. Our chairman suggests that the Clifton ani Taranaki counties should now come to a proper arrangement in connection w ! th ■this matter, and cause the bridge to je vested under subscetion 2, section 120. Public Works Act, 1908. This would then prevent a recurrence of the oresent misunderstanding that lias arisen between the two bodies."—The Council decided to take 6teps to have the bridge vested in the Clifton County Council, in trms of the (foregoing letter.

GENERAL BUSINESS. i Messrs W. C. Fletcher, A. A. Dagg, J. Judd, W. H. Partridge, and F. Nieison petitioned the Council not to consent to the proposed inclusion of their properties (now in the Clifton county) in the Whangamomona county.—Consideration deferred until the matter is fully before .the Council. The Valuation Department notified payment of £SOO subsidy on rates. The amount collected was £1755 5s 3d and the £SOO was the minimum' amount payable, on a rate of 'lVi>d, reduced to %d.^

Mr. C. N. Rowe asked the Council to bear half the cost of survey of the Waitoitoi gravel pit, to determine the cor. rect boundary between the reserve and his property.—lt was pointd out that the work was already in hand.—The Council declined to accede to the request.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. ■Mr. C. F. Dowsett, engineer, reported: Waihi Riding.—The weather had prevented anything being done this mo.ith with the Waipapa metalling. W. J. Clare had raised the western end of the Onaero bridge which was showing signs of settling. He had refused applications in this riding as in others, where the applicants requested the Council to provide culverts in front Of their entrances. He desired the Council to officially endorse his action to let the public know that, exce(it in special circumstances, this ivrs a private liability, und that the CViininil had a remedy for obstruction on a public road. TEkorangi Riding—T. A. West had practically completed his contract on the Otaraoa o-oad deviation suoject to attention to minor details. The length was as originally cstimaited,aia.mely, 223 chains. The surfaceman could be employed with advantage on that portion of the Waihi road from the Inland North road to just beyong Cunningham's boundary. Ngatimaru Biding.—On the 25th of August, Mr. S. Orbcll, representing the Taranaki county, made an inspection with him of the boundary bridge at Tarata. The result of this inspection proved that the bridge was generally in a fair state of repair. The timbers mutually agreed upon which required renewal' were a Cornell, stud, brace packing piece, and a coup!c_ of wheel guards, m addition to the new decks already provided. One of twoother members showed indications of being spongy mear'thc surface, but in each case it "was calculated that there existed such a large margin of strength that it was agreed to allow them 'to stand until the next inspection. With these repairs completed he was satisfied the structure would safely carry twelve tons on four wheels. One half of the old timber was the property of this Council, and he was using •eoine of it for side road bridges. Mr. Orbell having no authority to dispose of 'the Taranaki Council's portion, Mr. Dowsett recommended that this Council Offer the sum of 10s per 100 for the pick of Taranaki's portion, or 7s 6d per 100 taking it all through. Some definite arrangement should be made, if none at present existed, to vest the control in either one Council or the other. W. G. Crozier expected to have his small metal broken to guage and deposited on the site of the culvert this week. He had appointed Mr. J. Prosser as inspector of this work.

As it would become necessary t'o again enter Mr. Corkill's property for main-

tenance metal—on this occasion probably from the Tore road—lie suggested that the Council arrange an interview and come to some satisfactory and definite arrangement re royalty. He again urged the necessity of providing some more central site for the surfaceman's hlouse in uhis Tiding. Urcnui Riding.—C. Marsh had cartad out sufficient gravel from the Onac-o pi't to re-cover- Crawford's corner. A. Symcs had terminated his contract, having put out over 70(1 yards of metal. The incesennlt tad weather would, however, necessitate further metal repairs. On the Piko .road E. WhPttaker lnd completed the Mangahau hridge. El;dahl and Henwood had been keeping the road clear of slips, etc., and would now give more attention to their contract.

Mokau Riding.—The metal at the 26th mile peg on the Mokau road had proved to be of satisfactory quality, although its quantity was still uncertain, to date about 150 yards had been put out at a tost of. under 6s per vard, which included the preliminary stripping, etc. The surfaceman requested a bonus to be_ .paid for -the discovery of this pit. Whilst appreciating the energy of a'n enterprising surfaceman, the engineer would keep an open mind and leave the request to the' Council. C. Evetts had been progressing with his quarrying contract at Urufci, but at present James and Co. had not put in an appearance. He considered it desirable that they should be requested to commence work forthwith. He recommended that 1 Evetts should complete his present contract with the Council before enteriu" into fresh arrangements with others. The metal quarried by Evetts was for a specific purpose, and Mr. Dbwsett desired that it ibe kept for such. The access to the Uruti store lad been improved by putting down metal subs'dised by the Council. He considered, however, that this should be extended to give the work a finish. The grader could be used- to advantage on manv roads during the forthcoming season.' ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £503 4s 5d were passed fbr payment.