CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 204, 2 October 1909, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was hold yesterday at Waitara. Present: Councillors J. W. Foreman (chairman), Julian, Alackenzie, C. O'Sullivan, A. L. Hunter, Kennington and Sander. STOCK OX KOADS.

Tlie siu'laeoinan at Tarata reported the mimus ul several seUlers wlio were allowing slock to graze oil Ike loads, liespile lus warning to the contrary. Tlie chairman. in moving llial tlie letler be referred to tlie county .solicitor with instructions to proceed against l.ie ollenders, said iio had no wish lo be harsh, but this [nai-tiee of grazing stock 011 the roads was causing an iininejisi' amount of damage. Tlie motion was seconded, by Councillor Zander, and curried, the seconder hoping this would act as a warning to others. TIIK .lIWCTJOX KOAI). The Taninaki County Council wrote with further reference to the upkeep of the .1 unction road. The council had caused a record to be kept ;<if tlie tralfic passing over the 'L'arata .bridge, and found that there was a very large amount of tralfic front the Ngatim.iru riding. After consideration tlie Tara naki County Council had come to the opinion thai il was only fair and equitable that the iCliftou county should contribute towards the maintenance o! the road, and was prepared to inter into an agreement with the Clifton Council whereby the latter should contribute an annual sum towards the upkeep of the .lunclioa road, failing an amicable settlement the Council had no alternative but to erect a toll-gate at or near the boundary bridge over .the Waitara river. Councillor Sander considered that the district should not be called upon to contribute, for the Clifton county had to carry as much Taninaki traffic as Taranaki earned for Clifton.

The engineer pointed out that a good deal of the Whanganioniona. county trafl'ic was "caught" in the return. The ciiaii'inan referred the mailer to the Xgatiniaru riding representatives to give til,. Council a lead. Councillor Kcniiingloii was for merelv aeknowleilging the receipt of the letter. Councillor Sander said the Taranaki county was 1 a bit unreasonable over the matter.

Upon the motion of the chairman and Councillor Sander a resolution was carried that this Council lias no objection to the eou-xe proposed. i... UNEEirs REI'ORT. The engineer, Mr. C. l\ Dowseti, reported for the month: Waihi Riding.—With reference to the settlers application lor metal on the Nikoriina road, the existing metal should be repaired and the cutting widened, lie would recommend that a further live chains be put down. James and Co. >hould be notified to proceed with their contract, und tenders called for carting metal when crushed from the Onaero dejK>t. tikorangi Kiding.--!. A. Wev't JiaU some further trees to remove from the Otaraoa road fence line/and would at the same time completely fence oIT all lillings to protect same. Ngatimaru Riding.-AV. J. Clare had satisfactorily completed re-decking and repairs to the Tarata boundary bridge. The small bridge near the township on the Otaraoa road was found upon stripping tlie decks to require entirely new stringers and other repairs, which had been attended to. The structure had (been {minted, land <?\Vrvtliing lett in good order. The s'mall steel truss bridge across the Makara had been cleaned and coated with a patent paint. Tts /adhesion, penetration, and finished suri face seemed to make it particularly indapted for this class of work, and if I time proved the virtues claimed, it i should help to prolong the life of steel structures. Xcitsnn had cut out the portion of road ready to receive the concrete culvert on the Junction road; but the late rains had been responsible for delays. Crozier was hauling boulders from the Taramoku stream for maintenance repairs. Tin* fencing of the gravel pits o-n Mr. CorkilPs properly had been let to Lambert at lis. per chain, exclusive of wire. Alternative ; plans bad been prepared for erection of bridge on the North Matau wad, and he recommended that teiuiers be called lo close at the. next meeting of Hie Council. Mr. E. C. Kobinsoi. County engineer, visited Waitara duVnir the monlh for the purpose of exlining proposal-' in connection with

iic altenlion of boundaries between V\ liai'.'iamoinona and Clifton Counties. The original proposals by the Whanganioniona County, already discussed, were adhered to. and in addition further proposals comprising a somewhat extended area in the Matau distvict.

Creuui Hiding.- With reference to the Okoke gravel reserve, he had found that this reserve nf 3 acres wav gazetted for the purpose on ihc Ist nf October. IKSS. I'pon completion of (lie survey now in band the boundary in <|Ucstion would be defined. He recommended that* the Alimi bridge be painted, it bein<r about five years since it received similar attcntioh. The estimated cost is i!2O. He again recommended that a permanent man be appointed on the I'pper Okoke anil Piko roads; Aloknu Biding.—Evetts had over IMH) vard* of shell rock spauled. and was prepared to proceed further if desired. James and Co. had so far not put in an appearance. He therefore rcommend* ed Evetts proceeding for another month, with the option of joining James and Co. at any time if desired.

Pukearulie Hoad.—Details of proposed deviation were submitted. (JEXHKAL.

The Council declined the application of .Mr. K. McKeuzie, chairman of directors of tlu> Triili Yajley Co., for the wooden culverts near the factory to be replaced with pipes, and that an old rimu stump be removed.

.Mr, M. Townseud wrote on behalf of Mr. F, Saver, claiming C 4 l.">s for damage to vehicle alleged to have been caused by a faulty culvert on the Xgat.imaru road.—The Council discussed the matter in committee with its solicitor. Mr. Wilkes, and it was decided to disclaim liability.

Six M'ttlers on the Turangi road in the Waihi riding ad<ed ten chains' of metalling. pointing ont thai the road was virtually the main route from Tikoraugi to Crenui.—The request was deelined.

A numerously signed petition I/O the settlers nn the Okoke, Kaka, am l'il>n mids asked fur the appointmen »»f w permanent surfaceman. The re.su was in a very bad state -owing to wan of attention, slips completely bhu-ki lb' water-tables. that unless' improved system were adopted t settlers would have to. resort to packhorses,

Ten settlers on the Ohanga road. On to o. complained of the almost, impassable state of the road . and asked that tlie grader be put on as s'oon as possible.- -The Council will advertise for labor and teams for working the grader. Several settlers were given toll-gate ronecN-iiriH. they being allowed to take their niiik-earts through the Waihi tollgate to the Waihi creamery upon payment. if U1 annually.

The Treasury notified payment- of C.V.) 12s .lil to the Council's fund for cost of material for repairs to the Mangaehu bridge on the Piko road.

The Crown Land-.'Commissioner wrote that, the application of Mr. W. .1. Parsons for the purchase of part of the closed Clifton road had not, been acceded to.

The resignation of Mr. .lames Smith, ranger at Crenui was accepted.

Mr. W. F. Ilawkes offer to sell a bouse and the goodwill of a section at Pukeho for a surfaceman's residence was dwlined;. The tpitfee asked was' CJo. and the lease had t) l / 2 years to run. Councillor Sander suggested the employment of three permanent surfacemen in the Ngat.imaru riding.-'Deferred till* next meeting, when the riding members will report upon tii" question. Accounts amounting to Ws 7d were passed for payment.