CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 256, 4 December 1909, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clifton County Council held its monthly meeting at Waitara yesterday. Present: Crs. J. W. Foreman (chairman), T. McKenzie, C. O'Sullivan, A. L. Hunter, S. Kennington, and 11. Sander. , MT. MESSENGER. , Mr. F. lielishaw, of Tongaporut.i, < I wrote offering to burn papa on Mt. Messenger at 10s Gd per yard for 200 yds, or 10s 3d per yard for 300 yards or over, | including cartage and spreading; provid-1 ing that cartage on the county road did ! not exceed 20 chains, and that the work could be started before December Ist. The metalling being an urgent necessity, the Council decided to accept the oIF-ir for 300 yds, subject to an allowance being made for the Council's 6preader.~ An amendment moved by Cr. Kennington that the work be done by day labor lapsed ior -want of a seconder. MANGAMAIIOE ROAD. Mr. R. N, Wilson asked if there any money available for expenditure i n the Mangamahoe road this summer. The bridges above Mr. Barker's were in a bad state of repair, the decking being rotten and breaking up fast, and the 1 were decaying also. He had 1 efl'ected certain repairs, for which lie . forwarded an account for 17s Od.—The .account will be paid, and Mr. Wilson • informed that in future no work can be . paid for unless authorised by the Coun- , cil.— I The bridges complained of are to • receive attention.

UREXUI POST OFFrCE. Mr. W. J. Chaney, Chief Postmaster at New Plymouth, wrote that the Public Works Department did not consider it necessary or desirable to lower ihe building a 6 proposed by the Council, b*it had decided to place a flight of concrete steps at the front and back entrance, and to grade and metal the slope to the boundary. The work would be put in hand without delay.—ln the engineer's hands. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

Mr. H. J. M. Thomson, of (nglewood, wrote respecting the culvert constructed recently over the Waiwakaiho streA'n on the Junction road, opposite his property, 'arid a dam also recently erected over the stream in his property. Mr. Corkill claimed that by the erection of the works the effect was to back the water in the said stream on his property to a height of approximately three feet above the normal level of the stream for a considerable distance, and Mr. Corkill had instructed him to request the Council to take such stepß as might be'necessary to prevent the backing up of the water and the consequent damage to his property. The engineer, Mr. C. F. Dowsett, hid replied that he had endeavored unsuccessfully to meet Mr. Corkill on the ground. He emphatically dcni il iiiat the construction of the concrete culvert had caused the water to back up in the stream. He was prepared to meet any competent engineer and prove to him the water was at present taking the culvert at fully one inch below the normal level, the normal level being the level of-' the water after a selected period in April last, when the original levels were taken. He was quite satisfied that Mr. Corkill was suffering no damage in any shape or form as the result of any -works executed by this Council aujoining Mr. Corkill's property. Quite a number of people in the vicinity were prepared to corroborate this statement.—The engineer's reply was apI proved.

PUKEARUHE. Mr. Davis, of Pukearuhe, on behalf of the settlers pledging themselves to raise a loan of £GOO for deviation of the main road and metalling, waited on the Council and asked that tenders he called at once, so that the work could be done this summer. The settlers were now practically unanimous concerning the proposals.—The engineer explained that it was quite impossible for him to lav oil' the deviation and frame estimates and specifications before the ord of the year.—lt was decided to invite tenders for metalling the Patiki -ind factory hills, tenders to close at nex\ meeting. Tt was further decided th'H metal should be put down 10 feet wide and 10 inches deep. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported that in the Waihi riding the balance of the stone at Waipapa had ocen crushed and laid down, the total amount being 1185 yards, the total distance covered about 50 chains, and the cost averaging about 7s per yard. The whole stall' was niw engaged at Onaero, and it was anticipated that everything would be cleared up in about three weeks' time. Davis had formed up the Ohanga road with the grader, lie would have preferred to have seen more attention given to this road. In the Tixorangi riding instructions had been given to form up West's Hill, and it was hoped later to have this section metalled. Tenders should also be called for expending Otaraoa road balance in metalling the cutting. In the Ngatimatu riding Crossier has about completed his metalling contract at Tarata, and Pennington was proceeding with his metalling at Purangi, On the Otaraoa road, Baxter had a fair amount of stone oroken ready for use. The Waitara bridge at Purangi should be cleaned and overhauled for repairs anu painted, it having received no attention of consequence since its erection. Tenders are called for the township earthwork at Urenui, and the postal authorities would be notified when it was advisable to proceed with their alterations. The bulk of the timber wis now upon the ground for the Okoke bridge protective work, and Clare would be proceeding with the repairs at j n early date. Ekdahl and Ilenwood were progressing with their formation contract on the Piko road, and had so far completed about 30 chains. Telfar iwou'd be shortly laying down the metal on the Top of the Onaero Hill. Clare had about completed cleaning and painting the Mimi bridge. Mokau riding: The quantity of gravel quarried from tho face opposite the 2G mile peg was 700 yards. He proposed appeasing the natives by fencing off the gravel pits' fir protection, lie also proposed starting work at Oxenham's corner next week according to levels submitted, and transferring the men from the metal pit f;>r this purpose. Evetts was progressing with Joardan and Co.'s boulders and had about half the required amount quarried. '1 he contractors had commenced work at the fillings, but their strength should be largely reinforced. The grader had been working 011 the Uruti road and George's engagement terminated this week. Fresh authority was therefore requested for liini to proceed. An inspection of. the Uruti Vallev bridges was made, and some further mccssjiry repairs would be noeessarv to safeguard the engine ami crusher in transit. With regard to the Waiiti deviation and metal, last week it was decided, upon the loan money beiw granted, that the Papntiki and' factor? bills «houl3 be metalled. This week it had been decided by the settlers th.it the Council again meet all the ratepayers and proceej with the deviation. These repeated alterations, wrote Mr. Dowsctt. were not appreciated. The best allocation of the expenditure for ail concerned would be to adhere to the metalling of the existing hills. Tile report 'was adopted, and effect will be given to its recommendations.

TARATA BRIDGE. The Taranaki County Council forwarded a draft agreement vesting control of the Tarata bridge (Waitaia liver) in the Clifton Council,—Crs. Sender and Kennington were appointed to flign 011 behalf of the Council. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted as follow:—! Sfetninii" Junction road C, F. Anderson, 8s TTiil per yard; metalling Main North road. -I. Coicniiui, 8s 7d; Urcnui earthwork ,T. (I. Waite, ,C 32, 1-Is 7.1; ai.d W. F. JJowman's lender of 25s per lOrtft for timber supplies for Xorth MaUu. i Fresh tenders will be called for Oapui road nietalling. The Council decided to allow Ttenry Janfos (o withdraw from tile contact entered into by him with ,T. 11. Mageo, K .lonian and F. Wasley for metalling 72 chains on the Mimi-Mokau road, !iis partners undertaking to complete tlie contract. GENERAL. The salary of tl« poundkeeper at M'aihi was increased to £2 per week. A motion by Crs. O'Sullivan and Sander to "farm the gate" was negatived. Accounts amounting to £7Ol 0s 41 were passed for payment. v