TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 355, 5 April 1910, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETIXG. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Co-uncil was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs dos. Brown (chairman), J. It. I-lill. G. V. Tate. F.. Ellanson, C. Andrews. C. Carter, Mr. Ilopson, ajn! P.. Stevens. l-mioiKx-'s UEi'uirr^. Foreman Jones, Tariki section of the Moa riding, reported that tiie .Yiangaotea hi'idge oil the Tariki road was in a very ivuen condiiion. The chairman said this matter had been attended to. The -oridjie hai been rotten for a number of years, and it was one which he proposed to renew out of the new loan.

Foreman E. Bennett, Junction road east (Moa riding) reported that C. iSchreiber had made a start with his contract on the Zig-zag, hut ay an proposing very slowly for want of more teams.—The contractor will he notified that he must deliver the quantities of metal per day as specified, or penalties will be imposed. Foreman Cheffings, Junction road, reported that the road was breaking up in several places, and he would require assistance in effectinsr repairs.—Authorised to proettre additional labor. Foreman Holmes (Waitara riding) reported having effected repairs to the big Wooden culvert on the Mountain road. Xo repairs had been required to any of the bridges during the month.

Foreman Huse (Omata riding) report- : ed that he had lowered the grade at . the approach of Victoria road by three ; feet. The main road was in good order. I Foreman Brosnan (Omata riding) ' stated that he had been working in the Oka to township through the month, trimming up footpaths and side-tracks. The Stony River and Kaihihi bridges were in good repair, and he had placarded the Timaru beach bridge as dangerous for heavy traffic. Gorse was beginning to accumulate on the TCatikara reserve, leased to Mr. T. W. Morris. C'r. Andrews said th.nt from what he 3iad been told by settlers using the bridge there seemed to be noces°ity_ for something to be done, for the bridge was liable to collap?" at anv time.. Referred to the' chairman. The attention of Mr. Morris will be drawn to the foreman's report upon the Kntifeara reserve. Foremen Eva and Norris (Hunvorth riding reported that the roads were in fair order.—Foreman Eva's application for a horse arid dray for patching was acceded to.

PUXIHO TOLL-GATE. Tile Council decided that it could not accede to a request by the Puniho tollfor increase of his salary from £2 to £2 I.os per week. Mr. J. (lollen, at die request of the Council, forwarded a report upon tae Mansranui river on ih'' t l unction roaih The bridge was in good ordernot one rotten piece of timber in it. THE WALPUKU BRIDGE. The Stratford County Coiiud! forwarded a copy of its resolution to ramies t the (iovernroent to vest the \vaipuku bridge in the Stratford Council. The Council adhered to its previous opinion that the control of the biidge should be vested in the Taramvki County Council, and decided to make appacation to the Minister of Public Works accordingly. AX EXPLANATION.

Mr. E. Parkin, proprietor of tlie traction engine and crusher plant which was recently reported to have been lefc unteiuled 011 the county road near Okato on one night during March, waited on the Council, and explained what led up to this. 11 is plant had .broken in a culvert at Hau-liau, and this delayed them for about 3horn's. Vihen they eventually got eiear ,tliey had not proceeded very* inr when they found the water in the boiler was very low, and they had to take fch# engine down to the stream for water, taking with them the only light they had—the engine' headlight. The truck air! -crusher had to be left on the road, but only for about fifteen minutes or so. He assured the Council that he had not offended by placing big ston«s on the road and leaving them there.'

Cr. Andrews said that he nad ascertained that Mr. Parkin was not to blame for this. The drivers of the motor-ivag-gons had been the guilty ones, but they had givan up the practice. Mr. Parkin's explanation was accepted as satisfactory, and no further action ■will be taken.

GENERAL. The Council discussed the question of taking'steps to resume possession of a county reserve in the Moa riding, whose lessee, by alleged ncgioct to eradicate gorse and blackberry, was depreciating the value of the section. The matter was left in the chairman's hands.

Mr. A. H. Johnstone, solicitor, and Mr. W. B. Davies waited on the Council with reference to the application of Mr. Simons for a tramway license on the Carrington road. Mr, .'Johnston# traversal the whole of the negotiations, which commenced during the lifetime of the Carrington Road Board. —It was decided to int'oni; the deputation "liuu this Council regret tli-.'v rf.'iuot *ee t-heir way clear to alter their previous decision relative to completing license to lay down tramway ana that they are prepared to complete the'document on receipt of payment of £3O due to the late Carrington Road Board.'' It was decided to call for applications for a foreman for the roads i-n the Egmor.t road district recently merged into the county: and that for the time being Foreman Huse take over the supervision of the roads in the Omnia and Hurford road districts, now merged into the county.

The tender of E. Ceorge at S%tl per yard for carting metal in the Omata riding was accepted; also P. (.!. Sole's tender for cartinp' and supplying metal for Cowling road ill the H'unvorth ridin £ _ . "

Cr. Carter was authorised to approach Mr. Jas. Spence, of the Carrington road, with regard to 'his claim for £2 : 'n compensation for the privilege of stacking boulders on his property.

Mr. .T. W. Povnton advised tiy telegram that the State (iuaranteed Advances Office had postponed the Council's provisional approval of the £BOOO ■bridge loan over the Mos riding, pending further parteiulars. The Be v. Father Menard, of Opunake, asked the Council to grant him * reduction of fees charged at the Puniho tollgate on his motor-car. Be pointed out that he used only a couple of miles of county road—between th» toll-bar and OVato —to hold services in Oka to. —The Council came to the conclusion that it had 110 power to make the concession applied for.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Administration, £7B 16* 6d; Moa riding, £304 9s Id: Waitara ruling. £l9O 10s 2d; Omata riding, £lfi7 4s !)d; TTurworth riding, £67 4s 3d; total, £BOB 10s Od.