CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 47, 4 June 1910, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara .yesterday, when there were present: Crs. Foreman (chairman), Sander, Kennington, McKenzie, O'Sullivan, ana Musker. NEW MEMBER. Before proceeding with the business the chairman welcomed Cr. Musker, who took his place at the Council's table for the first time, having been elected to the seat rendered vacant by the late Cr. McGuinncss. KING'S BIRTHDAY. The chairman referred to the fact that the meeting was held on the birthday of the" King. He -stated that when the late King died iliis if.ct came to his mind, and he should have ■postponed the meeting. In the meantime, however, cables came forward stating that the present King did not wish any celebration on his (birthday, and he (the chairman) thought there would be no holiday, and so took no action. On Wednesday night he saw a telegram from the Premier, stating that the King's Birthday was a statutory holiday and must'be held. This did not leave him sufficient time to communicate with councillors, and accordingly they were present. There seemed- to be a regular mix-up over the holiday, li now remained with the councillors to decide whether the business should be gone oil with. The Council decided to proceed with the business. PUKEARUHE LOAN.

Mr. J. W. Poynton, Superintendent of the State Guaranteed Advances Board (loans to local authorities department). informed the Council that the rate of interest on loans raised under the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Act, 1909, was at present 3]/ 2 per cent. per annum, plus one per cent, per annum sinking fund. A further letter was received from the same, in connection with the Pukearuhe loan of £6OO, and enclosing a form of preliminary application. The Department also required a copy of the special order authorising the loan and public notification of the same as well as the special order striking the rate.

The chairman explained the position in regard to this loan, which -was discussed at last meeting. The loan was applied for under the old Act and the rate then struck would cover interest on the £6OO. With, the extra rate of interest charged under the present Act the rate struck would only cover a portion of it, say £450. Would it he better to accept' this and make up the amount with part of the £3OO .promised as a subsidy, which- would be sufficient to do the metalling? Then if, later on, the settlers went in for a Loan for the deviation, the Council could give the other portion. It appeared to him that the letter was based on the assumption that the loan was being raised toy poll, whereas it 'Wiivs being raised by petition. He considered they had complied with the Act. He thought, however, that they should first decide whether they would applv for the smaller amount. Some of the councillors asked if they could apply for a smaller amount than originally asked for. • The chairman was of opinion that they could, but at all events it would 'be subject to the Council's solicitor validating 'it. It was decided that the course suggested should foe followed. EXPENDITURE OF THIRDS.

The Crown Lands Board forwarded a schedule of thirds accruing to the Council, amounting to £554 15s 1:1, and asked the Council to submit proposals for expenditure of same. Cr. Kennington suggested that this should he held over, as the money could not be soent this winter.

The chairman said the usual practice was for the engineer to confer with the riding members. Mr. Murray, District Engineer, undertook the expenditure of thirds accruing to back-country roads (known as Government roads). Cr. Kennington said hitherto the thirds had been spent in sandstoning the road from the zig-zag to Matau, but this form of metalling did not last on grades. It stood very well on flat country, and he suggested'-that some sandstoning be done beyond Matau. The chairman said it must be used to give access to the land from which it accrued. Cr. Kennington said it gave them access to the railway. JUNCTION ROAD TRAFFIC. •Messrs Govett and Quilliam forwarded a copy of the memorial of the Taranaki County Council, asking the Governor to apportion the costs of maintaining the road ibetween the borough of Inglewood and the Waitara river. The memorial was forwarded to the Minister of Public Works for presentation to the Governor on 26th ult:

The chairman said they would next be notified that a commission had been appointed to meet at a certain place and take evidence upon the matter. He did hot anticipate it would be set up within three months. Cr. O'Sullivan said they would require to obtain informatioin and evidence to place "before the commission. The chairman suggested that on receiving notification a committee should be set uip consisting of himself and the two riding members (Crs. Kennington and Sander). MATAU SOUTH ROAD.

Eleven settlers of Matau asked that i instead of monev which had been granted 'being spent on metalling, the Matau South road should ibe improved by baring a bend known as the "fish-tail bend" straightened and the road widened, and also the grade near T. A. Chapman's, which is now one-in-five, reduced. The chairman said if it meant the spending of money it had better be held over. - ' Cr, Sander moved that the matter of the "fish-tail ibend" be held 'over, hut that the engineer he instructed to give an estimate of the cost of re-grading at Chapman's hill—Agreed to. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer's report, which was adopted, wis read as follows: Waihi Riding: The metal on the Inland 'North road has been completed, the quantity crashed being 372 yards. Marsh is prepared to cart metal from the beaclt to complete the gap on the Main North road and in the meantime is 'prepared to await .payment, Tikorancji Riding: It is satisfactory to report that Clare has now completed the re-erection of the four towers of the Tikorangi suspension bridge without a hitch. This work is slow and expensive, and attended with some risk. The work remaining, i.e., renewing transomes, stringers, 'braces and decks, together with the .painting, should be completed in another three weeks. According to instructions, the crushing and metalling under Richards' contract has been postponed until next season. In view of the state of the roods the decision was a wise one. N'catimaru Riding: Pratt has completed tti-w-inc the timber for repairs to the Piko road .bridges, and will forthwith

carry out the work. Langman has completed the breaking of stone on tlie Oapui road. Dowman has completed his timber-sawing and carting contract at Matau. Roli'e will be commencing the work of improving points, etc., on the South Matau road under Government grant. Urenui Riding: A mile of work lias been laid oil' for widening the Mataro road and plans and specifications are now in course of preparation. Sayers and Syme have signed their contract for the Piko road bridges, subject to the alterations required by the Public Works Department. Pivipi has been definitely instructed to discontinue the Okohe metalling during the present season. Mokau Riding: The work of raking in and Minding the metal on the Miini-Mok-au road has been completed and the men discharged. On the Pukearuhe road Paul has completed his metalling contract. Wells has completed his earthwork contract in the Pukearuhe township. Repairs to the tunnel are now being attended to. Action should be taken to prevent heavy carting on tne unmetalled roads during the wet season. Carters and others are'already sinning in this respect. The large expenditure during the past season and the consequent depletion of the Council's funds, together with the warnings issued by the Council that new works cannot at present ibe undertaken are sufficient reasons for the absence of further recommendations in this report. The Council decided that owing to the state of the finances it could not accept Marsh's offer to cart metal on the Inland North road. CLIFTON ROAD.

Mr. W. J. Davis-Freeth objected to the Council agreeing to the Land Board leasing any portion of the Clifton road to Mr. Parsons, as he required to use that road to obtain access to his native lease, and also, until the Wai-iti road was graded, to cart milk to the factory. A letter v.as also received from the Cwnmh-io-.'.er of Crown Lands, stating that Mr. Parsons had asked to lease portion of this road, and asking the Council to take steps to have the road reopened, or such portions as may be required, so that the Board could deal with the balance. It was resolved to inform the Land Board that in the opinion of the Council it was not desirable that any steps should be taken to alienate the porti« of the closed Clifton road between section 38 and the lvopira road, as the Council proposed taking steps in this matter in the near future. GENERAL.

Mr. J. D. Seymour (Wellington) was appointed working foreman for the Mokau riding at 9s per day. Notice was given that at next meeting the Council will secede from membership of the Pukearuhe Domain Board. ■A. J. Clarke was granted a renewal of a slaughterhouse license at Ti'korangi. The Treasury notified payment of £l2l 17s 10d,' being balance due on Okau road (£SO) and Mimi-to-Mokau (£7l UslOd).

The matter of additional accommodation at the toll-house was left over for a while!

Mr. Vaughan, clerk to the Council, was granted permission to attend the proposed conference between county clerks and members of the Audit and Treasury Departments. Accounts amounting to £694 were passed for payment.