CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 4 July 1910, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at the county office, Waitara, on Friday. Present: Crs. Foreman (chairman),* Julian, McKenzie, Sander, Kennington and Musker. STRAYING CATTLE. The surfacemen at Uruti and Tarata reported that as long as cattle and horses were allowed to stray about the roads as at present, it was practically impossible to keep the water-tables, etc., clear. Councillors also emphasised the damlage caused by this nuisance. I Cr. Musker said it would be cheaper i not to allow any grazing on the roads either in winter or summer, and to employ men to cut down the rubbish. •Surfacemen are to be instructed that all cattle found straying on the roads are to be impounded and the names of the owners taken, with a view to prosecution. REGULATING HEAVY TRAFFIC. Considerable discussion took place in regard to the damage that is being caused to the roads on account of the heavy traffic during the winter months. The chairman said those who do the damage could be held responsible for it, and the Council should exercise its powers. • .Something must be done at once to prevent the serious damage that was being done to the roads. Crs. Sander, McKenzie and Musker thought the Council should advertise the section of the (Public Works Act dealing with extraordinary traffic and also the fact that the Council intended enforcing Cr. Julian emphasised the fact that some of the roads were in a dreadful state and unless some action was taken they would he absolutely impassable soon. After further discussion it was de-' eided that action be taken under the Public Works Act. Later on a report was Tead from A. I Hutchens, surfaceman at Okoke, which fully ibore out Cr. Julian's remarks. PUKEARUHE LOAN. Provisional approval was forwarded >by the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Office of the loan of £6OO for the purpose of metalling and the deviation of a portion of the Pukearuhe road. This loan would have a currency of 36% years, bearing interest at 3% per cent., I with a sinking fund of 1 per cent, and would be covered by a special rate of %d. The chairman explained that this loan had been discussed at last meeting, when the Council had been informed (that the loan could not be secured ; under the old Act, hut would have to ;.be obtained under the new, which bore a higher rate of interest. The Council had ; applied for the £6OO under the old Act,| and decided that it would be better now to take a loan of £450, which the rite already struck would cover. The DeI partment had been informed to this effect, but so far the letter had not been acknowledged. The position was. very unsatisfactory, as if they accepted the £6OO, it would be necessary to refer the matter back to the ratepayers to secure | their consent, and go to the expense of I making a hew special order striking a rate sufficient to cover the higher rate of interest.

Before taking any further steps it was decided to await a reply to the Councils' application for the smaller amount. RATING ACT AMENDMENT.

A circular letter was received from the Bruce County Council asking the Council's support for an amendment in the Eating Act so as to make it compulsory upon owners of property to give written notice to the Weal authorities of every change of ownership -or occupancy of rateable property within a county. This would facilitate the collection of rates and minimise the loss, inconvenience and friction caused under the present conditions. The Council decided to support the proposal.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. | The secretary of the New Zealand I Counties' Association wrote, stating that the Prime Minister had intimated at Winton that ''he proposed to affirm certain principles 'by resolution, and upon that being done the Local Government Bill would be circulated, and full opportunity for its consideration would be given to those ■ interested. The matter was a most important and necessarily a far-reaching one, and presented many difficulties which, he trusted, would be overcome." As this announcement had considerably altered the position of affairs, it was proposed to defer fixing the date of the conference until the resolutions had been .placed ibefore the House. I ENGINEER'S REPORT. '

The Engineer reported as follows: Waihi Riding: W. J. Clare is effecting repairs to the Waiau bridge oh the InHand North road and McDonald has been giving attention to the new metal in this vicinity and also repairs to the Ohanga road. Tikorangi Riding: Clare has also satisfactorily completed all -repairs to the Tikorangi suspension bridge and traffic ; has already been resumed. I would suggest consulting with the Taranaki County Council as to the best means of | disposal of the old timber from the [.bridge. D. Paul tenders for metalling i portion of the Otaraoa road under Go-' I vernment grant. ] I Ngatimaru Riding: Pratt has repair the Pita road bridge and Langman is ■breaking stone on the Oapui road. An | interview 'was held with the Crown Lands Ranger respecting a site for the 'surfaceman's cottage at.Tarata, and it is hoped that satisfactory arrangements will be effected. Arrangements should be made for re-building bridge between the 31 and 32 mile pegs reported oni some months ago. A further recent in-j spection indicates progressive decay. ; Urenui Riding: Plans and specificaI tions of the work on the Mataro road i have been approved by the Resident Engi- | neer and tenders wd be wOlcd for tins work at the next meeting. Wkttaker is procuring timber for repairs to the Black bridge on the Piko road ::t a site adjacent thereto. Hut.: i "is "ens renew ed Mis large woode ■ c-iii. T '-t <>n the Okoke read with 24in eonerct'! pipes. Mo'kau Riding: The Mok;:u foreman arrived during the month and was t:.'kcn to his district and his duties shown and explained to him. T have, however, not seen him since the middle of the month and conclude he must have returned south. On the Pukearuhe road Wells lias completed his earthwork contract. The Council have resumed control of the , Wai-iti road, 1). Paul's maintenance having expired. Thirds amounting to £304 Ills have been scheduled nml"presented for approval. Being unable to procure final signatures the Otaraoa deviation plans are still retained here. Gr. McKen/.ie stated that Clare had found the Waiau bridge needed more extensive repairs than anticipated. The proposed repairs would enable the bridge to last for a while, but a new one would soon be needed. The chairman said there was every 1 prospect of a site at Tarata being secured for a surfaceman's cottage.

The question of re-building bridge in the Ngatimaru riding is to stand over until the summer. No action is to be taken re the Mokau foreman until next meeting. The chairman moved that D. Paul's tender for supply of ISO yards of metal ! on Otaraon. road be accepted.—Seconded by Cr. McKenzie. An amendment was proposed by Crs. Sanders and Kennington that the Council ask permission to expend balance of grant in improving the road between the deviation and Mangahema road. The amendment was carried. It was also decided that in the event of such permission being refused. Paul's tender for metal will be accepted. GENERAL RATE. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. McKenzie. the resolution striking 'a general rate of l%d in the £ for the ensuing year was confirmed. Cr. McKenzie said he had spoken to several ratepayers and none objected to the proposed increase. In fact some thought the rate should have been increased more, as it was realised that if they were to have good roads more mo- j ney would have to fie provided. j GENERAL. | Messrs Sayers and Symes were granted an extension of time for carting timber for Piko road, so as to save carting during the bad weather. Mr. A. Smith, Urenui, was granted permission to remove .a few yards of sand from one of the cuttings in that locality. C. Hardley's resignation as ranger at Urenui was accepted. W. Topping was given permission to ! fence a small strip of land alongside the river at Tarata for the purpose of a horse paddock. Surfaceman Hutchen reported that the decking of a bridge on the Piko road opposite Mr. H. Matthews' was practically rotten. Cr. Kennington brought up the question of having various roads declared main roads. The chairman stated that it was right enough to do so in a county that contained other bodies, such as road boards, with jurisdiction over their territory, but it was not needed in the Clifton county, where there were none. The Reserves Agent (Mr. J. B. Jack) wrote that the Council could fell bush along the frontage of W. Rooke's property, Waiau road, to the extent of 'one chain from the main road, provided the consent of the lessee was obtained. Accounts amounting to £662 19s 8d were passed for payment. CLIFTON DOMAIN BOARD. The Council then sat as the Clifton Domain Board, the same members being present. The chairman moved that the | balance to the credit, of the Clifton Domain Board, amounting to about £3B, be I handed over to the trustees of the Pui kearuhe Domain Board. This was seconded by Cr. McKenzie and carried.