CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 207, 10 December 1910, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held in the County Office, Waitara, yesterday. There were present: Crs. J. W. Foreman (chairman), E. Julian, R. McKenzie, C. O'Sullivan, H. Musker, H. Sander and C. J. Kennington. ' MOUNT EGMONT METAL. The clerk of the Patea Council asked the Council's support to a letter sent to the Premier and Minister of Public Works, drawing their urgent attention to the fact that the expressed inability of the Government to supply metal from Mt. Egmont this season is causing severe | loss and inconvenience to local bodies in this district, and more especially as their Council was led to believe metal could be supplied, and had made arrangements to lay down 10,000 yards, most of which was to metal an important road, that was urgently in need of it. As it was understood that £15,000 had been set aside for the work ot extending the railway, his Council would ask that they should use their influence to the utmost in pushin'g forward the line, so that the Council may be assured of obtaining necessary supplies early." Mr. Foreman, chairman, said the mat-, ter had been discussed in the House, and the Department had decided to put the work of extending the line to the reel in hand at once. He did not see what they could do in the matter, as there was no doubt the Government recognised the want of metal in those districts. ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARIES. A. Coleman, clerk of the Whangamamona County Council, asked that a conference should be held between the Wlhangamomona and Clifton County Councils in order that a readjustment of boundaries may be mutually and amicably decideid upon. He also pointed out that when this matter waa brought forward twelve months ago, the Clifton County Council asked that the matter should be deferred for twelve months in order that full time and opportunity might be had for the purpose of acquiring information as to the best line of adjustment. After discussion, the Council deferred decision till next meeting. OKAU ROAD. j Mr. W. H. Kent, hon. secretary of the I, Kotare Progressive Committee, wrote 1 stating that at a meeting of the com- / mittee he was instructed to write the Council regarding the sandstonin'g ok i the road from the Okau Junction to ; the Kiwi road. After discussion, it was resolved that the chairman and Cr. Sullivan visit the i locality and report at next meeting. SURFACEMEN'S REPORT. ' W. Kutz (Mokau riding) reported that he would require 900 yards of metal for maintenance. He would also require the ■ use of a horse and dray for a few days ] at the top end, where there was no •• metal. , J. M. Telfar (Urenui) reported that ; all the gravel roads in the riding were much,,worn, the average thickness being less than six inches. Based on an average of 6yds to the chain, he would require, for maintenance, Main road !>oo yds, Okoke 150 yds, Moerangi 120 yds, to-1 tal 1170 yds.

A. Hutchens intimated that about 20 yds. would be required to repair the portion of Okoke road under liis supervision. A. McDonald (Waihi) reported that ; both the main road and bye-roads were in good repair. He would require 50 or 60 yards metal near the Waihi School. There was also about 20 chains near I Onaero Factory which required metalling. W. Topping (Ngatimaru) reported., that the steel bridge on Otaraoa roadj was rusting and scaling considerably. He would require 100 yards of gravel out of Gorkill's pits for maintenance. C. P. Dowman reported that lie had plenty of metal on Purangi saddle, but> would require about 20 yards near Mr.' Gorkill's, which he could obtain as required. The Council then discussed the requirements, and it was decided to call tenders for 500 yards for the Urenui riding, and also for quarrying, delivering to crusher and carting to road, 1000 yards of shell rock from Jones' pit at Uruti. The other small requirements were agreed to. TRAFFIC BY-LAWS. Messrs. K. H. Pepperill and Bleakley, of Urenui, waited on the Council in regard to the new by-laws regulating heavy traffic, which the Council proposed to introduce. They argued that the provision stopping all heavy traffic in the winter would cause trouble, and would be a hardship, as it would prevent settlers in the backblocks employing carriers to cart their material. They also considered that the by-law regulating the number of horses to be, used in drawing a vehicle, so as to be ini proportion to the width of a tyre, would? be unworkable as far as the carriers were concerned. Six light horses would not do as much damage as four heavy ones, rough-shod. The chairman said the by-law had been brought forward to stop the excessive wear and tear of -the road!'lt was practically enforce the bylaw which regulated' the load earried according to the width of tyres. He pointed out that they did not limit the number of horses to be Useff,~lrafr - f6f II every horse used a wider tyre would be { requued. —Tha Cpuntal decided-to >oon-

isider the matter when the by-laws came up for confirmation. GENERAL. . Mr. J. K. Logan, superintendent ot | electric lines, forwarded a guarantee in I connection with the Okoke telephone for j signature.—The chairman and Mr. Julian / were appointed to sign. 'A statement was also forwarded re the Matau and Pui'angi telephone service, showing a deficiency of £l9 4s lOd for the year. On receipt of this amount the bond would be cancelled. The statement showed revenue Matau £lO 18s Bd, Purangi £l3 19s 6d. Expenditure and -interest £lB 3s; maintenance £10; stationery £4; salary (Matau) £5 and (Purangi) £7. Messrs. Allen Bros., of Purangi, asked that the Pukemahoe road at Mrs. Silk's place be improved to enable them to get their wool out—Left in the hands of Councillor Sander to expend up to £lO. , Surfaceman H. Jones (Mokau riding) forwarded his resignation, which was accepted.