EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 212, 16 December 1910, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

'.MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the E". l , in out County Council wa- h.-M on Friday last. when there were present: Crs. Dudley U'huirman), Maxwell. Farquhar, Hurst, Young. Harvey and Wilcox. GOVERNMENT GRANT. The I'ubiic Works Department wrote informing the Council that there would lie a b.il '.nee of WA available for Ouehu--1 N':.:,"i!-i :■>.•! to No-wall road, and £250 for Win urn road (Ngariki to Ihaia), and a- 1 c! tlr- Council to undertake the expenditure of Ihe money. .V g-..);! deal of discussion^arose over Hi.- matter. The councillors were unani-nioiii-Iy agreeable in spending the grants, but thought the cost of supervision should come out of the grants; but at the same time they did not like to imperil ihe chance of losing the grant on account of refusing to take the responsibility of expending it. J't'was decided to reply that the Council is (piite willing to expend the money providing that the cost of preparing plans and supervision comes out of the grant, and suggesting that 5 per cent, be deducted for supervision; also that the Council found the cost of expending the last grant was 8 per cent. SUPERVISION. Tln> Pari'liaka Road Board forwarded account of supervision in connection with the Wirenm-road Government grants totalling £ 11.--Eesol.ved that the Board be asked for particulars. > RISE OF WAGES. The chairman stated that the Opunake foreman tame to' him when Vincent's contracts started, informing him that he could not get, casual labor under 9s per day. He gave the foreman permission to employ at 9- per day until the Council met.—lt was decided to pay the casual hands, during the contracting work, 9s . per day up to 'March. Foremen Humphries, Munro and Harris wrote applying for rise of wages to liOs per day. and intimating that contractors were paying 19s a day for ordinary work.; —After some discussion, it was decided to hold our decision until next meeting.' The "working foreman" proposal will also; come up for discussion. DEPUTATION". Mr. J. McKeown waited on the Council, and prefaced his remarks •with the asser-, ti'on that everybody else had their share of rates allocated, but he did not get his share unless he begged and prayed for it. Last year there was a credit of £lO2 to the Honi road and. only £2B spent on it. He would like to know where the balance, some £B9, went to, and would like it spent on the road this,year. By request of his neighbors,, he would like the Council to consent to the ratepayers joining the Waimate County, so as to be included when the commission between the Ilawera and Waimate Counties was set up, iod'Was of the opinion Waimate would win'. Th" chairman said there was no doubt Mr. MceKown was right as far as expenditure of rates on the road, was concerned, but it would be absurd to plunk metal on top of good metal, whilst other roads are starving for want of metal.

Or. Maxwell moved, That Mr. Mc- 1 Keown be informed that road accounts I are only kept as a guide to the Council, I and not with anV idea' tliajt any road is entitled to the whole of the rate's "aid, by property holders on the road. The Council must expend rate money where it is mostly needed, irrespective of from whom it is derived.—Seconded by Cr. Farqtiahar and carried. The foreman was authorised to inspect the road and to report. R'AT-lOTU SOUTHERN. Foreman Humphries reported:—During the month I have been engaged at general road work; .have raked up loose stones between' Taimgatara and Waiau rivers, also in Opunake riding. Vickerv 1 and Hickey have completed'contract 179. I recommend a progress, payment of 75 per cent, on 400 yards of boulder stone crushed and delivered. Main South road (between Waiair and Taimgatara): A. C. Vincent has started" contract 170'. I recommend progress payment of 75 per cent, on 2119 yds of boulder stone crushed and delivered. I will require about 150 yds of pit metal for blinding on the Eltham road, and LOOvds of blinding on' Main South Toad (Waiau to end of Eltham road').. A. C. Vincent will cart same at what I consider is « reasonable price. —Resolved that tenders be called for the blinding work. RAIIOTC NORTHERN. Foreman F. Newport reported:—During the month we have been busy repairing the Main South load between Ruhotu and Pungarehu, doing general work. 1 have also re-decked the bridge over the Punilio river and put two new joists in the same bridge. I have also done slight repairs to the Waiweranui bridge. —On the motion of Crs. Maxwell and ' Wilcox, the foreman was authorised to . send in an estimate of the quantities of blinding material required. Abridged from Opunake Times.