CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. E. Julian, H. Sander, S. J. Kennington, H. 'Musker, and McKenzie. The chairman {Cr. Foreman) and Cr. O'Sullivan were absent, as they were ac- ! companying the Minister of Public I Works on his tour through the county. Cr. E. Julian was voted to the chair. [ FOREMEN'S REPORTS. ! Foreman Topping, Ngatimaru, drew the council's attention to the firewood carting on Otaraoa road with narrow tyred vehicles. Last year the road was made almost impassable through similar carting. Foreman Hutchen, Okoke, reported that D. Paul had completed 5y 2 chains of metalling. The foreman did not think that any more carting could be done before next summer. Several big slips hud come down on the Okoke and Piko roads, and he required the assistance of a man to clear them out.—Already arranged. Foreman James Hutchins reported that the Rerekapa road was now blocked by slips and would not be available for horse traffic until these were removed. Foreman W. Kuhtz, Uruti, reported that the roads in his district were not in too good order, and he required the assistance of four men for a short time. The Wai-iti road was completed, but more work was needed on the Pukearuhe road. He had inspected the Uruti bridge and forwarded a list of timber required.—The timber will be ordered, and the assistance applied for was granted. Foreman Kuhtz also reported that straying cattle and pigs were doing a lot of damage to the roads, and owners would not keep them off for asking. He asked to be advised as to what it was best to do. —All foremen are to be 'given notice to take proceedings in all cases where stock stray on the roads. Foreman Dowman reported that the Pita road was overgrown wi'th scrub and seven small bridges required renewing. About 30 chains of the further end was the worst part. The lower end of the Pukemoko road required attention. Two feet more earth was required on a big culvert on the Ngatoto road to prevent it washing away next flood, as during last flood the water was 10 feet above it. He also required a number of posts to repair fences along the road.—Foreman Dowman was authorised to spend up to £lO on the Pita road, and to employ assistance if required. He was also instructed to replace the filling on the Ngatoto road and to secure posts required. Foreman Telfar, Urenui, reported re expenditure of thirds on Kaipikari road, and that the settlers asked that the ■money be used in cutting scrub, clearing logs and slips, and he had accordingly arranged to have this done. BY-LAWS. Mr. Hugh Pollen, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, wrote that the Minister of Internal Affairs had confirmed the by-laws made by the council on December 10th, 1910.—1t was resolved to supply all surfacemen with copies of by-laws. THE RECENT BRIDGE ACCIDENT. Cr. Julian reported that he had inspected the bridge on the Piko road, where Miss Ross had met with the accident. There was nothing on the surface to indicate that the plank wai rotten, but it must have had a flaw underneath, which caused it to give way suddenly and allow the horse to fall. The bridge, which was erected by the Government, had only been completed on October 31, 1905, and the decking being of sound heart of rimu one would hardly expect it to give way so soon.— It was resolved that a copy of the report be forwarded to Miss Ross, and that she be informed that the council could not admit liability in the matter. ENTERING FOR METAL. Messrs. Malone, Anderson and Johnstone, of Inglewood, on behalf of Mr. A. Corkill, protested against the action of the council, whose surfacemen entered the land in January last without notice of any kind, and had been engaged making new roads to the gravel pits. The council had broken the lock, and placed a lock and key of their own,

virtually taking possession of the property. No stone, however, had yet been taken. If the council intended keeping men working on Mr. Corkill's land for a great portion of the year without taking stone and without paying for! damage done steps would have to be taken to prevent them, as Mr. Corkill could not enjoy the free use of his land. They did not wish to take proceedings by injunction, and suggested, that a committee should be appointed by the council to meet Mr. Corkill and themselves and arrange a basis on which the work could go on. It must be obvious to the council that the annoyance to which Mr. Corkill was subjected and the interference with the working of his farm was a severe handicap to him, ana far in excess of the powers vested in the council. Cr. Sander stated that no damage had been done to the land. The council had merely been lowering the grade of the road to the pit. He also pointed out that after the matter had gone to ' arbitration notice had been served on Mr. Corkill, who still refused to give them the key. The council, therefore, broke the lock, and put on a fresh lock, leaving a key for Mr. Corkill, and retaining one themselves. A draft reply was read in connection with which the council went into committee. It was finally resolved that Mr. Corkill be written to, and that Crs. Julian and McKenzie be appointed to meet him at the gravel pit. GOVERNMENT GRANTS. Mr. C. J. McKenzie, Public Works engineer, wrote that the appropriation for the Ngatoto road had been £2OO in 1910-11. Of this £l4O had been expended for bridge building, and he suggested that the remaining £OO should be spent in making dray road approaches to the bridge, in replacing a culvert, and in continuing widening beyond the bridge.—Fresh proposals will be submitted by the county engineer. Mr. C. J. McKenzie further wrote approving of the proposed method of expending £35 on Mangaoapa roadMatau township. The engineer was instructed to submit plans and specifications for expenditure of this money. He also wrote that as the £SO appropriation on the Junction road (Purangi-Matau) had been made for metalling he could not agree to its expenditure in taking off bad points along the Matau Saddle. There were bad points on the saddle, but the money should be expended in metalling near the Matau township. ) ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. C. F. Dowsett reported that W. J. Clare had . satisfactorily completed surfaceman's cottage at Okoke. W. F. Dowman had signed his contract for the erection of the Manga owata bridge on the Ngatoto road. Application had been made to the Resident Road Engineer for the balance of the grant and also for the balances on the Otaraoa and Piko, roads. Plan for completion of signature of W. Rowe's deviation at Wai-iti had been forwarded to Messrs. Roy and Nicholson for completion. F. Sayers had written that he was unable to complete his contract for the Piko road bridges. Ho suggested that the contract be determined and tenders called for the work as a whole.—The engineer's report was adopted, and it was decided to call tenders for the bridge timber to close at next meetirfg. i GENERAL. Cr. Julian furnished a report with reference to Black bridge, Piko road, and stated that the repairs had not been carried out as directed. He suggested that £1 be deducted from the contract price. This was agreed to. •Mr. W. S. Short, Assistant UnderSecretary for Public Works,- wrote that , the legalisation of the land taken for the Otaraoa road was in the hands of the. council, and he returned copy of agreement for signature by the county council and the parties interested.—Referred to the chairman and engineer. Mr. C. N. Rowe, Urenui, asked the council to open the Okoke road leading to sections 43, 34 and 35. He had been paying rates for over 25 years, and not one shilling had been spent on the road by the council.—Cr. Julian will visit the road and report at next meeting. Mr. H. D. O'Donnell wrote asking if there were any thirds available for the Mangaongaonga road.—Left in the hands •f Cr. Musker. Mr. T. C. Astwood asked the council to lease him a strip of land in frojnfc of section 3, block 5, Mimi.—Held over. Cr. Kennington reported in regard to the reserve at Purangi applied for by Messrs. C. R. Dewar and C. F. Dowman that it would be advisable for the council to fence the reserve and lease it to the surfaceman (Dowman) for a horse paddock at a rental of £2 per year.— Recommendation adopted. The Treasury intimated that the sum of £56 17s 6d had been paid to the council's account for metalling, etc., at Okoke. The New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Office forwarded provisional approval of a lo.an for £SOO for deviation and metalling Main North road, Pukearuhe—Steps will be taken to raise the loan. ... Tenders were received for burning papa on Mount Messenger as follows: E. A. Bnrkett lis, F. Bellshaw 10s 3d. The latter was accepted, subject to certain conditions being complied with. _ Accounts to the amount of £452 10s od were passed for payment.