TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 8, 4 July 1911, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki County Council held ita usual monthly meeting yesterday, Present: Councillors J. JJrown (chairman), R. Stevens, M. Ilopson, Geo. Browne, C. Andrews. D. Me A] him, G. V. Tate, and J. R. Jiill. FOREMEN'S REPORTS.

Foremen's reports were read and considered as follows: Crusher-foreman Urry reported that from 31st May to 27th June the crusher had worked on eleven days, crushing 082 yards, as follows: Ngatoro, Junction road, 312 yards; Maketawa, Junction road, 184 yards; for Waiongona bridge, 308 yds. 6 Foreman Jones (Tariki) reported that the Mountain and Tariki roads were in

i fair order, considering the wet weather during the month. With permission from the chairman he had the looso stone broken which was gat/hered up last November between Mangatea and Ratapiko on lariki road at 2s per yard. His time had been taken up during the i month patching, cleaning out watertables, etc. He would require a horse and dray during the coming month for a few days patching between the creamery and Ratapiko on Tariki road. Foreman Bennett (Junction road east, Moa. riding), reported that part of his time had been taken up in patching and water-tabling. Messrs. Rowan and Thomason had finished contract No. 187 at Ngatoro bridge, and had delivered 300 yards, which was 50 yards in excess of contract. The road broke up in a lot of places with carting 2-yard loads, which lie thought was too 'much to be' carted in midwinter. One of the stringers in the Makara bridge was getting very rotten, and required a new one. In a few years it would require renewing.

Foreman Cheffings (Avenue road, Moa riding) reported that the road in his riding was in good order. For the month he had been engaged in patching the road, clearing drains and fencing at the Henui deviation, making a track"and cutting fern for dumping metal at the Henui bridge. He hail put a bridge over the water-race on the Waiwakaiho road. For the Mangorei factory he had made a road over the Mangorei river. This track had a good grade for horiu, traffic. He would advise that the Council have trees on Mr. P. W. Lambert's property cut down, as they overshadow the road and bridge, and keep them wet. Trees over-hanging the road on Mr. Cliff's property at Avenue road had lot been cut down.

Foreman .1. Holmes (Waitara ridin") reported (hat during the month he had received 200 yards of metiil from A. Haskell to re-metal some of the wornout parts of the Mountain road, and carts had to be engaged to 111] up holes that were breaking through. Referring to the fence complained about on the east side of Lepperton railway crossing by James Carter, he was not able to find anyone by that name, which was probably assumed. The fence was on part of the road, but it stood on a bank about three feet high, and until the earth was wanted it was better where it was, as it protected the water-table's. Ihe strip of land belonging to the railway was two chains wide, so that part o; the fence was on railway property. Foreman Holmes (Waitara riding, Egmont road district) reported that for the past month he had been engaged in patching the Smart, Egmont. and Henwood roads, etc. Foreman Rogers reported that he had filled up some bad holes on Puriti road, and had >pent the rest of his time digging off grass from sides of metal, cleaning water-tables, etc. He would require six planks for a bridge on lvinp road.

Foreman Huse (Omata riding) reported that he had put about 100 yards of metal on the Main South road. He had put in entrances to Barrett and Spotswood roads, and an entrance to Mr. Cooper's property on the Main South road, and Taked up loose metal and cleaned out water-tables. The roads under his control were in good order. He suggested that three paved crossings should be taken out, as they were too high and threw water on the road, and put pipes in their places. The stones could be napped for metal, and would almost pay for the pipes. Foreman Seamark (Omata riding, byroads) reported that tho roads under his control were all in good order. His time during the month had been taken up in forming and widening upper end of Sea lev road, forming upper end of Barrett road, formation of road leading to Burke's, patching Barrett and Pheney roads, and widening ami making-up wide track on llurford road hill. Mr. Burke did not come to work on the roads as promised by Or. .McAllum, and also tried to stop the men from working on the road, lie required three sets of pipes to replace paved crossings, which were getting very uneven and scouring out, side tracks.

Foreman Brosnan (Okato riding) reported that during the past month his time had been taken up in general road work, such as spreading new metal on the road from crusher, blinding, clearing out water-table?, patciiwig, etc. The crusher worked actually fi4 hours, equal to eight days, for the month; the total crushed was 432 yards. The crusher was now working at Timaru. Work on the Oakura contract was suspended for two and a half days last month, as he had refused to take delivery of inferior metal. The county crusher site at Timaru had been damaged without his permission, and the Oakura depot had been left very untidy. He had oiven permission to A. Hadler, of Puniho, to repair any bad parts of the road at the Puniho end. Messrs. ITatrick and Co. had run a light steam engine and trailer on the roads with goods this past month as far as Okato.

Foreman Eva, (Hurworth riding, Carrington and Frankley roads) reported that the roads in the district were in fair order. He had been engaged in spreading metal, cleaning water-tables, etc. The cost of gravelling George street footpath at Vogeltown, as asked for by Messrs. Little, Staples, and others, would be about £ll.

Foreman Morris (Ilurworth riding, Frankley and Eliot roads) reported that during the month lie tiad done general road work, cleaning water-tables, patching, banking up sides of metal at top end. fie had a man, horse and dray for two days patching. The roads were in very fair order. Tie would like to know wjien the contractor was going to let him have the metal, or when the crusher was coming, IFe wanted an extra 100 yards, making 450 yards in all. He had ■been told that tin: crusher was not coming to his district until about September. If that was so, lie suggested to get out the next year's. supply of metal (450 yards), making a total of (100 yards, and put through the crusher. If 200 yards of boulders could be carted , from the Waiwakniho and hand-nnppcrt j for the Eliot road, it might be done cheaper than getting it from the pit J If he could not get his quantity out until September, he would -.niicr leave it until much later and try and keep the bad places in order, than I)'- carting over the roads in the wet season. GENERAL. The Makara bridge in Foreman Bennett's length is to be placarded as dangerous.

Foreman Cheffings is to be requested to furnish cost of making crossing on Waiwakaiho road, to be charged t« Mangorei Dairy Co.

The trustees of the estate of the late Mr. W. Bayly and Mr. P. W. Lambert will receive notice to lop trees overshadowing the Avenue road. Pipes will be supplied for crossing at junction, of Waitara and Devon roads, provided Waitara West Road Board pay half cost.

Mrs. Paddison's request for repairs to King road will be acceded to, and Foreman Rogers will be supplied with planks for King road bridge. Settlers are to be thanked for gratuitous work on Dorset road. The request of Foreman Huse for three culverts in concrete pipes to replace crosings was acceded to. The request of residents in George street (Vogeltown) for gravelling the footpath was acceded to. THE MANGOKM BRIDGE. Messrs. Arthur Morton, Henry King, Newton King, J. R. Rowlands, W. J. Perm, and Dr. Eea<tham waited upon the Council in support of the following petition: —•'We, the undersigned settlers, who and whose families use the bridge over the Mangorei stream on the Avenue road which is about to be pulled down, j hear with consternation that it is not I intended that, during the work, any means of crossing the stream is to be provided, other than by a ford. This would bo disastrous to us, and. would entail most serious loss and inconvenience. We respectfully submit that a temporary structure, capable of carrying about a, ton, could be made very cheaply, and supported from time to I time as occasion required at a very, j slight expense. We urge that this be | done whilst the present bridge is being demolished, so as to utilise the materials >K " :id prevent stoppage of the traffic." Mr. Morton said that about a hundred signatures had been obtained to the petition in a very short time, and it would have been more largely signed but that only a day or two had elapsed since the Council's intention became known. He pointed out that the Avenue road was the only means of access to New Plymouth from a very large district, and it would be most inconvenient to have the road practically closed. The river would be practically unfordable in wet weather, for the river rose rapidly, sometimes to a height of seven or eight feet. He referred to the very heavy traffic of the settlers on the road, and to the fact that much of the Mangorei Dairy Company's milk-cart and creamcart traffic crossed the bridge, whilst the output of the dairy factory had to be carted over this route to the freezing works at Moturoa. He understood that the engineer's estimate of the cost of a temporary bridge would be about £IOO, but he was advised that a temporary bridge could be erected for £49 or £SO, using as stringers some tall gum trees which were growing close by. Air. Morton emphasised that before the permanent bridge could be opened for traffic (five or six months hence) the Mangorei Dairy Co. would be carting over 70 boxes of gutter daily to New Plymouth, and this would be difficult or impossible if only a- ford were provided.

Mr. H. King said there was a strong feeling in the district concerning this matter. He could speak with some knowledge of the river, and endorsed Mr. Morton's remarks concerning its rapid rising and its depth when in flood. The gum trees mentioned were from GO to 80 feet long, and could be got for 10s eack.

Dr. Leafc'ham, Mr. Newton King, and Mr. Rowlands also spoke on the necessity for the erection of a temporary bridge. The chairman, replying, said that no provision had been made for a temporary bridge, principally because of their cost in the past, generally about £2OO. If the settlers were prepared to give a bond to erect the bridge for £SO or 60, as stated, and to take the risk, he would favor its erection. But he was satisfied that the cost of the bridge would not be less than £l5O. It was all very well to talk of a temporary bridge to take the light traffic, but it would have to be strong enough to take all the traffic, unless the Council was going to place two or three good fighting men to regulate the traffic, particularly stock traffic. H the people in the Moa riding were prepared to pay an extra rate there would be no difficulty.

Mr. 11. King asked why the exception was made in this case, pointing out that in the cases of other bridges there had been temporary structures erected. The chairman replied that in this case there was an excellent ford available such as was not to be found at the other bridge sites. Mr. Morton said the Council must consider the danger to human life. The engineer is to report upon the possibility and cost of erecting a good temporary bridge. FINANCE. The chairman submitted the following statement showing income from various ridings and approximate amount available for expenditure therein for the year ending 31st March, 1012: Moa Riding.—General rates, £2450; subsidy, £308; dog tax, £7O; licenses, £3O; traffic levy, £4O; rents, £110; sundries, £10; total, £3OIB, less share of expenses under clauses A and I!, section 128, Counties Act, £440; balance available, £2578. Wnitara , Riding.—General rates, £1750; subsidy, £350; rents, £18; royalty, £(i: dog tax, £OS; sundries, £ls; total, £2204; less share of expenses of administration, £213; balance available, £1991. OniPta Riding.—General rates, £730; subsidy, £250; share of toll, £150; dog tax, £2O; licenses, £25; total, £1175, less share of expenses, £121; balance available, £1054. Okato Riding.—General rates, £870; subsidy, £112; dog tax, £32; licenses, £3O; tolls, £570; rents, £2; sundries, £4; total, £1620; less share of expenses, £172; balance available, £1448. Hurworth Riding.—General rates, £840; subsidy, £250; traffic levy, £SO; sundries, £l2; total, £1152; less share of expenses, £133; balance available, £lOl9. THE RATE. The Council decided to strike and levy general rates_ofjhi>i«Mjice was given

Waitara west road district, %d; Eginont road district, iy 2 d; Omata, ly 4 d; Okato, %d; Hurworth, %d; and a hospital rate of l-12d in the £. A CRUSHER CONTRACT. Cr. Andrews reported regarding the dispute between Foreman Brosnan and Mr. Vincent, the contractor for stone, regarding the tally. He understood that they had agreed to accept the foreman's tally. He further reported that the Timaru contract had not been going on too satisfactorily last week, but the contractor had now procured a more powerful engine to work the crusher. SAWMILL TRAFFIC. On the motion of Cr. Browne, Foreman Eva is to report to next meeting, estimating the extra cost of upkeep incurred by the traction engine traffic from the sawmill on the Carrington road. MISCELLANEOUS. Messrs. Webster Bros. (United Insurance Co.) and Mr. E. P. Webster (South British Insurance C.) applied for the Council's accident insurance policy.— Decided to re-insure with the South British Co. j Mr. H. Baily's engine will be employed to roll road in Okato riding at the rate of £2 10s per day. The Council decided to pay fi'/ 2 per cent, engineer's commission on all bridges erected by day labor. Mr. A. C. Vincent is to be requested to leave the crusher sites in the Okato riding in the same condition as he found them.

The Council decided to apply to the Government for the balance of the subsidy on the Carrington road' loan of £SOO, as requested by Mr. Chohvill Billing. The Council will place no obstacles in the way of ratepayers of portion of the Oakura road district merging into the Hurworth riding of the county. Foreman Norris reported that it would cost 12s a chain to form the road to Mr. Webster's property—Referred to Cr. G. AV. Browne.

[ Mr. J. F. Eustace drew attention to the fact that the road had recently been stripped of its metal, and asked that it he again put in order.— Cr. McAllum said he metal was taken off by the old Omata Road Board.— Action deferred. Mrs. Cole asked the Council to metal portion of Veale road, and offered to assist in the work.—Referred to Cr. Browne. Mr. A. M. Burke wrote again in reference to the opening up of the Tapuae road to give access to his property, and waited on the Council on the matter. — Referred to the chairman, with power to act. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed ifor payment as follows: Administration, £B7 Ms Id; Moa riding, £356 14s sd; Mangamahoe bridge, £224 8s 2(f; Waitara riding, £9l 10s; Omata riding, £4l lfis lid; Okato riding, £157 8s 8d; Hurworth riding, £53 lis 4d.