CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 61, 2 September 1911, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.. The monthly meeting of thie Clifton County Council was held) yesterday. There were present: Crs. J. W. Foreman (chairman), T. McKenzie, C. O'Suflivan, H. Musker, »S. J. Kennington ami H. Sander, ENGINEER'S REPORT. '

Mr. C. F. Dowsett (county engineer) reported that signatures for consent to the Wai-iti deviation had been obtained from owners and occupy rs, and that locality plans and information had been forwarded to the reserves agent for consent regarding native section. No thirds were available for sec. 11, blk. 12, Waitara, recently purchased! by Mr.McAlpine on the Kaiprkari road, and tenders would therefore he called for work up | to the amount of the original authority. W. J. Clare had commenced the erection of the Piko read bridge. Owing to threatened erosion of the banks adjacent to the Bull creek bridge site, it had been deemed adVisa&le to make a small deviation, for which the necessary consent had been obtained. The Piko and Okoke roads required so much attention that it was impossible for the surfaceman to do justice to any widening. An inspection had been made of the Block bridge, which wouJd require further attention. W. F. Dowman had all the timber ready for the Mangaowata bridge on the Ngatotp road, ftnd would a-t once .proceed 'with its erection. S. Ix>we had signed his contract for earthwork on this road, and Dewar and Ayres had also signed for theirs on the South Matau road. The report was adopted.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Hutcheri (Okoke) reported that he had been employed in putting in a concrete culvert and widening a bad bend on the Piko road.- He would commence work beyond Ekdohi's during the month, and would require the use of a horse and dray. It would cost about

£SO to make at 12ft* track from Ekdahl's to Whittaker's, a distance of 100 chaans. A considerable number of concrete pipes would also be required. Councillors expressed surprise that the work was estimated to cost so much,

and considered that as it was such a large job it would be 'better to call tenders, and thus enable the surfaceman to get on with other routine work. It was resolved that in the event of the foreman mot having commenced work on the track it be placed in charge of the engineer to call tenders, returnable at next meeting. Foreman McDonald (Onacro) rc-orted that he had been employed getting gravel from the pit. A culvert on the Tnland North road had been replaced with concrete pipes. Mr. 0. Marsh had offered to cart boulder stone to the crusher and from there along the road for 5s fid per yard.—lt was resolved to 'call tenders for 1000 yds. of boulder stone, 500 to be delivered at the Waipapa,

and 500 at the Tuarangi roads. Foreman Telfar reported on the state of the Hawera bridge, which required

urgent repairs. The 6nacro ; hill was being patched. The cartage had' 'been let to Mr. C. Marsh at 3s per yard, hut owing to scarcity of teams only 21yds. had been delivered.

Foreman W. Kuhtz (Mokau) reported that the roads in his ruling were in really good order, and he was widening the Mokau road -whenever lie could. There was a had place on the Main road near Mr. O'Sullivan's, which required widening, as there had heen several accidents there. Some of the Uruti bridge timber had not yet come to hand. He had been doing some sanding on the. Uruti road with thirds.—The chairman said the main road was perfectly level, and if drivers would only me ordinary caution there would he no danger. He was of opinion the money could be used to better advantage elsewhere. Cr. O'Sullivan said there was a lot of traffic on the road, and it would owly cost about £5 to remove the danger. It was decided that the surfaceman be instructed to expend up to £5.

MOERANGI ROAD. Mr. G. A. Gaustad wrote that he was willing to take £7 for the whole of sw. 112. blk. 7, Waitara, or he would take -"a for the part required for the rmd.- The chairman said that he had ■ VI n visit to the locality, and the position was not quite as he had been led to understand last meeting. Evidently the settlers had not quite understood the position of the road pegs. From the discussion he thought that they had «n awkward cutting as well as an awkward corner to contend with. There was, however, a level road, although the corner was rather awkward", and he could not recommend the Council to purchase any land.—The chairman's report was adopted. PITA ROAD. Mr. P. J. Burgess interviewed the Coiuieil re applying for a Government grant for opening up the* Pita road from the Waitara river to his property, a distance of a mile- and a half. He stated that he had already seen the Minister and been referred to the County Coun-cil.—-It was decided to apply for a grant of £4OO for this purpose. OKOKE ROAD. Mr. R. A. Kirton, Uruti, wrote that for some little time the Okoke road had drawn the attention of a large number of settlers, to whom its completion as far as Tangitu would be of much benefit. The joining of the Okoke and Tangitu would be of great benefit to Waitara and Crenui. At the present time settlers were preparing a petition to the Minister of Public Works, asking for the work to be done, and he asked the Council to write to the Minister urging on him the importance of the work. Or. O'Sullivan said this road should have been put through long ago. It would undoubtedly be a great Ixmcfit, and he thought the Council should approach the Government. Cr. Kennington said that this road would save Tangitu settlers at least ten miles in coming out to Crenui and Waitara. Or. Musker remarked that it would save a day's journey each way with stock. The Council unanimously resolved to support the application. SCHOOL ENTRANCES. Mr. A. IT. Haleombe, chairman of the TTrenui School Committee, asked for Wo yards of gravel for the entrance to the school, where the committee had put in a culvert.—The chairman said that if this application was granted they would be unable to Tefuse any similar applications.—The Council will have no abjection to the committee taking the gravel j from the county pit. I RESIGNATIONS. [Foreman W. Topping (Tarata) forwarded his resignation, to take effect, from September 30, IWl.—Members expressed regret at losing a man who had done such good work on the roads, and it was resolved to ask hhn to reconsider his decision. Some of the members stated that the foremen objected to enforcing the traffic and wandering cattle bylaws. •Surfaceman. G. J. Kuhtz (Mokau) also forwarded his resignation, to take effect from September 30, 1911. KATPIKARI ROAD. Mr. A. T. Mac Alpine wrote thanking the Council for, agreeing to widen the Kaipikari road in the direction of his property. .. •„,_,. ij t&ufflMmato

The Commissioner of Crown Lands in-j timated that for the half-year ending ■ September 30, 1910, there were thirds to i the value of £8 14s 3d accruing, and* | there would probably be the same next year. As Mr. Mac Alpine had purchased the section for cash, no thirds were payable from the capital value, aceording to Section 145 of the Land Act, 1806. —' Work as originally agreed to was authorised. ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES. Or. Kenuington, gave notice to move at next meeting that this Council endeavor to arrange an adjustment of boundaries with the Stratford County Council, whereby the Clifton County will take over the South Matau and Mangaoapa. roads from the present boundary to the railway line at Kiore. TYRE BY-LAWS. Foremen Telfar and McDonald forwarded nine and eight names respeet- | ively of allteged offenders against the widlth of tyres by-laws. The Council went into committee to discuss the reports, and on resuming reported that it had been decided to take two test cases into court. . REDISTRIBUTION OF RIDINGS. Cr. CSullivan stated that the County elections were shortly coming on, and he thought that the County representation should be increased. According to valuation, Mokau was entitled to an additional member, and so were some of the other ridings. ' Cr. Kennington did not see any advantage in extra representation. Mokau was getting justice. It hadt its fair share of the bank overdraft, at all events. The chairman pointed out that although Mokitii riding had the largest value, much of the land abutted on roads over which the Council had no control. No doubt later on redistribu- , tion of riding boundaries would be re- . quired, but he did not see any need for . alteration at present. He did not think there was any injustice under the prcsi ent system. , Cr. Kennington ; ppin.ted out that Awa- ■) kino County was ibout to be gazetted, • and possibly some portion of the Mokau I riding might wish to join that county. . This would cause another adjustment. Cr. O'Sullivan said that. their com- • munity of interest was with this end. , The chairman pointed out. that by the i Act any alteration must be made in . March, and this effectively settled the > discussion.

" , GENERAL. Mr. J. P. Kennedy, of Opunake, wrote offering to supply all information regardinr Hip manufacture and cost of conrefe nipes from 9iv. to 3ft.—The Council •uthorised the chairman to communicate f"rther on'the subject. In response to his application, Chae. Turner is to lie informed that the Council liasi not yet decided to appoint ft surfaceman on the Okau road.

Mr. A. Hutchens. surfaceman at OWkc, rskcd tlie Council to reduce the rent of his residence from 8s to Os per weeft. — It wis resolved that the Council could not recede to the request, as the present rental left only a small margin over interest on cost of construction, insurance, ete.

Mr. B. F. Fabish wrote offering to fall hush -on the old Otaoroa road, alongside his section, for £1 2s 6d.—lt was resolved to inform hirn that the Council was unable to agree to his request, as the road was not used by the public, but that he was at liberty to cut down any trees that would interfere with his fence if he chose.

Mr. Chas. Zarhariah, reserves agent, wrote that he would shortly be in Waitara, where he would interview the Council in respect to the Pukearuhe and Otaoroa road deviations.

C'r. Ke'.'.iiiiiiffton's action in disposing of old nrllsrc' timber on the Ma tan North road w.-s con finned. ' ■-.>■■

The chairman gave a veport of the proceedings at the County Conference. The Valuation Department notified payment to the Council's account of £SOO. subsidy on rates. Accounts amounting to £238 Is 3d were passed for payment.