TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 63, 5 September 1911, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

'' MONTHLY MEE'ITXO. i < 'i'lio ordinary monthly meeting of the ' Tai'llliaki (jlllllly Council was held yesterday. Present: Councillors Joseph Drown (chairman i. 11. Stevens, M. Iluji-:-i>ii. (i. W. Hrnwno. I). McAllum. C. V. Tat.', iniil .1. 11. Hill. foukmkx's i;ki'(ii:ts. Foremen generally reported niiids in fair order and mi general maintenance work. Foreman Chi'lUngs reported tliat with the permission of Mr. Orboll lit- had o]iened the new Mangaoraka bridge for tradic Tt was a great improvement on the old road, fflviiif; a hotter curve and a better grade on to the bridge, lie had fenced the approach of the new bridge and pulled the docking oil' the old bridge at Mangaoraka. lie advised the Council to sell the old limber at this bridge tlr.it was not required for the county use. Foreman Jlnse suggested that the Council allow him the use of a plough and horses to form the Westown road and South road from Omnia Hill to Crompton's corner, as he wanted the earth to till up side tracks and holes lie thought, about .'JO casual labor with dray and plough would, make a good side track from Crompton's to Omata Hill, and it would save the road considerably and make the road, ever so lunch \vi<ler. —It was decided to leave the foreman's suggestion with reference to thi! 'forming of Westown road and South road in the hands of Councillor McAllnm, with power to act. Foreman I'rnsnau reported thai metal required for the coining year was as follows:- -Honeysuckle I till' to Looney's gate, olid yards. Tapuae depot: Adlani's Hill to Oakum Hotel, 10011 vards. Oakura depot; I'etone Hill to Woo'ds Hill. 7<)(! yards. Tiniaru depot; Katakara bridge to Okalo hoarding-house, (lad yards. Kaihihi depot: I'uniho boundary to Clarke's. I.'ilKl yards. Stony ltivcr depot: total, trill yards. Witli reference to the rc<|Ui-st of the Okalo School committee, he reported thai lie could not advise the Council to go any lower with the stream, as it would be unsafe lo tin' foundation of the stone culvert, which is an exceptionally good one. The wateri was running: fairlv swifi underneath the Toad, but Hie trouble was that the school paddock was very low ground. | It was decided to make a claim on a settler for the cost of burving a dog which had been killed bv a motor ear and left on the road. Cr. Andrews endorsed the foreman's remarks with ■reference to the culvert near the Okalo school, and it was decided that no action be taken. It wj. decided to is-ue linal notices calling on scalers referred to to «ut gorse. lIPHWORTI! MATTEKS. Cr. (I. P.rowne reported on several . mailers referred to him at the previous, meeting', lie recommended that the Council defer the matter of erecting a street, light in Ceorge street, and the forming of a footpath from the Frankley road hill to Frankleigh Park, the reason iu tlie latter case being thai the Council would need more information before going on. It seemed ihat the metalled road was within urn feet of the fencing lino on the side of I lie road. He could , nol recommend the Council to form a footpath in llnhlswortliy road at present, but that the Council have the levels and grades on I his roail lixed. so that any work done would be of a per-| iiianeiil. nature, lie recommended that the. earthwork and footpath asked for by the residents of Smith street, Vogeltown. be granted, the cost not, to exceed 17). Mr. Ooodacrc had taken steps to grub furze complained of. In reference ( to the Vcalc road he reported that this ! was "(he cruellest bit of business that hail ever come under his notice." Some eight or nine years ago the settlers in the locality had raised a special loan for metalling the road. The metal had been crushed, and placed on the side of the road. Some of it. had been carted away to the Frankley road, despite the fact that il was obtained out of loan moneys ■for a special purpose. The rest was lying there still. The. Council's foreman had been passing the remainder of the metal almost daily for eight or nine veal's, but hail not thought lit lo report the existence of the stone. It was a cruel piece of business, and he felt inclined almost to move that the surfaceman be reprimanded, lie moved that the foreman be instructed lo have this metal (about '.V\ or 411 yards) spread on the road at once, and 'that the district, fund be charged with the cost of fortv verds of stone to be refunded to the Veale road. He reported that Mr. Pole had oll'cred to give a week's free labor on the road.—The report and recommendations were adopted. TUF. VF.AI.K ESTATE. The chairman reported thai during the i inflection of the accounts | )V the Audit I Inspector, the olViccr had insisted thai I the Council must obtain from the St. i Aubvn Town Hoard the UOli which had I been lodged for till' metalling of the i roads in the Vcalc i stale. The Hoard 3 had declined to pay the money over, and fi the county clerk had reported accordingti !v io him (the chairman) in Wellington. H lb' had in-triieled the clerk lo sue the it board immediately. This had been done. 'i and (he board paid up. j 1 OOXTIIACTS DISCOXTIXTED. * The chairman :i!-o reporled that A. C. Vincent had discontinued his contracts it in the Okalo riding, and he had let the :J balance of the contracts to A. W. Cowl- * inc. afler inviting tenders. r C( KATIES' COXfki;i:\ci-. The chairman reported on the proceedings ~f (he Colonic-' Conference. On ihe motion of Cr. McAlliuu. seconded bv ( r. .!. It Hill, a. s U m of liflecn guineas was voted to i he chairman lo cover his expenses incurred a- the Council's delegate to the Counties' Confer-1-he movi r. left Ihe chair whilst, this mailer was .being dM-iis-cd. Councillor Steven- being; chairman pro (cm. i'.i:idi;k contracts. Mr. Orbell, county engineer, reported ', thai good progress was being made with ! Ihe erection of the Ma ngorei'bridge. The 1 limpoiary bridge had been erccied. and was noc. in use. The approaches to the ~ Mangold bridge were being made, and • timber and material for the various i brhlgi- ill the Moa riding were being placed upon the sites. The plans were eoinplele for the gravel reserve which was being purchased at Tariki from Mr. Long. Cr. Hill was informed, in answer to a question, that, persons Using the temporary bridge did so al (heir own risk, lie reporled thai the other dav a man cro-.seil Ihe Mangorei temporary bridge wit li a load of two lons in weight. The chairman: It's always Ihe way wiih llie-e beggars. They say "put up anvlhilig." and say Ihe lemporarv bridge niil be used for light Iralli,- onl'v. And I his is dial, they do. TIMAI.T III!I DOE. HEAPII IJO.M). Ur. P. Prev (Messrs. WiPon and Creyi wailed on the Council in reference lo the Timaru bridge the lleaeli road, Ta'taraimaka. At la-!, meeting the / Council had persisted in its decision not t to expend anv further moncv on Ihe ' bridge, which 'was „„; (;!l ; , |,'.„ ; ,| ni .„|. The road board- bad been taking the preliminary step- i.o have the road tlcdi- • eaU'il, under ihe impression that when

'j this had been completed the Council I would continue to maintain the bridge. | ! From I lit- discussion at tin- August niet't- ) | ing. they luul gathered thai tin; Council j ' now declined to have anything to do '■ with tho liridgv. .Mr. (!rev wanted to I know the fxaet position before taking ) I any further step* on behalf of the road ! \ hoards. Air. (J rev said (lie Conned had taken up the position that it was illegal to expend anv money on the bridge. Tie referred the members, however, to the Council's minutes of a meeting held on 1 November 14. ISSI, in which was recorded a minute, moved by Colonel Trimble and seconded by Mr lirown, ' that tho bridge he taken over by the Council from the Tataraimaka Road \ Hoard. For years afterwards the Council L expended money on the bridge, and he was unable to see how a continuance of ■ that could be illegal. If the Council still declined to repair and maintain the bridge, the position would have to ' he tested in the courts. '. In answer to questions, Air. Grey said that on "2!! rd November notice was given to rescind that resolution, but on December sth this was withdrawn. In investigating tlic matter, he had learned that the land on either side of the bridge was owned at that time by the ) late Arr. Oxcnham, and it had been used ever since as a public road, but never dedicated. Air. Grey withdrew. 'Cr. Andrews considered the Council was treating the settlers very unfairly. This was forty years ago the main couch road to YVanganui. The county took over the bridge niiirly 30 years* sign, and had maintained it ever since, and to his mind this seemed to constitute ownership. 11 was peculiar that the Bench road was shown on the maps from o|umake to the Timaru bridge, but not beyond it. Probably it was because of the existence of a Maori fishing reserve (it that point. Cr. Tate said that morally and honorably it was the. Council's duty to maintain the bridge, and the Council had been negligent, in not having the road surveyed and shown on the map. The Council should certainly continue to maintain the bridge, provided the Road Hoard had a road properly declared. The chairman said that past history | had nothing to do with the matter. As there was no road there, the councillors I would authorise the expenditure of money on the bridge nt their own personal ri.d;. The Council had decided not to go on expending money illegally. If the road hoards now ihad this road dedicated, wns the Council going to reinstate 'the bridge? lie reminded the Council that no provision had been made in the yi.irs esrimales for the work. Cr. lirowne thought it would be heller for the I'oad boards to take over the bridge. ) Cr. Andrews moved, that, providing! tho l;akura and Tataraimaka road I hoards dedicate the road, the Council reinstate the bridge. Cr. MrAlhnn seconded. The motion wih carried, the Council 1 dividing. Ayes: Crs. Stevens. Andrews. AlcAiliim, fate and Hill. Noes: The i chairman and Crs. Hopson and Rrownc. XEW ROAD REQUIRED. .Messrs W. Stanley, T. Smcllie and Annul Alaish. representing the Egmont and Smart road settlers, presented a petition asking the Council to take the necessarv steps to acquire land for a road through sections 101 l and ].">■». Una . district, leading from the Egmont road to the Colson road. The deputation I pointed out that if a public road were opened there, it would be of very great benefit to the settlers, by shortening the distance to New Plymouth, and would also shorten the journeys of several suppliers at dairy factories. In answer to questions, the deputation stated that the land required to be traversed was partly Alaori land, administered by the l'nblic Trustee, and partly an education lease. They thought I the land could be acquired without com-] I pollution. The authorities concerned are to be j approached on the matter, the chairman stating that if compensation had lo be J \ paid the Council could do nothing in the j matter. i WORKS COMMITTEE PROPOSED. Cr. AlcAiliim moved, according to notice, that a works committee be set up. 1 He said he was not wedded to the exact wording o!f the motion, and was quite - prepared to .accept any reasonable [ amendment, the Council might deem fit to * suggest. The principle lie wished the J Council to affirm was the appointment of '; a works committee for the better super- '' vision of the works under the Council's '' control. As matters stood at present '] each riding was in a way looked after 1 by its riding member.-, or member, and the position of riding members with respue t to the foremen was a peculiar one. He could no! instruct, a foreman as to ~ what he had to do, or interfere with t, him in the execution of his duties, and i yet the foremen came to the riding , members about, the work lo he done, d These condiiious were all right so long ~ as the relations between the riding mem(l her and the toreman were not. strained, d hut once lei these lelations become ;- strained, then there would be a pnssibii. lit.v of a. repetition of that humiliating u scene which on one occasion took place \ he!ween one of the councillors and an ex-foreman. lie said there was a real necessity for seeing what was actually , required by the settlers, so that counciilors could arrive at an intelligent dc- (, cision on the subject. The roads did . not get the supervision they should do, and he was quite sure (he foremen would take a much keener interest in their work if | hey knew the roads were going lo he in-prcied periodically by a works j committee; and. further, he felt coniiidciit the foremen woiiTo welcome (lie appoint- " ul. as showing some one was taking " an interest in the works they were carrying mil. He suggested appointing ' hvo committees, one to look after the ■works in the Aloa and Waitnra ridings, s and one to do likewise for the Hurworth. "'llnialti and Okato ridings. These committees could arrange to go over all the roads under Hie Council's control once 1 a month, or mice in two .mouths, and i see I he work was being done satisfaer tiirily. lie moved.'however, to appoint I a works committee, consisting of all the i! members of the Council, three members, 1 of which the chairman shall be one, res presenting three ridings, to form a ,' quorum. i' Cr. Andrews seconded, i Cr. Hopson didn't think the scheme ■ would work al all. Were members to lie dragged out two or three, times a l month lo attend commilt ueetings, ■ for which I hey would get no recompense? ■ He would rather vole for the omploy--1 nienl of an engineer right awav. ' Cr. AleAlluiii: That would certainly he more sensible. Cr. Taic said that, members could al- ' ways maiiilaiii amiciiihle relations with I lo' foremen, ami by consulting them, and 1 encouraging !he foremen to consult the members, slimulale Hum lo do their hi'sl. In his own riding no new work ! wns undertaken by the foreman without ■ I lie councillor being consulted. Riding i . ciiinntiti.ees might be workable. ' Cr. SI evens said that in the Alon. riding he and the chairman, sometimes ' together, frequently went over the roads • with the foreman. \ 'Cr. lirowne was in sympathy with (he ■i idea, but didn't know that it would he i j workable. He suggested, however, that

1 the matter he referred to the incoming' I Council. ! The chairman considered the scheme j excellent in theory, but thai il would ] j be. irksome, to members. For his pari.! he wasn't prepared logo over the county/ I every month lo attend committee meet-'', ■ big's-. He would rather see an engineer l appointed, for it would relieve him of) much responsibility, liul, he miisl say J this, ihat he hail been over various) counties where there were engineers, and I heir roads were no heller than ours. Commercial travellers who travelled about tliti country in motor cars had frequently told him that there were no other roads to compare with the roads of the Taranaki county. He had frequently been complimented in this regard. Cr. McAllum, in reply, said he would rather h:i,ye an overseer or engineer, but the Council would not have one. Hence his proposal to set up a, works coiiimiltee. Cr. McAllum then withdrew his motion. THE AVAIWAKAHIO WKIIL Or. Tate moved, in accordance with notice, that an engineer he appointed by the. Council and the Fitzroy Town Hoard to report on the Vvaiwaka'iho weir, with a view of constructing some permanent work. It was pointed out that the Council had had reports from at least three qualified engineers, and their reports had not been acted upon. A suggestion was miule that a committee should be set up to meet a committee of the other contributing body to decide, upon what course, to adopt in the future. The fact that the Town Board responsibility would in all probability shortly pass to the Xew Plymouth borough was also mentioned. The mover said he had been of opinion from the first, and so had. the chairman, that it would cost X. 11)00 to protect the bridge. This opinion was going to be | borne out in actual practice. Cr. Tate withdrew the motion, and moved that a committee of the two riding members and the chairman, be set up to confer with the Fitmiy Town Hoard on the- matter.—Seconded by Cr. Andrews and carried. The repairs lo the weir will be proceeded with. CKXEUAU Mr. J. Linklalcr. of Tariki. was appointed (out of three applicantsi foreman in the western division of the YVailara rii'ing. The tender of Sole and Oliver for supplying boulders for the Onuita riding was accepted, at :is lid a yard. ♦Vtssrs T. and IL Parkin wrote com-plaining-of the charge imposed for hire of road plough.—The Council could make no reduction, as the plough had nol. been relumed in accordance with the arrangement made. I , Mr.' .1. Lovell's oiler for assistance in road formation on Cowling road was accepted. Cr. Tale's action in granting Foreman Holmes extra metal was approved. Foreman lluse's application for we of a horse and plough was referred to Cr. McAllum. with power to act. Foreman Seamark was granted the use of a horse and cart, for a few days. Foreman .lours was granted permission to employ labor lo complete draining at "Trimble's crossing.'' Timber at Mangaoraka, bridge is to lie sold by unci ion. Various occupiers and owners will be requested to cut hack trees and grub furze. Foreman Holmes will be asked to -late which of the overhanging' trees mention- j ed in his report are detrimental lo the road. It was decided that A. 0. Vincent's deposits on metal contracts in the Okalo riding should lie forfeited. Mr. iF. ,1. Jones. District Engineer of Railways, reported that Itoberi Kinlnek was on the permanent way stall' at J'a-tca.-Thc chairman reporled thai KoJien j Kinlock was one of the county foremen. I who had been granted sick leave. On learning that the man was in railway j employment, lie had suspended him and . instructed the clerk to call for applica- ) tions for the position of foreman. Foreman Xorris. in a supplement)!ry roport, recommended doing some workon the Cowling road for Mr. .1. Lovell. and slated that three occupiers of land had not cleared their frontages as directed.—Work for Mr. Lovell is to be put in hand. Messrs OoveU and Qiiilliam. the county solicitors, advised that upon the Council being properly declared a leasing authority under "The Public Bodies Leases Act 100 S." it could accept surrenders of existing leases and grant, to the tenants a, new lease for the remainder of the term, with a right, of renewal for i>l years at a rental to be determined bv valuation in accordance with the provisions of the Act.-Left in the hands of the chairman. The Counties' Association asked the Council to take steps lo obtain pledges from candidates at, the general election that they will, if reiunied. use their best endeavors to induce and assist any any Oovorn|ent, in ollice to introduce during the ffi-sl session of the new Parliament, a. comprehensive Local Povernnienl. Hill.-The suggestion will be acted upon. The Slate Puaranlecd Advances Ofliee reporled having remitted £l4!ti Ills of the Moa riding bridge loan, ACCOPXTS. Accounts were passed for payment: Administration. ,c,->ii,-, 7s 7,| ; Moa riding. ..Clli:! lis 7.1: W'ailnra riding. -CI 1:2 12s '.ld; Omata riding, CM -P lid: Okato riding, .ell.') K., Sd; llnrworth riding, .Oil His Id; bridge loan, .C.ili-I ISs fid.