CLINTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 136, 4 December 1911, Page 2

CLINTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held on Friday, when th«re 'were present: Crs. S. Elliott (chairman), R. J. Hicks; C. O'Sullivan, A. M. Bower, 11. Sander and J. Gleeson. An apology was received from Cr. Kennington. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. A. Hutcliins (Okoke road) reported that Paul had not been able to start his metalling contract owing to the weather, but was ready to start as soon as the road was fit. He, required 10yds of maintenance metal, which Paul had offered to cart for 8s per yard. He asked to be granted the services of a man to put in six pipe culverts, which would require 60 i)in pipes, to replace wooden culverts, which were rotten. He suggested liand-railing three bridges on the l'iko road, which were very dangerous, especially when the decking was wet. It would require nearly 1500 ft of timber. —Granted. Foreman Kuhtz (Mokau) reported that he would require 614 yds of metal to repair the Main Mokau road. He remarked that the Council might think it strange his saying at last meeting that he did not want any metal, and now asking for 014 yds. What lie intended to say was that he could do with or could do without, but if the Council would grant that quantity he could do with it. Owing to bad weather he had temporarily stopped' the timber work on the Upper Uruti road. The roads had cut up a good deal owing to bad weather, and a good deal of his time had been occupied clearing slips.—Application acceded to, metal to be placed where he riding members deem it most required. P. M. Telfar (Urenui) reported that he required 900 yds additional qf metal, viz., Urenui Hill 350 yds, Waitoitoi 300 yds Urenui bridge to Maori pa 50yds, Onaero bridge to Kaipikari road 200yds.—The Council resolved to grant 400 yds, with the understanding that if more is found to be needed tenders will be called accordingly. Foreman McDonald (Wailii) reported that all the roads were in fair order except the road at Waipapa going to the beach, which would require attention before metal-carting commenced. A bridge on the road was dangerous for heavy traffic.—Left in the hands of the chairman to arrange.

C. F. Dowrnan (Xgatimaru) reported that he was laid up with rheumatic fever and had put a man on in his place. The roads were in fair order, but if the bad weather continued there might be slips before he was (it again. G. A. Smith (Tarata) reported that he would require a nadditional 100 yds of metal to patch thin places and also a set of 9in pipes.—Granted.

Tenders for metal will be returnable at next meeting. PUKEARUHE ROAD. H. Wells (Pukearuhe) wrote that the main road northwards from Mr. A. N. Davis' gate to the Waikaramarama bridge was in a very neglected state, and was, in fact, almost dangerous for traffic. The portion of the Gilbert roa;d from the bridge to liis gate was just as bad. The whole distance was 40 chains. He asked that it be seen to at once, as two carts were on it daily, and it had not been touclied since last April, except what he had done himself to keep it open.—The application was approved, subject to the approval of the riding member, the expenditure not to exceed £i. MATARO ROAD DEVIATION. Mr. G. T. Murray, Resident Road Engineer, wrote that he was now endeavoring to have the whole question of deviations as affecting this road settled and would in due course advise the Council. CLIFTOX ROAD DEVIATION.

Mr. W. J. Parsons wrote re deviation of Clifon road that he would sign the deeds as soon the Council assured him that the road would: be fenced. He pointed out that since September, 1909, he had been waiting for the work to be completed, and it had put him to a Jot of inconvenience with his stock. The deviation was of no benefit to him. —Left with the engineer to arrange. OIvOKE ROAD. Mr. \V. S. Short, Assistant UnderSecretary to he Public Works Department) wrote that on the current year's appropriations there was a vote of £2OO, £ for £ on account of £7OO for this road. The whole of the £2OO had already been authorised for the CounI cil, but the balance of the grant ( £300) j was available for authorisation, if the Council submitted proposals in the usual way—Left in the engineer's hands to ascertain the wishes of the settlers re metalling and call tenders for the work. URUTI ROAD BRIDGE. Messrs W. A. Bone, J. Hayes. T. Henry A. L. Henry, A. J. Miller, R. J. Xiehol'ls and D. S. Musker, settlers on the UTuti road, petitioned the Council to apply their thirds, of which they understood there was a considerable amount, to subsidise the Government grant for a bridge across the Uruti stream.—The engineer was instructed" to have plans ready for this bridge by next meeting. OKAU ROAD. Cr. Bower brought up the question of a permanent surfaceman for the Okau road, as petitioned by the settlers some time ago. There were eight miles of road now, which was in a very bad state, and there would soon be three or four more, milking about ]'2 miles in all. He pointed out that at present men were sent up occasionally, but during the winter it was neglected, just when good work could be done in clearing the watertables. Timber had been carted in IS months ago to put in two oulverts, which had never yet been done, and it would now take some time to dig it out of the mud. Cr. o',Sullivan considered that if a surfaceman were necessary, the Council should call applications for the position. On the motions of Crs. Bower and O'Sullivitn. it was resolved to call applications at next meeting for a permanent I surfaceman for the Okau district. I fiOVERNMEXT GRANTS." I i Mr. H. J. 11. Blow. Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department, wrote in reference to ofl'ers made to the Council for the expenditure of moneys provided on the Pubjic Works Appropriations for the current financial year for road works, etc.. that he was directed to state that the Minister of Public Works desired to have all such works put in hand at as early a date as possible, and he therefore advised the Council that unless intimation of the Council's willingness to undertake the work were received within two months from the date of offer such offer would be regarded as cancelled. and the work entrusted to the Department's engineer to carry out. fl was resolved to inform Mr. Murray that. Hie Council could not expend the Manga torn road grant of £lB2. i| I t was also decided to ask the Minister of Public Works for a further grant of f'!on to enable a small coniral-t to be let to complete metalling on a bad portion of the Mimi-Mokau road. The Minister of Public Works is also to be asked to push on the Moki road as expeditiously as possible, as it was an important work. The Minister will also be requested to

have bad portions of Mi. Messenger metalled during the present summer, as they aro very dangerous in their present state. The chairman gavo notice of motion for next meeting—"That the engineer supervise the expenditure of all Go-, vornment grants and special thirds. TENDERS. Tenders were dealt with as follows: — Wai-iti deviation, T. 0. Waite £737 lis, Falconer Bros. £OSO TOs (accepted). Otaraoa formation, T. A. West £!) l 3s 3d (accepted). Metalling at Tikorangi, D. l?aul Os .~,d per yd, Foreman and Hichards 8s ~>d. and if (tin metal at bottom 8s (accepted). Tenders for maintenance metal at Tarata and Matau were considered too high, and fresh tenders will be called for next meeting. GENERAL. The State Guaranteed Advances Office notified payment of £SOO on account of the Pnkearube loan. Mr. W. "Peri-ill waited on the Council anil asked to be allowed to purchase the. old road when the deviation near the Maori pah at Tikorangi was completed. —ft was decided that nothing could be done till the road was made, when the land would be disposed of in the usual way. —The work was left in the hands of Cr. Hicks. Messrs Matthews and Bennett wrote offering the Council a house and acre of land for surfaceman's residence at Tarata. —To be informed that the Council had made arrangements re house. Messrs Wilson, and Grey, solicitors for Mr. A. Corkill, are to be informed that as the sum of £3 3s had not been accepted by Mr. Corkill, the Council had withdrawn the oiler last meeting. Cr. Hicks was empowered to employ extra carting labor in Tikorangi riding. The small bridge on the Okoke road complained of by Mr. Rowe was referred to Cr. Glcesou to report at next meeting. Accounts to the amount of £290 17s lid were passed for payment.