TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 5 December 1911, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday, when there were present: Crs. J. Brown (chairman), R. Stevens, M. Hopson, C. Billing, C. Andrews, D. McAllum, G. V. Tate, and J. R. Hill. SPECIAL MEETING. Business transacted at a special meeting on November 29, at which Crs. Brown (chairman) , C. Billing, C. Andrews and D. McAllum were present, was confirmed as follows: Cr. McAllum brought up various matters, notice of which had been given, regarding the appointment of engineer, appointment of roads engineer, appointment of one foreman to supervise each riding, adjustment of foremen's lengths. After considerable discussion it was decided to recommend for the favorable consideration of the Council—''That an assistant foreman be appointed to the Okato riding at 8s Od per day, wet or fine; that Foreman Brosnan have sole control of the Okato riding and Fore-1 man F. Holmes of the western division of the Waitara riding, and that Fore- j man Linklater be appointed an assistant foreman in this riding at 8s Od per day, wet or fine," Tenders for the formation and metalling of the Upper Carrington road iVere dealt with as follows:—C. Henrickson, £7 ISs fid per chain (accepted); A. Cowling, £8 2a per chain. ; FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Engine-driver Toms reported that he had been working on portable whare and cleaning out boiler, etc., at Waiwakailio depot. He had also been working in the Hurwortli riding, scarifying and rolling on Frankleigh and Westown roads under Foremen Norris and Eva. Engine-driver Urry reported that the crusher worked nine days, crushing 520 yds, at Rowan and Thomason's contract, Frankley road depot, and had shifted the plant from Waiwakailio to Frankley road on the 2nd ult. He had finished crushing on the Frankley road and shifted the crusher to Okato. A new tarpaulin was required for the crusher, 18ft by 7ft, at a cost of £3. He had ordered a new belt for the engine as the old one had got bud and was not safe for working—Tarpaulin' to be procured. Foreman -Jones (Moa riding) reported that the Mountain and Tariki roads were in fair order. Mr. Simons had delivered the timber for re-decking Bark Whare bridge, Tariki. He had used an extra man, with horse and dray, patching on Tariki road one day. He had also collected -i-WM/a dozen birds eggs and 17 dozen heads during the month. His time ; had been taken up patching, raking loost? stones, banking up and water-tabling. , Foreman Bennett (Moa riding) reported that most of his time had been taken up in the Zig-zag and gathering up loose metal, water-tabling, blinding and cutting back scrub where required. Mrs. Bint had had that portion of the Zig-zag fenced that she had the sanction of the Council to do, and Mr. H. Neilson, the contractor, had made a, capital job of it and had made that portion of the road quite'safe for traffic. Foreman Cheffings reported that tho roads in his riding were in good order. For the month he had been engaged in water-tabling and general road work. Owing to so much wet weather he had , not been able to get Cunningham's bridge opened for traffic. He started on the filling, but could not get it metalled before set in and had to open the road o;ut to let the traffic through, as it was getting bogged. The foreman applied for two weeks' leave of absence at Christmas instead of one weekGranted. v Foreman John Holmes reported that he had been engaged in clearing out water-tables and making up the sides of the roads. Foreman J. Linklater reported that he had been picking up metal on Hurstliouso road and breaking it down smaller, as it was mostly boulders; he had also hired a horse and dray for two days and employed a man one day patching Corbett and Hurst house roads. With reference to the hill on the King road that Mr. Frank Rogers complained of, the culvert was cleaned out and half the hill repaired a fortnight previous to last month's meeting, and since then he had finished repairing the hill. The cattle that are driven along Manutahi road bel long to Longstaff, and they cannot be taken any other way. Foreman F. Holmes reported that he had made up several chains of the side road on Egmont road that was washed out very deep. He had the assistance of the two foremen from the Waitara riding. He engaged a horse and cart for patching ellnwood road and making up the side road on Egmont iroad. Swann and Magee had delivered 102 yds of stone, which they had to get from Willings' pit, for the' top end of Egmont road. He did not want to put this on yet, but as they had it ready and the road was cut up badly by the timber waggons, he thought it best to 'do it. He engaged a man for two days to assist in picking up and spreading. Foreman Seamark reported that the roads under his control were -all in fair order. The Main South road showed signs of breaking through in many places owing to the steam waggons and traction engine carrying excessive, loads of butter and cheese, and in consequence he would need an additional 500 yds of boulders to maintain same. ' Ilis time during the -month had been taken uforming part of Walreka road, old Omata road (leading to Westown) and widening on main road; putting new metal and .patching Main road and Hurford road and putting in set of pipes on Lower Barrett road—Tenders are to be invited for supply of ,>(lOyds of boulders for Omata riding, main road length. Fifty yards of pit, metal were granted for the I'pper Hurt'ord road. Timber was granted for tunnel oil old Omata road. foreman Brosnan reported that his whole time had been taken up in wheeling am! carting out metal on the road for repairs. He. could not cope, with the amount of work that required doing, attributed to heavy traction traffic, carting cheese, etc. The damage done to the road in the Okato riding was estimated at £2OO for the month. The roads were completely burst' up. especially the hills, and if this M)rt of traffic were left on the roads much longer thev would have no roads. Tie requested that tlic Council prohibit the engines as SOOII as possible. Several lailv driver-, had complained that, they were in danger when driving by, their hordes -living at bags of coke placed in dill'crent placealong the road by the drivers of the Coast Transport Co.'s waggons. The sout bend of the Stony Biver bridge had been burst in and was now under repairby Mr. Penwarden. The length of the bridge Would be shortened by Klft. and the grade on the approach would be much ea-ier, The damage to (hi- bridge was also caused by heavy traction t.ial' j lie.—Cr. Andrews' action in anthori-im. j repairs to Stony River bridge was con j tinned, Foreman W. Kva reported that |1,.. ! ' '."ere breaking j• coinM- i >; '. owing to the wet. weather and limine-- . of metal. lie would like tho contractors to make a start, with boulder carting so that ho could get. someone on to tho 'breaking, as lie is short of maintenance metal. Ho had the roller on Frankley bo ad on November 28, which

did very satisfactory work. —Foreman Eva was granted use of horse and cart as requested. Foreman Norris reported that ho had been engaged in spreading gravel and crushed metal. He had spread 500 yds and dumped 20yds. lie put through 7'o yds more than the chairman authorised, but as the stone, plant and roller were there he thought it the wisest course. He put on 30yds of blinding from the pit 011 the new metal where he could not get clay, at a cost of 2s per yard, with Cr. Billings' consent, and it was money very well spent. lie gave permission to Rowan and Thornason to cart some gravel (second class) to the Frankley road factory and also to some of the settlers, for Od per cubic yard. He put down oOyds of crushed- metal on the Elliot road and 00yds of gravel, at a cost of £37 H)a Kid. The contractors would only cart 20yds extra to the Elliot road, so he could not comply with the chairman's request to spend up to £2O. W'ith the exception of a few places the roads were.in very good order. The roller was a splendid machine for putting down new metal or repairing an old piece of road. The scarifier was "out on its own." ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. S. Orbell (county engineer) reported: — Hursthouse road bridge—Since last meeting this bridge had been completed with the exception of ten feet of parapet wall, which they were unable to do until the old bridge was removed. Ngatoro-iti bridge.—The work of excavating for foundations and concreting up to the springing line of the arch had been completed, as. also the timbering of the arch and placing of the arch steel Mangttinalioo bridge.—The formation of the approaches were completed, but owing to the wet weather they had not been able to lay the metal, so the bridge was not as yet opened to traffic. Henui bridge.—Tho contractor had completed the two piers on retaining walls on the Tnglewood side of the river. The main pier on tohc New Plymouth side was built to a height of about 20ft ; above the water level, while the other two piers and retaining wall were near completion. OIL LEASES. Messrs Weston and Weston, on behalf of a client, enquired whether the Council was prepared to join with its lessees in jiving oil grants over the county reserves for such terms as would expire with the respective leases of such reservos. They stated that they need hardly point out that only material benefit couid accrue to the Council, and ratepavers from such a course being followed, as no doubt the Council would stipulate that a share of the royalty be paid into the county funds. A trial bore would cause but little damage to a re- , serve. If no oil were found the matter would end, whereas if the borers were successful, the value of the property would bo much enhanced. They were not prepared to express any opinion as to whether the Council had power to grant such rights, but if the Council adopted the course they would submit a draft form of boring rights to its solicitors, who would no doubt advise upon the .point.—Resolved, that the matter be deferred. GENERAL. Cr. Tate's action in purchasing a cart I and tank for £7 10s was confirmed. The pfoprictors of a certain patent medicine are to be requested to paint out signs placed on the Council's property. Mr. W. Ogier, borough clerk, Inglewood, asked when the Council would require tho borough's contributions towards the re-erection of bridges. Mr. E. C. Robinson, engineer of the Stratford County Council, notified that he had been instructed by his Council to proceed forthwith' with the renewal of the Waipukn bridge, on the Mountain road. Mr. M. Fleetwood, clerk to the St. Aubyn Town Board, wrote that the road foreman reported that gorse was i growing on the Gladstone road, and the ! Board asked to have tho same removed. --The Council is attending to the matter. Mr. C. P. Brown forwarded litho plan of roading on Dartmoor estate, and asked to be furnished with the Council's requirements re formation, so that they could arrange to call tenders. The Valuation Department notified payment of subsidy amounting to £904 Is 7d. The State Guaranteed Advances Office notified payment of £ 1090 on account of Moa riding bridge loan and also provisional approval of loan of £3OO for constructing 00 chains of King road. Mr. H. M. Bannister, for the Commissioner of Crown Lands, notified that the Land Board" would consent to a road being taken through section 150, Hua district. The engine driver (J. Toms) reported re certain damage to the road roller. —It was decided to forward a copy of the report to the agents, with a request that the Council be reimbursed for cost of repairs. Foreman Eva's request for 100 yds of boulders for the top of Carrington road was granted. Mr. R. Saville was appointed dog tax collector for the Omata riding. Mr. R. Davies' tender for the supply of dog collars was accepted at 4%t1 each. The other tenders were: Cook and Lister 5»/ s d and H. 11. Ford &%d. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Administration £234 IS* fid; Moa riding. £7O 14s Id: Waitara riding, £lO7 os Id; Omata riding. £OO 3s 7d; Okato riding, £OS Os sd; Hurworth riding. £3(10 8s 4d: bridge loan, £527 ISs sd; total, £1387 lis 3d.