TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 9 January 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Th usual monthly meeting of the Tara maki County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Crs. J. Brown (chairman), E. Stevens, M. Hopson, C. Billing, C. Andrews, J. McAllum, J. R. Hill. An apology was received from Cr. Tate. Before the commencement of business the chairman«wished the councillors the compliments of the season, which were heartily reciprocated. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Mr. S. Orbell, engineer, reported that since last meeting he had completed the Ngatoro-iti bridge and removed the plant to the Ngatoro bridge, where a start had been made with the foundations and provision was made for shifting the old bridge to the side of the road to act as a" temporary bridge. The Mangamahoe and Mangorei bridges were now open to traffic. The wholo of the piers and retaining walls of the Henui bridge were now completed and nearly all the iron work made ready for the beams and parapets. Most of the structure already built had been stripped and presented a very good surface. The shingle that could be obtained <from the Waiwakaiho river was quite unsuitable for the beams, bo he had to order some shingle from the beach instead.

Engine-driver Urry reported that the pTii«her worked on 13 days,. crushing IMOydg, as follows:—Kaihihi depot, for eoumy, 4ir2yds; Stony River depot, county, 346 yds; private crushing, Cowling, 22yds. He started crushing at the Kaihihi depot on November 30 and finished on December, 11, and shifted to Stony River depot.

Engine-driver Toms, reported having worked at rolling Lower Barret road under Foreman Seamark; scarifying and rolling Okato riding under Foreman Brosnan.

Foreman F. J. Jones reported that the Tariki and Mountain roads were in fair order. He had been working at the Ngatoro temporary bridge filling in the approach and would complete same by Thursday. The balance of his time had been taken up in cleaning out water-tables, banking up and patching Mountain and Tariki roads and attending to the bridges.

Foreman Bennett reported "that his time had been taken up in patching, water-tabling and filling in ruts,on the Razor-back, Tariki road. The weather had been exceedingly bad for that portion of the roadand it had cut up badly. The Junction road had also started to break up owing to continual rain.—lt was decided that Mr. F. Rogers be requested to repair the Junction road damaged by his cattle.

Foreman Cheffings reported that through the month his time had been taken up in opening Cunningham's and the Mangorei bridges for traffic. There was not a very good grade on to the Mangorei bridge. There was a. lot of filling to be done at this bridge yet, widening the road, fencing, etc. A big culvert by the Egmqnt Village creamery was breaking away and was dangerous. It would require seventeen 3ft pipes.—The foreman will be instructed to construct the culvert as suggested. _ Foreman J. Holmes reported that, inwtlruoted by Or. Tate, lie engaged !Ai Hoskin and two horses and a plough to form a portion of the Manutahi road in the Lepperton township, and make up the side of the road. The rest of his time [he had continued clearing out water-tables and making up the side of the roads. The continued wet during the month started the roads to break up badly in places. ' Mr. Ackland kindly lent his horse and cart to repair them, and Mr. Leech also lent his horse and cart to fill some holes that had cut up badly on the Richmond road. A culvert broke through at Bell Block during tie month. A/uthoYised by, Cr. Tate, he gote seventeen Gin pipes to replace it., The keavy rains during the month and the flood in the Waiwakaiho river had carried away all the centre part of the weir —Messrs Ackland. and Leech Will be thanked for the use of horses and carts. ; Foreman Fred. Holmes reported that during tlie month he had to engage carts to repair the Egmont and Smart roads, as they were cutting up very badly with the timber traffic and the continual wet weather. The rest of his time had been engaged in, making up side roads and digging off grass from side of metal and cleaning out water-tables.

Foreman J. Linklater reported that during the month he had,been cleaning out water-tables and raking up loose metal, and also hired a horse and dray for three days patching Hursthouse road.

Foareman F. Seamark reported that the roads under his control were all in fair order, considering the weather, with the exception of Upper Hurford road, which was breaking up, especially the top end, which had only a thin coat of gravel on. His time during the month had been taken up putting down new metal and patching; formation Omata and Blagdon. roads about 20 chains, and driying tunnel under Omata road. 0. Huse met with an accident on December 8, and up to date had not returned to work. The New Plymouth Harbor Board required notice to clear lupins on Ngamotu road. They were growing over on to. the road.—The foreman was granted permission to engage assistance during the time Huse is absent from work, the Harbor Board will be advised to cut back lupins. It was decided, on the motion of Crs. McAllum and Andrews, that tenders he called for the supply,of lOOOyde of beach shingle for the Main South road at Omata. It was also decided that the ranger be requested to impound cattle straying on the South road at Omata.

Foreman D. Brosnan reported that for the past month he had been engaged spreading new metal on the road from the crusher. A. W. Cowling had completed his metalling contract, Stony river, with the exception of extra 00yds for the footpath. The steam road roller was Al on the roads, and was doing splendid work. The only trouble was that the roads should- be as wide a°ain and then the metal could be rolled in. Bridges were in good repair. The road between Tataraimaka and Oakura had been repaired and holes filled in. Foreman W. Eva reported that the roads under his charge were in fair order. He had been engaged during the,month in patching, raking in wheel-ruts, cleaning water-tables, and general work. C. Kendall had made a start with the boulder carting; Sole and Olliver had not yet started.—lt was decided that Messrs Sole and Olliver be requested to proceed with their boulder contract on Carrington road.

Foreman Norris reported that for the I month he had been engaged in patching, cleaning water-tables, weeding footpath, raking in the piece where he put down the gravel, and napping- the big stones. The Toads were in very good order just now. A PETITION. A petition, signed by 13 ratepayers, was presented to the Council by Cr. McAllum, asking to have that portion of Allen's road (about three chains) leading off the Main South road to the Royal Oak cheese factory, formed and metalled, if possible, at an "early date. Mr. W. J. Neilson was prepared to bear the full cost of the forming, and the Council to do the metalling. It was resolved that if the road leading to the cheese factory is a public

road the Council will comply with the petitioners' request, provided they <:•*• tribute half cost of the work. WAIWAKAIHO WEIR.

The chairman reported that the weir i across the Waiwakaiho river had col-1 lapsed during the month, and after some discussion a committee, consisting of the j chairman and Crs. McAllum and Hill, ' was appointed to confer with a sub-com-mittee appointed by the New Plymouth Borough Council. MISCELLANEOUS. The clerk of the Borough CounqJ wrote, stating that the Council agreed to the adjustment of the public debt of £3O and £3l suggested with reference to the areas added to the borough on March 31 last. Mr. R. C. F. Cholmeley asked for attention to culvert across the Henwood road, as it was rotten.—The foreman, reporting on it, said that a plank or two were springing, but there was no cause for immediate alarm. The Reserves Agent, in reply to the Council, re native rates, said that the natives mentioned had an occupation license of subdivision 6 of sections 4 and 24, block 5, Cape S.D., containing 152 acres 1 rood. He presumed that it was the land on which the Council was claiming rates, and as the licensees were liable for these rates the natives should be sued for payment of them if they refused to pay up. He replied that their rents were too small to allow of deduction on account of the rates. The Moa Road Board wrote asking for payments of funds that are in hand for repairing Kaipi road.—Council has no funds for same. Newton Allen (per Settlers Association)' complained of the state of the footpath from Frankley road' hill to the entrance to the park, also letter read which had 'been sent to Cr. Billing on the matter.—Held over till next meeting. H. 'George, clerk of works, reported that the Henui bridge contract was in progress. ' The County engineer, Stratford, wrote stating that the tender of F. M. Graylin, (£495) was. accepted for the reneway of Waipuku bridge. The Valuation Department forwarded a voucher for the paj'ment of £39 18s 5d subsidy. In reply to a motion of condolence passed 1 to Foreman Holmes on the death of his son, he replied that he and Mrs. Holmes desired to Jthank the councillors for their kind sympathy. The Borough Town Clerk notified the, Council that the Mayor and Crs. Buxton and Stocker were appointed to deal with the triennial adjustment in connection with the merging of a portion of the Fitzroy district n the borough, and suggested a committee of three from the County Council, and l a conference convened. —The chairman, and Crs, Hill and McAllum were appointed a committee. Mr. G. T. Murray, road engineer, wrote requesting the Council to push on with such of the Government grants as are now under offer, or are already* authorised to them. A special meeting will be held on January 15 to consider by-laws, and an-' other meeting will ba held on February 5 to consider the resolution with refer- • ence to the merging of the Oakum road district. ACCOUNTS. ) The following accounts ■were paswS for .payment:—Administration/ £3 15s; Moa riding, £l4 10s 8d; Omata riding, £3B 4a Sd; Okato riding, £214 14s 8d; Hurworth riding, £23 ss; bridge- loan, £77 17s; total, £372 Os lOd.