EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 197, 17 February 1912, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council w«.g held at Opunake on the 9th insi., wnen there were present: Crs. Dudley (chairman), Maxwell, Hurst, Harvey, Farquahar, Burgess, Davey and Willcox. 'FOREMiijys REPORTS.

Foreman Newport (Rahotu) reported that he had been repairing the Main South road between Rahotu and Puniho and cleaning and widening water-tables. He had also put in a set of 3ft pipes by the Army Barracks, employing two extra hands for 5% days. He also reported re Mrs. Campbell's claim- for medical,expenses through having fallen over a small gutter at Rahotu. He stated that he had filled in a gutter, which he had opened up to carry away storm water. The filling had sunk about four inches, owing to the wet weather, and it was this that Mrs. Campbell fell over.—The Council regretted the accident but decided that it could not recognise any liability. 'Foreman Humphries (Opunake riding) reported that he had'been repairing the Main South road between Waiau and Taungatara rivers. The Eltham road was breaking up fast and required remetalling. Contractors were making good progress with their metal Contracts. Parts of the Main South road between the Te Namu and Oaonui rivers were getting very rough and worn out, and he had not sufficient metal to renew even the worst places. One piece from the top of Te Namu Hill to the Te Namu road required picking up and re-metalling with amout 300 yards of boulder Btone. —Two hundred yards of metal waß allowed.

It was resolved to draw the foremen's attention to the abrupt finish of new metal, and also to the fact that road approaches on to the bridges were not flushed. ' i

TRAVEL PITS.

Mr. Keasbery asked the Council to fence in gravel pits on his properties' from which the Council obtained metal. He had already lost .one springing heifer valued at £<s, and was unable to graze cattle on the Cape road paddock while gravel is being carted out, or the crusher working, as the fence was always open and the stock got out and were impounded. Cr. Willcox said the Parihaka Road Board were agreeable to share the cost with the Council of fencing in the pit. ■ The chairman said it would be a costly; business, as there were 100 or so pits. that would require fencing. \ Cr. Harvey believed it would be better business to pay for the animal. Cr. Maxwell considered the legal as-, pect was that the Council entered the 1 property under the Public Works Act and were primarily responsible, but, whether the royalty paid was sufficient to absolve the Council for any damage at, the time of entrance and thereafter was another question. Royalty paid was payment in lieu of damage. Cr. Willcox said if it were a question of original entrance it would bo necessary to go a long way back, as the pit was opened years ago. The chairman said the question was fraught with difficulties. Ifiihey paid for the beast there was the loophole that sick calves would frequently fall (accidentally!) into gravel pits; and once a fence was put \,up, by the Council it was responsible for the upkeep of the fence for all time; even fencing would not be sufficient, as the encroachment made by working the pit necessitated frequent removal; to fence it off altogether meant that the Council would be charged rent. Cr. Burgess suggested that some arrangment might be come to between Mr. Keasbery and the Council, otherwise it would be better to risk- impending consequences. On the motion of Cr. Davey, it was resolved that the Council take no action or responsibility. Cr. Harvey will explain the position to Mr. Keasbery.

NATIVE RATES. The chairman reported that in company with Mr. Brennan they "had visited the Public Trustee in Wellington, and the Trustee had said that he would assist the Council as far as he was able in getting native rates paid, and had promised that where a block of land was partitioned, any money received from a share or shares of the block would be used to pay rates on the whole block, so far as he was not tied by law. A vote of thanks was accorded the ; chairman and Mr. Brennan for the good results attending the deputation.

GENERAL. It was Tesolved to inform Mr. T. Corkill that the .Council would clean out 20 chains of the drain on the Watino road provided he cleaned out a similar length. The Resident Road Engineer (Mr. G. T. Murray) wrote that the grants available on the Wiremu road were: Okahu (Ngariki to Newall roads), £54 12s; Wiremu (Ngariki to Ihaia), £73 10s.

The clerk was instructed to have estimates prepared for proposed loan on Pii' ; '-i road. *

"lers were dealt with as follows: E '■■« witter tunnels, cuttings and fillin • Okahu (Ngariki to Newall), A. E. Ma f ;.in, £!><) Ms, T. Hendrickson £99 14s, J. Lawn £lO5 10s. It was resolved to offer the work to Mag'on on condition that he does it. for the amount of the Government grant, which is £2 or £3 less.

Another contract, for which Hendrickson tendered £76, was similarly dealt with. Crawford Bros, tender for ditching at £1 IDs per chain was accepted. T. Conroy was given seven days' notice to sign his contract as ranger, failing which his deposit would be forfeited. Unpaid rates will be sued for after March Ist.