TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 235, 2 April 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Ta'ranaki County Council was held yesterday, the chairman (Mr. J. Brown) presiding. Other members present were: Messrs J. R. Hill, R. Stevens, M. Hopson, C. Billing, C. Andlrews, D. McAllum, and G. V. Tate. ENGINEER'S Khi'OßT. Reporting on the erection of bridges in the Moa Riding, the county engineer (Mr. Orbell) stated that the cone tract for the Henui Bridge would be practically completed in about a fortnight. Since finishing the Waiwakaiho bridge, Mr. Bond had (removed the old wooden structure on the Hursthouse road and finished the wing wall of the new bridge. The old wooden bridge over the Ngatoro-iti stream had also been removed and the new Wridge opened for traffic. The Ngatoro bridge should be completed by about next Tuesday, when a start would be made with Maketawa bridge. Levels had been taken from the Waipuku bridge to Tariki along the Mountain road, and a plan made showing the position of the metal, the position of the present formation level, and also the proposed new gfrade*. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The foremen's reports were read, and various rcommendations applroved. Foreman Jones (Moa Riding, Tariki) reported that the Mountain and Tariki roads were in good order. Foreman Holmes (Waitara) that the filling on Big Zion's Hill had been widened, and that as soon as possible he would put in hand the work of the Hufrsthouse road; Foreman F. Holmes (Waitara West) that the bridge on the Hursthouse Road required repairs; Foreman Seamark (Omata) and Foreman Eva (Carrington Road) that the (roads in their ridings were all in fair order; Foreman D. Brosnan (Okato) that Messrs Rowan and Thomason were making good headway with their eontracts. Petone Hill, which was metalled to 16 feet to a depth of 1 foot only twelve months last September, was now showing signs of wear; Foreman Norlris (Frankly Road), that the roads were in fairly good order at present. Now that the merging question was settled he hoped tenders would be at once called for metal supplies, so as to give him a chance to get the metal on the !road before midwinter.

Arising out of the foremen's reports, it was decided that tenders be called for the supply of 500 yards of metal from Gregor's pit for deposit on main South Road, the metal to be blroken on road; that the Coast Transport Company be asked to remove the broken trailer off the road at Aim Aim Hill; that on account of the reduced area in the Hurworth riding Foreman Mo'rris be notified that his services will not be required after April 30th; that A. W. Cowling 'be notified to proceed with his contract at Omata. GENERAL. The solicitors to the board advised that the proclamation taking the land for the Avenue Road deviation had been gazetted. It was decided to pass the sum of £SO for payment to Mr. Saxton in settlement of his claim for compensation. The tender of C. E. George was accepted for the carting, at Is per yard, of 500 yards of metal in the Omata riding. Messlrs Looney and others were empowered to complete the work let bv the Oakura Road Board on the Kerihau road, up to the amount of £2O. Enginedriver Thorn was granted an increase in wages of Is per dav, and his assistant fid. The chairman's action in appointing G. Walkelr temporary foreman at Henui was confirmed. Upon its attention being drawn to the matter the council decided to effect certain repairs to the toJl-rr; i:- keeper's cottage at Puniho. Cr. Andrew's action in arranging with Mr. F. O. Ma'rris for a new crusher site at Tapuae was confirmed, and he was authorised to arrange with the owner for the payment by the council of fivepence per yard royalty. On the motion of the chairmfm it was decided to ask the Moa Road Hoard to take ove¥ the maintenance of Waiongona Bridge, on Hursthouse Road. The board's solicitors intimated that Mr. H. Crane would sign the plan of the Junction Road deviation, providing he received £5 as compensation.—lt was decided to pay the amount. Correspondent was received from the Rocmac Road Metal Comnany of Australia with regard to the ' "Roemae" solution for treating roads. The communication was merely received, members 'of the council 'being unanimously of opinion it was not Mr the county to experiment. Messrs Sladilen and Palmer applied for the consent of the council to the new road on the subdivision of W, T. Morpeth's property at Voge" own.-—As the county council has ceased to be the controlling authority in that nortion of the Hu'rworth Riding, it was decided to recommend the writers to apply to the borough council. The superintendent of the StateGuaranteed Advances Office intimated that although the loan of £IOOO applied for by the council was provisionally approved at the rate of 3% per cent., the board was unable finally to grant it at a loweV rate than 3% per cent.—The council decided to proceed with the loan at the increased rate.

Mr. H. Okey, M.P., forwarded a letter received from the Minister of Public Works notifying that an additional gVant of £SO, £1 for £l, had 1 °n made in respect to the completion o* the metalling on the Carrington Roa'\ It was decided to thank Mr. Okey for interesting himself in the mutter. MANGOREI ROAD BOARD. The chairman moved, and it was decided that Mangorei Road Board be abolished, and the a!rea of the district be merged in the county as from May 6, 1911. CARRTNGTOST ROAD CONTRACT. A report was submitted by Messrs Sladden and Palmer on the upper Carrington Road contract. The metal that had been broken was, the (report noted, much larger than specified, and had been put on without permission. If, however, the council wished to get the work done this season the only way would be to allow 4-inch spalls to he put down, and to have the top laver knapped down to gauge. The gravelled part of the road would also require the large stones broken. The road thus made would be sufficient for the traffic, as it was understood that the traction engine and timber would constitute the most of the traffic. —The engineer was empowered to vary the contract on the lines suggested.