CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 66, 5 August 1912, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council -was held at Waitnra on Friday, when there were present: Messrs E. Elliott (chairman), C. O'Sullivan, R. T. Hicks, A. M. Bower, H. Sander and S. J. Kennington. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. C. F. Dowsett (engineer) reported thait W. .T. Clare had inserted the caps at the Onaero bridge as required, but the superstructure should receive early attention. The contractor had almost completed the formation on the Mataro road, and was now engaged in taking off sharp points, etc. Owing to the weather and state of the. roads, the contractor could not get on with the Kalia road contract, which would he completed at the first favorable opportunity. He had inspected the Piko road, and submitted an estimate for metalling six miles to the Ratepayers' Committee. The Uruti bridge had been satisfactorily completed Plans and specifications for the Matau-Manga-oapo road -were now approved by the Resident Road Engineer and tenders would be called. The schedule of proposed expenditure of thirds had been approved and the work would now be proceeded with.—The report was adopted. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. I

D. G. Rowe (Okau) 'had been employed clearing water-tables and filling in ruts. There was much more to do. Several culverts required renewing, and as one had to be sunk eight or nine feet he would need assistance. The road had slipped away, and to widen it be •would require powor and fuse, as there were several stones that two-horses could not, shift. Timber and spikes were also needed.

Foreman Kuhtz (Mokau) had carted 30 yards of gravel to fill holes. He had not done any fascining on the Main Mokau road so far. and thought it would now stand without. The tunnel at Pukearuhc was in very bad order. A man would require to camp there two or three days in order to effect "the necessary repairs, for which timber would be required. The road on the Moki road had slipped, and was now only 7ft wide. It had formerly been built up with timber. which had decayed. Repairs would cost £3O.

Foreman Tolfar (T'reiiu'O reported that repairs to the llp.in road wen; almost , completed. A cutrncl had been let to' J. Coleshy for liracli gravel at Ills per yard, but owing to the had state of the road .most of the work had been done with Okoke pit metal. Foreman Smith reported that he would require a large number ol pipes for culverts in fillings this .summer. Tie also reported various owners for allowing cattle or horses to strav on the roads. —Pipes will be forwarded and further information is required re straying cattle. TAX I NT! PLANTATIONS. Mr. F. S. Pope, secretary to the Department of Agriculture, forwarded copy of a letter submitted to the New Zealand Counties' Association asking for an expression of opinion on a proposal to exempt plantations from rates, with a view to encouraging tree planting throughout the Dominion. The resolution was as follows: —"That with a view to encouraging reafforestation by private enterprise, to supplement that carried on by the State, more particularly with the object of making tree-planting more general, instead of being confined 'to a fe-vf localities, the Dominion Conference endeavor to promote legislation $o as to exempt plantations for timl)pr- a,nd shelter purposes of over an acre in extent from rates." The Council decided to support the [ proposal.

THE BRIDGE LOAN. j Tn connection with the bridge loan, the | State Guaranteed Advances Office notiI lied that the Council had already had i applications before.the..Board as follows: i Provisionally approved, £1000:-! finally approved, £IOOS, If the Council wished to obtain a fresh loan to renew bridges, it. should apply to the Board for a loan', of £'2!)!)f>. which was the maximum ] amount that could be provisionally a.p-1 proved under the existing circumstances. The Council rescinded the previous resolution to borrow .CUflflO and resolved to take the necessary steps to' Vaise" a loan for the amount available, viz., 1 £2993.

RATE. j The chairman formally moved in ae-1 coTdanee with notice of motion that a general rate of 1 '/u'l be struck over the I whole county for the ensuing year. He did not see how they could do with less. Councillors were evidently of the same: opinion, lor the motion was seconded by Cr. Sander and carried without discussion. MAT AIT MATTERS. Mr. F. 11. Mills. Matau, complained of the way in "which the road at Matau ■was neglected. He thought they were entitled to a surfaceman to turn off the* water and fill in the roads, as when the surfaceman was at work on the road most of his time was taken up spending thirds or grants or repairing bridges. There was also a small slip on the Junction road going to Purangi which needed removal.—The letter was referred to Cr Kennington, to report at next meeting. Eight settlers on the Junction road, Matau. petitioned the. Council and asked that all thirds accruing oil their sections should be spent on sandstoning the road opposite them, on the bad portions first, until the road is completed from the post office to the confiscation line. This also applied to the last instalment. — The settlers are to be informed that the matter will be attended to next summer. TENDERS. Tenders were dealt with as follows: — Formation. Piko rond: E. Wliittaker £ 1 r>s 12s 6d (accepted). Gibson and Beck £160; fencing, Wai-iti: T. O. Waite£l6« 15s (accepted, provided that there are no rimu posts used in the fence), J. Cole-

man £2"25, GENERAL. The surfaceman is to attrnd to the water-table complained of by Mr. Jas.

Saith, Urenni. TI. Wells forwarded an account for 8s for clearing a slip on tlie I'ukearulie deviation. Tho work, he stated, was unauthorised, 'hut was necessary. The application of Mr. M. 1?. Newton for renewal of his slanglrter-honsc license at Tarn la was "ranted. The ruder-Secretary of Public Works forwarded .1 schedule of land taken for road and road .closed in connection with the deviation at I'ukearuhe. The Minister of internal .AlVairs forwarded notice re inclusion by petition ol portion of i he iborounh of Waituia in the coiinl ics of T.iranaki and Cliltoii. The i-nifini it was instructed to re-cjvcf ;l 1H!-1 l-rid- o:i iliv Oknn rrnd. [I. Wi ,s i<» Hi.' I)ixlri"l | : .'n. i ]■'•; ;ii ,i i'tion tn tin- iv.iim- J si: 1 11• of ill" "irder bridge on ihr | OltiUl road. and to request that \i be , completed as soon as possible, as in its present state it was very dangerous for trallic. The letter from the Kiwit.cn ( ounty Council, in' the, reduction of the present elma'es for private telephone bureau connections was received. The clerk was authorised to take steps 1 to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- I tion of Cr. Glceson.

Tt was resolved to write to the Minister of Public Works and ask for a grant of £ 1200 for the continuation of the metalling on the Mimi-Mokau road foT a mile over the had portion of the road. ilt was pointed out that the Council had applied for £4OOO, of which £IOOO was needed now. The question of the quantity of metal to be used in re-laying a main road was discussed, C. O'Sullivan favoring 10ft wide by 9in deep, as against Oft wide and 6in deep now in vogue. The question of finance, 'however, obtruded, and no action was taken. Accounts to the amount of £703 5s 2d were passed for payment.