TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 67, 6 August 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki County Council met yesterday, when th'e following members were present: The chairman (Mr. J. Brown), and Messrs. C. Andrews, R. Stevens, 1). MeAllum, Billing, J. 11. Bill, M. Ilopson.

THE TRAMWAYS PROPOSALS. In accordance with notice of motion, Or. McAlJum moved: "That in view of the unjust and exorbitant fees required hy the. Government for use of water from I> "! ! ti Falls, which, in the event of a tramway system being adopted by the co:ni'Nl throughout the Main South road, means i. sum of about £SOO per annum, this council take steps to procure from t'i3 pvii'cipal engineering supply 'houses all imV.malion as regards gas producer pliiTit. o'.' other motive jioivcr for generating electrical energy for the proposed tnwiway on the Main South road,"

'■r. Mcilhim explained that his reaso i for moving in the matter was that hi '.v;iiited the Government to 'have the imp ' sbio i that the council was mot -dropping the iilra of a tramway system merely I>ccMU»-! a r.\iuvaj was proposed. The council n: i-t ha w relief for the Main Soiic'i ro.i-i, cither lv a tramway sea-vice or a i ail'Vf. \.

The mo:'on mot vith some opposition. According ti O Flopson, the motion wo ild do more harm tlian good, as it mitjht !ivd the Government to suppose that a t':j!f.way -ysltm was good enough after all and. that a railway would not be requir" I The motion was carried. CONTROL OF THE FOREMEN.

After >some discussion, it was decided to adopt a motion, of which Cr. Andrews had previously given notice, "that the whole of the men employed throughout the county shall be tinder the control of the inspector, with the exception of the foremen." ALLOCATING TOLLS REVENUE.

It was moved by Or. McAllum, "that 25 per cent, of the revenue collected from the Puniho toll-gate be allocated to the Omata riding to be devoted towards the maintenance of that portion of the Main South road in that riding, but if the length of the road now in the riding is reduced l>v a portion of it being merged in the borough during the year, the amount to be reduced pro rata." Cr. Hill seconded the motion, to which Cr. Billing proposed an amendment that 12'/" p Rr cent, of the revenue be devoted to tho .Omata riding. This was seconded' by Cr. Andrews. The amendment was rejected in favor of the motion, which was carried! RATES.

Tlie following rates, it was decided, should bo levied for the ensuing year:— Mna A general rate of •%<! in tiro £ over the a Tea of the Mna road district; a genefal rate of ]'/ 2 d in ' the £ over the outlying district comprising the late Waiwakaiho, Mangorel and Henui road districts and a portion of the Fitzroy town district, and a hospital irate of ome-twelftti of a penny in the £ over the whole riding. Waitara riding: A generai rate of %d in the £ over the whole area of Waitara West, road district: a genwal rate of V/nd in Uie £ over the outlying district recently under the jurisdiction o.f the Egmont Uoad Board, and a hospital rate of one-twelfth of a penny in the £ over the whole riding. Omata riding: A general rate 'of 11/, dl 1 /, d in the £ and a hospital rate of onetwelft of a penny in the £. Okato riding: "A general rate of %d in the £ over the areas of the Tataira.imaka, Okato, and Were kino roiad die- | tricts; a general rate of 1 l / : A in t?ie £ over the outlying district recently under the jurisdiction of the Oakura Road Board and a hospital rate of onetwelfth of a penny in -the £ over the whole of the riding. Hurworth riding: A general rate of Id in the £, and a hospital rate of ometwelftili of a pennv in the £. UPLAND AND ILF.XWOOD ROADS.

Replying to the complaints of settlers, Foreman F. Holmes, of Hell TSlock. stated that the Upland and ITenwood roads were not so bad as they niadv out. About a mile of the road needed recoating, lialf-a-mile near the Upland ro'ad school an<l liaJf-a-mile near the Mangaoraka bridge. About 1000 yards of metail were required, which, including crushing and spreading, would cost £32">. The mutter was shelved' for discission when the council is granting metal supplies for the ensiling rear. WATPUKU IVIUDGE.

Mr. F. C. Robinson, engineer to the Stratford County Council. intimated that he was quite agreeable to leaving the Waipuku bridge for three months before plaatering the cuts. Some weeks ago the Tnranaki County Council complained that there watt a defect in the structure in the .shape of cracks in the concrete. GENERAL.

The Oakura Road Board forwarded a copy of a resolution passed to the effect that a special rate of %d in the £ be levied on all rateable value of all rateable property within the Upper Plymouth road special rating district for the purpose of providing interest awl otiher charges on ft loan of £3oo.—lt was decided to levy a special rate of %d in the £ to secure the loan. Advice was received from the State "Guaranteed Adv&ncas Office that £2OO liad been lodged to the council's credit on account of the Upper Mnngorei road loan.

Mr. S. Hooker asked the council to immediately construct cuiverting across the Mangorei road frontage, where the £ully on tlie waterworks reserve abuts upon the road, in order to divert, the fitormwater from his property. —The matter was referred to the inspector for investigation. Mr. Alfred George wrote drawing the attention of the council to the flood water from the road entering on to 'his land, where there was no outlet. He asked the council to put a drain 'across the road between Native reserve No. 1 and section (>, 'Grey district. —Inspector to report. The inspector was asked to report upon the Mangonui bridge on the Junction road.

The action of the chairman was approved in purchasing a 15.5.A. motorcycle, at £7O, for the use of the road and bridge inspector (Mr. Bond). Instructions were issued to the foremen to make out their metal supplies for the ensuing year. Mr. Bonner is to l;e retained as supervisor on concrete bridges. It was decided to ask Mr. Oibell, consulting engineer, to report, upon tilie suggested deviation of Junction road.

11, Kendall's resignation i'> ,«nr.ta«eman was ncf-epted, ami it va* divided in invito applieal inns tor the i-n-.il iiMi. BRIDGE FOREMAN'S UKI'OKT. The bridge foreman (Mr. R. W. Bond), who is now road and bridge inspector, report fd tluit •!><• had c"inp!i fed all tttc concrete work at bridge, and had stripped all ( imltcr from same. He had removed ihe plant; to the enlveit* near Runhy v<>:xl. and had completed one -ISin s lin' x :!in.. mid pxlroiStM -H"' i«P" scnl pipe culvert lOfl.. and' expected to IliU'e til" !;(!>••!• <>"<• •!'<"!lTilr(i'[' til!* work. -■ d rri.'i heatcs under ! li" Morurajj, r ;.i.. ■ T • i' ! ; Hi.id. !:md 1 w- ii t ;ir.r«d. Tli.-v.' Imil Ik-mi a !••>! <>f l<»sl time in 'lnly on it.H-.jilllt.--r" '•■ id weather. fa mfiipanv witlt Mr. I'.. Uavics. representinir Mr. I\. ('. Rohin mi. engineer to ihe Stratford Countv Con'ieil. ho made a. rlosc insneotion of tin' Waipitku bridge, and derided to allow the structure to remain as ftt present for three months for further inspection. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman M. -T. Jones reporte<l that the Mountain and Tariki road* were in fair order. He had put two concrete pipes in

',a culvert in (lie Mountain road and filled in the same where there ilud been a wash-out. He was at present employed on the Ngautoro bridge, which would l>e completed on Thursday. Foreman E. Bennett reported that during the wet- weather the Junction iroad broke up very badly between Ngatoro bridge and Kairaata, owing to the heavy carting of the material for Kaimata cheese factory, and he had used most of his maintenance metal. The contract had been started at the end of June, and had not yet got out 200 yards of metal.

It was decided to (request Mr. R. Rogers to place a culvert on Junction road at his entrance at once, and to approve of an agreement signed by Messrs. ltowa.n and Thomason, idemmfying the council from all damage relative to carting by their carts over the Junction road.

Foreman E. Harvey reported thivt during the month lie had had' horses and drays for -six days patching. He had raked in and blinded the new metal at the Heimi. The roads were in fairly god or£«r. * v ~»i Foreman J. Holmes, jun., reported that the weather during the month had been wry severe on the road's. Consequently h<t lmd had to employ a man with horse and cart to do repairs. Parts of tho Mountain road from the Waiongona bridge towards Ingle wood broke up very badly. Foreman J. Holmes reported that during the month ho had received 359 yards of .metal to effect repairs and to rein cisi'l some of the worst places. Ik' had luul to engage horses and carts for ti few days to repair the roads, as tihe wet weather during the -early part of the month caused the roads to break up badly. Tim i\\st of his time he had been removing the grass from the side of the raid and letting water off the road. Foreman F. Holmes reported that the weather during the early part of the month was very severe on the roads. Swann and Magon made another start with their Henwood and l Upland (roads contract, and had completed l their contract alii but 20 yards. He thought it would be just as well to leave the balance for the time being. as the material was not much good. There were about 20 chains unmetalled on Corbett road that was very bad in the wet weather. He thought the settlers would be willing to assist, if the council could; do anything towards it. There were also about 20 chains on the top end of Smart road bv the creamery that got very tod in the winter months. He thought till" stone could be got out of the Walwakaibo river near the road at a low cost. The settlers would 1 be also willing to help on this road.

The inspector was instructed to interview the settlers find see what offer they were prepared to make, and to obtain a general statement of the position.. Foreman F. Sea-mar]; reported that all the roads under his control were in fnir order. He thought it would be advisable for the council to call tenders as soon as possible for the year's metal supply so as to give the contractors plenty p* time to cart the boulders by the time they were required. He required about 950 yards for the Main road, as follows: ,500 Yards on the Omata Hill (as the metal had got very tliin, he thought this would be a good tin) 2 to have tire hill lowered aborit four or five feet before putting down any 'mors new metal); for maintenance hefcweeu the hill and borough boundary, 350 .yards; about 150 yards to metal | about. e.?ht chains on the Lower Barrett [ road, which was almost impassable in winlir; 100 yards for Upper Barrett road: 2C yards for Pheaney road; and 100 yarcis between Crompton's and the bhicgoms.

1 A f, :cr some discussion, during which, Cr. McAlhun urged that the work should 1 be proceeded with immediately, it was decided to request the inspector to prepare plane and estimates of t'lie regrading of the Omata Hill. Foreman D. Brosnan reported tfha-t his time for the past month had 'been taken up in clearing out water tables, cutting | grass from the edge of metal and patching. lie had been unable, so far, to find any teams to cart out boulders for repairs at Tataraimaka. The mete! on the Carrington road had been attended to as requested. The Stoney river and 'Kaiih'itu Iwidgee' Tequired a new coat of point. A good entrance had been made c by the natives, facing the county road leading to Oakura pa. The pipes were granted by the' council', and all the labor was done by the natives. Thfe work ihad improved the county road considerably. The culvert n«w Oka to school required a new fence. The Main South road was in really good order, considering the wet weather. The new pieces of road recently put down by the roller were as smooth as glass and like concrete, and ke thought they would weaT treble as long as formerly. The question of fencing near the i school was left to Cr. Andrews to a.rJ range.

Foreman W. -Eva reported that tihe roads were in fair order. Bis time far the month bud been taken up in patching the Mangorei and Hurwortli roads, ami in spreading metal, blinding, cleaning water-tables, and general work. Surfaceman E. James reported 1 that his -time had been taken up in patching and raking up loose metal and clestitihg out water-tables. Most of the roads were in fair order. lie would want some metal carted orer the Hill road bridge, which was getting very shaky and wanted seeing to. ACCOUNTS. Accounts as follows were passed for payment: Administration, £IOSO 15s 7d; Moa riding £4Ol 3s 7d, Waitara riding £309 2s 2d, Omata roding £72 3.5, Okato riding £!>9 13s 4d, Hurwo.rtth riding £Ol 7s; total £2014 4s Bd.