TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 144, 5 November 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki County Council was attended by the chairman (Mi - . J. Brown) and Councillors J. E. Uill. J. Andrews, A. Morton, D. McAllum, C. Andrews, M. Hopson and K. Stevens. On behalf of councillors, the chairman ■welcomed Cr. A. Morton, who took his seat for the first time. He said that from what he knew of Mr. Morton he should be an acquisition to the Council. His experience on various local bodies should stand the Council in very good stead. The chairman also congratulated Cr. Hill on his re-election. Both members suitably responded and drew'attention to the necessity for increasing the Council's plant in order to eope with the whole of the enlarged district. Cr. Morton also hoped that the time was not far distant when the remainder of the road districts would merge into the county.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REVIEW.

In a summary of the more important ' points in connection with the progress I of the county during the past year, the chairman (Mr. J. Brown) stated that the county had now a total length of roads under its control amounting to 242 miles, with CO bridges to maintain, as under: —Metalled main roads, fi4 miles; metalled ordinary county roads, 104>/ 2 miles; unmetalled ordinary county roads, 73y 2 miles; 'bridges on main roads, 34; bridges on ordinary county roads, 20. Of the 34 bridges on main roads, 24 are situated in the Moa riding. Considering the wet winter and spring, the roads have stood up to the task imposed on them as well as could be expected. Anxiety was chiefly centred on the Main South road between Puniho and New Plymouth, and he was pleased to say that the good work that was done on that road last year had stood remarkably well, and with the increased supplies granted this, year he thought they would soon have a road that would carry the constantly increasing traffic on the coast. METAL. There was deposited on the roads 13,982 yards of metal, as against 15,326 yards for the previous year. However, there was still 2000 yards in various contracts not yet completed, chiefly owing to the very wet season. The metal was distributed over the respective ridings as follows:—Moa riding, 2251 yards; Waitara riding, 3199- yards ;-Omata rid-

ing, 2008 yards; Okato riding, 5566 yards; Hunvorth riding, 958 yards. The average costs. ot ■ metal were:— M'oa riding, 7s 6d per yard, as against 6s 3d last year; Waitara, 4s 9d (5s Id); Omata, 4s Id (6s Id).; Okato, 6s Id (4s 7d)-; Hurworth,, 6s lid, (7s 7<l). The highest price was paid in the Moa riding at 9s,.and.the^lowest; Omata. riding, at 2s fid per'yard." " CASUAL LABOR! •■• Through the alterations : of several foremen's length's and supervision of main and ordinary roads by some of. tie foremen, the comparisons would be unfair and of no value to the.Council. : : ' ■ CRUSHING PLANT. ' During the year the crusher wp.rke,d on 147% days, crushing 9682' yards : of metal. The engine staff wer ; e employed as under:—Removing and re-se,ttirig plant, 38y 2 days; repairing.plant, 5jy 4 days; wet days, 67% days.' a view'-to pushing on with:, the crushing more vigorously during the summer months,, he suggested that •%' plant, should work nine hours per day ,a,iid the staff paid according]}'. This would .'enable the plant to accomplish considerably more than it was doing now, and in many respects prove a convenience to the contractors! ! ■'■' !| MERGERS. ' '::. • During the year the Oakura, Mangorei and Waiwakaiho road districts merged into the county. Foremen had been appointed to maintain the,various roads in these districts.. Some-of, these roads, he regretted to say, were in, anything but a satisfactory condition', whereas others, with . continual supervision, would, he trusted-, rapidly improve. , NEW RIDINGS. ■ In consequence of a portibn of' the county being attached to the borough of New Plymouth, it became necessary to re-divide the county into fresh ridings and fixing the representation. This had been done by the Governor as recommended by the Council, and he thought, satisfactory from all points of view. The chairman thanked : lors for their courteous and generous assistance during the year. The meetings had been conducted harmoniously and in the interests and for the benefit of the inhabitants of the county. Discussion on the report was postponed till next meeting.

TARATA ZIG-ZAG. ! Mrs. A. Standish, of Tarata, drew attention to the danger of motor traffic on the Tarata Zig-Zag. She asked the Council to prohibit automobiles from using the road on one day in the week. —Councillors pointed out that the Council had not the power to absolutely prohibit traffic. All were agreed as to the dangerous state of the road, and it was decided to place danger notices on the Zig-Zag. COWLING ROAD. Four settlers of Cowling road, who recently petitioned the Council, intimated their acceptance of its offer to metal 21 chains of the road, on the understanding that they (the petitioners) contributed the sum of £25 towards the work. They stipulated that the work should be done this coming summer. — It was decided to forward a reply regretting that funds would not permit of the work being undertaken at present, and that it would have to be held over till the end of the financial year. INDEPENDENT SETTLERS. Messrs W. S. Cole and A. Marsh wrote to the effect that the settlers on the Wniwakaiho road would give the sum of £25 towards the cost of getting some metal on the road between the crusher

site and Egmont road. They also undertook to help the foreman to form the road. The writers pointed out that if the Council gave .-€SO, making a total of £75, this would "give us about 15 to 20 chains less mud to scratch through." —lt was decided to reply regretting that j the Council was not in a position to put the work in hand at present, but was disposed to accept the offer when its finances were sufficiently improved. GENERAL. In answer to the Council's request, the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Finance, advised that he had made provision in the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Amendment Bill, to be introduced this session, for the clause dealing with the application of surplus loan monies to be retrospective. The Wanganui County Council asked the Council to endorse a resolution urging the Government to grant the right of conversion to freehold to the lessees of lands held on the small grazing run tenure. —The resolution was endorsed, the chairman pointing out that it did not affect the county very much. The chairman of the Frankley Road School Committee applied for a quantity of earth on the road adjoining the school for the purpose of filling in the playground. —Referred to the inspector to , comply with if there was any spoil to sprre.

Mr. H. T. Bishop wrote asking tile Council to declare a portion of section 15, Hua, as a public road, in order to give access to section 16, Hua. —Advice was to hand from the Assistant Under-Sec-retary of the Public Works Department that the application, which had been forwarded on by the Council, was receiving attention. With reference to the adjustment of accounts between the Council and the St. Aubyn Town Board, the secretary to the Treasury intimated that the Council's inscribed debt had now been reduced by £2WS 8b Cd, and the half-yearly interest by £37 17s lid, thereby making the total debt to be £32,896 is 3d, and the total half-yearly interest £637 19s 64.

Messrs Weston and Weston intimated that Mr. W. Brydon was prepared to accept compensation in respect of the proposed Cross road: (1) £3O an acre for land taken; (2) £lO for felling the plantation; (3) 10s a chain for fence taken (about 20 chains); (4) an undertaking by the Council that when it fells the trees now standing along the line of the new road, it will pay him compensation for loss of shelter therefrom; (5) erection of sheep-proof fenees along the new road line. —The letter was referred to the chairman to report on. On behalf of the Moa Koad Board, Mr. H. J. M. Thomson, solicitor, applied for the consent of the Council to the proposed deviation of the Upland road.— Granted.

Mr. L. Bettridge, of Alfred road, Egmont Village, wrote complaining that he was tormented by two bulls belonging to another farmer.—The matter is being attended to. It was decided to ask Messrs Rowan and Thomason to agree to the transfer of 350 yards of pit metal from Gregory's pit from the Main South road to Waireka road.

'i'lie inspector was instructed to report on Cr. Hill's request relative to erecting a fence on the Egmont road. It was decided to pay the sum of .-£lO, representing the late Oakura Road Board's share of constructing the road to the ; Timaru Beach bridge. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The road and bridge inspector (Mr. R. W. Bond) reported that during October he had been over most of the county roads and found them all in fair order. The cutting, formation and metaljing at Waitcpuke bridge was about completed. The old wooden bridge had been removed, and he recommended that the portion not required be sold. "Eorea. man A. Mallon had taken up his duties as road foreman. He had had 144 yards of metal and had dumped 226 yards for' the Maketawa Hill. The crusher had worked 13 days this month, enrolling 768 yards of metal. The plant had been removed from .the Ngatoro depot to Maketawa and on to the chain bridge, 'j. lie road roller had been engaged rolling and scarifying and in dismantelling the Waitepiike and Ngatoro bridges. On tlie 12th' ulti the decking and points on the Maketawa bridge gave way while the roller was passing over. This happened about 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, and it took till 12.30 a.m. on Sunday to get the engine .out and repair the damage to the bridge, No damage was done to the roller.

Foreman J. Bonner and gang had been engaged on the earthwork and removing the Waitepuke bridge, completing two culverts below Inglewood, removing the Ngatoro bridge, and understrutting the, Manganaeia bridge, Junction road. Foreman E. Bennett had had 90 yards of metal on his length, the balance of his time being spent in general road work. Foreman H. Hancock had taken up his duties and had been engaged in forming a new crusher site on the lower end of Kent road and on general road work. Foreman B.' Thomas had been engaged spreading metal on Williams' Hill, Maud road, and in general road work. Me (Mr. Bond) had made arrangements with Swann and Magee to get and deliver the gravel for Williams' Hill. Tenders were being called for formation and metalling on tipper Mangorei road and lower end of King road, and also for a quantity of metal for the various ridings. Foreman J. Holmes, junr., had had 86 yards of metal on his. length and had completed the fillings on two fillings below Inglewood. Foreman J. Holmes, junr., had 74 yards of metal on his length and had also been making up side tracks. Foremen J. Holmes and Linklatcr had been engaged putting three pipe- culverts on Egmont road and also in general road work. A suitable crusher site could be obtained on Mr. Stanley's property near the end of Mutton Track. Foremen E. Seamark and Edwards had been engaged on general road work and had made a start with the grading of the Omata Hill. Foremen Sefton and Meredith had been engagpd in patching and water-tabling and metalling four chains of hill leading to Mrs. Sumner's property, Victoria road. Foreman D. Brosnan had been engaged in making up side tracks and in general road work. Foreman G. Spencer had taken up his duties and had been engaged on water-tables, raking in metal and patching. Foreman A. Findlay had been engaged patching, breaking stone, and general road work. Mr. H. George had completed chipping and painting the Wa'iongona steel bridge. Waitara riding—(l) Corbett road: There were 52% chains from the present metal to railway crossing which required metalling. The formation would be very little and two seta of pipes were required. . He estimated the cost of metalling this work at £IOO. (2) The ' Mangoti culvert; Bell Block, was getting very bad and required a new culvert, as the present one shows signs of falling in. Omata riding.—Sealy road: At present this hill was metalled and was a heavy grade. To do any good, at least £l4O would be required on the far side from the main road and £3O on the near side.

Okato riding—Surrey Hill road: By Mr. Craven's there was a hill that wears badly and which could he improved by forming and widening, and a little formation would greatly improve the other unmetailed portion. Weld road: This road required forming up in a few places and four chains of metal put on the Pa Hill, which would cost about £26. Along the frontages of several properties this road had been fenced off from 30 to 40 feet wide, causing the road to cut up in several places through its narrowness. There wore also several gates across this road which required to he moved. He would recommend a set of Din pipes to be put across the end of the same road on Sefton's side so that filling could be done to back up metal on the main road. At the junction of Koru and Plymouth roads a set of Oin pipes were required. It was decided to proceed with the formation of Weld road, and to request persons to remove gates off the road and set back their fences to the proper line. The construction of a culvert at the junction of Koru and Plymouth roads was authorised, and it was also decided that Surrey Hill road, by Raven's, be formed. TENDERS ACCEPTED. Tenders were accepted as follow:—COO yards metal Omata Hill, J. L. Hart; 1085 yards metal King Road depot, Rowan and Thomason; 310 yards metal Frankley Road, Rowan and Thomason; 470 yards metal, Mutton Track, Haskell and Co.; 300 yards metal Mangorei Road, .'I, Magee; 700 yards metal, Lealand's depot, Swan and Magee; 40 chains formation and metalling Mangorei Road, J. Magee. ACCOUNTS. Accounts as follow were passed for payment: —Administration £217 Os 2d, Moa Riding £5Bl 13s 7d, Waitara £ll2 lis Bd, Omata £94 4s 3d, Okato £59 4s, Hurworth £4l h 6d. Total £llO3 15s 2d.