TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 243, 4 March 1913, Page 6

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MKFTIXC. The ordinary meeting 0 f the Taranaki County Council was held at the County Chamber-, ycstcnhn. when there wenpresent: Cis. J. liiown (chairman), ,1.1 ■lf. Hill, J. Andrews. A. Morton, J) McAilum. C. Killing, (_'. Andrews, M. llojison ;ind H. Stevens. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. It. \V. Bond, road and bridge inspector, reported that he had been over the greater portion of the eountv roads, and found them all in fair order. The various foremen had been employed in raking loose stones, blinding and spreading metal, formation on bye-roads, repairs to bridges and general road work. Moa riding—The grading and metalling of the Maketawa Hill was now completed, except for about four days, which will be done when Mr. Trimble has made his entrance. Ten chains of metal had been put down near Maketawa bridge by Foreman A. Mallon. Foreman E. J'.ennett had received 30 yards of boulders and 70 yards metal on contract Mo. 2(11. Four new beams had been put in the Mangaone bridge. Tariki road. Fiftytwo feet of ain pipes were required on the Zig-zag and by Maketawa bridge, Junction road, to replace the old wooden culverts. Six new deck planks had been put in the Hill road bridge. The Sash and Door Co. had delivered 1800 sup. feet of bridge decking at the corner of Kent and Korito roads, which was to be used as- required on the Kent and Korito bridges. (This timber was on hand when the Waiwakaiho Road Board merged). Foreman H. Hancock had received .170 yards of metal on the Junction and Mangorei roads.

Waitara riding—Sew decking had been put down on the Mangoaraka bridge, Devon Line, and the best of the old decking from the bridge had been put down oil the Mangaoraka bridge, To Aro road. Four beams and ten decking planks had been put in the Mangoaraka bridge, G'orbett road. This bridge required further repairs in two other beams. The wire protection work on the eastern wing of the Waiwakaiho bridge had been repaired. The ten chain peg was replaced and a wire stretched over the river at that point. Very slow progress bad been made with the King road contract.—The repairs as recommended to the Corbett road bridge will be carried out. It was also resolved to notify the contractor that the Council was not satisfied with the progress of the work on the King road. Omata riding—Owing to the bad weather, work on the Omata Hill had been delayed, but with tine weather six days voiild complete this job, including the metalling. A plant suitable for hauling stone over the cliff by Mr. J. McKee's property would cost £2(10. and bj getting it out in this way should save the Council 2s Od per yard on the stone supply. There had been a large deposit of suitable stone at this pant. The crushing plant had completed crushing on the Junction road and been removed to Clemow's depot, where it had started working. It had worked lf>Vi> days iot the month, crushing 721 yards. The balance of time had been taken up shifting the plant and wet days. The steam roller had been ensjageil in scarifying and rolling on the Junction and Mangorei roads and on the Omata Hill, workiug 17y 3 days. —After slight discussion it was resolved to allow the matter of the stone-hauling plant to remain over until the Council visited the locality next week. Cr. Andrews referred to the metal on the Omata Hill. There was, he considered, no camber, and in a short time water would be running down the centre of the road. Then, again, he did not think that the culvert at the bottom of the bill was required. The engineer pointed out that the metalling was not yet completed, but had been put on to make the hill passable. The culvert at the bottom of the hill was to save the necessity of entering private property for drainage purposes.—The Council will look into the matter on Fridav

Okato riding—Arrangements had been made with H. J. Blanchard to do the work authorised on the Upper Carrington road. The formation and metalling on the hill by Kiri bridge had been let to T. Collins at £6 2s 6d per chain. Owing to the gorse on the Upper Weld road the formation had been delayed. Messrs Williams Bros, refused to remove this gorse. Their fence was encroaching 42ft on the road and required to be moved back to the proper boundary. A number of the cuttings on the South road were being overgrown with gorse, blackberry and rubbish. Notice should be sent to the adjoining owners to clear same. Rubbish had been cut down by Mr. Lacey's property and left in the water-table, which caused the flood water to do considerable damage, which should be paid for by the responsible person. Two hundred running feet of decking was required for the Kaihiki bridge and 200 ft for the Timaru Beach bridge.—The action of the chairman in letting the metalling contract to T. Collins was confirmed. The gorse hedge on Weld road was left over (lending the Council's visit to the locality. Bridge timber will be procured. Hurworth riding—Foreman G. Spencer had put on the Carrington road 102 yards of metal during the month. OLD HOSPITAL ROAD. Mr. N. Williamson wrote complaining about the state of the Old Hospital road. The half-mile or so of the immetalled portion was, he considered, in a dangerous state owing to its extremely bad and neglected condition. After ordinary rainfall the road in question was >imj)ly a spacious water-table, while heavy rainfall made the track at times impassable. Whilst using every care, he wished to warn the Council that it would be held responsible for any misfortune that the disgraceful condition of the road might cause him. lie had signed a petition, with many other ratepayers, over six months ago for getting the road formed and metalled, but bad not yet .seen any material improvement made or metalling done. Mr. John Hale wrote to the same effect. The chairman pointed out that there were no funds to metal the road. Mr. Morton considered that the only remedy was for the settlers interested to raise a loan for the metalling, and it was resolved to reply to the writers to that effect. ENGINEERS" REPORT. Messrs Sladden and Palmer reported that Ilenrieksen had at last succeeded in getting the metal down on his Upper Carrington road contract. The specifications were varied last year in order to try to complete the metalling. It turned out to be impracticable, and the work was stopped. The contract was not yet completed, but there was nothing now to binder completion at an early date. The job was necessarily rather a rough one. but they did not think, taking all things into consideration, that the contractor could have done any better. Their measurements indicated that considerably more than the specified quantilv of metal had been put on. particularly on the part metalled last year when the road was soft. The metal was hand-broken down to about four or live inches, and when spread the top layer was knapped. The contractor

had about 120 to 140 yards of unbroken stone remaining, which ho would be ' pleased to soil to the Council. Mr. Sladden waited on tho Council in cc incctiun with the matter. TRACTION TRAFFIC. T. and 1!. Parkin asked the Council t grant them a permit for one trip v ill their engine and plant and their • turn from Eltham. They pointed out Jiat the only time their engine was on the county road was when they were going to or coming from a contract. They did not think that it was the in•tcntion of the County Council to press heavily on traffic of this description whpn they were not on the roads onefiftieth of tlie trips that the engines and threshing mills were, whose license was only £5. Cr. Morton considered that this was a reasonable request. It was never intended that the heavy trallic. by-laws should apply to such cases. In the course of discussion it was pointed out that a traction engine of this description was liable to pay a license of £lO per annum. This" one was usually employed at the stone depot at Fitzroy, and only required a permit to get hack. After slight discussion it was agreed to issue a permit on payment of £l. ROYALTY ON METAL. The Reserves Agent wrote that he was about to have listed the matter of the ownership of the stone which the Council was taking under the Public Works Act from the leasehold of Mr. Chas. Andrews, of Hangatahua (Stony River), Okato. He therefore asked the Council to hold any moneys which would become payable for stone taken until the matter was settled. UPPER MANGOREI ROAD.

Mr. Jolm Brown (Mangorei) asked the Council to raise £2O, the additional 10 per cent., to metal the balance of 12 chains oil the Upper Mangorei roarl. He was willing to meet matters by paying tlie first vear'h interest on the loan of £2OO. Cr. Morton pointed out that they were unable to raise the additional 10 per cent, of the loan. After some discussion it was decided to ask Mr. Brown if the settlers in the district were willing to contribute in proportion to what he had offered, and if so the Council would then be prepared to consider the matter. CROSS ROADi A letter was received from the solicitors of Mr. Wm. Brydon, covering an agreement under which Mr. Brydon was willing to allow the Council to take land for the Cross road between the Frankley and C'avrington roads. The Council considered some of the conditions, especially as regarded tfce shelter trees, impossible, and it was resolved to inform Mr. Brydon that unless he was prepared to accept the terms re shelter trees offered by the Council, the Council would proceed to take the land under the Public Works Act. DEPUTATIONS.

Mr. E. George waited on the Council in connection with a dispute between himself and the road foreman (Mr. Seamark) oyer the Hurford road stone contract. The matter, which was in reference to the places where tile stone was deposited, was left in flic hands of the chairman to adjust. Sir. Cartwright asked to he allowed to transfer his contract for the supply of 1000 yds of pit metal on the -Mountain road to Rowan and Thomason. The latter were present and agreed to accept the contract.—Contract agreed to. A DANGEROUS BRIDGE. Mr. Oliver Deacon drew the Council's attention to the danger which exists at Lepperton, owing to the construction of the bridge over the railway at the New Plymouth side of Lepperton Junction. This bridge crosses the railway at right angles, while the approaches are practically parallel to it, and as the bridge was on an elevation, and the sides were closely boarded, a driver on one approach had absolutely no view of any vehicle on the other approach The remedy was simple, if the close boarding were removed and wires or wire-netting placed there instead, so as to make the bridge safe for sheep, etc. Drivers would then have a clear view. It was resolved to forward a copy of this letter to the District Railway Engineer at Wanganui. COWLING ROAD. Mr. A. B. Monro wrote re the metalling of portion of the Cowling road, and asked that unless the Council could guarantee thai the work would be done by May 15 the £25 that he had paid on January (i should be refunded to him. As tilings were at present lie saw no prospect of the work being done this year. It was resolved to return the money as requested, as the council could not guarantee that the work would be done by the date asked. Mr. Monro waited on the Council later and agreed to hold tlyi matter over until the llltli inst., by which time the Council would know whether there was a chance of getting the work done. SOUTH ROAD. Messrs Govett and Quilliam forwarded an agreement by Johnson Bros, re extraordinary trallic on the Main South road, also a cheque for £2OO, being the .amount payable now on account of same, and £lO 10s costs. The chairman and Cr. Hill were, appointed to sign the agreement with Johnson Bros, on behalf of the Council and that the chairman atlix the seal. ' ITJ'EIL CARRINGTON ROAD. Mr. 11. W. Bond, road and bridge inspector, estimated the damage done to the Carrington road by timber traffic (T. V. Simons) from January 11 to February 11 at £l7 10s. —Adopted. ft was also resolved to grant Mr. T. V. Simons an extension of the agreement for contribution to the upkeep of tlie road until he could get his tramway completed. ADDITIONAL PLANT. The chairman brought up the question of purchasing an additional roller, so that one could always remain with the crusher. There were so many bve-roads to attend to now that an additional roller was necessary. lie suggested a heavier roller for the main roads, the present roller being utilised on the, byeroads. Scarifying and rolling the byeroads would improve them and save a tremendous lot of labor. The question of obtaining a grader was also brought up. There was considerable diversity of opinion as to whether a grader would be beneficial or otherwise. It was resolved that the chairman be empowered to obtain tenders at next meeting for the purchase of a ten-ton roller and scarifier. (The present roller weighs eight tons). CA'.'.IIINGTON ROAD GRANT. In reply to a request that the grant provided on the Public Works appropriations for the Carrington road should be authorised to the Taranaki County Council. th<> Public Works Department replied that the provision was to cover work principally in the Werekino and partly in the Okato Road Board districts. As these boards had previously carried out the work it. was considered advisable to let it remain with them. It was pointed out that this reply referred to a different grant.

GENERAL. Mr. Benoni White wrote re removal of a gate on the Heta road. The inspector was instructed to report on the matter at next meeting. It was resolved to obtain Mr. Martin's opinion as to the question of merging portion of the Moa road district into the Taranaki County Council. Mr. F. T. Bellringer, town clerk of New Plymouth, wrote that as the area of the borough had been extended, no chums for heavy traffic (metal) under section 130 of the Public Works Act, 1908, would be compromised by the Council at less than 6d per cubic yard. Mr. A. Chong's offer to cut weed on the reserve on Hill road for the use of same was accepted, and the rental was fixed at £1 per annum, to be remitted if the weeds were cut to the inspector's satisfaction. Mrs. A. K. Matthews wrote re royalty on metal taken from her property and also asked that .something sliotild be done re the gate which was broken down by the metal contractors.—lt was resolved to repair the gate and charge the cost to the contractor. Mr. John Martin (Tanirutangi) wrote re metal grant made to him for the Upland road last June. This had not been started yet.—Left in the chairman's hands. The Secretary of the Treasury wrote that a draft form relative to the apportionment of payments in cases of merger or inclusion under the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Act, 1912, was now receiving the attention of the Crown Law Office. The Bradford Tramway Department forwarded particulars re raiMess electric traction. The Valuer-General wrote that the representations of the County Council against the reduced values proposed to be assigned to certain lands in the county would be carefully considered. The clerk was authorised to grant Mr. A. E. Sadler, toll-gate keeper at Puniho for the past two years, a reference. Accounts were passed as follows:—Administration £6Ol 4s lid'- Moa riding £578 3s KM; Waitara, £137 Ss 4dOmata, £lO2 lfis lid; Okato. £7O Is 7d; Hurworth, ,£IS7 2ssd: total, £1772 18s.