CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

OKDIXAIU' .MEETING. i The monthly meeting of the Clifton | County Council was held at the Council Oli'ices, Waitara, yesterday, when there were present: Crs. S. M. Bower (chairman), C. O'Sullivan, S. ,F. Kenningtou, R. T. Hicks, S. Elliott, W. Jones and 11. Sander. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr C. F. Doivsett) reported that the grader had completed its itinerary in the Waihi riding, as arranged, and had moved northward. The various metalling contracts on the Nikorima, Waiau and Ohanga loals would be taken in hand forthwith in the order named. In the Tikorangi riding, the Inku.d North road metalling contract had bum completed. Work on the Otaraoa road was proceeding slowly. The 4ft pipes for .Jackson's Hill were on the site. The work of re-delining the junction of the Waihi and Ngatimaru roads would be taken next week. Iu the Ngalimaru riding, the original contract for the Tarata gravel had been cancelled and relet at a satisfactory ligure. The light grader had been doing satisfactory work on the unmetalled j roads, and would shortly be transferred j to Tikorangi. Owing to shortage of laj bor, Drake Bros.' metalling contract was ] proceeding slowly, but this would now I be remedied. The North llatau bridge | kad been completed subject to minor ro- ' quirenients. On the South Matau road , further sections and points were laid ; off for widening, and plans and speeilij cations would be prepared in due course, in the Urcnui riding, the grading had I completed work in the Mocrangi and Kaipikari roads, and had been returned to Waitara. The Nelson road bridge was examined, and would be included in the general scheme of repairs as alrcauy outlined. The royalty dispute at Okoke had been settled on a satisfactory bus's. A. Murdoch, the newly-appoilited surfaceman, had commenced his duties. As no suitable accommodation was offering, the Council were requested to consider tke erection of a cottage for his use on similar lines to those already erected. Surfaceman Knuckcy also required accommodation. In the Mokan riding, the metalling on the ilaui road had been completed, but proved too costly. Wherever possible, this class of work should be done by a straight-out inclusive contract. About 250 yds of screenings were now availablo for concrete work. Plan-; were in course of preparation for the erection ,of Hood openings in ferro-ctm-crete, and also the Putiki bridge in hardwood and steel, and would be submitted at the next meeting. The sandstoning on the Okau road had been commenced at the Kiwi end. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. Mr E. A. Peppercll (Urcnui)) wrote asking £lO compensation for a horse which had been badly damaged owing to his leg slipping in a hole in the decking of a bridge near .Mr Uuseott's house on the Uruti road. The decking of the bridge, he stated, was in a shocking state, and he was.informed by settlers that there had been three hples right through the decking for days past, though his driver was unable to see them for the clouds of dust rising.—No action taken. OBSTRUCTING DRAINS. Mr C. R. Stead, county solicitor, forwarded an opinion to the effect thai the Council had power to order the occupier or owner of land on the banks of any watercourse or drain within the district or within one mile beyond, its boundary to remove from such water-course or drain all weeds and other growth or obstructions of any kind calculated :o impede the free, flow of water.—Resolved that the Council take the necessary steps to enforce compliance with the Act. GILBERT ROAD. Mr C Selby, of Uruti. asked the Council to put a lift track (Gilbert road) into his section. He would Infer on widen it into a 12ft track at his own expense. Twenty chains had been done by the Council last year, but was now in a bad state owing to slips.lleld over until the amount of thirds available is ascertained. KATES AND ROADS. Mesrs. Schrieber and Hunter, of Waitui, asked if the clerk would explain why he should pay rates on his section 3, 'block XIV., Upper Waitara. when there was no road whatever to get there, lie had never experienced anything like it before. The Chairman considered that applicants should approach the Government. It was resolved to reply that the Council was compelled by law to levy rates for the purpose of administration and for the maintenance of roads ■im! bridges. The rate levied, viz., I'A''-, w.is barely sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining existing means of communication. The Council did not pretend to be able to give access to every section in the County, as to do so it would require to raise an enormous sum for works, and a much lighter rate for maintenance. The present rate was considered a quite sufficient burden for the ratepayers, and the Council was doing its best to expend the revenue derived therefrom with a view to conferring the greatest amount of good lo tin' greatest number. Applicants are also to be advised to approach the Government, as the land was loaded for the purpose of giving settlers road access. MANGAMAEUO BRIDGE. I Mr. W. Gordon Olassford. of Mimi. wrote complaining of the state of the Mangamaeho bridge. The recent rains had caused the bridge, .which was all "squee-gce" before, to sink two feet, and it was quite dangerous, even unsafe, for light traffic. "Put in a new bridge," he concluded, "and do what is necessary and right." The Engineer was instructed to repair the bridge with a view to replacing it with a concrete culvert at a later date. PUKEARUIIE MATTERS. Mr. 11. Wells notified that he could get the four chains of road on the hill north of Mr. Davis' gate metalled at 13s per yard for broken metal or 8s per yard for shingle. In the. latter case, it would be necessary to wait until there was some on the beach. The oiler was accepted. The work to bo done with shingle to the satisfaction of the engineer. THE HOSPITAL LOAN. The Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Company, Ltd., the Public Trust Office and the Postal Department wrote declining the Council's application for a loan of £2,557, the Council's quota to tin; New Plymouth Hospital. Further particulars will be sent to the Government Life Assurance Department, and the rate of interest and sinking fund they require for a loan extending over a period of 3G years asked for. .','■• '.., The committee appointed to receive tenders reported that the following had

boon accepted:—XJarting 100 yards of metal, Wainu, P. Taylor, 5a !)d per yard; 700 yards of metal, Okokc, Paul and Tate, !ls lid per yard; 500 yards of me till at Onuero, C. Marsh, 5s Ud pur yard. The action of the uorumiltoe was confirmed. The following metal contracts were let:- 100 yards of stone, inland,' North rout!. G. Farquhar, £42 10s; metalling about two miles on the llruti road with ;14U0 yards of shell rock, Jones and Gaudy, £i(i3s lis. / 'renders were also accepted for the J following bridges on the main road in the Mokau riding: Hawcra, concrete culvert, W. J. Cbire, £228 10s; King's, concrete bridge, £747 ss; Jones, concrete culvert, .CI 85 10s. uiuti road loan. The engineer referred to the formation on the Uruli road. It was proposed to metal this ten feet wide out of loan money, and the Council had some two years ago decided to attend to the formation. To give two feet of hacking on each side of the metal, it would cost C 350, and he asked if all this would have to coine out of the general rates. Councillors wore surprised that the work would cost so much, and the riding members were authorised to visit the work and confer with the engineer. GENERAL, i Mr C. 11. Hundley wrote offering to I lease a section owned by the Council at Urenui. To be informed'that the section is already leased, and that tlio Council purpose erecting a surfaceman's cottage thereou shortly. Mr 11. Young, toll gate keeper, was granted his annual holidays. Mrs Young was appointed toll-gate keeper during his absence. llr C. \Y. llryan wrote offering to sell the Council a set of wheels which they hail been using for nearly three yca'-'s for C4--Lcft in the Kugincer's hands ; to report to next meeting. Mr. 1., .limes' offer to lease the Herekino road reserve at lis per annum was accepted. A resolution was passed formally bringing Ibe Council under the provisions of the I'uhlic Jlodics' Leasing Act of I sins. Accounts amounting to .C 1320 ,'!s 7d wvri' parsed for payment. M'K. SIMPSON'S !■:viii:- -,, Mr HKNJJY SIMI'miN, „f i .'., cliff, Wiuigamii, says: " Ilea::'., senco makes a big bo!Ho of ih 1,.. cough and soro throat mixture we iau had in our house, ami the way it sir,; money is astonishing" Mr. Simpson's report is the report ul '. all who make their own fmuilv mixture by using Hean's Ksveiice. Ih; mixture so easily made in vntir own home promptly relieves oil or ncv coughi.and is equally good lor croii|. bronchitis, whooping cough, or astl Sold by most chemists and stores. ~ post free on receipt of price, '2/-, fmu G. W. Hean, Chemist, Wanganui. I': 1 When in doukt, buy ft Kttofe—th» DavivH Pharmacy hate then,