EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 219, 16 March 1914, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunakc cm Friday, when there were present: Crs. Dudley (chairman), Maxwell, Campbell, Hirst,' Farqulmr, Burgess, Harvev. anil Willcox. ENGINEER'S RETORT. Tlie Comity engineer (Mr. C. A' Court Opie) reported that good progress was being' made with the various contracts ill tlie Oeo northern and southern ridings. These contracts had kept the I Council's hands very busy. Minor r-.:-I pairs had had to be cllecied to several old wooden bridges and culverts in the Oeo northern riding. In the Raholu southern and Opunako ridings, the contracts on the Eltliam road were completed and the crushing plant had moved to Warea. Tlie finishing off of these contracts would considerably lessen the cost of maintenance of this stretch of roadway, and as soon as it was rolled, ratepayers would have an improved road into Opunakc. Owing to the mixed nature of the material the pit proved awkward to work and a certain amount of inferior metal got carted out. The bottom of the pit was being kept back for carting for maintenance in future, as this was the cheaper method. In tlie Rahotu northern riding, it was anticipated that a start would be made with lioulder-erushing contracts at Warea, and as soon as the Eltliam and main road contracts were rolled out the roller would be sent to Warea. The extension of the contracts would enable a good road to be put down from Rahotu outwards this season, weather permitting. The hands had been busy preparing for the contracts and effecting general repairs to roads and bridges. He estimated that the cost of improving Plummer's hill corner, so as to minimise the danger, would be £B. 10s. He also suggested that the northern approach of the Oaonni bridge be improved at a cost of £lO. The Garrett road roller and scarifier had come to hand, and a satisfactory trial had been held before it was taken over. In order to make the' rolling efficient two water carts were, urgently needed, as metal rolled while dry would soon work loose. The driver also required a small travelling whare, as both plants would not be working together. He had pegged out the Carrington road, and plans and specifications for the same were now under way. It was decided to procure one watercart and a whare at a cost of £3O. The work at Plummer's hill and at the Oaonui bridge will be done as suggested. CARRINGTON ROAD.

Messrs J. and A. Ducker forwarded advice For the National Bank of New Zealand that £4OO was at the disposal of the county for work on the Carrington road. This was money which the settlers had guaranteed to advance so as to enable work to be proceeded with pending receipt of loan money from the Government.

Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., wrote advising the settlers to again apply to the New Zealand State Guaranteed Department for the loan, which they would likely be able to get now. COUNTY RESERVES. Mr. A. G. Wright wrote protesting against having to pay rates on a certain reserve as the Council used the section for stacking metal. The rates, he said, were out of all proportion to the benefits he received. Mr. Willcox was of opinion that the engineer should be instructed to fence all the reserves and (hat the Council should then rent them out. He understood that there were a good many of them.

The chairman thought that they should first be offered to the present occupiers. The engineer was instructed to report on all Reserves within the county. THE ROAD ROLLER. Messrs Chambers and Son wrote that they had applied to have the duty on the road roller refunded. If successful, they would refund the amount (£10.1) to the Council. It was resolved to ask Messrs Chambers and Son to incur half the extra expense incurred in keeping the Council's employees in New Plymouth owing to the roller not being ready as they advised. LOAN MATTERS.

The State Guaranteed Advances Department notified that the Council had been granted £SOOO of £6OOO asked for at 4y a per cent interest, exclusive of sinking fund. A half year's instalment would he £-2 Ills hi fbr euch £IOO inclusive of sinking fund. TI-IK ROADIXG PROBLEM. The problem of roading to suit present day requirements was touched on during the discussion of a letter from the Opunake Town Board, asking the Council if it was prepared to tar and Band the main street, provided the Town Board paid half the cost up to £93. The chairman considered that it was a good scheme, and that it could be done without running the riding into debt. It was no doubt the thin edge of the wedge, and might lead to sonicthing bigger. He could not agree to Cr. Farquhar's suggestion that anv credit balance in the Opunake riding should be spent on the Eltliam road. '

Cr. Maxwell moved that tiio proposal should lie agreed to. The Council would have to face the problem of making new roads, and this gave a good opportunity for experimenting. • The engineer, he thought, should thoroughly eonaider the cjuestion of tarring and' sanding, lie did not think that the Opuinike riding money should be spent out of the riding. Cr. Kaniiihar pointed out that the scattered settlers on the Eltham road had to keep the road in repair, so that goods could be carted over it for the benelit of the town of Opunake, whose ratepayers spent their rates on a very small portion of the road. The engineer stated that for from about £ls to £2O extra he could experiment with three different preparation!. On the motion of Crs. Maxwell and Willcox, it was agreed to add that amount to the estimate, the mover pointing out that if three sections of the main street, all receiving an even amount of traffic were treated differently, it would afford a good test as to their durability, etc. WtREMU KOAI) CHANT. Mr. 10. VVallis asked that a portion of the £SOO grant for the Wiremu road should be expended on that portion from the Taungatara to the Mangalmme rivers so as to give him access to his sections. He had had a section for eight years, and had as yet been unable to get to and from it—To be informed that the decision rested with the county engineer and Mr 0. T. Murray, resident road engineer.

COUNTY OFFICES. lu accordance with notice of motion, Cr. Willcox brought up tlie question oi securing more commodious ollice accommodation. He thought that the Council should endeavor to secure a freehold section and erect suitable buildings thereon. The chairman was of opinion that they would be wise to build a large place and let the extra rooms for offices. These would readily let if tlie office were erected on a. convenient site. It was resolved that a committee, consisting of Crs. Willcox, Hurst and Maxwell be appointed to go thoroughly into the question and report at next meeting. WORKERS' HOMES. Cr. Hurst said that he would like to see a cottage erected for the county foreman on the Council's reserve at To Kiri, under the Workers' Home scheme. They would then have the roadmen more settled and more interested in their work. The clerk will enquire from the (>'overninent if the scheme is feasible. GENERAL. The Council resolved not to send a to the proposed conference, which is to be held at the instigation of the Eltliam County Council, for the purpose of securing a uniform scale of toll charges.

The .Minister of Public Works wrote drawing the Council's attention to the necessity of bridging the Waiau river on the Waiau road.

-Mr. R. Lambie was appointed the Council's representative on the assessment Court. The Under-Secretary of Public Works enclosed a copy of unauthorised balances on votes for road, etc., as follows:—Carrington road (Saunders road to Ncwall road), .0)0; Okahu road (Ngariki road to Newall road), £343; and Wirernu road (Kiri road to Ngariki raid), £4lO.

The whole Council was appointed a deputation to interview the Hon. W. H. Herrics in connection with the Opunakc railway on his forthcoming visit to Opunake.

It was resolved to inform Mr. E. J. Davies, of Oeo, that the Council were again prepared to offer him £ for £ subsidy on the work of draining the Upper Oeo road. The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to raise a loan on the Oeo road, as requested by the Wainmte West County Council.

As the next Council meeting day falls on Good Friday, it was resolved to hold the meeting on the Thursday previous. It was resolved to sue twenty of the ratepayers who are in arrears with their rates. The summonses will not be issued until the 10 per cent, penalty has accrued.

The Opunake Jockey Club was granted the use of the Council roller at the rate of Cs per hour, including travelling time.

Accounts amounting to £IO4O (general) and £707 (machinery) were passed for payment.