CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 284, 4 May 1914, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. | Tine ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Wa.itara on Friday, when there were present: Crs. A. M. Bowers (chairman), H. Sander, W. Jones, S. Elliot, and R. T. Hick*. Cr. Kcnnington was granted leave or abesnce. A MATAU PETITION, Seven settlers in the Matau district petitioned the Whang'amomona County Council, drawing attention to the bad state of the Junction Road between tins confiscation line and the East road, especially between the 14 and 15 mile, pegs, and asking that it should be repaired, as it was their only outlet to the railway. The Whangamomona County Council ■ forwarded the petition to the Clifton I County Council with a resolution that I the settlers were ratepayers of the Clif- ] ton County Council. The Whangamo- I mono. County Council .would repair the i road as far as the rates would go, provided they were handed the rates for expenditure. After discussion it was resolved that the Council could not accede to the request for handing over the rates, and that the Council was of opinion that, as S the road was a main one, it should be I properly maintained by the Whangamomona County Council. THE NEW HOSPITAL/! The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notified that the Council's contribution to the erection of the new hospital, viz., £2485, was due and payable on March 28th, 1014, and as the Board was now paying progress payments on the building, they asked that it be forwarded. The Covernment Insurance 'Department notified that the department's , Board of Investment was prepared to ; grant the loan of £2557 for a term of 36' years at 5, per cent with 1 per cent < sinking fund, providing the security was sufficient. They pointed out that if the present rate of interest was not' varied ■ throughout the term, the accumulation should amount to £2203- at the end of the term, and that the balance of the loan would require to be repaid or otherwise met. If the term of the loan was made 39 years, the sinking fund would meet it. The department, however, could not take any responsibility respecting the interest on the sinking fund or the amount of the accumulation at the end of the term. )i the loan was agreed upon a rate of one twenty-second of a penny in the pound would appear to be a suitable one. Some discussion ensued. Some of the Councillors considered that it would be far better to stril e a special rate over a short term of ;. ccrs rather than have a loan over a number of years, but it was pointed out the latter would come eas-ier on the ratepayers. Tt was elicited during the discussion that the Council would have to pay in interest and principle the sii';i of £SSII if the. loan was taken up for 30 vears, and it was resolved to ascertain if the money could not he obtained on better terms or advantage at the bank, it b«:ntr pointed out that the Council often, had money lying at credit in the lm;!: not drawing interest and by utilising this the interest -on the money would lie reduced. A committee was set up to interview the bank manager, and. after discussion in committee, it was finally decided to arrange, with the bankers, the, Ban!; of New Zealand, for sufficient overdraft to meet its liability for the New Plymouth hospital.

Xotiee of motion was given to rescind the previous resolution authorising the vomuil to raise the loan of £2557. XOXIOUS WEEDS.

The Department of Agriculture notified that spiderwort could not lie declared a noxious weed, as it was not included in the third schedule of the Noxious Weeds Aft. The ipiestion of having it) included was, .however, being considered and the Council would be advised later of the decision arrived at. The Public Trustee notified that he had requested the Reserves Agent, Hawen, to see the native beneficiary owners and have the land complained ol at Urenui cleared of noxious weeds as early as possible.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The. engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows on work done during 1 the. month:—ln the Waihi riding the weather liad proved too wet to do any crushing on the Inland North road, and in the meantime this must stand. Authority was asked to proceed with the erection of a surfaceman's cottage. The site chosen was the old crusher site. In the Tikorangi riding, Wie large culvert at Jackson's Hill had been renewed with Monier pipes. Snell's road should stand' over for the present, as it was inadvisable to break new ground at present. He suggested that as the work done by Tarata on the Ngatimaru road was in an unfinished state, action re. payment should be deferred. In the Xgatimaru riding the contract for cutting off points i,:i the MatauKiore road had been let to J. Graham at a satisfactory figure. Sandstoning at Matau had been postponed to a more favourble opportunity. The lately gazetted portion of the Tangitu road had been inspected. aifH exception had. been taken to the lower portion. The District Engineer bad been written to on the maittcr. Larson's culvert on the Puke road had been inspected, and ho suggested that when wings had been added to the lower side payment should be made. He lmd engaged a man for carrying out bridge work by day labor, and expected him to start next week in erecting the Taramouku bridge. Meantime all girders and reinforcing had been ordered.

In the Uremii riding, the Ohoke road metalling: had. proceeded satisfactorily, and only eight chains remained. Wot weather had seriously interfered with the Uaim road metalling, but he w:ould embrace every opportunity to push it. on. The boulder contract was proceeding very slowly; only 45 yards being put on this month. • The erection of the cottage at fj renin would proceed forthwitli. as the bulk of the material was on the. ground, lie had purchased two trolleys with eight wheels attached for the Council's use. Tie had instructed Clare to repair the Tupok) bridge, which required urgent attention with sound timber from King's and .1 ones' bridges at a cost of from £•>() to C 25.

in the Mokan riding the shell rock contracts was being proceeded with. The weather had prevented the completion of Taylor's metalling contract. He had arranged to fascine and sand l«id sections on the Main road near Frascr's and Well's, for a width of 12 feet, without delay. An inspection of the lately gazetted portion of the Mold road was made, and numerous small slips were reported to the District Knsul Engineer, who replied that the road was clear on the date of the transfer. He I had therefore instructed the county men to do what is necessary. Tfp recommended that an iron shed.' 8 x 10. should be built on the Council's section at frnti for storage of tools, etc,, at a cost of, £l3.

I The. engineer stated that the bridge- , man he had engaged liad failed to nuI terialise owing to his having had to enter the hospital. lie did not consider that any of, the other eight applicants were suitable for the position, lie had therefore let the largest bridge by contract, and had arranged with a contractor to let him have a gang of men to erect the other bridges.—Tlie report was adopted. MOKAU ESTATE ROADS. Messrs. Sladdcn and Palmer, surveyors to the Mokau Coal and Estates Co., again wrote asking the Council to agree to the formation and completion of the Purupuru road in the Mokaii-Moihaka-tino block as a by-road 12ft. wide, subject to a. covenant by the Company'that if the. (Joverumenit does not, within some reasonable, period, either complete 1 the main road up the Mokakatino Valley | or satisfy the Council Wiat it will delinitely do so, the Mokau Coal and ] Estates Co., Ltd., will widen the road j to the required width as a main road, ile pointed out that the Company's obI ligation did not extend beyond its own boundary at the Waitaangij end, and this was still several miles from any other road, so that the possibility of the connection being made with the Waitaanga North road was remote, and there was not even a probability of the Purupuru road being continued through the intervening country. Mr. Dowsett (County Engineer) reported favourably on the proposal, which the Council decided to agree to.

REVISION OF TOLLS. Crs. Elliott and Hicks and Mr. C. F. Dowsett (county engineer), the committee appointed to confer upon the additions and amendments to the toll charges, reported that they had reviewed and discussed ifohc position, and after giving due consideration (1) to horsepower, (2) width of tyres, (3) weight, nnd (4) number of passengers, had decided on charges as follows :-yPrivate ears under 20-h.p., 2s 6d; over 20-h.p,, ss; hire cars, any power, ss; push.bicycles, 3d; motor cycles, 9d; motor cycles, with side-car, Is; motor lorry up to 3 tons, ss; traction engines, up to 12 tons, £1; .up to 8 tons, 15s; trailers, eacih, lbs; traction engine for threshing and plant, £l. These charges, they stated, wore lower in the main than ia the neighboring counties, and taking into consideration the damage caused by the different classes of traffic, the committee considered olio charges fair and reasonable. They also submitted the legal procedure necessary to be undertaken before the proposed alterations could be brought into force. Cr. Hicks gave notice to move that the schedule of charges be amended as recommended.

ADDITIONAL LOAN. In accordance with notice of motion, Cr. Sander moved that the Council take steps to raise £SOOO by loan. £3500 to be devoted to bridges and £ISOO for the purchase of rood machinery. He stated that it was impossible to build bridges out of revenue.

Cr. Elliott seconded the motion, but said tliat he considered the Waihi and Tikorangi ridings should have their fair sJiare of the loan money. ' None of the previous loan was expended in these ridings. The Onaero bridge would soon require re-building. Cr. Hicks thought that the money allocated for these ridings should be impounded until required.

The recommendation was carried uuaii imously.

The nwuihinery proposed to be obtained comprises a compound traction engine, convertible into a road roller, and able to be used as a. stationary engine; (i crusher of 100 yds capacity; and a tarsprayer.

TENDERS. Tenders were accepted as follows, tlie prices far tho two bridges being exclusive of iron work:—Taiwnouku bridge (Tarata). W. J. Clare, £460 4s; Putiki bridge. W. J. Clare. £389 7s ,4d; and flood openings at Urwti, W. J. Clare, £lB3 I'OS. GENERAL. The Public Works Department notified that portion of the Mangaoapa road (Junction road to Moihakau road) bad been declared a, county road. —Referred to the engineer to inspect and report on. The Taranaki Hospital anil Charitable Aid Board notified that the -annual devy payable by the Clifton County Council at la in the £IOO on the rateable value of £972,02!) would be £4SC o's 3d, payable in monthly instalments of £4O 10s. Tho State Guaranteed Advances Department notified payment to tihe Council's account of a. total of £OOO o:i account of tho Uruti loan. The Public Works Department also notified payment of £3O, being a Ciovcr'iment grant for re-forming and metalling Okoke road. Cr. Sander gave a report of the proceedings mt the Backblocks Counties' Conference at Taumarunui, at which he was the Council's delegate. A vote of thanks was accorded the delegate, and he was voted £'s 5s expenses. Accounts amounting to £533 Kls lid wero passed for payment. The Pukearuhe School Committee was granted permission to take a few yards of earth from the roadside opposite the White Cliffs dairy factory. The engineer was authorised to inslal :i stove in 'the moveable whare.

Cr. Hicks and the chairman were appointed to sign leases of several county reserves wdiicli lravo recently been let.