TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 64, 4 August 1914, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

OVERSEER'S REPORT. MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday there were present: Mr J. lirown (chairman), and Ore. J. R. Hij!l, J. Andrews, A. Morton, D. McAllum), C. Andrews, U. Billing, M. Hopeon, and R. Stevens. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The road overseer, Mr R. W. Bond, reported for the mont.li as follows:

Moa Riding.—The Kurupcta bridgs was completed and stripped of all timber. It would refjuirc to stand for seasoning before opening for traffic unti! October.23. The Ruston Proctor roller iraa engaged rolling on the Tariki road under Foreman M. J. Jones Foreman A. Mallon had the use of the rol'ev for one day on Mountain road. Mangorei Riding.—Formation asked for by Mr. Williams, on Maude road, was in a very rough state for 34 chains. IS would cost £l7. Tlie three small hills included would require 4ft. taken off the crown, which would give them a fair grade. There were five chains of road k-ding up to Mr. P. Crean's gate, Albc 'i oad, which were in a bad state. They could be metalled with metal from the county reserve for £ls. On Hill road to Mir Jordan's gate there were 16 chains of road, and to metal this and lower the Ml 6 feet (using earth to make up filling at bottom) would cost £4O. Mr Jordan offered £4 towards the cost of this work. Messrs. Peters Bros-, had- started with their contract on Alfred road for £4 and were also giving other free labor filling bad holes with gravel. He had inspected the Old Hospital road at Mr. Dempsev's request, and there were 30 chains of road that would require remetalling, with 250 yards metal. This couid be Igot out in the coming year's estimates and delivered from Mangorei de pot.

On tlu; motion of Mr. Morton, the formation tusked for by Mr Williams was granted. The five drains of metalling on Albert road were authorised. Mr Morton said that Mr Jordan had offered him; £5 and it was decided to carry out the work recommended by the overseer on the Hifll road, provided he pays that suim. Mr. Dempscy's l request for repairs to the Mangorei road vva3 deferred until the estimates, are brought down. Waitara Riding.—The Waiwakaiho bridge pier and the Mangaone culvert were still in about the same condition as when the Council inspected them. Cr. Hil! referred to the delay in this matter on the part of the Railway Department, and it was decided to press the Department again to take iminedi»te action.

Omata Riding.—The overseer recommended that Foreman Eva he given the extra length of road from his present boundary to the church on corner of Barrett and Phoney roads. On the old Omata road 'leading past Mr Moore's property 12 flin pipes were required to carry off waier near his house. And in the hollow behind Mr Honev field's' house 3>/» chains of ,metal|. at a cost of £lO 10s, w.n'd greatly improve this p'ace. which was very bad in wot weather. The crushing plant had been engaged in the Kranklev road pit for the greater part yf the month, owing to the bad weather, and was now moving to Oakura depot. The total metal crushed for the month was Keni road. 347 yards. Frankj'ey road pit. 304 vards. Considerable damage had been done on the Barrett road, but when he was in formed about it the greater portion had been repaired. The road foreman would be able in give particulars o? what it took to put it in fair repair. The recommendation with regard t ; Foreman Eva will be carried out. On the motion of Or. 'McAllum, pipe? for work on the old Omata road were authorised and the work will be carried out. It was decided, on C". McAllum's suggestion, to make the pipes 9 inch instead of 6 inch pipes. The metaling in the hollow behind Mr Honey-field'* house was deferred.

Okato Riding.—Foreman Meredith re quired one .man for a week to help break some, metal to repair the Tapune Hill < n the 'Plymouth road. Mr John l.ishop hud inearlv eonm'eted Allen's contract on the Cavringtor. road. II? recommended that Foreman Spencer lr ftl'owcd to engage an extra man to do work with liim when required on th maintenance of Upper Oarringtnn road, a.! it could then be done mor- satisfactorily. Foreman Brosnan would put in hand Mr Burk's filling in front of his shop as soon as the weather is suitab! >. An extra, man was granted to Foreman Heredithi. and Foreman Spencer vas granted similar assistance for work on tin; Upper Oarrington road when required. road overse;:r.

A report by the committee set up for the purpose recommended that for the present, in view of tlie coming Council election -m steps be taken to fill the vaeimcy caused by the resignation of the overseer, but that in the meantime the overseer's work be done by a works committee composed of the chairman aw] members of eiu-h riding to do the work of each riding respectively.. The report was adopted. THREATENED SURCHARGE. The Auditor-general, writing on the Council's balance-sheet, said it showed the chairman to have received £IOS ltts travelling expenses. Under section 15 of the Counties Amendment Act, 1013, j the chairman might receive a lump sirn not exceeding £IOO in one year, the l £.B Hh excess must Ik; refunded.

He would be glad to hear within 21 dffivß that the money had been paid into the County fund, failing- which at sureharge would lie made on all members of the Couneil jointly and severally. lie also took exception to the transfer from interest aecount to general account. Tile amount transferred represented rates strack over a special area, and it appeared inequitable to swell the genera] account witli such accumulated balances. The proper course wax to make a refund either by cash o'. contra against, future rates to 111.' ratepayers of the special rating area. It wan decided to inform the Auditor'■enernJ that the Council knew of no authority for demanding a refund of tii" amount transferred from interest to general fund. The £8 Ms will be refunded. DIRTY SALK YARDS. The. Health Department forwarded a report by Inspector Fielder complaining of the state of tile Stone River sale.Tards, and asked that the Council enforce compliance with his recommendations !is> to the rctneta'ling, draining, and periodical craning of the yards. It was decided to inform tile Department that, the matter is not within the Council's jsj ri~i i i.■ tii>n. TIMARi; RRIDIIH. 1 ii" Minister for Public Works notified that tin- a indication for a grant, towards ere, tin.-; a bridge over t.iie Tijnall) river on the. Reach road would receive consideration when the estimates were Wing prepared.

GENERAL. The receiver of land revenue advised "thirds" to the amount of £IOO 5s accrued to the credit of the Council to March 31st, 1914. The road overseer (Mr R. W. Bond) estimated damage to Carrington road by timber traffic at £S, and an account for this will be sent to Jlr T. V. Simmons. The Minister for Railways advised that he was expediting the report of the ergmevr on the Wwvakailio bridge. Mr D. I'rosnan, road foreman, advised that Mr W. Richardson had dammed t'ne outlet from the culvert taking surface water from the Petone road, Tataraimaka, causing the sand and slush to back lip. The outlet had been open for the past seven years, and if the water had to be taken further along the Main South road, it would mean digging a deep ditch, and the water would have to run a considerable distance Which would do serious damage to the side track. The matter was left io the works committee. Mr. John E. Burke, of Barrett road, wrote, asking permission to fence in that portion of the Tapuae road olf Barrett road, forming the entrance at the corner of his section, and not at present in use. —Tie matter was left to Or. McAllum. The application of Mr, Peter McGregor to purchase the unused portion of Manari road, all adjoining owners lhaving agreed to its closing, was left to Cr. McAllum to report on. It was decided that the clerk's salary be fixed at £375 per 'annum, instead of a salary of £2OO and commission of 2% per cent, on rates collected as in the past. On the motion of Cr. Stevens, it was decided to urge on the Government the consideration of the application for a ■subsidy of £6OO on the amount raised for the formation of Plymouth road. Accounts amounting to £1096 I9s 3d, made up is follows, were passed for payment :~General account. £314 9s lid; Moa riding, £BS 3s 8d; Waitara riding. £ll3 2s 3d; Mangorei riding, £250 fls 7d; Omata riding, £lO3 ISs'tSd: Okato riding, £l7O Is Id.