CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 111, 3 October 1914, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MOXTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present:— Cra. A. it Bower fv&airman), E. T. Hicks, S. Elliott, 8. J. Kennington, H. Sander and W. Jones. ENGI-SEER'S REPORT.

| The engineer (Mr. C. ?. Dowsett) reported that 111 the Wuihi and Tikorangi ridings the usual maintenance work only had been carried out, the metal contractors being otherwise engaged. In Ngatimaru riding Councillor Sander and himse|f had inspected the building sites. His recommendation would be section 35, Tarata township, as the most suitable, being superior to two other sites on which cottages were already erected. The Junction road-metalling contracts were reduced by half the quantity, and let to W. Croeier. Fresh plans for concrete culvert at Purangi had been prepared. The small grader had been returned to Tiiiata. lie rcconimended the purchase of a hut at Tarata for county purposes. The Taramoukou bridge had been satisfactorily completed and taken over by the Council. In the Urenui riding the boulder contracts remain as before. He would recommend progression, otherwise next winter would be a difficult problem with the main road. On the Piko road, Whittaker's were progressing slowly with their formation contract. The Okoke hill had been patched, hut will require further metal before next winter. To carry out the proposed work in the Urenui township would cost in earthwork, £25, and in metal about £7O. He considered Onaero gravel will be suitable for this particular purpose. In the Mokau riding the surfaceman was breaking and spreading metal in the Pukearuhe township. Inspection showed that the Okau and Kiwi roads were in fair order. The remainder of the Waiiti deviation should certainly be protected with fencing. The road in places was already getting reduced in width. Jones' culvert had been completed. At King's bridge the piles had been driven. If the weather permitted it was proposed to complete the earthwork at Hawera culvert, and detach a gang to proceed with the erection of the concrete flood opening at the 33 mile peg. On Radcliffe's contract, the quantity of metal required was in eight, and the TJruti road contract was proceeding slowly, tha initial work here being more difficult and hazardous.

The crusher, after overcoming its preliminary difficulties, raised its output to 15 yards per hour, representing 120 yards per diem. The quality was distinctly good, all slabs and dust being reduced to a minimum, whilst it was admittedly the best lot of crushed metal seen in this distriet.' He was'now in communication with a grader machinist and, should terms be arranged, an itinerary should be decided upon.

It was decided that timber be procured for tho surfaceman's cottage at Tarata and placed on the site. Tenders for the erection of tho building will be called later.

• The Council decided not to purchase tho hut at Tarata.

I A 4ft pipe culvert will be installed at Purangi instead of the culvert recommended. It was decided not to obtain a man to work the big grader at present, on the ecora of expense. Councillors were of opinion that it would cost about £8 per week to work the grader, and that settlers would prefer a little metal each year instead of having the clay 1 road graded. With thew amendments the report was adopted. UREXUT METAL CONTRACT. Kaumati notified the Council that he would not allow bullock teams to travel through a paddock which he had laid down in oats, in order to cart metal from the Urenui beach. He did not object to horse teams, which were under mora command, and did practically no damage if properly loolccd after. Bullock teams wondered and .destroyed the crop. The engineer was authorised to make the best arrangement possible to get the balance of the stone carted from wo Urenui berrh. ":■: loan'. T.- Office reported that w -'rcumstances in which the (V placed, the Department would mat..' arrangements to pay over the balance of £ 1000 when the Council had passed a fresh resolution striking a further rate to provide security to pay tha balance. A special rate of one five-hundredth of a penny in the pound should be struck. The special rate was accordingly struck. TCOI ROAD. Mr 0. T. Murray, district roads engineer, wrote that though the Tooi road was not formally gazetted as a county road, it was nevertheless a county road in terms of the Public Works Act, and as such the Council had full jurisdiction regarding gates. GENERAL. The Council resolved to approve of the transfer of the slaughterhouse license at 1 Urr-mri from 0.- N. Rowo to Ted. White. I The chairman was authorised to sign I consent endorsed on plan of ilatau road I deviation. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that the Under-Secretary for Lands had been asked to take the neceaHary steps to have the reserve at Tarata, which had been set aside for a roadman's cottage, vested in the Council. I Mr Herbert K. Cox, of Urenui, asked that the Kaipikij-i road should be put in J order. The matter will receivo attcnt tion. The Treasury notified payment to the Council's account of £644 8« sd, subsidy on rates collected during the year. Only one tender was received for earth work and metalling at Uruti. This was considered unsatisfactory, and it was declined, and fresh tenders will be called at 7iext meeting. It was decided to sell the big grader and purchase another small grader. The chairman and Cr. Hicks were appointed a committee to deal with tenders for the lease of the Onaero reserve. The Council decided to pay the sum of £2B 10s to the Waitara Borontih Council, being the amount agreed upon at a conference between the two bodies over the adjustment of accounts in connection with the, portion of the borough recently' merged into the county. It "was also decided to charge the ratepayer;! concerned with the amount of the.ii- liability. Accounts amounting to £S3O 5s 2d were passed for payment.