EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 162, 15 December 1914, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting was held on Fi day. There were present: Crs. M. Flei ing (chairman), E. McNeill, S. Cam bell, W. Wright, IT. Rawcliffe, M. J. Ma Reynolds, ,T. Harvey and J. Young. Minutes of the last meeting were, the absence of the clerk, read by tl ttglxeer, and were confirmed. !■ ( INWARD CORRESPONDENCE, From A. T. Shaw, regarding stray an jnals on the Eltham road, and nskii "hat some action be taken. From' Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, asking ho the matter of the grant and loan i £4OO to form and metal Carrington roa stands. He advised that local bodii can borrow up to £IOOO, and would lil to see the work completed. From Public Works Department, a< * vising that the Council's claim for £3( j against the Department was payable no ftt Bank of New Zealand. r ' Wilkinson, adrisin that the loan of £4OO for forming Ca ' rington road, from the Saunders to ti j Newall road, would be granted, and ei closing a telegram from the Superintei denfc advising that the loan was finall granted. From the Public Trustee, in referenc *o the hospital loan of £2OOO, advisin that £SOO had been forwarded an< would be payable on completion of doeu merits enclosed, vi z., debentures, coupons and resolutions striking a special rat fund! 8 th ® ° f * Bißkin i From the Public Trustee in referenci ™ ro J a " y for gravel. The Couneil, saic the Pubhc Trustee, is liable to lessees "P , to , P er yard. It was suggested tnat if the amount due were advised a friendly action would be taken to test the ownership. The Public Trust solidwas reserved to tne Trustee under the leases, and advocated that no lessee make contracts without referring the matter to him. From the Public Works Department, asking that estimate of claims required ke sent into the Department each month. From the Customs Department, advising that a of duty had been STW of £lO5 on tho r °ad Jfc advised that the refund would be made under the Appropriation From the Taranaki Hospital Board, I acknowledging receipt of £990 and asking for a further payment. From tho National Provident Fund Board, advising that the new Act gave i power to local authorities' employees to ■ contribute and get the benefits of super- ■ animation. In reference to the work of the ranger ' it was resolved that he be instructed to keep a record of work done and to report every month. Statement of receipts and expenditure showed an overdraft of £0599 12s lid. There were due as follows: Contracts, £113; pay-sheet, etc., £1042. ReceiptsRates, £598 5s 2d; refunds loan accounts, £306 9s 9d. ENGINEER'S MONTHLY REPORT. Oco Northern.—The bulk of the work in this riding during the past month has consisted of the regrading and reforming, putting out of metal and put- \ ting in fillings on the Opunake-Strat-ford road (northern end). Fillings and roadway have also been put across new reinforced bridge recently completed. Repairs have also been effected to Auroa and Oeo roads, and a commencement made with the fillings to bridges and culverts on the Auroa road under the bridge loan. Oeo Southern.—The hands in this riding have been reduced, and only maintenance work has been attended to. CulYeri on the main road has been put in (under the bridge loan, and as the fillings I settle they are being made up to grade again. I would recommend that tenders j be called for the supply and delivery of boulder stone on the Skeet road. ' Rahotu Southern and Opunake.—Vickery has completed his contract for -pit metal in the Opunake riding, and the main Btreet has been rolled up ready for tarring. The material for this is now on hand. In accordance with this work ' I have obtained the use of tar sprayer from the 'New Plymouth Borough Couneil. Since the completion of Vickery's contract the hands have been engaged pile making, as a large number are required under the bridge loan proposals. Rahotu Northern.—While waiting for the commencement of contracts tne hands were put on to take off three dangerous corners along the Main North road, but they had barely time to complete this work before the crushing plant went out, so they will not now be completed until after the contracts are finished. Davison and Symcs commenced their contracts up to specified time, and are now making fair progress. Messrs Tate Bros, have made excellent progress with their contract on the Carrington road, and a week or more should sec this work completed. Mr. Murray, Government Engineer, lias passed this work and authorised first progress payment of £3OO on account. General.—Before putting out the crushing plant was subjected to a thorough overhaul by the county enginedriver, new pitman seat and topple caps being put in, also new hanger blocks attached and a thorough job made of it. Although crushing slow at first, the machine is now turning out a very good sample of metal. The Public Works Department require plans and specifications for the expenditure of their allotted grants on the Wiremu road. The field work in connection with the preparation of plans for this work will mean at least a week's work. Steady progress is being made with the erection of reinforced bridges on the Tipper Auroa and Opunake-Rtratford roads, and sufficient reinforcing material is on hand to carry the work on for several months. Some discussion took place on the metal contract in the northern end, where the crusher had been idle for some days. Tn reply to Cr. Campbell, the chairman said that the contractors were bound to put out an average of 70 yards a day. There was a penalty of 10 s per day for default. The engineer explained that this was not all the fault of the contractors, There had been trouble with the crushing plant and with the procuring oi teams. It had been found impossible at the time to make a good job of the road - and it was at first put down lighter than was required. Now, however, the work had been done thoroughly, and a gooc job had been made. The metal pit alsr had turned out badly. Jt was testei and showed well, but did not bear out ' the tests. Tenders had been called foi the metal from a special pit, and as there were no other pits on the place it wai necessary to go further on to the Capi ■ road, and consequently iilie terms o contract would require to.be Ctcrcd. On the motion of Cr. McNeill it wa resolved that Ihe matter he left in th | hands of the chairman and engineer with power to act.