CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 9 January 1915, Page 8

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. \ The ordinary monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held on Fri- 1 day, when there were present: Messrs. I A. M. Bower (chairman), Hicks, Purdie, ' Old, Keimington, Pigott, and Sander. 1 DOG TAX. 1 It was decided that the clerk, Mr. 1 Vaughan, be appointed registrar of dog 1 tax, and that the fees for 11)15 be 2s (id ' for cattle and sheep dogs, and 3s for sporting dogs and all others. i CORRESPONDENCE. F. Blundell wrote, complaining of wandering stock on the Mimi road. —It was decided that Mr. Blundell be informed that the Council is doing its ut- ; most to keep County roads clear of wandering stock. i : The. clerk was authorised to get notices re stock printed. Lang and Baverstoek wrote with reference to the dangerous state of the suspension bridge at 'Tongaporutu.—The ! matter was left in the engineer's hands 1 to repair the bridge. Mr. P. C. Smith wrote, drawing attention to the unsafe condition of the bridges on the Mangamaeho road.—lt was resolved that the matter be left in 't'iie engineer's hands. The chairman was authorised to sign the debenture for £IBOO for the balance of the bridge loan. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) presented the following report:— Waihi Riding.—The boulder contracts at Waipapa, Turangi, and Onaero are being pushed ahead satisfactorily. The surfaceman resigned during the month,' and another has been appointed in his place. Tikorangi Riding.—Tenders close this day for metal supplies on the Inland North road. Various culverts and crossings have been receiving attention and improvement. Ngatimaru Riding.—Christiansen reports that the local stringers are not satisfactory. The old 'Taramoukou bridge timber, with additions, will, therefore, be requisitioned for this purpose. Webb's Culvert—The pipes are ready, and await a date suitable for motor transport to the site. Urenui Riding—The metal crushing has been completed, the total output being 845 yards only. The Piko road is I proceeding'slowly. This road suffered somewhat heavily with slips during the month. Okoke Metalling: This is ' awaiting a favorable opportunity to 1 complete. I would suggest that the i Council grant a preliminary sum of £SO » towards Mr. Butler's application to ne- ' gotiate a bad swamp on the Waitekauri ' road. i ■:•-: ~*.,.-.,.-: Mokau Riding: King's bridge and tne • flood-openings have both been completed, r and taken over by the Council. The main road shell-rock supply is completed, 1 and the I'vuti road supply is progressing. The earthwork between the 31 r and 35-mile pegs is proceeding, and metalling will start as soon as the filling is ready. With regard to the balance of ' the Government grant, I have requested ' that a sum of £3OO be spent in covering ) with burnt papa a section between the r 36 and -ST-mile pegs, opposite Wells'. t The Uruti road levels have been taken for the permanent grades, and also the i r6M to the pit graded and laid off, and I instructions issued to proceed with both . works. r The fencing on the Wai-iti deviation has now been completed, j It was resolved that Coleman's Urenui contracts. Nos. '2Bl and 282, he cancelled, ; and his deposit on contract No. 282, i amounting to £lO, be forfeited for non- - completion of the contract. Mr. Butler will be informed that the . Council is unable to undertake the Wai- , tekauri road work at the present time, i but is prepared to consider a proposi- ■ tion on the basis of a .£ for £ subsidy I up to £25. i The engineer was instructed to arrange for'sandstoning 21 chains of the . Okau road. The engineer was authorised to call , for tenders for putting down burnt papa between the Sfith and 37th-mile pegs on ' the Mimi-Mokau road. The engineer's report was then adopt- j ed, subject to the resolution passed with reference to Mr. Butler's application for j work on the Waitekauri road.

TENDERS. Tenders were opened for metalling on the Inland North road, but no tender was accepted, it being decided to call for fresh tenders, Cr. Hicks dissenting. Cr. Kennington brought up the question of work on the Matau North, .Matau South, and Junction roads, and it was decided that the metalling be carried out as the thirds would permit. REVISED TOLL CHARGES. Cr. Pigott presented the report of the committee (Cvs. Old, Pigott, and Furdie) appointed to consider the question of the revision of toll charges. The report recommended that existing charges, namely private car under 20 h.p., 2s 6d: over, as; all cars for hire, ss; motor lorries up to three tons,, ss, should be substituted by the following: AH motor-cars, 2s fid each: motor lorry up to three tons, 3s, over three tons ss; motor 'bus carrying passi ngers up to three tons, Us, and over three tons ss. Cr. Pigott gave notice of motion to rescind the present charges in favor of those recommended by the committee. TRENT! POfNTKITPER. Mr. S-.iitl,. poiindkeeper lit Trenui. waited on the Council relative to his remuneration, in consequence of the auditor having insisted on the grazin" fees collected being handed over'to the Cemetery Trustees He staled that the books hill b.-eu muhnHen-ed I'or live years, and that he considered he was entitled to (he fees. Cnder the cimimstances he asked the Council to accept hi resignation, anil was requested bv ' the chairman to send in the usual formal [ I- a;.|" ar--.i i'ro'u the ensiiiiw discus. : siol: teat lie. t,ii,;< „' (he ponndkeeper's '■ app/nteient r.evidcd lor the grazing \ ('•• -• .vi.l thai Mr. Smith was'jo' receive ' fh:- ; -..-oO'.;.i;:i-.; |V,s, l! >■■;■. ■; evntnallv deeided to reipie-l .Mr. Si-dlh to refund the fees, amounting („ <:., as lid, and the enoineer was aulhorised to obtain a Jiew pouitlkeeper.

ROAD-GRADER. The engineer reported that the Council's road-grader was now available for work, and he asked for instructions as to where it should be sent. Some discussion took place as to employing a man and a team to work the grader, it being 'pointed out that anyone familiar with ploughing work could use the grader after an hour or two's practice. Cr. Hicks suggested employing a local man. Cr. Old said the grader was wanted in his district, but it would be necessary to make the necessary arrangements for working it. Cr. Pigott thereupon undertook to arrange for working the grader in the TJrenui district, so as to give Cr. Olds the opportunity of getting a man and team. BRIDGE WORK. The engineer reported that the arrangement made at the last meeting of the Council for employing Mr. Clare on bridge work had fallen through, as the terms were not satisfactory. He read a letter from Mr. Clare, to the effect that ; I he (Mr. Clare) was prepared to undertake the work either by piece-work at i schedule rates, which he specified, ov by I (lay work at 14s per day for himself, one man at 12s, and another at 10s, with an alternative of 18s per day if he supplied plant and cartage. After a very lengthy discussion it was decided to employ Mr. Clare on piecework, the prices to be settled by the engineer, GENERAL. - The chairman brought up the question of allowing one of the Pukearuhe settlers to cut cocksfoot seed off the roadside, but no action was taken, it being understood that no objection would be raised. Cr. Old inquired as to the expenditure of the thirds on his road, and was ad- ! vised to get work done as the thirds became due.

Cr. Kennington asked that ten or twelve chains on the Matau North road should receive a coating of sandstone. The work was left for the engineer to arrange. Cr. Pigott complained that surfacemen were taken off the by-roads to work on the main roads, and he particularly referred to the effect of that course in regard to the Okoke road. The engineer pointed out that the prime cause of the trouble was inability to get reliable men, and be offered to engage any trustworthy man that Councillors could recommend. The ehairman asked for authority to have 50 chains of sandstone put down on the Okau road. He considered it was not worth while calling for tenders, and suggested that engineer and himself to arrange. That course was adopted, it being understood that the expenditure should be limited to the money available.

An offer made by Mr J. Patterson to sell to the Council sieticn 50.lurata, for "£2S. for the purpose of a roadman's cottage, va* accepted. ■ Accounts were i-awej for payment, am 1 , tb.; Coviiicil adjourned.