EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 182, 11 January 1915, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MoYflliA MKi-'.TINC. _____ ... JiZtt Tlu' ordinary monthly ni»-ctiuj» of tile Egmont County Council was held at the County Office, Opunako, 011 Friday, when there wore present:—Messrs M. Fleming (L-hiiirir.au), M. J. Mac-Reynold'?, W. II Wright, J. Young, S. Campbell, R. W. McNeill, H, Rawclifl'e, T. 1 [aivev, and W. C. Dudley.

In the absence of the clerk, Mr G. W. Rogers, who was granted a further month's leave of absence owing to illhealth, the engineer, Mr 0. A'Court Opie, acted as clerk.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. ' The engineer (Mr. C. A'Court Opie) reported as follows: Oeo Riding, Northern.—Slight repaid had been effected to Eltham, Oeo, Patik and \\ aitino roads. The exceptionally heavy rains, and the consequent floodin'" of streams early In the month was re" sponsible. for the washing-out of a culvert at tho top end of the Oeo road, but a temporary bridge would bo in as soon as tlie material available from bridges oTi the Anroa road were completed and the third in hand. _ Oeo, Southern.—The culverts authorised (lender the bridge loan), for renewing With pipes and widening along th« mam road had been completed during the month and a start had been mad? with two on tlic Skcofc road. Raliotu, Southern.—.Several culverts on the main South road had been renewed with pipes and other culverts and flax had been grubbed awav at dangerous corners. Pipe-making' had also been pushed along between times. Raliotu, Northern.—H he contractors had pushed their work ahead during the past month, only stopping for statutory holidays. Satisfactory progress bad been made, and another week should see the far end job completed. A start had been made with tlie pegging. levelling and sectioning of Wiremu roa,d, but it would take a week to complete the field work alone, without the plans.

In accordance with the instructions at last mc-l'iv.'. Councillor W. J. McNeill and (he engineer attended at the Waimate West County Offices in reference to the Oeo road special loan, and as the work was most, urgent, the Waimate \\ est County Council were agreeable to commence the work immediately provided the Egmont County guarantee them ClOOn, against all progress payments, pending 'the Government grant coming to hand, and a provisional agreement was drawn up and signed subject to confirmation by this countv: fresh applications for this loan we're also made, accompanied by fresh plans and tracings. The chairman and engineer met the contractors, Messrs Davison and Symes. with reference to opening another pit in lieu of the one which had i'iven out, and after discussion, it was decided to remove to Cape road pit. as this would obviate a second hsift. the contra Btors asking that the .price be increased to .is per cubic yard, which was agreed upon.

TTe had inspected the upper portion of I the Kiri road, in accordance with in- j sfructions received at the last meet- i in?, and estimated the coat of reform-! in<r the top portion, draining, and metal- i ling. at approximately £"00: the revenue available on this portion of the road was ahont -C3o. The I ppi r Anroa road he had inspected, and estimated the cost of put:fin<r a fairly pa-able dray track from Mr Joyce's up a distance of approximately .o chains at £«5.- Tiie revenue available over the whole of this road was I'.ltham County Council rates, £7O, and Kgniont Comity rates. The Kllham County had also raised n, loan of £IOOO on this road and this money would have to- he returned to the Government unless the Egmont County would raise a similar amount, and thus allow for point expenditure. Tf this was done, it would ensure a pood ( job being made of the iAur.,a road right through in orie jo 1 , wlierea- under the present conditions <.f revenue it would take at the very least two seasons, if not more. Owing to illness, Mr. Alf Crocker, road foreman for Southern Rahotu and Opnnake, asked for tlire,- weeks' leave of absence, which he recommended bo granted. The action of the chairman in sanctioning the removal of the crusher to the Cape Road was confirmed.

THE CRUSHER. In reply to a question, the engineer stated that the crusher had aliout 300(1 yards more metal to deal xvith before it would he finished in the northern JRahotu riding. The chairman said that, the working of the crusher was very satisfactory; some days it was crushing 30 yards, and on others only GO yards. The engineer said that the crusher was flood enoiijrh for 100 yard- of pit metal. Mr Dudley maintained that the contractors should he made to keep up to the stipulated average of 70 yards per day. For long haulajre. they should put on extra teams. If only 40 yards per day were got out, it meant that the cost of spreading would he too dear. Cr. Wrifjht thought that the Council had made a mi-lake in letting tinwork too cheap. Tlie chairman said that time hail heen lost through putting the crusher into a pit that proved no sond. He considered that £lO would be well expended in prospect-ins for a frood met ill pit anion;; the numerous h ills alonf? the road.

OUTSTANDING KATES. CY DlllllrV UK'.'l fli;it the rates wen- coming in very badly. Tin l total jjonrral rati' struck was tfiO-t'i sd. and only CI MO Ss Id had brrn received. Tlie ('nunril \va- nvM "}> to the liilt at the bank, and be <.one to L!''l. (In- ir.e.!)cy in. lb- un-d«'}--i'iod t!i;i,i. \\-i\-: ijlliti' ;( sum ol rate* 11111sfaii!lini;- from Uir previous year. f'r AVriylif itinv>-il that an all ;-rti-"-mini should be inst-rfrd in tin- pap,'!'to 01.• effect thai rates v/onld l>r .surd for imli'<s i>nii| forthwith. I his \nt- hy f'r. Vomit:. ami carried. ■ V" a in■ -ii^!i■!!>ni tiiat h,fs -hould Ifl i a and t,'.<-iity rat rr,av,-is sunl at nitre. ('si 1M ft. lillll H >, rolld'T. TENDERS. Til" 1- n i l- I'f Mr 11. Mm,,-.. -t,pud at (id i.. r v;'i.! f.>r -'nI'ly of 7(111 \.i ]-,! ' ~f '1„ ..'.I, V "II 111,. Tl!»- iiH'l ;i! m! 1 l,r hand 111-, a - f' . •V r PI i|„(; 11: 1 :t. ;i i 1 '1,!,.. i:\v:n:s !;ki"'UT.

f The i'. Mr J. f; i - ~ ■ . ; i that he lia<l V!»;jo,] flu. u:;i n r-'ji.l m-rfl» j to War a. a!.., ih ■ l.y-r.,;t.ln.d I found lli,.|u fairly fr, ,■ I'r,, ,i Mr ! n a I i al-s, vi-itril I 1;,, main t< >1 -, 'iltii j in,,] 1 1..- I,y m,ii.:-. ill,ii ,]i,i;f H„■ nt' nai | load, and f,,im 1 (In-ni fairly five <■ f i''rl:. T'i,. tdfa 1 iMUi',l, r of i, :'' :, n(Ktmidril fur tli-* nnitiUi v.'n.: heifers 11, \v,,i' I!in'_r linlliMKS 2. lioiv--11. CIHAVKL ROYALTY. I j Mr Krncst lia rim. Kcmttps Agent, I wrote from Havera to the effect that I as the Council liad decided to defend a , friendly action in connection with the

' gravel royalty, he accordingly aslwd the Council to let liirn know tlie, amount of metal which had been taken from any of the West Coast Settlements' Reserve lands.

£.>ooo bridge uux. The Deputy Superintendent of the State Advances Office notified that c. 1 Order-in-General to validate the irregularity in the poll of the ratepayers hj; been prepared ami would be placed before the Executive Council at its next meeting. The Public Trust Office, notified that the first instalment on the road machinery loan of £IOOO had fallen due. In response to a telegram from the Council, a reply was received from the Advances Board stating that no payment could bo made until tlie loan had ' been granted by the Advances Board, ind tlie debentures had been executed. r f everything was in order, the loan ' papers would he submitted t< : lie Hoard 1 next Monday. The debentur. orms had been posted. Cr. Dudley said that the sition of the bridge loan wis most un -sfactory. Since June, 1913, they had been unable to obtain any money from the Department, as one little dribble after another had been brought forward. Considerable money had been spent on the bridges out of the general account, which ■was now overdrawn right lip to the limit. Cr. Wright said that he had brought the matter before Mr Wilkinson, M.P., who had said that any fault must lie 'at th.; Council's door. Personally "he thought that shortage of money was at the bottom of the trouble. Tf they could not get it from the Government, they should try to get it from some insurance company. It might cost more, but they wanted the, money, as the liridges were tumbling down.

The chairman said that in the old days, when the application was approved, the work was gone on with and the money came in due course. Cr Dudley said that Mr Wilkinson had told liini that plenty of money was available, and, as an instance, had stated that he had seen a cheque for C 33.000 which was to be forwarded to the Waimate County Council. If Waimate could receive that money, why could not Egmont get, .tfiWO, 'The engineer stated that lie had been informed bv Waimate members that that they had not yet received any loan money. Cr. Dudley »aid that probably all the money had been utilised in dispatching the expeditionary forces. If this was the position, it would have been better liad the Department advised the Council to that elleet. The matter then dropped. GENERAL. The Treasury notified that the sum of £135 ISs Sd, being half-yearly interest 011 the loan of £15540 3s Sd, was due 011 February Ist. In reply to Mr Dudley, the chairman stated that the main street in Opunako would be tarred as soon as the weather settled, so as to enable the spraying machine to be obtained from New Plymouth.

It was decided to approach the Public, Trustee and endeavour to borrow £7OO for the purpose of erecting offices for County purposes only. Accounts amounting to £7SS 0s Sd were passed for payment.