TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 3 February 1915, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held in the County Office, New Plymouth, yesterday, where there were .present:—Crs J. Brown (chairman), J. R. Hill, J. Andrews, A. Morton, C. Andrews, W. H. Binnie, J. A. Bridgeman, (A. E. Laurence, and D. McAllum. CHAIRMAN'S REOB.T. The chairman reported that since last meeting he had authorised the construction of a crusher site at the Waireka depot. There had heen three applications received for the position of foreman to the Mangorei riding, and with ' Cr. Morton, he had appointed E. Keast to the position. He had agreed to give ■Mr Longstaff an extra penny per dog for collecting dog taxes in the Mangorei riding. In connection with the Mar-, shall roller, Engine-driver Crry consid- ■ ered that it was working '"excellently, and more than satisfactory, but that it was rather too soon yet to give a testimonial. He had let a contract to Meredith and Gray for the supply of 200 yds of metal on the Plymouth road at 8s per yard. The chairman's action was ( confirmed. j

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. J 'A summary of foremen's reports was. dealt with as follows: I Engine-drivers: Engine-driver Mackie reported that the crusher had worked 13 days during the month, crushing 863 yards. He - was at present crushing Cowling's contract at Omata. Engine-driver TJrry reported that the large roller had worked 18% days to the 27th January, scarifying and rolling. It was at present in the Omata riding. Engine-driv-er Morrell was at present engaged roll : ing and scarifying on the Mangorei Moa Biding: Foreman Jones had completed Manganui pit work, metalling ahout two miles of road, which took 680 yards in all. He was now doing earthwork at Tariki authorised at last meeting. Foremen Bennett and Mallon had been chiefly engaged Mind- j ind and raking up loose metal. I Mangorei riding: Foremen Batton and Hancock reported that the roads were in fair order, and that they had been occupied in Winding and ordinary repairs. Foreman Spencer reported that 584 yards had been crushed and placed on the Carrington road, at the "bus corner. J. Magie had crushed 500 yards for the Mangorei road and should have finished by the end of January. Waitara Riding: Foreman J. Holmes, senr., had been engaged blinding roads whioh were breaking up. Haskell and Co. had about 600 yards of boulders at the Waiwakaiho. Foreman J. Holmes jnr., had been employed getting out stone at Waiongona. Tf the weather

kept fine, he would have a quantity out in eight days. Foreman F. Holmes had been employed chiefly blinding and digging off grass. He" had also assisted the foreman at "Waiongona and King road contracts getting out stone. Foreman J. Linklater had been occupied blinding roads and getting out stone at King road depot. Omata Riding: Foreman Seamark reported that Cowling had delivered 253 yards of crushed metal on the road. The bridge on the Tukapa road was dangerous, and should be inspectcfi by the inspector as soon as possible. Foreman Eva had been engaged spreading metal from the crusher at Frankley I road pit. The total put on the road I was 410 yards.

Okato Riding: Foreman Brosnan reported that the late Tataraimaka road district roads placed under his care were in a very neglected state, especially the Upper and Lower Pitone roads. <Wse and blackberry had been cut and burned on the old deviation at Tataraimsika. Mc,ssra Fisher "Bros., Alexander Woodmore and G. Richardson carted out on to the top of Pitone road, about 60 yards of boidders free, which he was breaking. This would repair a very bad place. They were willing to cart out ! some more to two bad places if the Council would break them. Possibly 20 yards would suffice. The metalled portion of the top of Pitone road required 40 yards of boulders out at once as the road was giving out. Foreman Sefton reported that the Main South Road was breaking up with dry weather. He had metalled the road into crusher site with metal from the old road. Foreman Meredith reported that the Koru road kept them employed blinding to keep it together. He'had completed the grading and formation work on the upper Ply- ' mouth road ready for the metal, and had ploughed and formed the road lead-

ing to Mr Penwarden's, and also to I Oakura school in Oakura township. He required explosives to blast stones in the Kirihau river near the bridge. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr R. Branch (County Inspector) reported that he had taken up his duties from the beginning of the week, and the time being so short, he was not in a position to make a full report.-j The continued dry weather was playinghavoc with the roads and a considerI able amount of blinding was necessary on most of the roads that he had so far been over. He inspected the Baker road bridge, and found that two large boulders were causing the trouble, they requiring blasting out, and. that would do away with the possibility of a scour. Ho also inspected the bridge on Tukapa road reported dangerous by Foreman Seamark, and found the slag facing required renewing. A ditch) should be opened through the paddock below the bridge to relieve the dead water. At the present time there was over 4in of dead I water under the bridge which would make repairs -somewhat difficult. .-He had inspected the work on Mangorei road. The contractor, .J. Magee, will complete his contract about the 2nd February. He had also ordered new jaws in the crusher, the metal being badly crushed. ! HOANI ROAD.

(The Advances Board notified that the Council's application for a loan of i £660 to form, culvert, grade, and metal the Hoani road had been granted, at the . rate of 4% per cent., with a currency! of 36% years. —The inspector was autho- j riaed to prepare plans and specifications J for the work. At a special meeting of the Council, a special order was struck, authorising the raising of the loan. UPPER CARRINGTON ROAD. Mr. H. J. Blanchett, senr., on behalf, of the settlers, asked the Council to push on with the work of the .£250 Government grant for metalling Upper Carrington road, and also the £4OO grant for Momona bridge. He pointed out that the season was passing, and he understood that the grants were in danger of forfeiture through the work not being proceeded with. He considered that it was very hard lines for the settlers to be put in such a position because the Council did not proceed with the work. The chairman remarked that Mr., Blanchett was "barking up the wrong tree." The plans and specifications had been prepared six months ago, but had been held up by the resident roads engineer (Mr. G. T. Murray), who considered that the money should have been expended in bridging the Momona river. The chairman said that he had held that £250 was not sufficient for the bridge, and this was borne out by the fact that £4OO had since been voted. for the Momona bridge. I

A lettT was read from Mr. Murray, under date of January 2fith, stating that the plans and specifications for the metalling of Carrington road, forwarded on August 31st, had been approved. It was resolved that tenders be called to close on February 17th, and that the chairman and Cr. McAllum be appointed a committee to receive same. Mr. G. T. Murray also notified that the type of bridge to be constructed over the Momona stream must be concrete abutments and steel girders. Drawings l and specifications must be prepared by an engineer. It was resolved that Messrs. Rladdon and Palmer be authorised to prepare plans. PETONE ROAD.

Mr. W. Fisher, on behalf of settlers on the Petone road, asked the Council to pay for breaking and laying down enough boulder stone, in addition to the piece the foreman was doing at present. They were willing to c?.rt out the stone free of cost. It was resolved to accede to the request. THE HURFORD ROAD. Nine settlers on the Hurford road petitioned the Council to metal about nine or ten chains of the top end of this road. Cr. McAllum said that only one of the settlers who had signed the petition lived on the unmetalled road. The others used it to cart! firewood. The chairman said that if any metalling was required, the settlers should go in for a loan. Cr. McAllum: Then only one settler would be left on the petition. Cr. Hill tliought people on the byroads who had merged were entitled to' some consideration. It was resolved that the inspector re- ( port on the matter at next meeting.

BISHOP EGAD. Mr. 11. T. Bishop asked that ten or eleven chains of the Bishop road should be metalled. He and his brother, whose representative was presnt, would do the earthwork and spread the metal. It was resolved that the engineer report on the work at next meeting. THE BAKER ROAD. ; Messrs. John Brown and V. W. Oldham waited on the Council on behalf of nineteen ratepayers of the Mangorei road, and asked the Council to strike a special rate of %d. for two years over No. 32 rating area, ffhis, they said, would produce £9O, and they asKed the Council to subsidise this to the extent of £6O, so as to enable the Government grant of £l6O to be lifted for metalling the Baker road, between the Mangorei and Carrington roads. Mr. J. Brown pointed out that the settlers had already raised over £9OO for forming and metalling the road and bridging the river, and that the Government had already granted £250. The whole Riding received considerable benefit, through the road rendering a good supply of metal more available. Moreover, the road brought 4000 acres nearer to New Plymouth, and so should increase the rateable value. In reply to a question, Mr. Brown said that he was not sure if there were sufficient signatures to the petition to ensure the loan being raised. He understood there was a counter-petition, on the grounds that the Council should provide all the money. Personally, he did not think that was right, as the settlers there had access by metalled roads, whereas others in the County had not. It was pointed out that some metal had been used which was got out when the road was being made. Councillors considered it would be a pity to lose the Government grant. It was then resolved, on the motion of Crs. McAllum and Morton, that, provided the petition from the Mangorei ratepayers was in order, and the number of signatures thereon was sufficient to enable the Council to strike a separate rate, the Council take the necessary steps to strike such rate, and to proceed with the metalling of the Baker road. A petition was later received from five settlers, Messrs. G. McLeod, R. H. Balsom, R. Balsom, junr., J. Hawke, and E. Schwann, who objected to the proposed special rate, on the grounds that, in the state of things in the Motherland, owing to the war, there would be plenty of room for any spare cash they had to give away. COUNTY RESERVES. , : There were only two applications, inj each case that of the present occupier, i for the two reserves at 'Waiwakaiho. These were accordingly re-let as fol-lows:—-Three and a half acres, Newton King, £7 per annum (same as pre"viously); and 17 acres, Eva Bros., £lO .per annum (a reduction of £2). The rent for the nine acres of-, re- '. serve occupied hy Mr. Ingley was fixed ,by the Valuation Committee at £lO per annum, i GENERAL. ■ , ; - It was resolved to sell the old timber ' not required at the Kurapete bridge by publio auction. Mr. J. Wooldridge, chairman of the Okato School Committee, asked the Council to lower the Mungahau stream across the Main South Road, to enable them to 4 ra ' n the horse paddock. —Referred to the inspector. T. Sefton, County foreman, of Okato -Riding, asked that his length should be reduced, as he had seven miles of main road and ten miles of by-road to look after.—Held over, pending redistribution of lengths, which will be necessary if the Okato Road District is merged. It was resolved to write to the Public Works Department, and ask that the Council should be furnished with a report on the Waiwaikaiho bridge. It was resolved to inform Mr. Trimble, of the Leith road, that the Council was not disposing of the section at the Katikara that he ottered to buv

it was resolved to agree to the transfer of W. G. Crozier's contract to A. J. Doucli. Mrs. S. Cole asked that some .metal should be put on the Veale road, and .sne offered to assist by putting a man on to help 'with the formation and the spreading.—Referred to the inspector to report at next meeting. ■ Cr. McAllum notified that the Telegraph Department had shifted the telegraph post complained of as being in a dangerous position, Accounts were passed for payment as foIlows:-General, £Bl9 10s 6d; Moa, '£lß7 10s 6d; Mangorei, £212 15s 2d; 'Waitara, £126 9s 3d; Omata, £429 16s '7d; Okato, £l2B Ts Sd; Upper Plymouth Road loan account, £ls 18s; total, £1920 Is 9d.