CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 283, 8 May 1915, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MDNTIILV MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was he'd at the county ollices, AYaitara, yesterday, when there were present: Messrs A. M. Mower (chairman), H. T:'Hicks, 11. JI. Purdic, AV. Old, S. J. Kennington, 1!. H. l'igott and 11. Sander. .SUGGESTED MOTOR TAX. A circular' letter was received from the Southland County Council rcquestinir th<> Council's .support of a resolution to tax motor vehicles, and that the Government should collect the tax and distribute it pro rata between local bodies, a larger proportion to be paid to county councils and road boards, than borough councils.—Received. CLAIM FOR ACCIDENT.

Mr. S. Marsh, of Urenni, wrote requesting the County Council to pay an account of (is, the fees for attendance to an injury sustained by his son in an accident on the road between Urenui and Uruti 011 April 11. The lad was riding a horse along the road, when the animal fell on a heap of stone on the road. The letter also stated that there were several dangerous heaps of stone on this road. After a desultory discussion as to the Council's liability, it was pointed out that the metal did constitute a danger, and it was decided to pay the account. ENGINEER'S EE PORT. " The engineer reported as follows: .AViijlri 'Hiding—travelling has been carried out on different parts of the main road, and will be continued as required I propose shortly calling tenders for delivery of crushed metal from the several depots in this riding. "Tikorangi riding—The grader has •been active on various roads to their advantage, and will shortly be returned to' Tufata, forming' up the Otaraon road on the way through. Snell's road will receive the attention and assistance of the foreman. The gratuitous metal on ' the' I'ertraiid road will shortly be completed.

Ngiitimaru riding—The foreman's cottage at Tarata is completed and in occupation. "The widening on the JlatauKiore road under Government grant has been- laid off, and plans prepared in triplicate have been submitted for approval. It is proposed to do this "by day labor under "the" foreman. Levels have been 'takeii in view of substituting the Alangamaire bridge for a tunnel, and I am awaiting the result of sinking a shaft before niaking a recommendation to the Council.

Ureriui riding—On the main road, maintenance metal lias been carted out as available in' the pit. The formation contract on the upper I'iko Road is about completed, and the one on tlie lower section will lie commenced forthwith. Timber for repairs lias been conveyed to the I'renui. Okoke and Xelsori Road bridges. Assistance has been obtained in improving the six-foot track on the Kaipikii 1 ; Road. Mokau'riding.—Tile main road metalling was completed early in the month, and twenty-seven chains of the Uruti Road have already been completed. In additioii, between 400 and 500 yards have been distributed at depots between the and 31-mile pegs for general maintenance. Tlie total output was i>o2s yards, wherVof 1573 yards was a Government charge, awl'tlie balance a council liability.

During'the month the Uruti, Mangahia and Tupokl bridges were under repairs; but after stripping the Uruti bridge further work was found to be necessary, and is being attended to. " The metal opposite the store lias been put down as arranged/Hie grader has now been transferred to the Pukenfiihe district, which will in"elude the w6rk on the Wai-iti Road. ' 'With reference to the application of the Uruti Settlers'' Association to have portions of section 10, block 11, Upper Waitura','Moki' Ytosid. nresortiM in standinff -littslt for road protection, the association's secretary desfrilios the distance -.as being alxiut half a mile, Whereas t)v measurement- it exceeds one. mile in •Vngtli. 'lf thr council isdoHmvus of givmg effect to the application, I would rteommend that from three to five chains ■M-MTvp on tlie - upper side of the road w»irl(t be sufficient protection. In view *of the lessees boing in entire agreement ■ wifti the proposal, and any such propositi not being- in conflict -with their ■coalitions of- lease, a letter from the comitil, supported by the- -asswiation, weiite,- in mv opinion; be all that is necespaTy to secure tsie object in view, as in tlv tuliiro, bush or no bnsb, tV batters w>l! eventually settle down. tsv their true- a»xlo of-.repose.

"Tlio kHijurnian said til] the bridges "were in verylUd repair. The Taringa bridge ■svas dangerous. The,engineer sugpegted that liis proof repairs at a cost of ■ a-JiOO tup proc'wdod wrtli. t'Uc t-haw,man said"th<;y liad not tlie •woney. •file engineer considered tliat thev hiiflifient ior this work to the BlaU 'ley, fiJruti, "H'arinjra, Purawri, Tarata, MiHigftliia, 'Watau, -Euuki, OjcoJci, mil ( other bribes requiring attention. that thoy i lia,repaired nwvv.umtl on any future occasion a loan be .seen»:d to rebuild them. Ho proposal 'to repair tliem in ord«r to make tlieiu .fliffc fur tiacfc. TV' 'iiiutter was Cropped. It waHidtcidwl'tbijt the Coniji.issioner of Crawn ll*;nds'l)ft.i'Ccommend(4i to reserve tlniifc portion of .section In, block 11. I 'pfer tyYuitara, a* a scenic., i»serve. In thi> of the metal at ,'loncs's pit, it wax .-ftgreed .tVit the measure <lh : is ; «id pay Eadclifl'e awj -Co. 50 per cent. The engineer's -report-teas adopted. METAJXWI AT-Ut-EXUI. Councillor Pigutt brought up the matter of metalling the had jlt'Ce of rmtfi in Fremii township. It was decided-to do the 'work about two years ago, ami ft should have lim-u ioilgjiyo. Tn answer to the chairman, the engineer said the work li-nd not'birtn don,e. |>i;e.>lously 011 account of the siorta"e of labor. " ft was decided that this work *f the metifffing of Xgakoti Street to Dli? top of t'ljesnii Hill should Ik. done.

gfaeral. ITr. ff. fUwson, of New TMyrnotifrt, wrote on -bslialf of tlio n-lativts of fli« late K<rV. .-liilifl Wliitolcy, requesting nrrmission to c«>ct a memorial cro*« on tlie spot wii«r<; deceased fell iit the

Pukearuhe massacre. —Granted subject J to the engineer's supo.vvision. The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable f Aid Board notified the council that their: contribution for the ensuing year was £487 7s, to be paid in monthly inatal- ; ments of ;C4O 12s .Id. A -return showed that €B3 7s Gd had been spent on the Pukcarulle tunnel and Clifton Road during the past live years.—Received.

Mr. G. Farquhar, of Waihi, wrote, requesting the return of the deposit on his carting contract, he having completed it over a year ago.—ln answer to questions, the engineer said the quantity of metal was not there.—The chairman said they should not keep the mail waiting any longer.—The engineer said it would be a long time before the crusher would be available if the weather continued fine. —The matter was left in the engineer's hands.

An offer was made . lijr -Mr. J. M, est to clear and fence a piece of land on the boundary of Mr. Rolfe's farm at Tikorangi in return for the use of the land. —It was decided to grant Mr. West, a yearly tenancy for clearing the land in question. Mr. I'eauehamp, surfaceman at Truti, resigned his position. This was accepted and the securing of a man to fill this position was left in the hands of the engineer. (Accounts amounting to £994 Os 4d were passed for payment. It was decided to comply with the request of .1. Patterson, an employee of the council, and fence his cottage section at Tarata.

Turata Bona applied for a rebate on his rates in consideration of work done in forming Ngatam.ira I?oad, and it was decided to allow applicant £S (is.

Mr. G. H. Wray waited on the council, requesting that the council place some metal on about seven chains and a half of the Waitara Bond.—lt was decided. to metal seven chains, providing the price of the metal did not exceed 5s per yard. A copy of a proclamation taking land for a road ami c'oping a roa.f through block IT., Ngatamarii survey district, Clifton County, was received from the Public, Works Department. This road is a deviation of the Matau Road.