EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 290, 17 May 1915, Page 2

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY 'MKETtN'.:.. The. ordinary meeting of tin' Egmonf County Council was ln-1.l at Of" he on Friihiv. I'rc-rnl: - Ciiiiiifi.M'U-s M. Klcm'm" I chairman I. W. ('. Dudley, '!'. llarvcv? .1. Ynincj, W. li. \Vii-i(L, It. W. .1. McNeill ami il. Kawctills. ENGINEER'S REPORT.. The engineer, Mr. ( : . A'Courl Op.ic, reported as" follows: (leo Riding, northern.—J. Mimro had completed his contract for delivery of metal on Watino Road North, putting out -'IS cubic, yard*. This hail all been broken and trimmed up. Large tinnier culverts on Patiki Koad had; been replaced with 30-inch pipes and the. filling raised. Temporary timber bridge Had been erected at the top end of Oeo Road, lie suggested that the high bank at present existing right opposite the church at Te Kiri should lie battered back to the fence line and all logs and timber removed.

Oeo Hiding, southern. —The hands had been busy on contracts. A little over eight chains of metal had been put out, blinded and rolled on the Sheet Road. The section along the Main South Road by the Nopera Road had been closed' up and completed, about 200 yards put out on the Putiki Smith Ko-.nl, and nearly 11)00 yards out along the Main South Had."

Kahotu South and Opunake.—The grader was put to work along the bottom end of the Ell ham Road, and the water tables and sides cleaned off; also scarified and reformed and rolled a short section along by Run Rishops. General maintenance and bridge, repairs had occupied the hands the remainder of the time. Messrs. Coombs llros. pulled away the band railing and wring rails on two bridges bv Mr. Hoskin's. .Main North Uoad, the repairs to which cost the council €2 Its Jiil.

l'ahotu Riding, northern.—Since the completion of the contracts early in the month, general maintenance and obtaining of maintenance metal, together with the putting in of a 21-iiK'h pipe euTvert beyond Eahotu. had occupied the hands during the past month. GENERAL.

During the month, No. 2 bridge on the Elthiim Road was completed and thrown open for trallic. Several bridges in the Oco Hiding required immediate attention, as in their present condition they are a menace to the safety of the general public, particularly the small timber bridge at the top end of the Watino Road, and also the one on the Eltham lioad by Mr. Coffin's. The two short spans by JIV. Warner's and the culvert by the Maoris on the Main South Road, just across the Waiaua River, were all in an unsafe condition. Gravel necessary for concrete had been disposed at site of the bridge bv Mr. Cofl'm's, and also at the top end of the Watino Borough. Duplicate copies of all plans in connection with Government grants were completed, also reports on several matters of importance; this work had involved considerably more time than was anticipated. In conclusion, he tendered his sincere thanks to the council for its consideration towards him during his term of of- ! (ice.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Mr. F. Newport, Rahotu northern, reported that all contracts were completed in the lirst week in April, and the crushing plan had been taken through to Opunake for repairs before going to the southern riding. During the remainder of the month they had been employed getting metal out of the various pits between Rahotu and Oaonui for maintenance work. This would take up a great deal of their time during winter and spring, as that portion of the road was in a very bad state. Seta or pipes !15ft in width had been placed south of Ti I'oka Road and also near Fleming's house. He had repaired a small bridge south of Pungarehu, and also slightly repaired the Waiweranui bridge! at Warea. This latter bridge was in a bad state of repair and would require a good deal of attention. He also asked for the use of the grader for a month, providing he could obtain a team of five horses. He suggested that a double set of three-inch pipes should replace a small bridge near Manihi Road, which would be as ell'ective as an elaborate concrete structure. ITe also required pipes to replace bridges on the Main South Road. Mr. W. Harris. Oco South., recommended that tenders should lie called for the following metal: 'Watino Road, 300vds of boulder stone: Nopero Road, 300 yds pit metal, and Oco Road, 300 yds pit metal. A large wooden culvert on the Kkcet Road required renewing with pipes.

APPLIUA;'LTOXS FOR GRANTS. In response to the Public Works Department's intimation that the council should apply for any grants required, councillors expressed the opinion that it was time that the VYerenui Road was completed right through. It was decided to ask for a grant for erecting three bridges between the. Kahili and Xewall Roads. Councillor Rawclill'e considered that it was useless doing anything to the road south of tlie Keri Road. Councillor Dudley said it was not proposed to do anything beyond the Kiri Road. Some of the settlers between the Waiau and Kiri had no outlet, and were prepared to pay half the cost of a bridge over the Waiau River, if the Government would pay the other half. Finally, it was decided to ask the Covernmont for a grant of .C.'iOOt) for expenditure on the Wirenui Road, and to brin»- the matter before Mr. Wilkinson, M.l\ lIAKIiOII BOARD (';RAVEL. The Harbor Board forwarded claims for royalty at the rate of (id per yard for gravel (quantity unknown) taken from the board's reserve, and also -Id per yard for cosl of lilling in pit made on the property bv the council. The clerk stated that the lease distinctly showed that the right was only reserved to the Town Board to take gravid from the reserve.

Til,, matter was held over until next: meeting and meanwhile a committer, consisting of tlic ciiiiirman nnil ConneiHors Yowil'. McNeill. Wriyhl jiml the dork, was appointed to interview the llarhor Hoard. TllrJciirXTY iIALAXVK-SIIKIOT. 'Hit' Deparfment „f Internal Allah's wrote |„ il ;i . rllVrt (],;,! the .Minister con!,! not a-ree to the council's su"<ros(ion that publication of the halancc-sl'ieot shniil.l he doomed siillicioiit if tile council advertised (hat. typed copies eonl.l 1"' seen al various ',,hi,-e, :',„■ n nionlh. I' 1"' council had written slut in- that it was too expensive a process to advertise tlie haiance-sheet in a newspaper as pro-

vided by tlic Art, especially as the lml-sinu-slicel was now tw<:-U - <«-niontlis old. The :\[nlit Department, therefore suggested th:it the'balance-sheet hlhiulil he jii-ii!tfit mid 11 copy deposited for inspection in the- ollice, as well as posted to each ratepayer.-

It was ilecided to compjy with the Ail, as Ihe proposed substitute, would he more expensive. The balance-sheet for the hiilf-yoar i'mlcil September 14, Hlltj.was received I'roiii the Audit Department with a tag regarding the currency of l a machinery loan. CAUIifXCTON KOAD. Mr. A. 10.. Harding complained that the work on the Carrmglon ltouil had been left i:i an unfinished state, and lie suggested that the council should inspect it or have it inspected by a (!ovciiimcnt engineer to see that it had been done according to specifications. Mr. Opic stnted'that the work bad been well finished, and had been passed by the Coveinment engineer. lie. stated that it rct|uired ,t man going over it occasionally to keep water tables open and so forth'!

The chairman considered that a good job had been donc,> rilougli he admitted that the metal was very narrow.—Mo action was taken. THE MA('[!l'.\"El!Y LOAX.

The Auditor-!.'encral drew attention to an irregularity in the, proceedings taken for the ;t!:W00 machinery loan. The ratepayers voted for n loan repayable in twenty years, but the special order striking'tile rate altered the currency to thirty-six years and a half, lie, therefore, asked that the ratepayers should complete the matter in accordance with law.

The clerk explained the position at length, referring to the correspondence that hail passed between himself' and the Audit Department over the matter, lie had since written for the necessary alteration. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The foremen in the Oeo Riding, nor: theni, and Rahotu Killing, northern, forwarded the names of sixty-six settlci's who had noxious weeds along their frontages. The clerk stated that he had not forwarded any notice to the settlers eon cenied. as lie did not think that the council had any authority in the matter. Members were doubtful a . s to the powers of the local authority, and it was filially decided to forward the list to the Noxious Weds Inspector. MEIiCTXU.

Councillor W. R. Wright gave notice to move at next meeting that this council is of opinion that the best interests of the P/arihaka Road Board ratepayers living between the Oaoimi and Tauiigatara Rivers would be served by lnergiii" into the county. ° GATES ACROSS ROADS.

The foreman reported the names of various people who had gates on the Wirenni Road. He also stated, that when one person fenced it would mean that the road would be blocked,- as there were steep banks of twenty feet to the Oaonui River. At present all trallic along the road had to diverge through his property, and fencing would prevent this. The question of removing the gates was held' over. Meanwhile, the council will write to the resident roads engineer, Mr. CI. T. Murray, pointing out the need for effecting some improvement so as to allow of trallic after the settler ha.s fenced. GENERAL.

The receiver of land revenue notified payment to the council's account of accrued thirds amounting to ss. Mr. W. S. Bremner. Te Kiri, notified that royalty at the rate of Gd per yard would have to be paid in future on any gravel taken from his property. The Okalo Road P.oard asked 'the council to contribute £lO per annum towards the upkeep of the Oxford, Saunde.s and Carrington Road, which they stated were being worn out by the everincreasing traffic from the Eginont County.—Received.

It was decided to insure this year with the New Zealand Insurance Company.

The suggestions from the Mayor of X'ew Plymouth relative to the Belgian Fund were endorsed.

The special order for making special rate on the Geo Xo. 3 special rating area wns confirmed.

\V. Cowsor was granted permission to transfer a contract to Itartley Bros. The Raliotu Dairy Company drew.attention to damage caused by tlie council's employees and contractors when carting from the gravel pit behind the factory—Referred to the foreman for report.

The architect, Mr. A. O'Brien, stated that the contractor was unable to procure rods for reinforcing in Xew Zealand. A start would be made with plain rods. The foreman was instructed to remove the boxthorn hedge from the section.

Messrs. Davidson and Symos claimed Clii for expenses in opening up a pit, which proved unsuitable for the work. —The chairman stated that the council had paid them a higher price for metal taken from the second pit.—Xo action was taken.

Tlie council confirmed the chairman's action in extending VYatino Road metal contract by of) yards.

Mr. A. S. Crocker, foreman in the Raliotu Southern Riding, asked the council for some compensation owing to [lis horse being injured through putting its foot in a hole on a culvert on the Main South Road. This culvert, he stated, had been condemned by the engineer —The foreman is to be asked whv the culvert had not been repaired. ' The council disclaimed all liability. M i l\u: e Xazer forwarded account for work don,, cleaning up his paddock after the crusher had left.—Xo action was taken.

In connection with the bridge loan it was stated that of the .€2OOO instalment of the loan there was €370 available for expenditure. In addition there was some material. It was decided that Mr. A. !•:. White, who has bee,, in charge of bridge construction under the engineer, should continue in charge. Accounts amounting to .CflfU "s s 5,1 fircnerall and £SOO on account of h ( ',sI'lfiil l.'ai: were passed for payment.