TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 384, 2 June 1915, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MSETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council took place y::sterday. Present: Messrs J. Brown, J. Laurence, J. A. Bridgeman, K. Binnie, Andrews, 1). McAllum, J. Andrews, and ii. Hill. An apology for absence was received from Mr. A. Morton. A letter was received from Mi - . W. S. Short, notifying that the commission regarding the. suggested toll gate on tin? Mountain Road at Waipuku would sit at Stratford on June 10th. On the motion of Cr. Binnie, seconded by Cr. Andrews, it was decided that the council act in conjunction with the New Plymouth Borough Council re taking a tally of the traffic. Cr. McAllum proposed that the chairt man represent the county at the sitting of the commission, and that the whole matter he left in his hands. Cr. C. Andrews seconded, and it was carried. A RESIGNATION. The road foreman at Tariki (Mr. J Jones) wrote resigning his position.

The moved that it be revived. with l'cgret. Tlio foreman had ilways carried out Iris duties' very satisfactorily and conscientiously. Cr. Binnie seconded, endorsing the Jiairman's remarks, and the motion was :arried unanimously. DEPUTATION FROM SI'OTSWOOD. A deputation from the Spotswood district, comprising Messrs 1). J. Hughes, L Pen warden, arid Warren, waited 011 ;hc council, requesting the erection of gas lamps on the Main South Road, between the borough boundary and the top 3f Omata Hill. They also asked that the Ngamotu Road and Devon Street West bo metalled. After the deputation retired the council decided to approach the borough council to erect six lamps on the Main South Road. The question of the metalling of Ngainotu Road was left in the hands of the chairman and Cr. McAlluui to endeavor to obtain assistance from tlio Government for this work, and in the event of tliia failing it was suggested that a separate rate be struck to do the work. In the matter of the metalling of Devon Street West, it was agreed that the question was out of the jurisdiction of the county council. MOA ROAD QUESTION. Cr. A. Morton wrote stating that lie considered the Government should again advertise their intention of making 0 special order in connection with the merging lof a portion of the Moa Road district, but that instead of proceeding as formerly the area should be divided into two, one to the north of the Junction Road and 'the other to the south of that road. The chairman said the whole position was that if they wished to proceed with it they had only to take action again. He considered that the ratepayers should be given the opportunity to carry out tlicii' wishes, and he-moved that tlio nccessajry action be taken to proceed with the proposed merging. Cr. Hill seconded. He was against the principle of small local bodies. The district would be placed in a better condition under the county. Cr. J. Andrews endorsed these remarks. Cr. Bridgman said he did not think the object justified the expense. Something like three-quarters of the ratepayers in the district had signed a petition to the Government to form the road board board into a county. Thus the district in question would, if this was granted, be forced into the new county. Cr. Laurence supported Cr. Bridgeman's remarks. The chairman said, they had no guarantee that a new county would be formed, in fact, they had only the remotest chance of it, and they should carry out the wishes of those who wanted to merge. It was also a well -known fact that not nearly such good work could be done by small loca! bodies as by large ones, fie would also remind them that the 1 previous petition against this had been signed under a misapprehension. The motion was then put and carried. It was also decided to act upon Cr. Morton's suggestion. Or. McAllum said they should take some steps in objecting to the formation of the Moa Road Board into a county. He was strongly opposed to it. The chairman sonsidcred that objection should be taken by every means in their power. • Cr. Hill moved that the chairman and Cr. Morton be instructed to take any steps they consider necessary to prevent the formation of the proposed new county. Cr. McAllum seconded, and it was carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported:— I have the honor to report that I arrived in New Plymouth 011 the 21st inst., and commenced duties on Monday last, the 24th inst. The whole of my time has been occupied during the past three days travelling over the different ridings in company with your chairman. The crushing plant during the month has been engaged as follows:—Mangorei Riding: At Baker Road for one and a half days entailing 104 yds. 011 Rowan and Thompson's contracts; Waitara Riding: At Mutton Track Depot for eight days crushing GTSyds. on J. Magec's contract. At King Road Depot for four and a half days crushing 274 yds. The total crushed for tin; month is 1050 yds., and has been delivered 011 the roads. Driver Urry, with the big roller, is working with the crushing plant. Driver Warburton, with the small roller, is .engaged in the Moa Riding, Junction Road, 011 Foreman Bennett's length, Moa Riding: Rowan and Thomasou have commenced tlioir contract on Junction Road East, 011 Foreman Bennett's length, and are making fair progress. General maintenance work iias been carried out satisfactorily. Mangorei Riding: In company with the chairman, I visited the site, of the proposed tunnel 011 Hill Road. I will lay oil' this work and prepare plans and specifications, and estimate at the earliest opportunity. General maintenance work in this riding has proceeded.

._-»*{ I Waitara Riding: Maintenance work has « been carried out, and the crushed Btone from the King Road Depot Is being spread and rolled on Foreman Linklater's length, and satisfactory is being made. Omata Riding: J. Kendall, the contractor for completion of the Tukapa Tunnel, is getting his plant on the ground. I have not yet had an opportunity of inspecting the work, but I have arranged to meet the contractor on the ground 011 Friday and supply him with the levels and lines in order that | he may proceed. I shall be in a position to give you moro information at your meeting. Oliver and Sole have nearly completed their contract for supply of 8 boulders for repairs to Main South Road, | and the knapping is proceeding as t'nay are delivered. Okato Riding: When touring the county with your chairman, we visited tho bridge over the Stony River on the Carrington Road, aRd 1 would recommend that the ironwork, from which the paint is scaling badly, should receive early attention. It will bo necessary to thoroughly Bcrape oIT the rust before repainting, and it will be I also necessary to repaint the hand-rails, I the original coats having evidently been I originally of indifferent quality, as it | can be brushed off with the hand, l'iie I body timber can be left for tho present. g I cannot furnish an estimate until I I have measured up the work required and R I ascertained tho quantity of paint re- 1'

quired. The council resolved, on the motion of Cr. Laurence, seconded by Cr. Bridgeman, that the culverts on the Rugby and Mountain Road be inspected and reported on by the engineer. It was agreed that an iron liand-rail is to bo erected to the Stony River Bridge, on the Carrington Road, as recommended by tho engineer. Tho engineer was also instructed to report on the repairs necessary to tho Lojver Puniho Road. The report was adopted. RATES. « A statement showing estimated gross income and net amount available for expenditure in the various ridings for the year ended March 31st, 1915, as required by section 128, "Counties Act, 1*1108," was presented as follows: Moa Riding.—General rate ljd, producing £3(iß(i, amount available for expenditure £270!). Mangorei Ridin'g.—General rate ljd, producing £1839, amount available £ISOO. Waitara Riding.—General rate Ijjd and 2sd, producing £3850, amount available £2858. Omata Riding—General rate 13d, producing £1494, amount available £1333. Okato Riding.—General rate ljd and ljd, producing £2500, amount available £2597. The chairman gave notice to move that rates be struck for the ensuing year as per allocation. GENERAL. At the request of Mr. Fisher, it was unanimously agreed that the designation of his position on the staff of the council be county engineer, and not county . inspector, as formerly. Mr. Frank Gable, of Puniho, was appointed inspector under the by-laws to, enforce the observance of the by-laws upon users of the road. Accounts amounting to £2IOO 9a M were passed for payment.