CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 307, 5 June 1915, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. A. M. Bower (chairman), S. J. Kenniugton, R. H. Pigott, H. Sander, R. T. Ilicks, | 11. M. Purdie, and W. Old. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) rel ported as follows: Waihi Riding.—On the main road the metalling authorised last meeting has been completed, with the exception of about two chains. Tenders have closed for carting crushed metal from the Onaero and Waipapa depots. On the completion of these works further contracts should be let for a continuous supply of boulder stone for maintenance of the main road. 1 Tikorangi Riding.—Certain sectional work with the grader remained uncompleted owing to bad weather, otherwise the usual maintenance work has been carried out. The suspension bridge on the Bertrand road would also shortly receive attention.

Ngatimaru Riding.—The balance of the sand and boxing had been conveyed to the site of Webb's culvert. The plans of the Matau-Kiore widening having been , approved, instructions had been issued to proceed with this work by day labor. Timber for repairs to the Purangi bridge had been ordered, and thereafter the Tarata bridge would receive the necessary attention. Some bad points on the Mangaopa road had been reduced. This was the connection between Purangi tind the Stratford railway. He had ,becn unable to arrange for fencing the county section at Tarata.

! Urenui Riding.—On the Nelson road, Blcakley's bridge had been practically rebuilt, and repairs bad also been carried out to the Urenui bridge. The bridge party were now engaged on Col- , son's bridge on the Okokc road. On the I'iko road the contract work was steadily progressing. Provided the main road did not absorb all the foreman's attention during the month, he proposed proceeding with the township gravelling. The late foreman left during the month, and the position had since been refilled. Mokau Riding.—With the chairman, he had visited the Parininihi tunnel early in the month, and work was then arranged for up to the amount of £SO, as proposed at the last council meeting. On 1 the Mangahia road the upper bridge had been satisfactorily rebuilt. Another small bridge required renewing on this road, and would be rebuilt out of sound, timber from the dismantled bridge. On th j Uruti road the metalling had proceeded with vigor, seventy-ergiit chains, equalling a total of 1500 yards having been put down. Instructions had nov been issued to cease crushing in this district .for the season. The contractors could row proceed to quarry the balance of; the metal required t nder tins contract.! On the Wai-iti road the grader did 'i.-c----ful wis during thefarly portion of the! month, and was now housed in readiness! for early work next season. The resi-! dent engineer notified the council that the balance of last year's grant, amounting to £lsl, was still available forj j further metalling on the Main road.

Quite a number of wooden culverts had been replaced by concrete pipes, metal repaired in various places, minor bridge repairs attended to, and the usual maintenance carried on throughout the county, together with the expenditure of thirds on various roads. The engineer's report was adopted. STRATFORD TOLL GATE. Mr. W. S. Short, who has -been appointed a commissioner in connection with the enquiry into the proposal of the Stratford County Council to erect a toll gate at Waipuku, or in the alternative to opportion the amount that each local body would have to pay towards the maintenance of the road, notified that the Clifton County Council had been cited to give evidence.

Members were of the opinion that it was absurd, in view of the small percentage of county traffic over the road, that the council should have been cited at all. On the motion of Crs. Sander and Pigott, it was resolved to protest against the council being cited. The engineer \vas authorised to represent the council at the enquiry. THE COUNTY OFFICE. A petition signed by 85 ratepayers of the county asked that the county offices should be removed from Waitara to Urenui. The reasons enumerated stated that the offices should be in the County of Clifton, and not outside the district, as at present. Urenui was the most central place in the district from which the county's business could be carried on. It would lighten the duties and travelling of the councillors and engineer. As Urenui was nearer the houses of the majority of the councillors and the roads that required the most attention lay north of Urenui, they considered tlmt it was better for the general good of the county to have a business centre, and as Urenui was the most central place, and had already the fortnightly sheep and cattle sales, it would be to the benefit of the county to have the offices there also. Cr. Purdie could not see what advantage would be gained by moving the office from Waitara. The chairman said that he had signed the petition, but he did npt think that the office should be moved at present. Councillors were also of opinion that, the time was inopportune, and it was finally decided to take no action, URUTI ROAD. Mr. Chas. Musker, on behalf of the settlers of the Uru'ti road, asked the council to use its best endeavors to >;et a straight-out grant of £4OO from the Government for metalling the Uruti road. They pointed out that the land on one side of the road for a mile beyond the present metal was rated to the' full rate for the two-mile contract, and on the opposite side for a distance of half a mile the land was unable to >)e taxed for the purpose of metal on the Uruti road. This formed a severe handicap, as although they were anxious and willing to further rate themselves for

metal, they could not raise sufficient t« fill in this gap and then get the metal to the properties paying a high rats involved. The engineer was instructed to ask the Government for a further grant uf ' £4OO for this road. ' OTARAOA ROAD. | Mr. W. S. Short (Assistant UnderSecretary of Public Works) notified that 1 j the council's -application for a grant on the Otaraoa road would be considered when the Public Works Estimates were being compiled next session, but if any provision was made, it would doubtless 'be on a £ for £ basis. j This matter will be brought before the | Premier's notice next week, as it was! pointed out that the Hon. W. Fraser had 1 promised a grant of £250 to this road-j SURFACEMAN'S COTTAGE. Mr. A, Hutchins, surfaceman, at Uruti, asked the council to erect a cottage at Uruti. The council at first decided to hold the matter over, as the finances of the council would not warrant the expenditure. The engineer considered that the council should strain every point to erect the cottage, as the cottage that the surfaceman iit present occupied was not at all suitable. lie referred to the good work done by the surfaceman. Councillors all recognised this, and as it was pointed out that the money expended would be interest hearing, it was decided to erect a cottage as applied for. TENDERS. Tenders for the supply of metal were received as follows:—soovds. metal at Onaero: Longley and Jones, Jis per yard; E. Marsh, 4s lid; C. Marsh, 3a 4d (accepted). tiOOyds. metal at Waipapa: Longley and Jones, fis i)d; E. W. Marsh, 3s lid; R Tate, 3s (id; C. Marsh, 3s 3d (accepted). GENERAL.

The State Advances Office notified that it had been resolved to grant the council's loan of £IOOO for the purpose o' metalling the Pukeanihe road. The chairman and treasurer were authorised to sign and seal the debentures. Tile Public Works Department notified payment to the council's account of £159, on account of work done on the I'ike road, and £Bl7 5s i)d on account of the Mimi-Mokairroad.

Mr. C. Sclby applied for the position of ranger in Urenui, Uruti, and Okau districts. —Left in the engineer's hands. The touncil resolved to pay the New Plymouth High School Board an additional Is per yard royalty on 728 yards of gravel taken from the • Onaero pit, and it was also decided that the council could not recognise any public claim for loyalty other than the amount certifiad by the engineer. The Postal Department notified that there was a deficiency of £fi 7s 3d on the year's working of the Okoko telephone. The council passed a cheque for £2 2s fid, being a third of the deficiency. Mr. Isaac M. West was granted the use of a piece of waste land at Tikorangi for live years on a yearly tenancy,' provided that he clears the land of noxious weeds.

Messrs C. N. Rowe and E. Reynolds were granted renewal* of slaughterhouse licenses at Urenui and Waitara respectively. Accounts amounting to £1)45 Is Ul were passed for payment.