TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1915, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held, yesterday. Present: Crs. J. Brown (in the chair), Lawrence, Bridgemau, W. Biuiiie, C. Andrews, D. McAHum, A. Morton, J. Andrews and J. K, Hill, ENGINEER'S RETORT.

The county engineer (Mr. R. W. Fisher) reported;— Crushing plant—Owing to the exceptionally bad weather, the plant has only worked B'/ 2 days during tliie past mouth —at Waiongoiia depot 5 days, crushing 39(1 cubiic yards; at Atkinson's depot. 3 1 /.. days, crushing 3-2S cubic yards; total for month, 724 cubic yards. The plant has since finished at Atkinson's and is now crushing at Durham road. The large roller had been with the crushing plant on the Mountain road from Waiongona depot to Inglowood borough 'boundary. The small roller completed its work on Foreman •Bennett's length an.' has since been wiiih Foreman Jordan ci klio Mountain and Corbctt roads, am' ■ ■ new engaged in Foreman J. ffoha length scarifying and rolling betwee: lieil Block and Waiwakaiho. The Government boiler inspector inspected the whole plant on July 9, this being his annual inspection. Moa Riding—The recent heavy rains caused come large slips along the Zig Zug, which I'oreman Bennett efficiently dcadt with, and no delay to traffic was occasioned. At the Jlangaone bridge, on Bat-hurst's Flat, the toins put in to strengthen the bridge were washed away. The bridge -will have to be replaced by a concrete bridge in a very abort i-nie, hut .piakp. il,; safe in I t'l»jj, ; (ij£a.n.ti(ue ■ L ; 'h#.vjq. ''on* order the necessary. tiijiibei' to which' are 1 rotten, and' also some new decking. i'ly estimate for repairs t 0 this bridge is £29, and I ask your sanotion to proceed with this work. With the exception of surface damage on the Tnriki road, the roads in this riding are in good order. I have taken necessary levels and prepared a plan a! the existing culverts under the railway and (Mountain road south of Rugby road, and the District Engineer of Railways was written to early -iliis month and requested to arrange an appointment on the ground, but up (o date of this report' no reply has been received. Akngorei Riding.—-There was vfry little damage occasioned to any of the roads in this riding, but extra surface repairs were necessary. At your last meeting I was instructed to report on complaint received from Messrs Crean and iPerrett at the top end of the Albert road. I visited the locality and have laid off a line of new formation, plan and estimate of which will be laid -before you. Some time since sanction was given to an expenditure of £ls for five chains, at £3 per drain, for metalling. Since then the road has been badly cut up, and I would not recommend metalling on the present track, which has never been properly formed. The p'an 'before you will provide for ■ light formation and metalling on the centre of the surveyed road. Mr. Crean, one of the ratepayers affected, is prepared to give free laibor as regards formation work, and the estimate attached provides for river boulders to bn handnapped and spread on the new formation. I recommend, if the Council approve of my proposal, that this work should be put in hand when weather conditions are favorable. On the Carrington road I found that the roof sheeting on a liaubcr culvert across the Papanui creek requires renewing. I estimate the cost of repairs at £dO Gs. With your sanction the work can be put ill hand forthwith.

Waitarn Riding.—The recent rains overtaxed the culverts on the Devon road and in some cases the Hood water overflowed the road. In a large measure the causes were due to the outlets being obstructed on account of the owners of private properties failing to keep the courses of the creek clear, nnit these will receive my early attention.

Oimata Ruling.—'Maintenance work has been somewhat, heavy on the by roads pwirig to the heavy weather, otherwise there is no excessive damage to report. As instructed, I have prospected in Fore, man Seamark's division for metal, and we find that there is some excellent blinding material on Mr. Mace's properly, and strong evidence of good metal and ill large quantities. I would recommend that arrangement? should lie made with Mr. Mace to take oil' the stripping and open up the face, as the stone is quite '"lose to tile road, and an exit can be formed at very little cost. The Vcale road culvert which collapsed has been completed witih ISA-inch pipes. T was instructed to report on the necessity and cost of metalling Hurworth road from Frail ldey road to Fnuvklev factor v. I estimate the cost at £29 15s, which includes formation in the centre of the road, pipe culvert and metalling. Tills work would 'be a distinct improvement, but is not a necessity, the present road being metalled and in fair order. Ok.ato Hiding.—There were two bad slips on the TCiri road, which blocked (rattle for a day or fnvo, but they were removed and the road reinstated. There were, six applicants fo r the position of foreman in Foreman Meredith's length, and Mr, J. (MtGratli was appointed, and commenced duties on the 2nd inst. The tunnel at Tinmru Hill, Foreman .-eflon's length, collapsed for a length of 2ft feet during the heavy rain, and as it left a deep hole right up to the metal I h,iv( anticipated sanction and am repairing Hie damaged portion of (he tumid with 3ft pipes. The tunnel under the road is perfectly sound, but the ends have to be renewed with the pipes. I estimate cost of repairs at .-C-145.

Tlie engineer fm'iiislicd a supplement ary report:

OniiHta Riding.—l lip ooniraWor for tlu* Tuka.p,i tunnel has completed the drive and is now engaged trimming sides and cleaning out the lloor of the tunnel, The exist iiig wooden culvert, which is ;i meniu eto trafhe, can then be demolished, 1 have to report that Messrs So'e and .Oliver, the contractors for the supply of beach boulders to the Blue (! tuns, have failed to complete their contract. T yave theni notion t 0 expedite delivery on June 7 last, but 110 attention Was' paid to it, and f accordingly gave them final notice on July 2-> that imle.-.s t ilea:'il delinitelv I'ioin them by July .'II l( s f 0 u-licther tffe.v intended proceeding [ should have no alternative other than making new arrangement*. holding them responsible for any exee<?<s over their contract price. "I '■btiuiU'd l.ii'o prices:—Meredith and Grev ®s 1»r yard, and A. Cowling, Hi Od per yard. The small roller is ready to commence in this riding any day, and as the m"tal has to he hand-na/pped and is bail I y needed for patching, with vour 'liainna.n's sanction I placed the complcfioi.. o* tjie »»i- v -ith Mr, CWlillo. The ffunnxity to be delivered SO cubic At your last meeting t Wtls authorised to put Foreman Eva to obtnjn the r-nsulfl/t .Vear'n (nippliei V -ii the iFrankley road pl.t. I have 11 :i:ea sured tip the quantitiw required-

Okulo Hiding.—There are four very Lad paved water-courses crossing the Kuru ru&d. I ask sanction to renew them with din concrete pipe culverts, Foreman Hayes met with an accident and lias been unahle to pursue his duties, and is likely ta lie incapacitated for some time. I have therefore engaged a substitute temporarily in Mr. H. Cole, who commenced duties on July 20. It was decided to leave in the chairman's hands the matter of arranging ■with Mr. J. Mace in regard to the metal pit. Tile engineer was empowered to complete tiio filling" and culvert at the tunnel on the Tukapa road. The chairman's action in letting contract No. 331 to A. W. Cowling was confirmed. The matter of a culvert on Beach roa<l at Tataraimaka was left with the chairman and tiie engineer to arrange. Other matters of minor importance were dealt with and the report was adopted. WLUWAKAIHO BRIDGE. Mr. Ci. T. Murray, Resident Engineer, forwarded a letter from the Engineer-in-Cliief, in reference to the .protection woria at the Waiwakaiho bridge, and stating that it had been decided that a weir should be constructed across the river immediately below the 'bridge. The estimated cost v. r as "£2050.

Tiie chairman said tiliat apparently the Government intended to go on with the work, and if the plans which the Government had forwarded were accepted the Council would pledge itself to bear a share of the cost. The arrangement was that a third of the cost would be borne by the Government, hhc Tarapaki County Council, and the Now Plymouth Borough Council.

Several councillors expressed surprise at the large amount which would have to be expended to protect the bridge. They liad kern told that tiie bridge required very severe 'foods had recqipy.te.entexperieiKcd, and file 'bridge luul. atoofl itilxe test remarkably well, no damage having 'been done. * The proposal and the plans were approved of. TIIE MOA DISTRICT.

The question of merging a portion of the Moa road district in the county was brought up by Cr. Morton, who proposed that proceedings to attain this •ahpeet should be again instituted. Mr. ■Morton said there had been so many petitions and actions that he did not think some of the ratepayers knew where they were in the matter. He was confident that two-thirds of the ratepayers in his part of the Moa road district desired to merge into the county, and it was for this reason tliat he again brought up the question, and moved that proceedings to merge should be taken, The chairman seconded.

The matter was discussed at some length, and Cr. Lawrence moved an amendment that no action be taken at present. Cr. Andrews seconded. The amendment was lost and the motion was carried on the voices.

Cr, Morton then moved tihat the Council prepare a petition to Parliament praying that the iMoa County Bill may not be passed, and that the chairman prepare the petition. The motion was carried without , discussion. GENEBAL. Tho State Advances Department informed tiie Council that a loan of £lifiO had been granted for grading and metalling tho Ifoane road, and also a loan of £7OO for the Komene road.—Tho cngincr was instructed to prepare plans mid estimates for the Hoane road. Mr. F. J. Morris wrote that Messrs J. C. Bell and W. JC. .Morris were prepared to act as trustees of the Oakura cemetery.

J. J. Lilly wrote drawing attention to the 'had state of Alfred road. He asked that repairs should ho made. —Bcferred to the engineer. A circular letter was received from tlio Manawatu County Council, which has already been published, in reference to amending the Telegraph Department's telephone regulations to giviTsmall townships greater facilities.—The Council decided to give its support in the matter.

Mr. F. li. Kaill wrote that he was not satisfied with the royalty to be paid on stone carted through his property, and lie stated that unless the Council was more liberal he would like to have the matter taken to arbitration. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs F. P. Corkill and C. Carter for the use of land as a temporary roadway during the renewal of the Yfulc road culvert.

Accounts were passed for payment as [ follows:—General, .e]3-W i>s fid; Moa riding, £:GS.') lUs IOd: Mangorei riding, £4i) lis; Waitaiu riding, £11)0 Is 3d; Omata riding, Os fx I; Okato riding, -CHM 10s (kl; total, £1831) ISs sd.