CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The Clifton County Council met yesterday. (Present: Crs. A. M. Bower, R. T. Hicks, VV. Old, S. J. Kennington, R. IL Pigott, and H. M. Purdie. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. H. Sander. ENGINEER'S REPORT. \ The engineer reported:— Waihi Riding.— -On the Ohunga road the settlers request cutting down the 'bill opposite Mr. S. Elliot's,' to let out accumulated water. This might be dor* provided the Bottlers assist with labor and plant. I expect the crusher to be operating in this riding almost immediately. Tikorangi Riding.—Tho inland north road lias received metal repairs, and men are breaking in ■Eroding's pit. The Stockman road culvert will be receiving early attention. Weather permitting, the crusher will visit this riding shortly and bo located at SncH's' road.

Ngatimaru Riding.—On the Autawa road one tunnel has been completed, and further iif connection with another one are to be tried, whilst two large culverts have been repaired. On tho Mongabpa road a stock track has been chared, and instructions issued to seek for and secure any portions of wrecked bridge and culvert material. On the Matau-Kiore road a party of men arc cutting a stock track through slips aa instructed. Various other roads are receiving attention in repairing flood damage. TJrenui Riding.—The major portion of the Onaero lull has been metalled, rolled and blinded. This road was seriously interfered with on the night of Friday, the 2Shh inst., and I am reporting separately and ■privately on this matter. The Mataro road requires to be widened in places, which might be arranged for out of the balance of the loan. Arrangements have been mode to kerb portions of the TJrenui township streets. On the Piko and Okoke roads the clearing of slips and repairs to the Mangahao bridge have been attended to. Mokau Riding. The Mangamaeho road has been sufficiently cleared for vehicular traffic. The Urutiroad metal is being raked in and blinded; the large culvert at Miller's will be put jn as soon as timber arrives. The progress of tiie burnt papa contract on the Mokau road has not been altogether satisfactory. On the Pukearuhe road levels wero .taken, of 2 miles 10 chains for formation and metalling, and plana and specifieationa are in course of preparation. The report was adopted. rpUEBA'STJHB- TUNNEL Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., wrote that the Minister of Public Works had promised to have a report prepared on the Pukearuhe tunnel question. The Chairman said it would be some time before anything of a permanent nature could be done, and in the meantime temporary work was necessary. The elip at the end of tie tunnel had not yet been cleared, while the bridge on tho road had collapsed. After some discission Hie engineer was instructed to arrange for fcemp«ary repairs fo the tunnel and tho rowd go thsa tfaffiis eotfld be resumed. DAMAGE BY FLOODS. In reference to the damage done to the Olifton County by the recent floods a letter from Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., stating that ho had brought up in Parliament the matter of the damage done about Waitara and district. The Minister of Public Works wrote that the district engineer was preparing a detailed report of the damage done, and as soon as the report was received tho Minister would be in a position to state what assistance could he given. It was decided to ask Mr. J. Hine, M.P., to give his assistance in the matter, as the Ngatimaru Riding is m Mr. Hine's electorate. THE ONAERO HILL. The state of the Onaero hill was the subject of a letter from Mr. A. B. Greenwood, TJrenui. He said that while it had been proved that the Onaero gravel by itself will not stiand heavy traffic in shady situations, it will stand for the centre (horse track as Well as, or better than, broken metal; and if the centre six feet of the broken metal were spread flat, the outside cambered, and the whole- treated immediately with a coating of grave], say six inches deep in the centre and sufficiently to thoroughly blind the broken metal in the wheel tracks, a road. would be ; formed that would settle into shape quickly with the' ordinary road traffic. If the county had : a road roller it might be best to use no blinding and rely on the rolling, shut,, as. it is, it is unreiwonable to ask all users of the road to do the rolling. The engineer snid experiments had been made on the lines suggested. Tho chairman said the ratepayers would have to be patient; they should not expect the condition of the hill to bo improved in half an 'hour. It was deeded to thank Mr. Greenwood for his suggestions, and to inform him that tho Council had already tried tho scheme ho suggested. The engineer submitted a report complaining of treattnent he received from certain people in connection with the work oh tihe Oiuwro .hill. The matter was taken in committee. It was decided to write the alleged offenders to the effect that if the engineer was again interfered with the Council would take steps to protect its officer by prosecuting, and any- unwarranted interference with a county road would result in legal action. GENERAL. .*.- The Treasury notified that £S4B- 10s 7d (subsidy of rates collected during tie year) had been remitted to the credit of the Council. The Taranaki Land Board notified that it had approved of the Council's proposals for the expenditure of thirds, amounting to £49G 10s sd. Mr. Geo. Hanover, Pnrangi, was granted the lease of a road reserve on the Purangi road from year to year on the usual terms. •

The Postal Department forwarded a statement of the revenue and expenditure at the Ngatamiro telephone office, which showed a deficiency for the year of £1:1 «s lOd.

The striking of a rate of l%d wasxon firmed.

The New Zealand Council of Agriculture forwarded a copy of a circular lettor, including the following resolution, which was received: "That local agricultural committees be appointed by Hbe county councils throughout .the" Dominion, and the Department of Agriculture be asked to make use of the services of such committees in experimental and other agricultural instructional &nd clcTtlopißMlt Wert*.'"