EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1915, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlie monthly meeting of the ligmont County Council was held at the Council Offices on Friday, when there were present: Crs. M. Fleming, J. Young, M. J. Mcßeynolds, H. Rawcliffe, W. E. Wright, S. Campbell, R. W. J McNeill, W. C. Dudley, and T. Harvey FOREMEN'S REPOB?. The various foremen reported as folRahotu Riding (southern) and Opunake Riding: The staff had been engaged in water-tabling Main South Road, also scarifying, re-forming, and re-metalling on Eltham Road, also repairing Tauiigatara bridge. Water-tabling, patching, and banking up Main South Road, also pipe making, had bfeen attended to. A fortnight's work was required scarifying and rc-forming the Main South and Eltham Roads. Requirements for the season were as follows:—Main South Road, 64 chains of re-metalling in varioufe patches, as well as 400 yards of maintenance metal. Eltham Road, 424 yards metal, including 16 chains of re-metal-ling. He recommended that crushed boulder stone be screened, as the screenings make a very suitable top dressing. Screenings work out at about 12 per cent., which was ample for top dressing. He recommended that notices be placed on the Taungatara bridge, to reduce speed of motor lorry traffic to four miles per hour. Rahotu Riding (northern): They had been constantly engaged attending to road work in general throughout this division, such as repairs and watertabling wherever it was necessary. They had filled in pit that failed on Mr j. Fleming's section north of Pungarehu, to his satisfaction. They had also cut all blackberry and furze on gravel reserve north of Pungarehu. The by-road at Warea which gave Mr. W. Revell access to his property had been formed, making a thorough good job. While working at Warea, Mr. W. Revell made an offer to deliver surface stone for maintenance work on the end of the Newall Road, 80 to 100 yards, at 3s per yard, and the same quantity at the end of the Ruakere Road at 2s per yard. He recommended the council to aecept this offer. He intended to do the crushing of this metal with their own staff when the main contracts were completed, so that it could be put on the road whenever the road roller is available. In regard to a complaint made against a fence on the main road not being on its proper line, he had taken measurements, and found that the width of the road was 10ft. less than a chain in the narrowest place. But he could not find any road pegs, so could not say which fence was on the road. If Mr. H, Layman could be convinced that, his fence was on the road he would only be too willing to have a part of this fence put right. The foreman intended to have part of this cutting widened at the first opportunity, at a cost of about £lB, so that the travelling public would have a much better chance of seeing anyone approaching the cutting from north or south. Oco Riding (northern division): The staff had been engaged at general surface work. He had formed up his portion of the Patiki Road, and had also assisted Foreman Harris. He had inspected the Punehu bridge, and found it in a very bad state. He had executed some minor repairs, and recommended the council to have the bridge overhauled by a bridge carpenter. He recommended paying the Te Kiri Church Committee the subsidy of £5 promised. After investigating, with Mr. McNeill, Mr. Joyce's claim for eStra metal on the Auroa Road, he was satisfied that he was entitled to the amount claimed. Oeo Riding (southern): The staff had been ongaged in general maintenance work. He had graded and formed twenty-two chains on the Patiki Road. Ten chains yet required forming, and this could be done at a cost of £lO now the plant was on the job. He required posts, etc., for fencing off the Puketapu Creek. He had used all the stone available on the Nopera Road. The contractor for the metal had made very poor progress, having only delivered one hundred yards during the month. The bridgo foreman reported that the Oeo Bridgo on the Oco Road was completed. The cost of the bridge was £2OB, including dismantling old bridge and electing temporary bridge. RENEWING BRIDGES. Mr. E. C, Robinson (county engineer) submitted plans of new bridges over .the Oeo River, Skeet Road, and Waivveranui River (Main South Road). In submitting estimates, he pointed out that he had allowed for the traffic to be carried through fords. This would be satisfactory as regarded fife Oeo River, but owing to the amount of motor traffic on the Main South Road, it might be advisable to build a temporary structure to carry the traffic, and he would like that point decided before tenders were called. In the course of discussion, it was elicited that both bridges urgently required re-building. In fact, the Oeo bridge had been closed, and a ford made to carry the traffic. Tlie Waiweranui Bridge was , liable to collapse at any time. The chairman stated that for ordinary traffic the Waiweranui ford would be sufficient, but he did not think that motor traffic would be able to negotiate it. Tlie bottom of the ford was very good, but the depth of water would be against motors. A temporary bridge would be liable to be washed away during the floods. Crs. Young and Wright favored putting in several sets of pipes with a lilting to temporarily carry motor traffic. Heavy waggons could use the ford. Oil the motion of Crs. McNeill and Harvey, it was decided to call tenders for tlie erection of the two bridges, and tlie matter of arranging a temporary cross M' at Waiweranui was loft lo tlie engineer. Crs. Young and Mcßeynolds, the committee appointed at last meeting to report on the sta'-: of = mall bridge near Mr. Maxwell's, i*ported that it was in a bad slate of repair. Ihey recommended Unit it should be replaced with two sets of 3ft. pipes concreted at (lie ends. The recommendation was adopted. WIREJIU ROAD GRANT. In connection with tlie expenditure of the £IOOO grant on the Wiremu Road, which has b(en before (lie council for Some considerable time, and for which the late engineer had drawn up plans, iliat tlie Government Engineer would not pass until various alterations bad been effected, it was resolved to instruct Messrs Palmer and Sladden, of New Plymouth, to prepare plans and specifications of the work, and to submit the same to Mr. G. T. Murray, resident road engineer. ' . . Later it was pointed out by Crs Wright and Mcßeynolds that Mr. E. 'C. Robinson had already been appointed the county's engineer in connection with bridge work, and that it was not advisable t® divide the work, On thoi' mo-

tion, it was decided to rescind the previous resolution, and Mr. E. C. Robinson fill asked to undertake the work* A TANGLED SKEIN. The council was occupied for a considerable time unravelling accounts in connection with various contracts that had been carried out by Mr. Tate. A meeting or two ago the clerk stated that during his absence from the office owing to ill-health, the contractor had evidently been paid about £IOO in excess of what he should have received on a metalling contract. He discovered the mistake through noticing on his return that royalty had not been deducted by the late engineer. He accordingly sent a claim t!o Mr. Tate for royalty on 1904 yards, the quantity paid for, and received a reply from Mr. Tate that he had only delivered 1388 yards. The foreman's tally of the stone received showed this to be correct. Mr. Tate had, therefore, been overpaid for STG yards of metal. The contractor stated at the time that he did not think that he had received tho amount referred to. .If he had, it would have gone through his bank, and could easily be traced. The matter was left in the hands of the clerk, to go into accounts with Mr. Tate. Mr. Tate accordingly waited on the council yesterday. Tho clerk said that, after going into accounts, Mr. Tate was satisfied that he had been overpaid for 576 yards of metal on the Opua flat, amounting to £124. There was also royalty to be deducted on 138G yards, the total overpayment thus being £137 Is. Mr. Tate stated that he had extras yet to charge as follows:—Supplying water to crusher £lO 15s, and £lO for extra carting of 400 yards of metal at Od per yard. There : was also some few yards of boulders extra carted. After some discussion, the council agreed to allow the first two items claimed and to consult the foreman about the latter. Tho matter of the Carrington Road contract was also further discussed. In this, Mr, Tate claimed £122 15s 6d for extras authorised by the late engineer. The council made an offer of £SO, which Mr. Tate refused to accept. There was also an account of £45 for crusher hire guaranteed by the late engineer to the owner of the crusher used by Mr. Tate, and on Mr. Tate giving a guarantee to pay this tlie council agreed to accept liability for the whole amount of the extras less a few small items. The account was then left to the chairman and clerk to adjust, notice of motion being given to rescind the resolution offering £SO as a full settlement. , TENDERS. The following tenders were received for the supply of 800 yards of crushed boulders on the Eltham Road, Oeo Riding:—*!. Munro 7s (accepted), J, Burke 7s 6d, A. J. Crawford 7s 2d, and J, Hickey 7s 3d, THE NEW OFFICE. The architect (Mr. A, O'Brien) notified that owing to the almost impossibility of getting men, the painting would not be finished for about a week. After that it would be in a fit state for the council to move into. It was resolved to ask the Town Board to kerb and asphalt the footpath in front of the new council offices. GENERAL. The Agricultural Department notified that goat's rue (caliga officinalis) had been added to the schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act. A committee consisting of the whole council was appointed to go into the matter of the foreman's requirements for next year. A special meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 20.