CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

(THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Wattara yesterday. Present: Messrs A. M. Bower (chairman), R. T. Hicks, W. Old, S. J. Kensington, R. H. Pigott and H. Sander. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: Waliti Riding—The crusher is under repairs, but it is expected to be ready for metalling this week. Tikorangi Riding—Stone-breaking 'hap been iproceeding slowly in Freeling's pit. The Stockman road culvert and drain have been receiving attention. Farquhar 1 expresses his intention of carrying out his contract according to specifications. The anticipated contribution towards the Tikorangi road deviation would appear to be not available. Ngatimaru Riding.—The damage to the Autawa and Pita roads has been receiving further attention and repair during the month. After a diligent search no further portions of the Mangaopa bridge or culvert have been recovered. Totara tiuiber can now be obtained for repairs to the Purangi bridge, and this work Bhould be proceded with. On the Matau-Kiore road a stock track has been cut throughout, with the exception of the large filling, which provides an obstacle on which it is inexpedient to make any outlay for merely temporary purposes. It would be advisable to await Government assistance, and carry out work o! a permanent nature. The approach of the North Matau bridge has been satisfactorily completed. Urenui Riding.—Metalling the Onaero Hill has been completed, the quantity of metal crushed being 775 yards, and the distance covered 33 chains. The repairs to the Kaka, Okoke and iPiko roads has been proceeding with restricted labor. The approach to the Mangaliao bridge has been completed, and the work let foT supplying and squaring timber for repairs to the Pilw road bridge. Mokau Riding.—Further work has been authorised on the Mangamaeho road in cutting a dray track through the accumulated slips, and re-culverting same. The timber for a large culvert , at Miller' 3 has already gone out, and ! ereetioh will take place forthwith. A i party of men are engaged in clearing slips on the Moki road, and the Ri road [ will then receive attention. The burnt > papa contractor lias been again notified ito proceed with his work. The Okau . Toad suffered somewhat from slips, but it is now open to all classes of traffic. U_pon inspection, the Kotare suspension > bridge, anrl also other bridges on the s Okau road, will require attention during . the coming summer. The coast road, . Tongaporutu to tunnel, was inspected. s The old bridges and wooden culverts will t require about £IOO to repair them with. out indulging In anything but bare nc- ] vessities. 1 found a slip of about 250 3 yards at the north end of the tunnel, and instructions have been given to have t it cleared out. If another 50 yards c are cut off the face the papa is bared . and stands at an angle that should en- . sure it against slips for a lengthy period. . I consider the slips will ultimately . prove rather an advantage than other,l wise. i AN OUTLET WANTED. 3 f Fifteen residents of the Matau district petitioned the Council asking-that immediate steps should be taken to open the Matau-Kiore road for traffic, as the whole of the district was now cut off from its natural outlet, the Kiore railway ® station, and all stock sales. Settlers depending on dairying for their living v were now debarred from delivering their cream at the Kiore dairy factoy. The engineer said that in view of the " position of the Council's funds it would * be inadvisable to do any work now, a which \vould only be of a temporary naf" ture. At present there were two outlets by the south and one outlet to the north. There was a horse track on the ;• road at present, but to put the road in l " order as requested would cost £I4OO. '< It was decided to inform the petition- ® ers that the Council was not in a posia tion to do the work unless they received 'I Government assistance. r - GENERAL, 6. ' e Tiir bad state pi the Gilbert road was complained of by Mr. C. Selby, of Uruti. There were several 9lips whk-h prevented people using the road, and for twelve chains there was no track at all. He also complained of stock wandering n about the road—The engineer was autha, orised to spend thirds available on tho ( f Gilbert road, :r A circular letter was received from e the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in e charge of the Discharged Soldiers' In,f formation Bureau, pointing out what 1, steps were being taken to secure emif ployment for returned soldiers, and statn mg that registers would be kept classip fled (1) under districts, and (2) under a occupations, so that the Department n would always know what men were re- |, quiring employment in a certain district 9 or in a certain trade. It was desired 3 to ascertain what openings for emplovn ment the Council would have, and it n was suggested that, whenever possibly . preference should be given to returned g soldiers.—No action was taken, e 111