CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present; Crs. S. M. Bower (chairman), R. T. Ilicks, 11. M. Purdie, W. Old, R. H. Pigott, H. Sander, and S. J. Kennington. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows: —Waihi Riding: I would recommend that the lease of the Onaero gravel reserve be terminated upon payment of arrears to December 31, and that in future the grazing portion be attached to the county cottage at an annual rental of £2. Inland North Road: Levels had been taken near Matthews' for improving the grades, and the plans were in course of preparation. The metalling of a portion of this road had been completed, and Farquhar had relinquished his contract in favor of the Council. At the Turangi depot the contractors were busy increasing their supplies, and the contract for carting same when crushed had been accepted at a satisfactory figure. Further supplies would also be obtained for the Nikorjuia Road at the Waipapa depot. Tikorangi Riding: The re-surfacing of about ■ 13 chains near the Cemetery is completed; also an increased length added to the continuous metal. Thereafter

the crusher will be requisitioned by the Borough and then again return to the Waihi Riding. The metal broken in Freeling's pit will be got out the first opportunity.

Ngatimaru Riding: Gravelling was proceeding satisfactorily on the Junction Road. Timber for repairs to the Purangi Bridge would shortly be coming forward. TJie foreman at Purangi desired leave of absence, and would provide in the meantime a suitable substitute. Plans and specifications had been approved for the Kiorc Road Bridge, and tenders would be called to close at next meeting of the Council, or earlier if desired. The recent heavy weather interfered witli the completion of the Autawa Road tunnel.

Urenui Riding: Timber for repairs to the Onaero Bridge had arrived and was already on the site. The Okoke Road again suffered somewhat from the recent heavy rains, but the worst portions had received attention. The Kaipikari Road had been attended to and assistance transferred to the Mataro Road. Operations of a private nature were still being pursued at tlie new gravel quarry, and in the meantime he was taking no action.

Mokau Riding: The Moki and Tangitu Roads again suffered during the late heavy weather, but are receiving attention. The burnt papa contract still remained unsatisfactory, although he was assured that tlie contractor intended to proceed. The Parininihi tunnel had been re-opened for traffic for some days, and the repairs to the Waikihikihi Bridge would be early attended to. Further quarrying in connection with the Uriti Road was proceeding. No action had been taken in the meantime in connection with the Pukearuhe metalling. Tlie half-yearly thirds schedules had been prepared and would be submitted for approval at the next sitting of the Land Board, He had made further application for the balance of the money owing on the Mimi-Mokau Road amounting to £258 14s 3d, and also a further special request to Wellington for the annual grant to this road. It was resolved to cancel the burnt papa contract at Mt. Messenger, and the engineer was authorised to arrange with the Government to put down shell rock in lieu of burnt papa. The chairman said that the road must be attended to this summer, otherwise it would be impassable again in the winter. He considered that even with the additional carting it would be policy to expend the Government grant of £4OO on shell rock instead of papa.

The matter of getting stone at Ti|fOrangi was held over until next meeting. It was resolved to call tenders for the ICiore Eoad Bridge, and to proceed with the road work by day labor up to the amount of the Government grant. The engineer's report was adopted.

THE PUKEARUHE LOAN. A telegram was received from the Minister of Public Works stating that there was a grant of £3OO on the Supplementary Estimates on account of £7OO, £ for £, for the Pukearuhe loan, but no authorities for new votes were being issued until the loan was. floated. A deputation consisting of Messrs J. W. H. Martin, W. J. Freeth, A. R. Davis, A. Bowman, and A. Sorenson waited on the Council in connection with the matter. Mr. Martin, who acted as spokesman, submitted a resolution, passed unanimously at a meeting of ratepayers, that the whole of the £IOOO loan money and Government grant as well should be expended on tlie Pukearuhe-Mimi Koad. He questioned if £I7OO would be sufficient to complete the work. In th* face of the telegram, he did not know whether the Government grant of £3OO on account of the £7OO promised woull be available. Ho asked the Council to impress on the Government the urgency of' the work. The Government had commandeered one-third of the output of' cheese, and must recognise that it was; necessary to get it out. The chairman considered that it wouli be advisable to expend the £IOOO loan money at once, and not wait until the subsidy was available. . Mr. Martin pointed out that the Coun- ■ cil was paying interest on this money, and he thought that it should have been, invested until it was required. Mr. Vaughan said that the Council had no power to do so.

11l connection witli the supply of metal in the district, the deputation produced samples, including shell rock, which" was available in any quantity on the beach and was get-at-able. Councillors inspected the metal, which was considered of good quality, and the engineer thought that it was suitable. He estimated that the whole work would cost £2OOO at current rates, In fact, he. understood that the amount of money was available and had cut his work accordingly. He had estimated the 21 miles of formation at £l2O.

Members of the deputation thought that an expenditure of £4O would suffice to put the road in condition to receive the metal. Whilst they agreed that the Work as laid out by the engineer was not excessive they thought it was absolutely necessary for the settlers to expend as much as possible of the available money in metal. The deputation then asked that the Council should undertake the formation work. Rates amounting to £4OO per annum were received from the district, and very little of that amount was received locally. After further discussion it was arranged that the engineer visit the dis:trict on Monday and go over the ground iha

After the deputation had withdrawn the Council decided to call for tenders for metaling up to £IOOO, starting from the end of the present metal, and to expend £SO on formation oil that part. EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS. A circular letter was received from the Public Works Department notifying that as the loan just raised would have to suffice to provide for public works while the war lasted, and as war conditions had now necessitated a considerable reduction in the rate of expenditure on certain public works, a number of officers and men hitherto engaged on such works would not be required, and as other employment must be found for them the Government proposed to employ them on road works as far as might be necessary and funds were available. The Minister therefore regretted that he would be unable in the future to avail himself of the assistance, of local bodies ill carrying out road works io the same extent as hitherto. This being so, the Minister did not propose in nll'er voles for roads and bridges to public bodies for expenditure to the same extent as liitherto, and local bodies are therefore requested not to proceed with the preparation of plans, etc., in anticipation, as it was only in eases where the money had been definitely oll'ered and the plans approved that the work was to be done bv such local bodies.

.Where money had been provided on a subsidy basis of, say, £ for £ it was proposed, except in the case of largo bridges ,that the work should still be done by the local authorities, and where definite promises had been given for assistance in the niattter of metalling sucli work will, so far as possible, be entrusted to the local authority, but the greater proportion of the road work in the conntry will be constructed by the department. In any special case where there may be some substantial reason why the work should be done by the local body, and not by the department, the Minister would be prepared to consider the application, but full and definite reasons must be adduced by such local authority. The engineer stated that the Council's disappointment was in proportion to their expectations, and as there were no great hopes of large contributions during a period allowed by all to be abnormal the deferred hopes were only a limited quantity and represented the Tangitu deviation and the Otnraoa and Piko Roads, as he was informed that the Miini-Mokau Road beyond Uruti xvas so bad and of sufficient importance as to warrant a grant, even ibis season. Works for wliicli plans had been approved and consequently secured by the Council were burnt papa contract, Uruti Roa contract, Pukearuhc metalling (doulitful). Moki Road slips, Junction Road slips, Matau-Kiore Road and Bridge, and the Mangaopa Road. These latter were met in the £ISOO contributed for flood damage. The works approved by the Council and which without further delay should be proceeded with are the following, but it was no reasonably anticipated that they would in any way be subsidised. They consist of: Repairs to five bridges, Okau Road; ferro-eoncrete flood opening, Mimi-Mo-kau, opposite Sutton's; monier pipe culvert, Mimi-Mokau; Waite's Cutting: demolition of three flood openings and Refilling with earth; repairs to various bridges on the Okoke and Piko Roads; varius improvements in the Urenui township; Turangi" and Nikorina metalling contracts; improvements Inland North Road (Matthew's); repairs to Onaero' Bridge; repairs to Tarata and Purangi Bridges; erection of Webb's culvert in ferro-eoncrete; driving tunnel to replace Mangamaire Bridge; repairs to Ma'tau township; South Matau and Junction Road Bridges. In addition, the expenditure of thirds; the grading of several roads and the general maintenance over the whole county. GENERAL. The Valuer-General notified that the duty devolved on the Registrar of the Native Land Court, Wanganui, to suppiy both the Valuation Department and the Council with particulars of partition, exchange, etc. The resolution authorising the raising of the Tangitu special loan of £2OOO was confirmed.

The engineer was authorised to call tenders for work required on the Inland North Road.

The chairman was, on the motion of Cr. Sander, voted an honorarium of £25. The staff were granted the usual three days' holiday at Christmas and the office will be closed from December 24, 1915, to January 7, 1016. Accounts amounting to £441 IDs Sd were passed for payment.