EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1915, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunakc on Friday, when there were present: Crs. M. Fleming, R. J. McNeill, 8. Campbell, M. J. Macßeynolds, Jas. Young, T. Harvey, W. C. Dudley and W. R. Wright. An apology was received for the absence of Cr. H. J. Kawcliffe on account of ill-health. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Owing to the statutory meeting elapsing, the clerk took the chair and called for nominations for chairman. Cr. M. Fleming was, on the motion of Crs. T. Harvey and J. Yoiing ( unanimously reelected unopposed. In returning thanks, the chairman expressed regret that he was unable to devote more time in travelling over the county. He would, however, do his best in the interests of the ratepayers, and felt assured that councillors would assist him as they had done in the past. On the motion of Crs. Young and Macßeynolds, it was resolved to vote the chairman an honorarium of £'23. In returning thanks, the chairman sa.id that 'he thought it was the proper system to make the chairman a small grant to enable him to go around the district more. He did not intend to be chairman long, and he did not think that the Council would regret introducing the system when they had a chairman who could devote more time.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The various foremen reported on the month's work as follows: Oeo Biding (Northern) —The staff had been employed at general surface work, cleaning -water-tables and carting out maintenance metal. The tree stump had been removed from the front of the Awatuna Hall as instructed, and notices put up at the Punehu bridge. Various culverts had been attended to.

Oeo Riding (southern) —The inen had been engaged principally on contracts in progress, except when it was too wet to cart out, when they were otherwise engaged in clearing out water-tables on the Main South road. Report on the whare: The late engineer authorised its removal to the section owned by Mr. Harrop and occupied by the foreman as a convenient place for keeping tools, etc. The whare was of no use where it was first placed, the door being burst open on many occasions and tools were missing. It was built on skids and could be removed at any time the Council de sired.

Rahotu Riding (Southern and Opunake Ridings)— The , staff had been engaged at the following work: Repairing bridge approaches, raking, patching and banking up on Eltham and Main South roads; seventeen new joists had'been put in the Mangahume bridge, Eltham road, also a little new decking which was procured from the county yards. The approaches to the Mangahume bridge, Eltham road, being very narrow, he recommended extending the approach fences both ends, with posts and wire. Rahotu Riding (Northern) —All necessary work in regard to the double row of 3ft pipes that were authorised to take the place of the small bridge over the Tangahapu stream had been completed. He had also built a concrete wall under the southern, end of the Okahu bridge. This was a protection wall to save the road from always breaking in at the end of the bridge and acting for a pier as well. He had also completed the second 3ft pipe culvert north of Pungarehu, opposite Mr. F. Phillips' section, having put in a set of 14 pipes, making a road width of 35 feet, which was a very satisfactory piece of work. In the course' of a few days the third culvert, south of Xewall road, would be completed, which would be a big improvement in this riding. That portion of the Main South road between Rahotu and the'Oaonui bridge had required considerable attention in patching during the broken weather. There was a small culvert south of Newall road which required to be deepened opposite Manuel Dick's section. Manuel Dick was quite willing to pay for a set of 18in pipes if the Council would put them in, and he recommended that the Council accept his offer.

The bridge foreman reported:—Oeo bridge, Skeet road: This bridge was progressing very satisfactorily under the weather conditions. All the abutment worlc had been completed and a start made with the false work for the arch ring. The bridge was working out ,well within the estimate.

EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

Notification was received from the Public Works Department to the effect that the Government intended to considerably curtail the practice of handing over Government grants to local bodies for expenditure. The greater part of the road work would be undertaken by the Department. This did not afl'eet moneys already granted, and where specifications had been approved. Where money was provided on a £ for £ basis, except in the case of large bridges, the work would still be done by local authorities and also where definite promises had been given for assistance in the matter of metalling roads, such work would be entrusted to local'bodies as far as possible. The Whangarei County Council asked the Council to join them in protesting, as they considered that it was merely the thin edge of the, wedge to enable the Public Works Department to take full control of such expenditure in the future.

The Council did not consider that it could endorse the resolution, because it had always objected in the past to being saddled with the expenditure of Government grants, as it entailed the engineering expenses, etc., being met by the Council.

WTREMU ROAD GRANT. Tile clerk stated that lie had communicated with Mr. G. T. Murray, Redent Engineer, so as to ascertain the position in regard to the expenditure of the Wiremu road grant of £IOOO, plans and specifications of which were now being prepared, and received a reply that in the face of the Department's circular it was inadvisable to proceed with the moneys necessary for the purposes of the grant. Councillors considered that it was hard if the. settlers should lose this grant, after the Council had expended considerable money in preparing plans, etc. It was pointed out that this had been granted in MM-1915. The Council therefore decided to endeavor to obtain the expenditure of the grant, on the grounds that it was an old one. They admitted it wa« not advisable to press too hard for any new grants. THE ROADINfI PROBLEM. Or. Dudley considered that it was time the Council considered the question pi tW'JeaUDg. M«tal weuld nst stand

the motor traffic unless sealed. He also considered that an experiment should be made, when patching the road, of finishing the patch diagonally instead of straight. This would save considerable jar to cars, which would only strike the patch with one wheel. The chairman said that he was closely observing the question of tar-sealing. He was not quite satisfied with the results achieved in neighboring tounties. He understood that both Waimate and Taranaki were going to experiment witli a new system. He would carefully watch the latter, because on the Main South road it would have to withstand enor-* mous traffic. He admitted that some system would have to be adopted in the Egmont county, though good results could be obtained with good metal and good blinding. On the motion of Cr. Dudley, it was resolved to instruct the foremen to finish their patches diagonally as an experiment.

U£.o ROAD LOAN. The State Advances Department notified that the original ratepayers' consent in connection with the Oeo roid loan of £1475 had not reached the office, and the matter could not proceed until it was received. The secretary stated that he had communicited with the Waimate West County Council on the subject. GENERAL. The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in Charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department notified that there was no discharged soldier on the Department's employment wanted register suitable for the position of enginedriver.

The Public Trust Office notified payment to the Council's account of £1516 14s Cd. being advance of £1525 (less.expenses £8 as Cd) on account of the Egmont County Council's contribution to the new hospital at New Plymouth.

The Parihaka Road Board asked the Council to see that the Ngariki road was left by the county contractor when the boulder contract was finished in is good a state as before he started. A similar arrangement re Cape road was quite satisfactory.—To be referred to tile riding foreman to attend to. The chairman's action in letting- the gravel reserve to H. Lett for a term of five years at 10s a year, on condition that he fenced it and kept it clear of weeds, was iconfirmed. Complain wa.s received from the Bahotu foreman relative to excessive speed of one if the motor lorries on the road.— It was" decided to draw the attention of the owners to the matter. The Council also decided to obtain a copy ot the Taranaki County Council's by-laws on the speed limit, with a view to appointing a committee to draw up by-laws.

The eTiairman's action in letting contract to Coffey and Leatherby was confirmed. The deposit will be returned to Momona, who made a clerical error in submitting his tender. It wks decided to fix the dog tax at 2s 8d for cattle dogs and 10s for other dogs. Applications will be called for the position of dog-tax collector. Accounts amounting to £991 lis 9d were passed for payment.