EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1916, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Kgmont County Council was held at the Comity Office, Opunake, yesterday. Present: Crs. T. Harvey, W. R. Wright, S. Campbell, R. J. McNeill, M. J. Mcßeynohls, and Jas. Young, In the absence of the chairman (Cr. M. Flemingj, from wlio,m an apology was received, Cr. T. Harvey was voted to the chair.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Oeo Riding (Northern Division). —The staff had been engaged at general maintenance work on the Eltham, Oeo, Opunake, Stratford, Watino, Wirenui, and lviri Roads. The boulder stone contract on the Opnnake-Stratford Road had been completed, and a start made with the Oeo Road. With the two county hands he had assisted Mr. Clements to repair two unsafe culverts on the Kii'i Road. Oeo Riding (Southern Division). — The hands had been engaged on country work, except for two days employed, on bridge repairing. Contracts on the Pateki and Watino Roads had been completed. He recommended calling tenders for 750 yards of metal on the Main South Road, 300 yards Oeo, 300 yards Nopera, 150 yards Puketapu, and 100 yards Hone Road. A wooden culvert on the Patiki IToad required replacing by concrete pipes. Rahotu Riding (southern) and Opunake Riding.—The staff had been engaged at drain-cleaning on Eltham and Main South Roads, also cleaning out water-tables and banking-up and widening a corner on Eltham Road. A l'2in. culvert had been put in on Dudley's flat, and another one had been extended in readiness for metalling contract. 11l company with Cr. Mcßeynolds he inspected Maungahume bridge approach fences, and he had extended same. Grading and pipe-making were in progress. He had had great trouble in obtaining a horse and dray for work which was urgently needed,'and recommended a horse and dray of the county's own. He had repaired damage to side rails on Umuroa bridge, damaged by Mamona. Rahotu Riding (northern division). — The staff had been chiefly employed putting in pipe culverts authorised. The small bridges over a stream opposite Mr. F. Phillips' frontage, and also oil the Baily Road, had been dismantled, sets of 14-3'uin. pipes being put in as a substitute. While employed in filling in these pipe culverts he took into consideration the advantage in taking olf some of the sharp corners and cuttings for filling wherever it was necessary to work to advantage, being a big improvement to the road. He had also completed the 18in. pipe culvert opposite the Manuel Dux' frontage, for which Manuel bought the pipes. The culvert had been lowered Oft. fiin. The majority of the bridges in the riding had had a fair amount of attention, the Warea, Waiweranui and Ohiti bridges having used 1600 ft. of timber for repairs. While repairing these bridges he found that they were beginning to decay very fast, and in the near future would require new decking and stringers and joists. The majority of the tiiriber shows signs of decay very badly. Contract No, 252: Coffee and Leatherby were making good progress hauling out bouldcr-stone. He recommended a payment of 2s per yard on 1300 yards 'of boulder stone delivered on this contract,

Bridge Foreman (Oeo Bridge construction). —Since last report on this bridge the arch ring had been constructed and a start been made with the spandrill walls. This structure would be completed in a few weeks, weather permitting. He had inspected the Waiweranu. and found it in a very unsafe condition. He suggested moving the old structure on one side to carry traffic, while the new brdge was benig erected. He would submit as early as possible an estimate of the above bridge and details of moving the old structure. The Oeo bridge was taking a little longer time owing to the shortage of labor. At present he had very good men, and he asked if the Council would pay these men Is or 2s a day more as the case may be. It would 'be more profitable to pay a man what he was worth. He would not be able to procure these men after the Oeo bridge was completed unless they had an increase in wages.

TENDERS. The tender of C. McGregor, Rahotu, for -supply of 700 dog collars at Sd each was accepted. J. Geary was appointed dog-tax collector, at a fee of Is 3d for sporting dogs and 9d for cattle dogs, F. W. Phillips' tender at 8s per hundred for bridge timber at Pungareliu was accepted. The balance, some '2SOO ffot, will be sold at Newton King's next Rahotu sale.

PATRIOTIC FUNDS. ' Under date December 10, .T. W. W. McMillan, honorary secretary pro tem, wrote asking for information as to whom the Egmont County Council had elected to the executive of the Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association. Some discussion ensued as to the position of the county in the matter. Though individually, the councillors were subscribers to patriotic funds, the Council as a body was not. -Moreover, there was already an Egmont County Patriotic League, which had appointed two representatives. Cr. W. R. Wright, in moving that the letter lie on the table, considered that any representative appointed by tlie Council would 'be placed in an anomalous position. .C'r. Mcßevnolds seconded. Cr. McNeill moved an amendment that the Council appoint a representative. They had the power to do so. The patriotic funds would have to be Kept going as long-»as a wounded soldier or dependent was alive. Sooner or later he considered the fund would be made a national one. Cr. A onng seconded the amendment.. After further discussion the amendment was lost, on the casting vote of the chairman, and the matter was held over for further information.

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS. The Premier, in acknowledging a resolution urging that the War Pensions Act be amended to provide a definite allowance for the dependents of soldiers, stated that the representations made would receive careful tion. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., stated that it was hardly possible to provide by the State for the whole of the dependents. Probably, however, nearer relatives can be so provided for,'and he hoped this would he done. He considered that the New Zealand Act was more liberal than that provided by any other Government within the Dominions.

GENERAL. The Treasury forwarded a claim for £135 18s Bd, being half-year's interest oil £OO4O us 3d. The Parihaka Road Board was granted the use of the crushing plant for two days on the Ngariki Road. The Eltham County Council forwarded cheque for £l7O, being half-share of cost of Auroa Road culverts. Cr. R. J. McNeill was appointed to sign cheques, in the absence of the chairman and Cr. Dudley. 11. Lett wrote agreeing to rent gravel' reserve at Pungarehu for a term of 7 years on the Council's terms. The Geo foreman reported that a contractor was removing the stone wall around the gravel pit. The clerk's action in writing that the stone would have to be replaced was confirmed. The Minister for Public WoJks notified that lie hoped to be able to authorise expenditure for at any rate a portion of the Wirenui Road (Kiri-Ngariki Road) vote. It was decided to apply to the Government for lease of 8 acres of old railway reserve at Awatuna. j

Tenders will bo called for shingle at Waiweranni bridge. Settlors on the Werenui Road are to be instructed to remove all gates on the road within three months from date. Cr, McNeill stated that he was not satisfied with tho way the Skeet Road had been rolled.—Held over until a full meeting. Wages of bridge hands will be increased Is per day. The chairman, Crs. W. R. Wright and T. llarvey were appointed to arrange for site of new Waiweranui bridge. Foreman Newport was instructed to make a track at tile Waitotoroa bridge near Parihaka, with a view to straightening the road. Accounts amounting to £lo4' 9s 4d (general) and £39 8s 7d were passed tor payment.