CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1916, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday. Present: Crs. S. M. Bower (chairman), R. T. Hicks, W. Old, H. M. Purdie, K. H. Piggott, and S. J. Kennington.

The engineer reported: Waihi Hiding.—The formation contract on the Inland North Road was nearing completion. An inspection proved that more than one route was available in obtaining access to the beach at Onaero, and that the best connecting point should be opposite the existing Ohanaga Road. Tikorangi Riding.—The forming \ip and grading of the Bertram! Road was completed, the machine having been transferred to the Tarata district.

Ngatimarn Riding.—lt was decided to enter Section 32, Block VI., Ngatimarn Survey District, the owner's consent having been obtained, for the purpose of deviating the road, and as being the least costly and most effective way of getting over the difficulty presented by the blocking of the tunnel and accumulation of timber, left after last year's floods. A small stringer bridge would be required, and arrangements had been made to that end. An inspection of the Matau low-level bridge on the Uruti-Matau Road that the recent fresh had exerted too severe a pressure, with the result that the bridge piles were somewhat out of plumb. To procure piles, drive same, and do other necessary work would cost about £55. Much more was possible, but both bridge and site were only of a temporary nature. The existence of this bridge acted as an efficient dam, and the supporters of similar structures on the Mangaoapa Road were courting fiftnre trouble. The contract for the MatauKiore bridge had been signed, and he had met Mr. Christensen and arranged all details with him in connection with the erection of the Mokau Bridge, Taramouka Road. Owing to delay he seeks to reduce his original offer to'the Council.

Uremii Riding.—Tlip gravelling on the Kaipikari Road had been completed. In tho township itself the work authorised on Ngakoti and Ngapopa streets had also heen finished, and in addition a portion of the footpaths had been covered. A lot of gravelling was still required here, but he proposed postponing this for next season and devoting some attention to the Main Road. A quantity of metal from the Okoke pit had been distributed. No progress had been made with the boulder contract. Work had commenced on the Piko Road extension contract. On the Nelson Road the parties, responsible for the damage had promised reparation. Mokau Riding—The metalling between the 35 and 3fi mile pegs, Mokau Road, had been proceeding satisfactorily. A section between the Mimi .School and the Gilbert Road was almost impassable last winter, and he requested authority to stand same at a cost of £25. Also some river gravel was available at a reasonable price, and would be required for maintenance during the approaching winter. The Okau Road required some additional assistance for repairs, and he had taken sections of Kiwi and Boar Creek bridge sites preliminary to preparing plans for new structures. Enquiries were being made in this locality for timber for repairs lo the Mangaonga bridge. On the Uruti Road the stone and fillings were ready to proceed with the metalling. On this road, and also on the Mangahia Road the grader had bien actively engaged. Tho contract for the additional supply of shell rock had been signed. On March 8, the Inglewood Borough Council notified that owing to the delays in starting metalling they were reluctantly compelled to cancel arrangements to supply engine power. He immediately made various enquiries and also advertised, but his efforts wore unsuccessful. Messrs. Anderson's representative had repaired the crusher, but as they could not secure an engine, he had to leave without giving the crusher a trial. On April 1, he had an. offer at Is fid per yard, but owing to the proximity of the meeting and the lateness of the season, decided to refer the matter to the whole Council. The foregoing st>nynent should prove a sufficient warranty for the Council ordering without delay engine power for forward delivery ney.t season. A medium light tractor for hauling purposes, and also a roller, would best suit the Council's purposes. Ou the Coast Road, Mimi to Tongaporutu, the bridges were now receiving attention, and the contractor at the Wai-iti had about 3DO yards of boulder-! at the depot. The sum of .e2.">S arrears due on Inst year's metalling expenditure has now been refunded to the Council. It was resolved thai ihe Council pay £2O towards the cost of the Makara bridge. The question of procuring an engine was held over until next meeting.

A DRAINAGE QUESTION. Messrs. Weston and Woston wrote that they had been consulted by Mr. C W. Bryan in rofe-e'ie." to the Council's refusal to remove weeds and other obstructions from the drain along the road in front of his property at Uruti. They drew the Council's attention to Section (SO of the Land Drainage Act, 1008, and Section 230 of the Public Works Act, lflOS, both of which imposed on the Council a duty to keep the drain open. They thought that the Council would realise, on giving the matter further consideration, that their client's request was a reasonable one and should be accede.', to, more especially as he had offered to do half the work at his own expense. * The engineer stated that he had interviewed Mr. Bryan, who was' willing to keep the drain open for £2 per annum. Cr. Piggott considered that it was not. a natural watercourse. The Council should be chary of creating a precedent. The drain had not been put in for drainage purposes, but principally to provide filling for the road. A much smaller drain would carry the water. The chairman considered that it was the duty of the Council to keep the drain open, and after further discussion the matter was left in the hands of the engineer to attend to. TDK HOSPITAL RATE. The acting-secretary of the Tjiranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, notified that the chairman had given notice of motion to move at the annual meeting of the Board that a rate of Is 3d in the £ be struck on the local eontribtory authorities to make up the estimated deficiency for Hospital and Charitable Aid Board purposes for the year 1916Ml 7. A statement showed that the estimated expenditure was .£IB,OOO and the estimated income .-£BB7O 5s 7d, leaving a deficiency of £9120 14s sd. This would beinade up as follows: Levy and contributory authorities £4047 10s, subsid v from Government, £4473 4 S 5d (19s M :n the £>

Members expressed surprise at the enormous upkeep, but there was no discussion, the chairman remarking that the amount had to be paid. TONGAPORUTU WHARF. The Minister of Marine asked whether the Council was willing to have the Tongaporutu wharf vested in it, as the. local body for the district. If so, the Council were-asked to submit a scale of the dues which it proposed to charge, so that they might be authorised in the vesting order. It was also pointed out that the wharf would require considerable repairs. Cr. Hicks questioned if the dues would pay for collection. Cr. Piggott moved that the Council decline to take the wharf over. The chairman thought that that was too sudden a method of dealing with tho matter. That wharf was outlet for a large number of big,ratepayers. If it cost £SO to repair, it would'be money well spent. Ships ran in once a fortnight, and there would difficulty in arranging the collection of dues. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr. Kennington then moved that the Couniil are willing to take over the Tongaporutu wharf, all moneys expended on the wharf to be debited to the Mokau riding, and. all dues received to be credited to the same riding, and that the engineer submit a scale of dues. The engineer suggested that the Government should be asked to submit plans of the wharf, and estimates of the cost of repairs, and also be asked to provide a proportion of the money. This was finally decided upon, OTAOAROA ROAD. Messrs. H. Foreman, W. Cole, W. Foreman, and F. Sarten waited on the Council and asked that about, 10 chains of metalling should be done on a hill that was impassable for wheel traffic in winter time. The engineer estimated that the cost would be £!) per chain. Cr. Hicks asked if the settlers interested would be prepared to assist, and Cr. Kennington suggested the collection of a separate rate. Members of the deputation favored straight-out giving. They did not expect anything done this year, but were getting in early, so that something could be done next spring. It was decided that the engineer look into the matter and that meanwhile the deputation ascertain what assistance the settlers were prepared to give. Mr. E, Sarten promised any metal on his property free of royalty. INLAND NORTH ROAD.

Messr?. J. Hine, J. McKenzie and Matthews asked that a hill on the Inland North Road should bo metalled with Onaero metal. They pointed out that when they made this request some previously the engineer said that it was useless to metal the Mil until it had been graded. ■ This had since been done and a good job had been made. The Council resolved to leave the natter in tin; hands of the engineer to arrange with the contractor to metal the hill and cutting. Messrs. J. Whitehead and F. Sarten asked that a low level bridge should be erected over the Onaero River to give access along the Inland North ifoad .from Tikorangi to Ureimi. They pointed out that the crossing they had been using had collapsed, They were prepared to liolp up to .£2O. Cr. Piggntt said that when a bridge a little lower down was erected there would be no need for the bridge asked for. The engineer was instructed to report. METALLING CONTRACTS. Mr. H. Jones, contractor, waited on the Council in connection with nis metalling contract. He pointed out that he had half the metal on the road and the balance was spalled and had been waiting for three months to he put through the crusher. It was not his fault that the Council had not supplied the crusher. He, asked that his deposit of £SO should he refunded,— Agreed to. The chairman, referring to the difficulty of hiring an engine; said that the Council would have to consider purchasing one. Mr. R. Tate asked Jie Council for the use of the crusher next week to. finish his borough metalling contract. He could get the use of an engine off tho wharf. The engineer stated,that the crusher ( was still in Hie hand of Anderson's, Ltd., who had lepaired it and had to give the Council a trial before it was taken over. It was decided to agree to Mr. Tate's request, as soon as the crusher was available. Mr. Tate stated that as there had been very little stone showing on the Uremii beach, he had been unable In commence that contract. He understood that another contractor had been given authority to get stone from that beach. It was stated that no one else had been giv.?n authority to obtain stones for the Council. GENERAL. Mr. Claude Silby wrote that he was about to drain 30 chains of swamp land, but as the Main Road would block the flow of water, he asked the Council to supply a set of fifteen-inch pipes to place under the road. He agreed to find the necessary labor and also to reinstate the road in good order. —The engineer to report. The Public Works Department notified payment to the Council's account of .C2")S 14s (Id in respect of work done under the grant for the Mimi-Mokau Road.

Account- iunomitin;* to £2212 17s IOcA were passed fur payment.