CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY .MEETING. 'L'he ordinary meeting of the Clilton County Council was held at Waitara 011 Friday, when there were present Crs. S. M. Bower (chairman), R. T. Ilicka, H. Sander, R. H. Pigott, and S. J Kensington. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. W. Old 011 account of ill-health. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows: —. Waihi Riding.—The formation contract on the Inland North lioad has been satisfactorily completed, and if the weather permits it will be metalled when the teams are available. An early opportunity will be taken to re-grade the Olianga Hill. Tikorangi Riding.—The work of forming the road giving Cole access is now in operation, and it is expected that the metal for repairs to the Ngatimaru road will receive early attention. The regrading of Foreman's hill on the Otaraoa road will be attended to in the near future.

Ngatimaru Riding—The grader has been active on various roads at Tarata, and is now ,located at Matau. A contract has been let for the supply and delivery of timber for repairs to the Waitara low-level bridge, and this work will be put on hand as soon as it is on the site. The work on the Matau-Kiore road is progressing satisfactorily, and during the present month the major part of the slips will have been removed. The contract for the bridge at the wash-out has been signed and the timber ordered; in addition, the timber for the bridge at Wallace's has already been squared, and will be put on the .site without delay. Urenui Riding.—The metal repairs to the Main Road have been proceeding satisfactorily. Also further supplies have 'been carted out from the new Okoke pit. The formation contract on the Piko road has been proceeding slowly. The Nelson, Mataro, Kaka, and other roads in this riding have been receiving attention. Mokau Riding.—Repairs have been effected on the bridges on the coast road (iPukearuhe to Tongaporutu), and arrangements are in hand to procure puriri to re-build in a more durable timber Hie earthwork in connection with the Pukearuhe metalling loan has , commenced, and further metal supplies have ' been deposited at the depot. Foreman Selby has been appointed to the vacancy caused by the late foreman's enlistment, and he has been so busy with the various works requiring attention that I have arranged with the owner of Section 25, Block XI, Mimi, to clean out the road mains, allowing him three days for this purpose. The contractors for the Mimi road shell rock have commenced operations in the old pit. It is proposed to re-build Addenbrook's bridge on the Druti rdad, and timber for this purpose is already to hand. Two local engines are offered for sale to the Council, and I am submitting details and prices. I was instructed to submit the annual application for grants-in-aid for consideration at this meeting, but the Public Works Department wrote urging that Sail lists be sent in without delay. I therefore submitted the following sched-ule:—Mimi-Mokan £2OOO, Tangitu £1250, Otaiaoa £250, Piko £250, Kaipikari ,€250, Paraninihi £l3O, Autawa £3oo—total, £4450. The Waitara Borough Council had the use >f the county crusher since the replacements were effected, and crushed stone which would quite satisfy me if I could obtain the same sample for the county. The report was adopted.

GENERAL, Copy of a circular letter from tlie Taicri County Council, enclosing resolution petitioning the Government to limit the powers 'of municipalities to erect tollgates, which has already been published, was received. On the motion of Crs. Kennington and iPigott it was resolved to support the resolution. Several applications were rocfeived for the position of bridge foreman, and after some discussion the matter was left in the hands of the engineer, with power to act, the salary not to exceed £5 per week. The engineer stated that a number of bridges throughout the' county required urgent attention, and several of them required re-building. The North Taranaki Dairy Company, on the application of Mr. T. Buchanan, were granted permission to drain through the Couneil'9 property. Messrs G. F. Shepherd and Garbutt, representing Messrs Booth and McDonald, waited on tlie Council in connection with the purchase of a "oiler. After some discussion it was decided to purchase an Austin motor road roller and scarifier, subject to six months' trial. Accounts amounting to £652 8s lOd were passed for payment. \