CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1916, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly mooting of the above | Council was held at Waitara yesterday. jj Present: Crs. A. M. P.owor (chairman). II 11. Purdio, 11. T. Hieks, W. Old, R. 11. Pigott, and H. Sander. The Public Works Department ad- | vised remittance of £2O on account of ' Kiwi Road maintenance work.—Received. i E. C. Hushes, on behalf of Mrs. A. E. McKay, requested the Council to abate. the nuisance, that had existed throughout the winter in front of her residence at Urenui. The road had been' allowed to become hollow, so that the water ac- | cumulated, and it was impossible to i reach the house without making a long detour.—This letter evoked discussion, very free opinions being expressed as to the state of the road, especially that portion leading to Newton K .i»'s saleyards. Finally the matter was left to the Engineer and Cr. Pigott to attend to. The Engineer was instructed to report on the possibility of puttin" a culvert under the installed road at Jio Uruti store. C. Sclby, TTruti. complained of the had state of the Gilbert Road, and asked that a man should be put on for a fortnight.—The Engineer was authorised to have the road repaired. Thomas Child, toll-house keeper at Waihi. writing on July 17, said: "Car No. CF3S has just passed through the • gates. He threw out the toll, and, as I could not find it. I stuck him up on his return, when he refused to pay, and also gave me a lot of abuse. I shall expect you to take action against this man at once."

The Engineer stated that lie had informed Childs he could close the gate on anybody. The practice of just throwing out a coin was far too common. Councillors agreed, and, on the proposition of Crs. Hicks and Sander, it was decided to write the driver of the car to the effect that unless lie paid the due toll proceedings would be taken. IT. H. Sharp. Resident Engineer, Stratford, advised that authority for the Kiore to Matau Road could not be issued at present. Mr. Sharp also advised, on August 1. that authority for £514 ()s lid, for the Mimi-Mokau Road, had been issued, and this sum, together with a smail unexpended balance from last year, was now available.—lt was resolved that the money be expended in carting metal and crushing same from the Uruti tip. <'r. Pigott moved, and Cr. Sander seconded, and it was carried, that in pursuance of the powers invested in the Council, and with the consent of the Tangitu special rating area, as testified by a petition signed by not less than threequarters of the ratepayers of the said district, the Council authorise the raising of a loan of £2OOO for the construction of the Tangitu tunnel and a deviation of the Uruti Road. The loan to be secured by a special rate to he levied over the Tangitu special rating area. EXCIXEER'S REPORT. The Engineer reported: Waihi Riding.—Various portions of the main road require breaking up and re-surfacing, as their condition is getting very bad. Of the four contracts in hand in this Riding, one only, namely the haulage of metal at Onaero, has received any attention. The foreman, having lost his horse over the cliff into the gravel pit. requests that the pit be fenced. The distance is about 18 chains, and for the class of fence required 1 estimate tiie cost at £l3, without labor.

Tikorangi Riding—Metal repairs liave been proceeding along tlie various roads. Imt in quite hisufficiciit quantities,, and breaking is still proceeding for tins purpose. Contract repairs and matters of sencra). importance have been attended to. Xgatimaru Riding.—lnstructions have been issued with reference to obtaining tank for county cottage at Tarata. Sir. Christiansen was interviewed and /erbai instructions given with respect to bridge giving access to his holding. The Otaraoa Road, from the tunnel to Tarata, is in a disgraceful condition owing to excessive cattle traffic. The tunnel on the Autawa road will be proceeded with. Various sets of pipes have replaced wonder culverts on the Junction Road saddle. The repairs to the Waitara low level biidge are about completed. I regret my plans were not adhered to, but insufficient plant, shortage of labor, and other circumstances must be quoted as responsible for the alterations. The formation between the low level bridges on this road requires attention, and the foreman has been instructed to improve 'samel on the Matau-Kiore Road. The small bridge at Wallace's will be commenced immediately on the arrival of the balance of the timber, also the larger structure at the wash-out, which is still being held up owing to the non- | arrival of the Australian supplies. The I settlers' party is now engaged, upon widening the points which have received an addition by another small subsidence. Urenui Riding—The gravel on the main road is expensive by reason of its requiring continual attention .11 replacing it in position. I hope to detach a man shortly to do all thework necessary on the Ma'taro Road. I have been unsuccessful as vet in obtaining a suitable man tor the Okoke district, and in the meantime the settlers themselves a.re performing the usual maintenance work. Quarrying is still proceeding in the Okoke pit, and gravel has been freely distributed between mile pegs 21 and 24. The boulder contract on the Urenui foreshore has received additions during the past month, but the progress is nothing like adequate for requirements. Mokau Hiding.—The contractors for supplying shell cock are proceeding satisfactorily, and appearances are such that they can duplicate their quantity if required. The gate for the I'ruti Road metal pit is awaiting delivery. The patching of burnt papa has received attention, and metal repairs are now proceeding. 1 propose continuing the new mctaf right on from Sutton's to connect witli «|ie section lately put down; and for this purpose shall be taking levels for re-grading and- preparing an early contract, and" I desire to know whether the Council has other views as to its disposition. Pipes were forwarded to the Okau Road and explosives to the Hutiwai Road. On the hikearulio Road, two small sections of the permanent metal have been laid down, consequently 110 fresh boulder supplies have been recovered from the Wai-iti foreshore during the month.

Thirds amounting to £l5O 3s have been approved and a voucher will shortly be passed for payment to the Council. ' A circuhu letter from the chairman of the Recruiting Board with reference to the checking and compiling of the military roll was read. On the motion of Crs. Pigott and Sander it was carried that the rate be

the same as last year, namely, I%J. Cr. Pigott moved that the Council surrender the unexpired term of lease from Mr. Ualcombe of the area that lias been used as a pound reserve at Urenui.— Seconded by Cr. Purdit and carried. The Engineer was authorised to procure, a belt for the crushing machine. The pay-sheet, amounting to JC79I 2s MM, was passed, and the Council adjourned.