CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1916, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING'. The ordinary .nueting of the Clifton County Council was held at .Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. A. if. Bower (chairman), H. T. Hicks, H. M. Purdie, Wm. Old. If. Sander, S J. Kennington, and R. H. Pigott. EXO INKER'S REPORT. j Mr. C. F. Dowsett (engineer) reported as follows: Wai'hi Riding.—Arrangements had been made for the grader to operate in the Riding on August 15 and 10, but being off duty be was unable to explain the delay. At Onaero depot over 100 yards of boulders had been carted and stacked, but the other contracts; had been in. abeyance. Tikorangi Riding.—The maintenance and repairs bad been proceeding as usual, but more activity could be shown in additional quarrying, in view of the condition of some roads. Xgatimaru Riding.—On the M'atauKiore road the slips were now all cleared and in a few dayr the widened points would be completed. The small -bridge by Wallace's was under construction, and would shortly be completed. The bridge at the gorge, however, was still awaiting the arrival of timber, and lie -was afraid that this difficulty would he a real one. The Autaws. tunnel was being proceeded with. Urenui Riding.—Quarrying had been proceeding as usual for the Main Road. Alf. Hutehen having made an application for further improvement, he had offered him the Okoke position., but HutChen was unable, immediately to resume work. He suggested that the timber for the pound .should be used for the protective fencing at Urenui reserve. Ho 'had been I unable to inspect the culvert at Urenui. I Mokau Riding.—Quarrying was proceeding satisfactorily at Uruti. IPipes sent out to comply with Mr. Mcj AlUun's request for a culvert. Protec- ! tive repairs would soon be needed for the Uruti bridge approaches. The foreman was allowed a week's work on the Gilbert Road, subject to complying with the Council's requirements. , He- reported that he had appointed Mr. P. 0. Smith, of New Plymouth, as bridge foreman. The Engineer'.! report was adopted, with the exception of the clause referring to the pound timber, which, it Was pointed out, belonged to Mr. A. H. Halcombe, who had allowed the Council the use of the land.

A SETTLER'S COMPLAINT Mr. \V. Gordon Cliassford reminded the Council that the old main north road was still in existence, and that he bad paid rates, amounting now to £OO per annum, for over twenty years and during that time nothing had been done. Tie heard that the Council had let a metalling contract last year and gave the contractor the rest of 'his natural life to finish. 'His children could not get to school, tiie road being so bad. The road should have been metalled twenty years ago, and because they had not a member on the Council from that road they" were. imposed on.—Received. ROAD DEVIATION: The Survey Department notified that it was reported that the Mangamaeho Road, near Section 5, Block I; Upper \Vaittira y had not been formed on its original surveyed positibn. Information was asked as to'.how this came about, the length of time the road had been in use, and whethei any public money bad bc6n expended thereon—lt was resolved to inform the Department that the first surveyed roau crossed Mangainucho Road," and the road -was deviated to avoid a bridge. The old road was given as compensation.

TOXCIAPORUTU WHARF The secretary for Marine wrote in reply to the 'Council's letter re the Tongaporutu wharf that as regards the engineer's statement that an expenditure of £ls would make the Wharf last another year but that he did not recommend the expenditure, he (the secretary) had been directed to state that in view of tin. necessity for economy at the present time the Department was. not in a position to make a grant for a new wharf, and be would therefore be glad to be advised whether the Council "could arrange to have the repairs tarried out, and the matter of providing for. a new structure would be considered later on. THE MOKAU RIVER. Hon. Robert McNab (Minister of Marine) forwarded a copy of supplementary order paper, containing a clause which was included in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill as passed, authorising the Mokau Harbor Board to carry out certain improvement works in the -Mokau river, and constructing a special rating district for the purpose of securing the cost of construction of such uvorks. , In a further letter he stated that as the legislation was now placed on the statute book he presumed that the parties concerned contemplated taking steps at an early date to give effect to it.. In order to prevent misundcrstandiu«, he suggested that nothing should be°'done until the terms of the arrangement had'been reduced to writing, so that if they could not come to an agreement on that point the status quo might remain undisturbed and the legislation removed from the statute boo!: next year without the position being prejudiced in any way. As he understood it, the arrangement was that the Marino Department was to provide £7.)0 this year, and if the engineer's estimate was 'at fault, and the sum lie mentioned was unable to do the work lie set out for it, be would be prepared to consider a further sum next year. The absolute promise that tin. money would he available only related to the £750, but there ■was a promise on his part, on the above contingency, to see if he could get some further assistance. Resolved that the Council is satisfied that the letter eonv.-tly describes the terms of the arrangement. OIIAXfIA t ;oad. Four ratepayers on the Ohanga Road wrote objecting to the carters depositing stone on'the road for crushing purposes. They pointed out that there was insufficient, room for the work to be carried on without being a danger to the public. Cr. Purdie said it was clearly understood that the boulders should not be put on the road. . The engineer stated he had given instructions that the boulders should be placed in the paddock. GEXERAU The Public Works Department notified payment to the Council's account of £43 on account of Piko Road formation. The cbaiuan and Ci. Pieott yfere

authorised to sign agreement ro Okokty Road Reserve lease. The matter 61' fencing tlic gravel re* serve at Onacro was left in the haadd of Cr. Purdie. and tin; engineer. The secretary of tins Taranaki Distrieli Law Society uotilied that lie lind bcea. instructed to circularise practitioners re-, questing them to observe the wish of' the Valuer-General that notices of sale' should be sent to the clerk oi the local 'body for transmission to him. The experience of members of the Society was that this was being done at the present' time. The Uruti surfaceman forwarded the. names of seven settlers whoso horses, cows, or pigs had beer wandering on the road. The county solicitor will be instructed to take proceedings against). them. The Postal Department notified that there was a Jefleiency on tin /ear's working of the Kgatamiro telephone oU lice amounting to £lO 19s fld. The Council's share of this was £3 13s 2d. The Forestry Department notified that provision already existed for giving expert advice to farmers in connection with the planting of shelter trees and making the inspections recommended* It also stated that this year's supply of trees was exhausted. ; A special order making a special rata 1 - of l's-8d in the £ over the Tangitu" rating area, to cover interest on a loaa : oi £2OOO. was confirmed. ; Accounts amounting to '£333 17a 2$ were passed for payment.