TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1916, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

•MONTHLY MEETING. \ The Taranaki County Council inui, yesterday. l Present: Crs. J. S. Connett {chairman)/ A. E. Laurence, J. B. Simpson, W. Bimiie, C. Anrirws, D. McAllum, A. Morton, J. Brown, and J. Andrews. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. An account of the work done in the 'County during the past month was contained in the following summary of the foremen's reports:— CRUSHING PLANT. ■Driver Mackie: During the month I have crushed as follows:—Durham road depot, seven days, 492 yards; Maketawa road depot, seven days, 436 yards; a total of 928 yards. JIOA RIDING.

'Foreman Laurenco:—During the month 1 have, been assisting Foreman Mallon. The heavy rains washed out a considerable quantity of metal on the Manganui Hill on Tariki road .which I have repaired with metal from Manganui pit. Mr, Good is doing good work removing obstructions from watercourse at Rugby road.

Foreman Bennett:—Two places on lower eide of the Zig Zag slipped away, | consequently I had to bring the fence* in. This has curtailed the - width of road which looks dangerous. This is near the Saddle and the road will have to be widened by cutting into the solid papa. It would be advisable for Councillors to inspect this locality. Foreman Mallon:—My tiir.e has been taken up with the plant, and reinstalling Mr. A. Gamlin's entrance on the Mountain road is very steep, the traffic thereon is breaking the metal away and contracting the width of road. Foreman Heal:—l have scarified, recoated and rolled 4(i chains, on the Lepper road and 40 chains on tho Upland road. I have also repaired the decking of- Chain Bridge. The Waiwakailio Bridge needs new joists and deoking, and it Would bo advisable for tho inspector to have a look at it. ■ The chairman and Cr. Laurence were deputed to inspect tho Zig Zag. i The chairman said he would report On the work required at Mr, Gamlin's Entrance. MANGOREI RIDING. Foreman Batten :~During the month I have attended to tlie ordinary miscellaneous repairs and have Assisted Foreman Seal on Lepper and Upland roads with roller. Foreman Keast:—During the month the Kent and Albert roads broke up. The concrete wall on the bridge on the top end of Hill road is badly scoured out. Messrs.. Jordan and Baily require a few days' work done on top end of Hill road. They are willing -to assist with free labor. Eight six-inch pipes are required to reinstate the present log culvert before anything is done. There are no boulders out yet on Albert road. This metal is badlv needed.

Foreman Spencer:—During the month the culvert on top of Frankley road fell in. Along with Foreman Eva I effected repairs. If there is any difficulty with metal on my. length I am prepared to get- the boulders out provided I am supplied with gum boots. I estimate 1 V. Simons damage for November at £5 12s.

The chairman and Cr. Morton undertook to inspect Mangorei RidingHie inspector was instructed to report on the bridge at the top end of Hill road i It was decided to claim £5 12s from Mr. Simons for damage done to the road. OMATA RIDING. _ Foreman Seamark:—l have constructed 9 crusher site at Spotswood. I have tested Mr. Higgins place near Hurford Factory and found a good show of metal. I would like the chairman to have a laok. at it. Mr. Otto Iluse should be given notice to clear gorse on liis frontage on Waireka road as it is obstructing the drainage and road. Foreman Eva: —My time lias been taken up with usual maintenance work on the Frankley, Burrett and Elliot roads.

The chairman was deputod to report on the metal deposit near Hurford factory. - It was resolved to give Mr. Otto Huse notjee to clear gorse on his frontage on Waireka road.

OKATO RIDING Foieman Scfton:—Most of my time I have been engaged at usual repairs. I have put in Dili pipe culvert' on the Greenwood road, also lengthened a pipe culvert on Timarii road near Mr. Tiinds, and repaired approaehes«to bridge which were washed away near Captain Mace's gate. Foreman Mof-rath:—As directed I placed metal on Kiri road, otherwise I have been engaged at usual repairs. Foreman Meredith:—The Main road is fairly good, but the unmetalled portions of the ordinary roads are anytliing but 'satisfactory. I require a man for about 10 days to as: ist to pick up anil break boulder.' projecting on Upper Petone read.

Foreman Hayes:—My main road length is fair, hut the ordinary roads, arid particularly Puniho road, arc breaking up badly. I have to neglect wy roads 'to a certain extent in getting out stone We put in OJ days this month but have '(rot out about 200 yards. I am going or. with repairing my roads in-the meantime.' I have 'completed the culvert at Puniho junction. The. 'Stony bridge requires immediate attention. ; Mr. -11 McEldo'wiiey should be notified to remove obstructions placed in drain on tipper Puniho road. "It'was. decided to'engage an extra man to pick and break boulders. Foreman Hayes Was instructed to put the open crossing on' Saunder3 road in fair order, ' • "

' WAJTARA RIDING. Foreman J. Holmes:—My- time ha* been occupied with the usual repairs and assisting at Waiwakaiho bridge. T'oreman'F. Holmes: —I have been tin.ployed at general maintenance work and assisting at bridge. I formed, about 124 fhains of Colson road near A. Lock's. This formation requires eleven Sin pipes. Foreman : Giddy:—l. have delivered fight yards- of metal repairing Mountain »,nd Richmond roads, otherwise my lime has been taken up with usual repairs. Foreman Proud :~Dnriiig the month I have been carrying out the ordinary maintenance work and also assisted :it Waiwakaiho bridge. I require a man and two horses ami plough for about tvo days on King road. The chairman's action in putting a man on guard at the Waiwakaiho bridge during the last flood was confirmed. •The inspector was instructed lo examine the Waiwakaiho bridge to See whether further timbering was necessary. The Council agreed to place uine-mci i»i|'e* on Colson road.

INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Council's inspector (Mr. C. D. Grant) . reported -as follows:—r"From November 0 to the 18 I was engaged on the Waiwakaiho bridge. ,T have alio examined tlic Stony River bridge, Chain bridge, Leppor-Carrington road bridge and the Ngatora bridge, all of which. 1 have reported on. I have made 28 con-' erots slabs for the culverts of Egmont road. I have got all the danger signs made and painted, six! of them, and hope to get the other six painted on the next wet day. I have issued six licenses f:r the month of November to drivers of "vehicles. I have travelled over all the County roads to see that no stock was wandering at large."

CONDITION OP BRIDGES. The inspector also reported that he had examined -the bridges of the county. He found that the Ngatoro and Xgatoroiti bridges were in good order. The Ngatoronui .bridge required re-decking.. The arch at the southern end of the Maketawa 'bridge was being badly scoured away, and the concrete was very loose. Mr. Grant said the Stony River bridge at Okato was •nspected. One pier was badly scoured out. . .Tie suggested that repairs be effected to the chain bridge, and reported that the Leppcr-Carrington Road bridge was in need of attention.

Mr. Charles Baker, Alfred Road, Raimiro, wrote: "As one of the ratepayers in the Lepper-Carrington special rating district, I venture to draw your attention to the shaky condition of the Waiwakaiho bridge on the Lepper-Carring-ton Road, and the last big flood did not improve matters, large quantities of the river banks having been washed away, and the stability of the ' piers having been lessened. A report on the condi-, tion of the bridge by the Council's engineer would uliay.the anxiety oi the Alfred Road settlers, as it is our only outlet to the creamery. Brides, several hundreds of pqunds .night be saved by taking steps- to prevent, further damage." The inspector was instructed to confer with the Riding member.? in reference to the re-decking of the Kflhibt bridge and the requirements of the Stony River bridge. ®e wn's also instructed to carry out his suggestions with reference, to the chain . bridge, and, to make the necessary repairs to the Leppcr-Carriugton Road bridge. .. The Riding Councillors wove asked to. report on the condition of tie. Maketawa bridge. WAIWAKAIRO BRIDGE. " The Chairman 1 reported that Messrs. 'Palmer and Sladden.and the borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) had arranged to furnish a thorough report concerning the condition of tho Waiv kaiho bridge, and this would be submitted at the next meeting.

In connection with the Waiwakaiho River weir, the Public - Works Department reported, that the value of the tvork carried ou by the " contractor amounted to approximately £1450, and the Council was .asked to lodge a further contribution of, say, £4OO to the credit of the-Department at the I'ank. of New .Zealand. . It-was decided to ask the- Department to forwa/d further information regarding the Council's liability. ROADS IN MOA DISTRICT. Twenty-four ratepayer*, in the Moa district and Waitara West, with rateable property on Richmond, Wortley, Lincoln, and .York Roiids, wrote, statj ifig they were not in the habit of using County roads; and that the roa<ls alluded to were in urgent need of repair. Tho signatories requested thi Council to grant a subsidy for the repairs required. The matter would be dealt with by the Moa Board if the Council considered the request favorably. ' It was resolved to inform the petitioners that- the Council was not in a position to assist them. •SUTTON ROAD. Messrs. R. 0. Knapman and T. Hart, ratepayers on the Sutton Road, Omato, requested that three or four,chains of metal be laid on the hill from AlcKee's gate upwards.—Referred to'Cr MoAilum for a report. CROYDON ROAD. It was resolved to spend £2O in repairing Croydon Road.

DORSET KOAB / The following ratepayers wrote, stating tlier were prepared to pay to the Council the sums set opposite" their names for the purpose of metalling Dorset Road, from Pitt Road westwards towards .Smart Road, on condition that the Council found £2 for every pound subscribed: K. 0. Locke, £SO; A. Hale, .€25; N. fjowrie, £10; M. T. Nipiti, £U>; H. C. Sampson, £5; V. Davy, £5. —The Council decided to contribute £3 to every £2 subscribed. ACCIDENT INSURANCE. \ In connection with accident /insurance, the Council resolved that a statement of wages paid to all its employees for twelve months be prepared, the premium required being based on the amount of wages paler.

PERTH ROAD, OKATO. Mr. F. Sole, of Okato, waited on the Council, and stated that the settlers would find sufficient metal if the Council would crush and lay to chains- on the Perth Road. The settlers would also assist in the work.—The offer was accepted, and the Council decided to proceed with the work.

COLSOVS ItOAD. Messrs. J. Colson anil A. Locke waited oil the Council, aiul asked that money be spent on Colson's Road. Mr.. Colson said 12y s chains of road required metalling. It was estimated that the cost of the work was £(i(l, and the settlers concerned -agreed to pay half.—The Council decided to do the work required.

fEXDERS. The following tenders and oilers, were accepted:—W. Thomason's tender of is lid, with cost of crushing added, for pit metal a-t Atkinson's Depot; L. \lar~li's tender of fe for metal at Ohiin Bridge Depot: W. Thomason's tender of Ss for oO yards of metal, delivered at the s.'ileyards, Moa; \Y. Thomason's nll'er to lift boulders from Lepper Road, put them .through the crusher, and deliver the metal 011 the road, at (is, with cost of crushing added; A. Haskell's tender of 7s for metal at Smart Road. GENERAL.

Sir. SI. Jones wrote, stating that Tie had cut and burned refuse along Lis j land 011 Smart Road, in accordance with ( a request preferred by Sir. Bond, the 1 late overseer. The writer asked that Mr. Bond's recommendation that a ;

ptougli be put into use, and ft' sido-traek along the land for 20 chains be cut, be ■adopted.—The ohairman was requested to report on the matter. The Clerk of the Waitara West Road Board wrote, stilting that the Hoard consented to the merging of properties referred to in previous correspondence, 1 with the exception of section Xo. 121, Block 13, Waitara Survey District.— Received. The Moa Road Board intimated that' it was prepared to crush 140 yards of boulders at Kaimata Road for Swanson's Flat, provided the Council paid for the plant and driver at the rate of .■£3 per day, and find labor and cartage oi the coal.—Received. The Kaimata Co-operative Company thanked thet Council for permitting the company to lay water-pipes along the Junction Road «t Kaimata. It was proposed to ins-tal a 0000-gallon tank on Mr. Olds' property, and permission was asked to discharge an emergency overflow from this tank into tile watertable at the side of the road.—'Permission was granted, The Council decided to purchase a number of concrete posts for use as boundary marks. Jt was decided- to notify Messrs. L. Connett, W. Ogle, and J. McNeil to open up.the drains on their properties before the end- of January. The inspector'was instructed to erect a board, with revised toll charges, at the 'Buniho Road toll-gate. It was decided that the dog tax for 1017 be 2s fid for cattle dogs, and 10s, for all other dogs. ' Cr. Bilinie reported that a number of unlicensed motorists were running on the County roads. He .promised to band the names to the Council's in&pcctor. 'Accounts amounting to £043 l~s lid wcro passed for payment.