CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1917, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held nt Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. I!. H. Pigott (chairman). R. T. Hicks, H. M. Pin-die, W. Old, A. M. Bower, and 11. Sander.

ENGINEER'S REPORI The Engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows: A\aihi Riding.'—Great inconvenience and delay has been caused through the pulley not arriving until December 29; metalling contracts have in consequence been put back fully a month. Scarifying and rolling have been carried out in the meantime, and crushing is now expected to proceed. The toll collector resigned during the month, and Hime has been installed in the position. When teams are available it is intended to metal the hill ,on the Inland North Road. I regret to report that Foreman Hamilton has resigned his position. Tikorangi Riding.—Breaking has been proceeding slowly in Freelings pit. ' The open channels on the Ngatimaru Road are being replaced with concrete pipes. The application dealing with the improvement to the Waipapa road would, if given effect to, cost about. £lO to complete, 111 addition to the metal supplied gratis, but the Council cannot entertain paying double royalty. Tenders close to-day for the Otaraoa road metalling. Ngatimaru Riding.—The new bridge 011 the Matau-Kiore road has been satisfactorily completed, and wheeled traffic has been resumed, aftei "a suspension of many months. A further sum of £SO has been authorised for widening points, leaving a balance of £132 to be expended when labor is available. The claim in respect of the work already completed has been sent forward. The' grader is now in commission at Matau, and towards the end of the month will be transferred to Tarata.

Uremii Riding— Quarrying is proceeding- in the Okoke pit, subject to an increase in priee per cubic yard. Repairs have been effected to the Kahangamoa bridge. When teams are released at Waihi tliey will proceeed to quarry grave! for the Moerangi Road The grader, now working at Uruti, will be available shortly, and be transferred to the Kaipikari and other roads in that locality. On the Piko road a further sum has been authorised, and work will proceed when a?snilable. contractor can be obtained. The application for the closure of the Nelson road is receiving attention. Repairs have been effected to the Urenui bridge. Mokau Riding.—Quarrying has been proceeding at the ahellroek race. The Unil.i bridge approaches have been satisfactorily completed and repairs have been effected to the Mangainaeho bridge. The concrete culvert at Rea's will now receive attention. Work lina been laid off for the metalling between the 35 and 30 mile peg, Mokau .road, and levels and grades determined for the formation. J.evels have also been taken ami sections prepared for tlie improvemen between the 30 and 31 mile pegs. The. matter of tljo Mangamaeho deviation is being attended to. Work lias been proceeding in connection with the Wai-iti metalling contract, and the best part, of 4000 yards are now in sight. Apart from general maintenance there are no less than 54 different items of works either on hand or required to be carried out at the present time, including formation, metalling, culvert construction, bridge repairs, bridge construction, deviations, and surveys, and the scarcity of labor is being keenly felt, with no immediate prospect of relief.

HEAVY MOTOR TRAFFIC, The Ohineinuri County Council asked whether, in view of the vast increase, in motor traffic throughout the Dominion, and particularly of the heavier class of vehicles, such, as lorries, the Council has taken any. steps to provide for the abnormal wear and tear caused to the county roads by this traffic, either by passing l a special by-law imposing some form of motor-tax or otherwise. To bo informed that no special tax is imposed, but that the Council is attempting to meet the difficulty by the toll charges. WILSON ROAD,

In connection with the closing of Wilson Road, Mr. E. G. Bleakley Wrote to the effect that it had been arranged some years ago that, if wanted, it should be at Mr. Greenwood's expense. He also wrote re the'", condition of the Avenue Road, on which he had done considerable work, and, asked that certain repairs, which would not very much, I should be carried out. The chairman considered that Mr. Bleakley had practically no standing in connection with the closing of Wilson Road, and that the Council was quite justified in going on with it, as all interested ratepayers had agreed to the closing. The Council considered that Mr. Greenwood had a right In make an outlet from his property $o the Avenue Road Left in the hands of the chairman. DELAYED CONTRACTS. On behalf of Messrs Radclifle and Jones, Mr. Bennett (Roy and Nicholson) addressed the Council on matters pertaining to the Uruti metalling contract. It was pointed out that through not being able to work the crusher, the first contract had not been finished, and wages, which in December, 101 o, were lis, were now 14s per day. They asked for an allowance for this, as it was not their fault that the machine was not available. They also wished for an allowance as a result of having to do hand knapping. The contractors further wished to be allowed to go on with the No. 2 contract (quarrying) instead of completing No. 1, Uruti Road metalling. The engineer contended that it was neeessa.ry to get on with No. 1' contract, so that the arranged itinerary should not be upset, and urther that the road was not ready for No. 2 contract.

O. Bower moved and Cr. Sander seconded that the Council proceed with the laying down of metal already out. The engineer suggested that tile metal already quarried should be laid down and that the contractors should proceed with the road formation for' the othei job. After a long discussion, it was resolved to relieve the contractors of the immediate necessity of going on with the CJniti Road metalling, provided) they gave all possible assistance with the road preparation for the other contract. The chairman and engineer were authorised to arrange the matter of wages. ' GENERAL. ' Mr C. W. Bryan', XJr.uti, wrote stating that the drain in front of 'his place was sadly in need of cleaning out. He asked the Council to put some one on to do the work* or. as arranged pi;evious)v,

to al'ow him £2 to do it. To be informed that the Council hud already allowed him £2. Mr.. J. P.'Downey, Inspector of Mines and Quarries, notified that he had been instructed to make an inspection of all quarries throughout the county, whether working or not. ; The matter of the purchase of a horse and dray for the Mokau llidinu was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer. The chairman and Cr. Bower were authorised to sign the declaration in connection with the deviation of the North lload (Pukenrulio district). The Okoke gravel reserve is to be offered for lease for seven years The engineer is to call for tenders for sandstoning 15 chains of the Okau Road. Accounts 'amounting to £lOBl 18s Sd were passed for payment.