CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1917, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

I ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council wa sheld at Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. R. H. IPigott (chairman), R. T. Hicks, 11. M. 'Purdie, W. "Old, A. M. Bower, and S. .T. Kennington, Leave of absence was granted to Cr. H. Sander. ENGINEER'S RID PORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows; Waihi Riding.—The boulders at the Waipapa and Epiha Road depots have been crushed, laid down, and rolled, and the plant has porceeded to Uruti. The size of the metal is a great improvement on that hitherto crushed. I have been unsuccessful so far in obtaining a foreman for this Riding. This is unfortunate, as the main road requires constant attention. I anticipate metalling the Inland North Road this month if labor is obtainable.

Tikorangi Riding.—Owing to the temporary transfer of the Riding foreman to Waihi, no maintenance ivork ha<;. been performed lately. The boulder contract is proceeding slowly, and the grader will be available towards tho end of February.

Ngatimaru Riding.—l have been unable to arrange about any metalling contracts on the Junction Road, and any work of this nature will require to he done hy day labor. The roads are being gradually cleared of slips, and repairs are proceeding with extra assistance where required. The graderhas been active at Matau, and will proceed id Tarata next week. The low-level bridge over the Matau Creek, near Simons', was inspected, and wing approaches and protective work are necessary to keep this bridge open. Suitable labor can be obtained if authority is granted. The Taramoukou bridge was inspected, and has been completed to instructions, but the Council's obligations in this connection have been already met. I regret that the Riding foreman has tendered his resignation, to take effect in a fortnight. The contractor for the MatauKiore bridge an allowance for the increased cost -of material after the contract had been let. This is worthy of consideration. Urenui Riding—The metalling on the Moerangi Road has now commenced, and will continue until completion. On the Okoke Road about 400 yards of gravel have been put down, but owing to the damage caused to the roads by the teams, I have suspended work here in the meantime, and transferred the drays to Uruti. The formation on the Upper Piko Road has been let at a satisfactory figure; also, arrangements were made for the eerction of a stringer bridge, to :l>e charged to thirds' account. The formation giving access to Whakapaki Street, Urerui, lias, been completed. Mokau Riding.—The work of forming up between the 35 and 36-mile peg on the Mokau Road has been proceeding with vigor, and the road is now ready to receive the metal, whilst all bridges and Hood-openings have been strengthened. Crushing will commence this week, and the output will be determined by the teams available, he work of excavating for the concrete flood-opening is proceeding satisfactorily. On the Pukearuhe Road the procuration of metal is being proceeded with, the contractor operating at the Mimi end during the month, whilst the roadman is re-grading the hilly portion near Sorensen's. The stringers for the_ Waikaramarama bridge are now adjacent to the site, and erection will take place when the bridge party are available.

URUTI ROAD CONTRACT. Messrs. F. L. Roves, IT. <T. Addonbrooke, J. Murray, K. .T. Nieholls, D. S. Musker, R. R. Alpe, A. J. Miller, E. Guscott, C. 11. Barnett, Kirton Broa., and W. Dowd, ratepayers on the Uruti Road, forwarded a petition, protesting against wliat lliey considered an injustice, inasmuch as the completion of contract Xo. 1 for the Uruti Road had been passed over, to enable the contractor to proceed with the Xo. 2 contract on the* Main Road. Through circumstances arising which prevented the completion of contract No. 1, nearly two years ago, they had been caused great inconvenience. They had been paying a special rate for tins road for two years, and No. 1 contract was let in the year IAI4, and contract No. 2 in 1!>10. They considered themselves unfairly treated. However, they fully realised that since the last Council meeting arrangements had been made for carrying out the Main Road contract at onee, hut at the same, time would like an assurance that the 'Uruti Road contract would be proceeded with immediately after the completion of contract No. 2. It was resolved to inform petitioners that the Council proposed to act as thev desired.

THE AVENUE ROAD. Mr. E. G. Bleakley wrote that he saw by the newspapers that it had been said that he hail no interest in that road, but he pointed out that this was his road to Kaipikari. He also asked whether the Council or Mr. Greenwood were responsible for the damage that had been done on the road, and the state that it had been in for theilast two seasons, and likely to be for the next two. The engineer had given him to -understand that Mr. Greenwood was responsible, and that the Council had left the work in his hands. He also understood that Mr. Greenwood would do tilt work if he knew whiit was required. The writer considered that there was no reason 'why the work should have been left so long, as it could have been done at no expense to the Council, and also without making the usual winter mud that the Clifton Countv Council is so good at. Mr. Bleaklev is to be informed that the matter will receive attention. GEXERAI; Mr. Dowman's application for an increase on the Matau-Kiori contract was allowed to the extent of £2.5, to cover increased cost of freight,' etc. The engineer was authorised to pay the expenses of taking the Native recently injured at Purangi to the New Plymouth Hospital. Mr. \Y. V. Bowman, of Matau, wrote, complaining of some working bullocks that had been grazing on tlie MatauKiore Road during the past six months, and were a nuisance to everyone on the vond.—lt was resolved to take legal proceedings against the owner. Mr. C. \V. Bryan, of Uniti, wrote, asking the Council if they would again allow"liim £2, as he understood was promised annually, to get the drain in front of his place cleaned out, as was done last year, or would they put a man on to do tiie work. Mr. Bryan stated he had done tUe work at his own. expense

for the past eight years. The amount allowed last year did not -compensate him for the work, as it took five, days' labor to clean the ditch, as' well as other work, clearing slips, but he was satisfied with ,G 2 as the Council's share.—Resolved to inform Mr. Bryan that no agreement was made to pay him £2 annually.

The Public Works Department notified payment to the Council's account of :E4o(i, prevention and restoration of .flood damage (Matan-Kiore), and .£4-22 on account of the Gorge bridge, same road. Accounts amounting to £lOlO 18s lid were passed for payment.