TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1917, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting o£ the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday, when there were present: Crs. J. Andrews, _C. Andrews, D. McAllum, J. R. Hill, W l . Binnie, A. E. Laurence and J. E. Simpson. In the absence of the chairman (Cr. ■I. Connett) on the grand jury at the Supreme Court Cr. .T. Andrews >wns voted to the chair. Cr. J. K. Hill acted as secretary in the absence of the clerk (Mr. R. 0. Ellis) who was also on the grand jury. Cr. A. Morton was absent for a similar reason. After the luncheon adjournment the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) presided, Cr. A. Morton also being present. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The crushing plant:—Driver Mackie reported that the crusher worked at the chain bridge nine days, crushing 727 yards, and at the Mutton Track seven days, crushing 500 yards, a total of 1233 yards. Driver Fitzgerald had been six clays rolling in metal for Hillsborough factory. The balance of his time he had been employed in Foremen Batten, Heal and F. Holmes' lengths. new tank was required for Linklater's water part. Moa riding.—Foreman Laurence had opened the outlet of the drain south of Rugby road and had replaced the wooden bridge near Mr. Putt's with three feet pipes. Foreman Bennett's time wan taken up with raking, blinding and water-tabling. Foreman Mallon had been assisting in spreading metal with Foreman Ileal and Batten and assisting the Inspector with the bridges south of fnglewood. Mr. W. Thomason was delivering the metal near the Farmers' Cooperative snleyards. Mrs. Curtis had opened up tlie drain to the outlet of the drain which has allowed the water to flow through the culvert. Foreman Heal had received 407 yards of crushed metal and spread the same on the road. The rest of his time had been taken up blinding and assisting other foremen, JIANG OREI RIDING. Foreman Batten's roads had required a great deal of attention during the month. He required about 60 feet supei 9x3 bridge decking for Alfred roaci bridge. Foreman Keast reported that the ex eeptional dry weather was breaking uj the roads badly and necessitated eon tinnal blinding. Foreman Spencer reported that tin small roller started rolling and scarify ing on the 22nd, but, being two hand: short, progress is slow. He estimate* T. V. Simon's damage on the Carringtoi road for the month of January at £ 10s, WAITARA RIDING. Foreman J. Holmes had been take up chiefly assisting the other foremen t spread metal. Owing to a fire burnin a portion of the fence at Big Jim Quarry he had to employ a man to r( instate same. The docking for Waioi: gona bridge had come to hand. Foreman F. Holmes had received 00 yards of crushed metal: Dorset roa 330 yards, factory yard 272 yards, Hill Hill 50 yards, Dorset road near 1 Look's eight yards.. The rest of hi tim he had spent in blinding the hill Foreman Giddy had received I*2 y;i: '< of metal from Sentry Hill P lor re-coating Mountain road. Tl: total cost of carting was .CO loa. OMATA RIDING. Foreman Seamark had taken ever available minute to blind and hold tl road during January. He had to einplr casual labor to assist him to deal wit the loose ftone. Foreman Eva had scarified, blindc and rolled Hurworth road and rolled tl; upper portion of Frankley road. OKATO RIDING. Foreman Seft-on reported ' that M Fisher, the late engineer, dumped aboi 130 yards of crushed metal on Lowi Tiniaru road to be placed on the hi near Mr. \Y. I lonoyfield's gate. Th hid required grading, and the rou; metal taken off same and the who metalled before winter. The Aim At it-ream on the Main road had washt Ihe bank away at. the inlet of the tin nel. and was breaking into its old cour= If the stream got into its old course wojild cross the road about live or's chains l'rtm the tunnel.

Foreman Melirath reported tliat it hail "been most difficult to keep the roads for the past month. He had placed the eight yards on the Upper Plymouth road, and had to employ casual labor to assist «;itli the blinding. Foreman Meredith reported that Messrs. Fisher Bros, on Upper Pitone road had about. SOU yards of boulders out as arranged. He would like authority to grade and form this road ready to receive the metal. The Lower Pitone road was very' rough in places. lie would like .permission to have extra labor to reform some of the worst places on this road. Twelve nine-inch pipes required on the Upper Timaru road near Mr. Duggan's cowshed. Foreman Haves had had to enpa.se extra labor to assist with the blinding. The concrete wall at Stony River bridge had been completed. The decking had arrived for Kaihiiii bridge. Mr. Philpotts had damaged about four chains of Hoani road *by dragging a chain harrow over the same. It will cost 25s to reinstate damage for which he should be charged. The Chairman and Hiding members are to report 011 the culvert south of Rugby Koad, Cr. Laurence stating that it was unfair to ask the settlers to bear the cost, as the silting was caused by the Comity water-.tables. Tlie new tank lor the water-cart is to be procured. Foreman Mallon was given authority to employ a man for a week or ten days.

The Council decided Jo pay luilf tlio coat of any additional metal 1 , estimated at lfl to li yards, above the 50 yards, in order'to complete the metalling at the Farmers' Co-operative Organisation saleyards at Ingle Wood. Timber will be obtained for the Albert Road bridge. Account will be sent to Mr. T. V. Simons, aa suggested. Cr. Andrew's action in authorising a fence to be repaired was confirmed, as was also the action of Cr. McAllum in authorising the blinding of the Main South Road in the Omata Hiding. The foreman was authorised to grade and metal the hill on the Timaru Road, also to grade the Upper Pitone Road, and repair the Tiower I'itone Road. Tt was resolved to charge Mr. 'l'billpoi 25s for dragging harrows on the road.

Twelve 9-inch pipes were granted for the Upper Timaru Road. The question of rcdecking the Stony River bridge, and repairing the Kaihihi Viriiiff lvns 'eft in the hands of the

Chairman and Riding members, with power to act. C'r. Laurence considered it would be better to have the crusher idle than working with two men. It required four men to keep it fully occupied. It would be far better to send it to a riding where the labor was available. Cr. Andrew's action is granting Foreman Hayes assistance for blinding metal was confirmed. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. IT. D. Grant, County inspector, reported that he had been engaged most of the month in repairing bridges, the Stony .River, Makctawa, Ngatoro and Ngatoronui having received attention, lie had erected a new sign board at the toll-gate and effected minor repairs. He had also issued two licenses to drivers of vehicles. THE RAZORBACK. Cr. Laurence brought up the quest l i of effecting some improvements at the Razorback. To do any good it would be necessary to metal a portion of this road. This could not be done unless the settlers wore_ prepared either to subsidise the cost or to go in for a special loan. This, however, tliey were not inclined to do. It would cost £l2 per chain to metal this. In the summertimo the settlers had no complaint, but were looking forward to the winter. It was impossible to* do the work out of revenue.

Cr. McAllum pointed out that ratelayers in other districts had had to <ive similar assistance.

THE SCARCITY OF LABOR. The County Inspector (Mr. C. D. Grant) reported that it had cost 3s !kl per chain to scarify and roll 1)2% chains on the Upland and Junction Roads. Cr. Laurence considered this was Is Od per chain too dear, and was probably owing to the fact that the rolling staff 'was two men short. Tho Chairman recognised this, and stated that he would try and overcome it, though he pointed out the difficulty of working under ideal conditions at present owing to the scarcity of labor. Cr. Andrews thought the time was coming when they would have to consider putting on a motor-car to take their men to where the work required to be done. A QUESTION OF ROYALTY. Mr. Thomas Hart waited on the .Council, and asked for payment of 3d per yard royalty on stone carted through his property. Councillors pointed out that 3d was the usual payment. Cr. Andrews thought there was a wrong impression about royalty. People I had the idea that they could claim 3d per yard, but* actually the^ - could only claim for the surface damage, and to get at this, the property should be valued before and after the metal was carted. The 3d, however, was given to obviate any claim for compensation. Under the special circumstance.?, a 9 the contractors had gone over the whole of the paddock, Cr. McAllum thought that some consideration should be given W special damages. It was accordingly resolved to give 3d per yard for surface damages, and an extra sum of ,C 3 (is Sd for special damages, this not to form a precedent.

THE OKATO RIVER EROSION. The Chairman reported that on January 28, with Mr. Holmes and Mr. Sharp, he had motored to the Okato district, and, in company with Messrs. C. Andrews and Win. Binnie (Riding representatives), Messrs. ■W. dray, W. Corbetfc, and others, visited the Upper Stony River to inspect the damage done by tile recent flood.| After viewing the locality, and noting evidence of local residents, the Engineer-in-Chief (Mr. jl'olmes) promised to have a survey made, and to furnish the Council with a report and a recommendation as to the best means to adopt to prevent further erosion. 1 Cr. C. Andrews said that the surveyors were 011 the site at present. Cr. W. Binnie remarked that there was a good flood in the river, which would give the. surveyors a chance of 6ceing the river at its worst. lIAUHAU ROAD. Messrs. Grover and West, representing the settlers 011 the Hauhau Road, waited 011 the Council, and offered to cart out metal from the beach if the Council would send the crusher midway down the road. They proposed getting out 300 yards of metal to link up the two pieces of metal now down, and also to extend the metal. The question of crusher sites at Leith and Abu Abu Roads was. left to the Hiding members. LICENSING MOTOR DRIVERS. Messrs. Govett and Quilliam advised that they were not, aware of any authority under which the Council could make a. by-law, licensing drivers of vehicles plying for hire. Cr. Simpson thought that the whole question of motor traffic should be considered at the Counties' Conference. [Owing to pressure 011 our space, the balance of the report is unavoidably held over till to-morrow's issue.]