CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1917, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at the county office, Waitara, on Thursday, when there were present: Crs. R. 11. Pigott (chairman), 11. T. Ilicks, W. Old, H. Sander, A. M. Bower and S. J. Kennington. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr C F. Dowsett) reported as follows: Waihi Riding.—A satisfactory price having been arranged, the Inland North Road metalling will be proceeded with without delay. Foreman Hiscoke has arrived from Okau and taken up his duties in this riding. I recommend, owing to the state of the Onaero paddock ana fences, that no rent be charged, but that the occupants give those matters attention, and that the council supply a limited amount of fencing material. The grader has been at work on the Ohanga road, but repairs to the machine necessitated a temporary stoppage. Tikorangi Riding.—The boulder supply contract has been proceeding satisfactorily, and patching lias been carried out at urgent spots. Forming up and grading have been proceeding on the Otaraoa road, much to the improvement of bad sections. When the roller is in this district certain portions would be greatly improved if scarified, the large stone put through - * the crusher and with additional metal redeposited. Tenders will be called for next meeting for feeding crusher and carting out from the Bertrand road depot. Ngatimaru Riding—The steel bridge over the Makura (Otaraoa road) has been cleaned, chipped and repainted; also the small bridge near Tarata has been satisfactorily rebuilt. Timbers for repairs to the Tarata and Pratt's bridges, also the Autawa road culvert, is expected to arrive shortly, and it will be put on the sites without delay and Work proceeded with. The timber for the Matau low level bridge is now on the site, and work will shortly be commenced. The resident road engineer, in reply to an enquiry, stated that pressure of work prevented him from immediately visiting the Mangaopa ro'ad, but he would take an early opportunity of doing so during the current month. The Taramoiikou road was. inspected, and I would recommend that an expenditure of £l3 be allowed to widen the road to 0 feet from the river to Mr. Shield's house. Quite recently the sunl of £2O was expended, and the whole of the timber supplied to provide a bridge for this holding. Urenui Riding.—The Moerangi road has been receiving a good deal of attention, and has mostly been recovered with gravel to its junction with the main road. Further supplies of gravel have been deposited throughout the length of the main road and work is still proceeding in the Okoke pit. A contract has been let consolidating the metal supplies in this riding, and a tender has been accepted for 1000 yards of boiilders, 500 yards of ,gravel, and 50 yards of shingle for concrete work. The water tables will be ploughed and the overhanging vegetation cut between the Waitoitoi and the Hawera culvert during the current month. On the Okoke road the timber for bridge, repairs is awaiting delivery, and I have found it necessary to transfer the bridge foreman to the Urenui bridge near the Okoke store, owing to one pier being seriously out of plumb and the structure endangered. Whilst the foreman is in this district other work will be attended to, the first thing being the reconstruction of Gibson's bridge. Owing ,'to shortage of labor the Piko road formation and bridge have made little progress in the past; the contractor hopes to proceed with alacrity in the future. ' Jlokau Riding—The metalling contract on the Main Road, between the. 34 and 30 mile pegs, has been completed, but not without little difficulties. The quantity of metal was, short of requirements, but by further quarrying and the reduction of the depth, the gap was eventually covered. The engine and crusher are now located at the Uruci road depot, and work is proceeding satisfactorily, although slowly, whilst, the quality is still being maintained. Foreman Rowe has been appointed to the position at Okau vacated by Hiscoke, and he has the advantage of previous knowledge of requirements in that locality. Tbe contract of sanding sections of the Okau road has been offered to a local man, but shortage of labor prevents his acceptance. The timber for renewals to bridges on the east coast at Tongaporutu is daily expected, ami will be shipped north on'arrival. The itinerary of the crusher after Uruti is Wai-iti, and as the road preparation to receive the metal involved a period of about two months in formation and earthwork this had to receive foremost attention, and is now in an advanced condition. I have, however, already heard a dissentient eclio as to the disadvantages of negotiating new fillings, but my plans were submitted and approved, and the earthwork done is quite necessary to ensure in the future a properly graded and metalled road. I hope to submit at the next meeting plans and specifications for reconstructing the wharf at Tongaporutu. The heavy rain on Sunday last did quite a lot of damage at Uruti, the flood water washing much graver off the main road, scouring out numerous culverts, and causing many slips, to which attention is now being devoted. The engineer's report was adopted. A MATAU MATTER. Mrs. K. E. Smellie, Matau, complained of the iuisance caused by horses being allowed to wander on the Mangamaire road. Sonic of the settlers had erected a gate to prevent (lie horses getting on the road, but this proved useless, as the horses could open the gate. She also stated that slu> had spoken to Cr. Kennington several times on the subject. She also enclosed a letter forwarded to Cr. Kennington, and the reply received as a footnote. Cr. Kennington explained that ho had handed tho letter to the person complained of, naturally supposing he would abate the nuisance, and that person had evidently added the footnote. On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to inform Mr F. 11. Mills (Matau) that if the stock are not removed from the road proceedings will be taken. It was resolved to inform Mrs, Smellie that Cr. Kennington repudiates having written the letter.

THE WILSON ROAD. Mr. E.G. Blealdey wrote that he understood that the Clifton County Council intended to take proceedings to close the Wilson road, and that he was instructed by several owners of land in the vicinity to ivrite on their and bis own behalf. The council, he staled, could not close the road without the consent of tile owners of the land in the vicinity unleas and until access to the same was loft or provided as convenient as tli.it now provided by the Wilson road. If the council persisted in its attemots to close the road.

proceedings would be instituted by tlio owners to obtain an injunction from the Supreme Court restraining the council from so doing. He therefore asked to be advised if tho council was prepared to abandon the proposal to close the road. On the motion of Crs. Bower and Old it was resolved to inform Mr. Bleakley that the council intends to proceed with tlie closing of the road as requested by the ratepayers. URUTI ROAD CONTRACT. Mr. G. Mallet waited on the council to ask that work should be pushed on at the Uruti raad contract. He did not think there was any need for de-lay. Though men were scarce he himself would be prepared to turn out and assist, and he knew that others would du likewise. Councillors thought that if men were put on the work it would be completed in a fortnight. Unless the contractors were prepared to put on men, the council should take, over the work and complete it. It was resolved that the council strongly deprecates the delay on the contractor's part in completing the Uruti road contract, as sufficient men are available at. 12s per day. A URUTI DRAIN Mr. A. H. Johnstone wrote on behalf of Mr. C. W. Bryan, of Uruti, notifying the council that unless the work of clearing the drain put by the. council on the main road adjacent to his farm was forthwith undMalcen, he would issue a summons claiming damages. Mr. Bryan was willing toldo the work provided £2 was paid to hjm, and the money could be deducted from his rates. The letter stated that for years the county had failed to clear the drain, and the water was constantly backed on to the land. In self protection, Mr. Bryan had, at his own expense, cleared the drain. Last year the council had paid Mr. Bryan £2 for doing so. The chairman stated that he had visited the site and did not think that the drain was interfering with Mr. Bryan. Cr. A. M. Bower said that there was no danger to Mr. Bryan's property save in flood time, against which the council could not provide. It was resolved to inform Mr. John-, stone that the county drain was hot interfering with Mr. Bryan's property. A PUKEARUHE COMPLAINT. Mr. W. J. Bowman, Pukearuhe, asked whether the council intended to keep the Pukearuhe road open for traffic this winter. He considered that a most unnecessary amount of earthwork had been done, and the surfaceman seemed to take a delight in' making the road as bumpy as possible. Why, he asked, was he allowed to make gutters across the road, or to build up small Mt. Egmonts with a few rocks on top? Two years ago without a surfaceman motor-cars could got through by using chains in one or two places. Last year, with a surfaceman it was necessary to use chains right from Pukearuhe. This year if no metal was put. on, and with three men and two drays, the road would only be fit for bullock drays, unless they had particu* larlv fine weather. He also urged that instructions be given not to put any more blinding on the roads. One of these days there would be a bad accident, and the council would find itself liable for heavy damages. The chairman stated that the people of Pukearuhe had asked to have the road formed and metalled, and now that the road was being prepared for the metal there were complaints. Tho crusher was to move to that district next. Cr. Bower said that 110 doubt Pukearuhe people were progressive, but they wore getting ahead of things. The difficulty was to get work done. They had to win the war first. The engineer stated that two months' formation was necessary before the metal could be put on the road. It was therefore impossible to have the crusher on the road any sooner. The road was now graded ready for the metal. It was resolved to inform Mr. Bowman (hat the work done was necessary for the metalling to proceed. THE COAST ROAD. Mr. .Tames Gibbs, Pukeamhe, asked the Council to assist in improving the road at the second gully from Mrs Gibbs' homestead towards the White Cliffs, lie suggested that if the Council would send a scoop to Rattcnbury's and allow two men to work on the road for 12 or 14 days, they would procure the scoop, provide horses and plough, and also one man. _ It was pointed out that the road was in qnite as good condition as the tunnel. The bridges, which were becoming shaky, were being rebuilt. It was stated that tbe road was only a stock route. It was resolved to inform Mr Gibbs that ho money was available for the purpose. THE BRIDGE LOAN. I

The chairman referred to the fact that £I7OO of bridge loan money, which had not been used, but had been placed in the credit, of the general account until iti was required, had had to be refunded to the bridge loan account and could not be utilised for any other purpose, save for bridges which were scheduled at the time. Unless the bridges were to bo rebuilt at once,-iti would be better to return the money to the Advances Department, and later obtain a fresh loan. It was resolved to place the money on fixed deposit with the bank for six months. GENERAL. Jlr K. G. HlpalOcy drew attention to the fact that the hill on. the Avenue road bad not yet been attended to, though the •Council had promised two mouths ago to do the work. He pointed out that he had had to submit to inconvenience for three years. Mr J. V. Shield, Tarata, asked for aid to improve the present Bft track to his property on the Otaraoa road. He was about to build additions to his honsq. and asked that the track bo made lflft wide. lie could procure the labor of two men, and if the Council would pay these, was prepared to give his own labor free', and untlci tuKc to put the matter through the satisfaction of the engineer.—This was covered in the engineer's report. The Lands Department forwarded the consents tracing of the Mokau rom! deviation. Judge Jack had consented o:: behalf of the native owners, and all tlm. was now required was a resolution from the Council consenting to the deviation. —The necessary resolution was passed the chairman and Cr. Hicks being auth- j orised to sign and seal the eonsent. The Public Works Department noti-! fled that a portion of the Makarakia read was not a county road. The Tarauaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notified that an annual levy of Is Cd in the £IOO would be struck for the ensuing year, The Trade Commissioner forwarded statistics regarding: motor cam and.

ftiotor cycles) for 1910, as already pub■ishetl. ■ Accounts amounting to £l3Bl 4s \vera '-scil for payment.