TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1917, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. I The monthly meeting of tho Taranaki County Council was held yesterday. Present: Os. J. Connett (county chairman), J. Andrews, G. Capper, A. Morton, D. McAllum, W. Binnic, J. Simpson, and A. Laurence Leave of absence was granted to Cr. C. Andrews. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported as follows: — With Cr. Capper and Mr. Ellis (county clerk) Cr. Morton was uuavoid. biy absent I met Messrs Corkhill (chaiiman), Trimble, Henwood and Buckley, bers of the Moa Road Board, for the purpose of adjusting accounts on the area lately merged and an amicable settlement \;&i agreed upon, I have inspected the approach to the Te Kiri bridge on Carrington road and authorised Foreman Spencer to procure the necessary metal and also some in addition for patching purposes, a total of 60 yards. The bridge over the Awai on the Mautahi road could be cheaply replaced 'with concrete as the river has been diverted through a cutting. There are iron girders on the present bridge which would bo again available. Mr. Grant will malic tho necessary repairs in the meantime. With Mr. gladden, engineer, I met Messrs Wood and Green ut the Tapuac bridge on the New plymouth road and considered a deviation on both sides of the river. Mr. Sladden would furnish an estimate of the cost. I have been unable to let a contract for the Mangaone culvert on the Devon road as the tenders received I considered too high. This work is therefore held up in the meantime. Foreman McGrath and Enginedriver Stringer have resigned owinj: to their brothers being called up for military service. Applications have j been invited to fill their positions. The small roller will be 1-, ought into the foundry to have new 'wheels put on whilst waiting for a new driver. Whilst in Wellington recently with Mr. Okey I waited on the Minister of Public Works in reference to the extra cost of repairs sarried cut at the Waiwakaiho bridge and tendered a request that the Department would extend its contribution to cover one third of the total expenditure incurred; also, if possible, to get some assistance towards tho maintenance of ligmont road south. The Minister (tho Hon. Mr.'Frascr) stated in reply that no fluids 'were available for new woTk but; ;i transfer might be arranged and that he would have a report furnished to him on the works required. The report was adapted and the ohairinan's action in dealing with tho various matters referred to therein was confirmed. OVERSEERS' REPORTS. Crushing and rolling plant.—Enginedriver Mackie; During the month we worked 13 days crushing 018 yards. I crushed at Timaru 498 yards for Cowling and 114 yards for Robertson, and at Wairau 30ii yards, where I am at present engaged. Enginedriver Stringer: At present I am engaged on the Mountain road, Waiongona. I scarified and rolled 33 chains on the Mountain road and 10 «liainjß on tho Tariki road in Foreman Laurence's length. Enginedriver Fitzgerald: During the month the large roller 'worked 14 days 7A bour= rolling and icanfying 109J chains of road. Moa Riding.—'Foreman Laurence: We have got out 286 yards of metal on the Tariki road. I also repaired nine chains of Tariki roaij with metal left on the roml at various times Foreman Bennett: During this month I have had a strenuous time on the road to hold it, particularly the Zig Zag. There are 12 six-inch pipes at the corner of Tariki road. Will tho Council sell same? It required a man for three days to hand break the stone put in by Julian and firylls, reported at last meeting. Foreman Mallon: I have been busy with ordinary repairs this month. The small roller is in my length rolling and scarifying on W. Thomason's contract. Mangorei Riding.—foreman Batten: The roads have broken up somewhat 'luring the continual wet weather, particularly the Old Hospital road. I help»d E. J. Smith with the gravelling as instructed. I put in extra time with \iini and which he made up with a horse and dry on the Junction and Old Hospital roads. Foreman Keast: My roads have been breaking badly, particularly Kent road. A wing wall of the little Vridge at Korito broke away but was reinstated by the inspector. Foreman Spencer: This length of roads have stood the bad weather fairlv well. The gorse and blackberry on Mr. Skinner's frontage on the Carrington road is obstructing the water tables and requires Hitting back.

Waitara Riding—Foreman T. Holmes: [>uring the month I placed 03 yards of metal on Walker's Hill, Henwood road. 1 require 19 nine-inch pipes for Dorset road and seven nine-inch to renew a culvert on Egmont- road, near Mr. Upton's. Foreman Proud: We have placed on the Henwood, Manutalii and Hursttiouse roads 138 yards of metal this month. Foreman W. Holmes: I placed i-1 yards of metal on the roads for repiars this month, some of the roads breaking badly, which we have repaired. 1 require a wheel barrow for repairing roads from the maintenance metal that is available.

Omata Riding.—Foreman Seamark: The Main road is fair, but. tlio side roads are cracking up badly. I would liko the small roller to put down my maintenance metal. . There is no main' tenanoe metal for Barrett road. ( and I would like the crusher to crush at Spotawood on her way up from the coast so as to enable me to repair the road. Some persons have been removing shingle from Bpotwood. Foreman W; Eva: The continual rain exposed the weak patches in to;- roadji und I have had a busy time repairing same. My maintenance metal is (inished and I will therefore have to get gravel from the pit to maintain the tVankley road. Okato Riding.—Foreman McGrnth: I nave been engaged at the usual repairs. My roads have stood the trying weather fairly well. Foreman Seftoai: The plant Is now at Wairau depot in my 'ength. I have used 160 yards of Foreman Meredith's metal, 06 yards on Lower Timaru road, 50 yards around the Patna Dairy Factory, and 14 yards on Main road. Foreman Meredith: The tvlieel tracks are scouring on the Pitone Hill and require scarifying and rolling A log culvert at top of Upper Timaru road has given out and I have fenced the road oil'. Having been off my length the greater part of four months assfstmg other foremen I would like a man to assist for two weeks. Foreman Mayes: The roads in the late Oka,to Road District are all worn out. I have iweit patoltiiig some of them. There is no metal for the Oxford road, which is very bad. These roads will 'require a lot of attention. The netting is ready for protecting the Kaihihi swing bridge but nothing ea» be done until the water is lower In the river, Inspector's Report—l have re<decked |wid jjut mw wheel akoeks on the stony

| lliver bridge. I hjivo also rfi-deckud find put new wheel shocks on the K«iMhi bridge at O&ato. TSie wing wall of the Korito road bridge having fallen in J went out there and put a new wing wall up and refilled tbe road in again. I have fixed the fee board at the toll gate. KaJ£ of the timber ia on the site for the repairs to the Hill road bridge and I expect the other half in the course ot two or three days. During the month I have issued summons against four persons for using the county roads without licenses.

It was decided to sell the pipes aa l'ecommondod by Foreman 'Bennett and to charge Messrs. Julian and Grylis £1 13s for breaking the Btone not properly broken by the Moa Road Board crusher. The question of obtaining a roller for Foreman Mallon's length of the road in the Moa Riding was left in the hands of the chairman. It was reaolved that the matter of crushing plant for the Lepper-Carrington road 'be referred to the chairman and Cr. Capper to deal with; also tho question of a crusher site on Egmont road. It 'was resolved to ask Mr. J. T. Skinner to cut back the blackberry on his frontage to Carrington road, and to similarly communicate with Mr. E. 0. Cook with regard to his frontage to Punibo road. The pipes required for the renewal <rf a culvert on Egmont road (W-aitara Riding) were authorised. Cr. J. Andrews moved, seconded by the chairman, tha„ all persons w'ho have hot paid their share of the cost of pulling willows out from the Mangaone stream be sued forthwith.—Carried. It was decided to comply with Foreman Seamark's request for the use of the crusher at Spotswood on its w&v up from the coast. It was decided to prosecute persons removing gravel from public works at Omata. I'oreman Eva was authorised to obtain metal from the pit for use on Frankley road until the crusher arrives there. It was resolved to ask foreman Ha,yea to assist Foreman Meredith for two weeks. OMATA ROAD. Mr. 0. H. Moore drew attention to the bad state of parts of the old Omata road, between Barrett road and his property. He had been promised a certain quantity of metsl on this stretch two years ago, but nothing had been done. He also asked the council to consider the matter of grading and metalling the whole of this road through to Westown. Cr. McAllum said the promise had been conditional on a sufficient quantity of suitable motal being available. He was quite satisfied that something should be done to the road, but to do what was required out of revenue was not possible. On the motion of Cr. McAllum, seconded by Cr. Binnie, it was resolved that Mr. Moore's request for metalling old Omata road right through be held over, and that tho settlers be informed that the only remedy is to raise a loan, and that the question of improving the approach to Mr. Moore's property be referred to the foreman to consult with Cr. McAllum and Tepoft, ZIGZAG ROAD. - ■■■■ Cr. Capper moved, in accordance with notice: "That Messrs Sladden and Palmer be instructed to lay off work and prepare plans to improve the zigzag leading to Tarata, for a sum not exceeding £200."

He explained that at present far too much work was thrown on one of the road foremen, and Home readjustment was necessary.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Binnie pro forma, Cr. Lawrence moved, as an amendment: "That tho chairman, Grs. Capper Simpson and the mover be a committee to try and readjust the foremen's length of roads, having in view the object of improving the ugzag." Seconded by Cr. McAllum.

Cr. Morton agreed with the object Cr. Capptr had in view, but did not think the method ho proposed would work. Cr. Simpson thought the Clifton County Council and the Government should bo asked to contribute towards the cost of the necessary work.

Cr. Capper withdrew his motion in favor of Cr. Lawrence's amendment, which then became the substantive motion, and on being put was carried.

GENEKAH,

J. Wooldridge drew attention to t>he bad state of Dover road. Before the district merged the ratepayers wore au- [ sured by the Council that they would I look after and keep the present metalled road in good order, but although the merging had taken place eight months ago there had hot been a county "isti on the road to turn a shovelful. Repairs were urgently required.—Left in the hands of the chairman to desd with. The State Advances Office notified that payment of the £7OO loan for Komene road would he made on completion of necessary formalities. The Council, however, would rot be in a position to apply for a 10 per cent, additional loan until the original authority of the ratepayers was completely exhausted. Messrs. Andrew Bros. offered to cart metal from Stony Rover to Puniho road for 5s lid per ya&-Rgf P th» chairman. Mrs. W. N. Stephenson was granted 12 yards of broken metal from the Tariki road pit, at Od per yard royalty. Mr. Benoni Whit! WTote again with reference to the bad state of the Old Hospital road, and with reference to payment for stone.—Received. Foreman J. Taylor, Inglowood, reported concerning the alleged removal of metal from L«pper road, stating that the stuff was really sand, mud and stone mixed, of no use for patching, and was out of the water-tables. When asked for it by the settlers lie gave it tc them because it was of no use to the county, and on condition that they gave the use of a horse ami cart when required.—Explanation accepted as satisfactory. The Westport Coal Company advised that the price of coal had been advanced by Is per ton as from July I.—Received, and chairman authorised to proceed wifji the erection of a coal bin at Smtrt Road.

Mr. A. H. Johnstone, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Mr. 'Patrick O'Sullivan, »f Okato, asking that the Tukirikau road be opened to give access to section 5 block 10, Cape Survey District, from Puniho road.—Cr. Binnie said the land wm native land, and he moved that application be made to Public Trustee te eontribute £IOO towards the cost of putting in the necessary pipes. The motion w##. carried.

A deputation consisting of Messrs W. B. Grant, A. R. Gudopp, and R. J. BaAdeley, waited on the council to ask tliat Cowlinjr road, near W>stown, he formed its full width, three-quarters of a chain, stating that they would be prepared to do all the necessary ploughing.—Chafrman and Cr. McAllum to inspect the road and report at next meeting. The offer of Mr. ,T. Jack*** U Mfcr 6ut a drain on Tariki rcsad to a depth of 1 4 fefet for a distance ftve ghaflie at 12a per «lsin, wjr ww*

The Moa Road Board intimated that it was unable to Jure its crushing plant to the county council, but would do eo as soon as the plant was finished on Norfolk road west.—Received.

Foreman (3. Spencer wrote that the portion of the New Plymouth borough boundary road ho had to take over was in a very baa state, and he would require more metal than expected. The chairman suggested that each of the foremen should be asked to keep separate account.*, of the expenditure on such roads now undw their jurisdiction, and separate annual estimates of requirements.—On the motion of Cr. Morton the chairman's suggestion was adopted. On the motion of Cr, Lawrence, seconded by Cr. Capper, the engineer (Mr. 81adden) was requested to submit plans and estimate for a hardwood bridge with steel girders over the Mangaone stream on Junction road.

The New Plymouth Borough Council intimated that it would pay one-third of the total cost of the Waiwakaiho bridge, including the western wing, walls, provided such total cost did not exceed £2752, but regretted that extra work had been commenced before the i borough council was consulted. The' 'chairman stated that it was at the suggestion of the borough engineer in the first place that the extra work had been bonsidered. However, tho whole matter had no\? beon amicably settled. The resident engineer of the Public Works Department intimated that there was no likelihood of the Minister approving of a of £IOO for the Leppcr road.—Received. The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board asked if the council had any suggestions to make with regard to the orders-in-council relating to representatives on the board.

The chairman said one of the proposals was to cut the county's representation down to three. It seemed to him they might as well cut the representatives down to nil.—No objection to be mad#.

Mr. E. -Parrott asked the council to supply pipes and fix them at the crossing on Tariki road to the residence on his property—Work to be done and charged to Mr. Parrott.

The tender of A. W. Cowling, for formation, £l9l 8s Od, and metalling 80 chains at £0 16s per chain, on the Komene road, was accepted.

Oil the motion of Cr. Morton it was resolved that in future no more than 16s per day be paid for the services of a man, horse and cart.

The following accounts were passed for payment:—General expenses £IOB2 16s 2d, Moa riding £387 14s 3d, Mangorei riding £4B, Waitara riding £443 Is 3d, Omata riding £67 15s 4d, Okato riding £345 10s Bd, Lepper road loan account £l7O 2s; total £2544 19s Bd.