TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1917, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Oounty Council was held yesterday. Prosent: Crs. J. Connett (county chairman), A. Laurence, J. Simpson, W. C. Andrews, A. Morton, G. Oapper, and J. Andrews. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. Tho chairman's monthly report was as follows*— I It Tvas impossible to complete W. Thomason's contract on the Mountain road before Driver Stringer left, and it being necessary to bring the roller into the foundry for repairs, arrangements were mode with the Moa Road Board for the use of their machine and driver to 'finish the job, and tdiis has now been done taking four days. Mr. Orr arrived on the 27th, has taken charge, and is now on the way to the Okato riding, where the plant is most required. With Crs Laurence and Capper, I met Mr. Thomason and agreed on terms for use of his crushing plant to complete Lepper road contract, and he will commence work in a&out two weeks' time, or soon as weather permits. On the same day we vijßited Egmont road south, and selected a crusher site on tho roadside near the southern boundary of Mr. A. Morton's property. Wo also visited the crusher site on the Upper Carrington road, and recommend that "0 Sin pipes' be procured to carry o/F surface water front frontage of site, when the present drain can be filled in. The question of readjustment of foremen's lengths in the Moa riding was also gone into, and our recommendations to be submitted to you to-day will be found more satisfactory, as men will live closer to their work, and should also tend to the more efficient working of the riding. The matter of providing stone for repairs to by-roads in the Okato riding has had to be temporarily met by using maintenance metal from the Main South and Leith roads, hut this will foe replaced at the first opportunity. With Crs. Andrews and Biimie, I inspected the pound at Okato, #»nd found it requiring very extensive repairs. We propose to remove the yard and shed from its present site, and re-erect same on a county section opposite the Catholic church. Owing to tho. diffiulty of getting the required amount of stone per day delivered on the Lower Puniho road, no tender was accepted. Foreman 'Hayes will engage teams by the day when "the weather permits of work being done. I have met settlers on Cowling Toad relative to ' request for road formation. The length is 66 chains, fairly level. The job could be done with a road grader, and this could be hired at a nominal figure from the New Plymouth Borough Council Sutlers are prepared to find horses and ■do the work, a competent man taking charge of the machine. Three sets of 9in pipes will be required. It is estimated to take one week. Arrangements have been made with Mr. Nolan for tho sale of timber at \\ siwakaiho on next. I accepted A. W. Cowling's price of 3s 6d to put boulders at Timaru depot through crusher and deliver on to road. Cr. Laurence submitted the proposed readjustment of foremen's road longths in tho Moa riding referred to in the chairman's report, and tho alterations were approved. The chairman's recommendations with regard to 30 !)in pipes beinjr placed on the frontage of Lepper-Carnngton road crusher site and with regard to Crowley road were approved. Authority was given to the chairman to purchase what timber be considered necessary at the Waiwakaiho timber sale. The other recommendations in the chairman's report were approved and adopted. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Crushing plant.—Enginedriver Mackie reported that during the month the plant worked 13 days crushing as follows: Wairau depot 51 yards, Oakura depot 605 yards, Tapuae depot 340 yards, Herbert Juli m 10 yards (to be paid for); total, 912 yards. Moa Riding.—Foreman Laurence: My time has been taken up with the usual repair work. Foreman Bennett: I have had stone broken between Mangaone and Tarata bridges and used a portion of it in patching. Forempn Mallon: The strenuous weather h:.s kept me busy patching. W. Thomason has completed his contract on Mountain road north delivering 4G6 yards. Foreman Heal: 1 have been engaged in usual repairs. The Inspector should have a look at the Chain bridge, as the decking requires attention. Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Keast: The metal supply > is very short on Kejit road. About ten chains between T. James and Mrs. S. James on Korito road requires re-coating, as it is beyond patching. I have been assisting the Inspector at Ilill road bridge. The settlers on the Hill, Maule and Albert roads voluntarily came out and assisted with the filling. Foreman Spencer: My maintenance metal is all gone on the Mangorei road and it is breaking badly. T. Colson has left blackberry and gorse trimmings all along his frontage in the water-tables which are obstructing the road. Waitara Riding.—Foreman J. Holmes: I have had to get out some metal for repairs between Bell Block and Waitara Borough. Foreman F. Holmes: During tho month I placed 120 yards of pit metal on Egmont road. Tho top end of Egmont road is breaking up badly. There is about one mile absolutely worn out. Foreman Proud: My time has been taken up with the usual repairs. Foreman W. Holme*: I have placed 100 yards on the Mountain road. The Richmond road bridge requires the decking overhauled. Omata Riding.—Foreman Seamark: My portion of the main road is very rough in parts and I would like the small roller as soon as possible to scarify and re-lay the wheel ruts. I have inspected the old Omata road and there is about 10 chains that require metalling. It would be advisable to get 100 yards from Moturoa beach to do the 10 chains. Foreman Eva: I am still engaged in tlie pit and usual road repairs. I require a man for about two weeks for re-banking up metal and general work. Okato Riding.—Foreman West: My roads are fair with the exception of a small length on the Koru road. Foreman Sefton: I have had the plant in mv length to the 17th ult., since when 1 have been with the crusher at Tapuae. Foreman Meredith: My time has been (taken up with general repairs and assisting Foreman Sefton. Foreman Hayes: I have had to cart shingle out of tlie Kailiihi to repair Oxford road. I am repairing Dover road with metal from tho Perth road. I require four Din pipes for Xaihihi road. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Inspector C. D. Grant reported as follows: I have made extensive repairs to the Hill road bridge. I have also re- • decked the bridge on the Upper Timaru , road, and I have also strengthened the

Manutahi bridge. On the Mth and 30th T attended Court to prosecute persons for breaches of the County by-laws. I expect to start the dog tax in the course of two or three days. The sum of £1 ]os was authorised to be paid to J. Therkleson for 44 yards of screenings for footpaths at Tariki. Cr. Laurence was authorised to instruct Foreman Laurence as to attending to the planking of tho Ngatoro bridge. It was decided to convey the council's thanks to the settlers wiio provided free labor for the Hill road bridges. It was decided to notify T. Colson to clear gorse and 'blackberry from, the Mangorei roads. Cr. Morton moved that Foreman Batten report on the best place to procure 100 yards of metal for Avenue boundary "road. It was decided to instruct Foreman J. Holmes to arrange relative to a cutting it the entrance to Mr. Finjierty's property, Devon road. The application for four 9in. pipes for Kaihiki road was granted. ENGINEERS' REPORTS. The county engineers, Messrs Sladden and Palmer, submitted alternative tenders for a hardwood bridge with steel girders, and entirely of hardwood, over the Margaoue stream, on Junction road, and it was decided to invite tenders for a bridge constructed of hardwood only. The engineers further reported that they had taken levels, and roughly graded the Plymouth road on either side of the Tapuae stream. They did not recommend any large expenditure on the existing road on the north tide of tho bridge, and that any selieme for permanency should be ra the direction of deviations as shown on a plan attached. —Copy of plan to be forwarded to settlers interested with a recommendation that they should agree to a special loan being raised for the necessary work MAKARA BRIDGE. A deputation consisting of Messrs A. Corkill (chairman of tho Moa Road Board), and J, Hunter (a member of that body), waited on the council to ask for a contribution towards the cost of a new bridge over the Makara stream on the Bristol road. Mr. Corkill explained that the deputation represented not only the road board, but also the Waitui settlers, who some years ago had built a bridge at a cost of about £2OOO, of which the county had had tho use. The settlers of the district paid about £3OO a year in county rates, and none of them used more than a mile of the countj' road. The cost of the new bridge would be about £9OO. The deputation having withdrawn, Cr. Laurence moved, seconded by Cr. Capper, that £IOO be granted. - Cr. Morton moved as an amendment, seconded by Cr. C. Andrews, that the Moa Road Board be informed that the council was not prepared to contribute towards the cost of the Makara bridge,, but in the event of the district merging into the county steps wkould be taken to raise a loan to reconstruct all bridges in the Moa riding. On being put the amendment was carried. JUNCTION ROAD ZIG-ZAG. The chairman said he would take advantage of Mr. Corkill's presence to mention the zig-zag on Junction road, and said it had been suggested that a light examination of the district might be made to ascertain if a new and better route could not be found, in ord„;to avoid the dangers of the zig-zag and the heavy expense of maintenance. Mr. Corkill endorsed the opinion that a light survey should be made, and said that if a better road than tho present one was constructed the. settlers would be extremely grateful. ] It was decided to instruct Messrs Sladden and Palmer to report at next meeting as to the possibility of getting a better road than the present one over the hill. Mr. Stanfield. on behalf of the settlers in the locality, complained of the very bad state of King road, which, he said, had never had anything done to it except a little surface work. The condition of the road depreciated tho value of the settlers' property, who could not get in the manures they wanted. The matter was referred to the chairman and Cr. Morton to report upon at next meeting. GLNERAL. D. Jordan wrote, and also waited on the council, to urge that something should be dono to make Hill road passable for cart traffic. The hill on the south side, he stated, needed grading and metalling for about ten chains at least. At present it was almost impossible to get even a gig to the house on h*is farm. —Settlers interested to be informed that when they contribute £25 the work will be put in hand. J. Moratti. Ratapiko, wrote with reference to an agreement between the council and himself as to the cleaning out of a creek near his farm, stating that he was prepared to do his share so long as he held the farm, but he could not sign an agreement which would bind anyone else who might purchase the farm. —Clause objected to in agreement to be deleted. H. Ilollins wrote that under the terms of the lease of his farm at Hillsborftugh the royalty on all metal taken from tho metal pit belonged to him.—Received. •. The Public Trustee intimated that he could not accede to the council's request to contribute towards the ost of opening up the Tukirikau road off a public ,road. I —Consideration deferred. | The audit inspector at New (Plymouth l (Mr. J. H. Fowler) notified that his department would raise no objection to j the county making an extra payment to the Moa Road Board in connection with the adjustment of accounts between {he two bodies.—Received. The Hokianga County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution suggesting an amendment in the law with regard to the registration of liens on native lands, with a view to securing councils against rates being non-recoverable by lapse of time, and making unpaid rates an asset regardless of the length of time rates on native lands might be in arrears. —It was decided to endorse the suggestion. The Minister of Public Works intimated that the council's request that a portion of the Momona bridge, Carrington road, ;Tant be diverted to the Egmont road, would receive his consideration when the estimates were being prepared. —Received. F. Whitehead asked the council to do something to improve the upper end of Saunders road, Okato, as :t was at present in a very bad state.—Referred to the chairman and members for the riding to report at next meeting. G. Schwamm asked that about 10 or 20 chains of the Upper Mangorei Hill road be formed up to his gate. If the council were short of labor to metal 9 chains, he would do it at a reasonable price.—Foreman Spencer to attend to the necessary work. A. J. Bailey, Albert road, drew attention to the ivory, Tjad state of the cul-

vert oil the upper unmetalled portion of Hill road.—Foreman to eftcct repairs. Benoni White wrote that principle, and not cupidity, prompted him to reiterate his claim for metal taken from his property, and again complained of the state of the road at Lower Mangorei.—Received. The Waitara West Road Board intimated that it was willing to forego the license fees on all vehicles carting for the county, provided the county treated the board's ontractors in a similar manner.—Held over till next meeting. C. Whittle and J. Linklater applied for an increase in the price allowed them for horse hire—3s 6d per day—or that it remain at that <lay wet or dry.—lncrease of Is per day granted. The New Plymouth town clerk asked' on what terms the county would sell to the borough metal from their Frankley road pit, and whether the county road roller is available for hire, and if so, on what terms.—Reply to be sent that the county council has no metal for sale, and that their plant is at present in constant rise. s The New Plymouth town clerk wrote that the borough engineer was submitting estimates for repairing Tukapa Avenue and other roads which joined on to the boundary roads now under county control, and towards which the borough was liable for half cost. In order that the borough council might know what the total cost of repairing thpre roads would amount ta, including portions under county care, he asked for estimates for the following lengths: Avenuiroad, 11.50 chains; Tukapa road, 11.50 chains; Tarahua road from Avenue road to Brooklands road.—lnformation to be obtained and supplied. The Minister of Public Works wrote that authority for £25 had been issued to the National (Park Board for the maintenance of the section of the road from Egmont Village to Mountain road, .within the park gates, but the question of granting assistance from Egmont ViVlage to tho park boundary would have to stand over till he was preparing the estimates for the current financial year. —Received. The Treasury Department notified that the whole of the late Okato Road Board's debt of £277!) i3s 9d, yielding half-yearly interest £54 Gs 2d, had been transferred to the county council's inscribed debt, which now stood at £39,.319 Is, tho half-yearly interest thereon being £755 15s 6d. The £31)00 of ritate Advances loan was receiving attention.— Received. It wag resolved: "That each engine driver be instructed and held responsible for effectively lighting his plant when left on a public road after sunset, and that no departure from this rule will be permitted by the council under any circumstances whatever " Accounts uti follows were passed for payment: General expenses £6Bl 2s, Moa riding £lB7 9s lOd, Mangorei riding £ll4 12s Gd, Waitara riding £261 19s lid, Omata riding £SB 10s, Okato riding £OOI Is 3d. Lepper road loan account £lll lis; total £2OBO 6s fid. I ' •