CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1917, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs. R. 11. Pigott (chairman), R. T. Hicks, AV. H. Old, 11. Sander, A. M. Bower. 11. M. Purdie, and S. J. Kennington. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows: Waihi Riding.—Repairs and patching to the main road have been continuous, and an endeavor is being made lo accumulate all the stone possible at the various existing depots, and to create another depot at AA'aiau. I propose, when the crushing plant has linishea present commitments, to systematically scarify and improve portions of the North road. Tikorangi Riding.—lt is gratifying to report that the metalling programme has been satisfactorily completed. Metal has been distributed on the Ngatimaru, Inland North and Bertram! ;roads. with deposited metal for the Waihi road at Jury's and also at Cunningham's. The total output is 1007 yards, and comprises the largest crushing seen in this riding at one time sinift my association with it. Ngatimaru Riding.—All the timber for the bridge work at Tarata is now to hand. The small bridge on the Autawa has been completed, and the fillinj is now proceeding. Enquiries made indicate that many difficulties appear in respect of obtaining maintenance metal for the Junction road. Mr. Horiitti has been notified to withhold any fencing in the meantime, and Mr. Gannonsway has been requested, after the pi-esent season, to keep tvithin legitimate channels his future cultivation. The work of widening the Matau Kiore road has been proceeding satisfactorily. The small bridge near Smith's on this road will be replaced by concrete pipes when the road permits them to be carted in. Urenui Riding.—Repairs and patching have been continuous on the main road. There are various sections which it is proposed to scarify and roll when the plant is finished in the AVailii riding. The Kaipikari and Okoke roads have been receiving attention in renewing culverts and general work. On the L*pper Piko road the foimation and bridge contracts have progressed appreciably. This district is again feeling the effects of no regular foreman, hut a recasting of positions may provide the necessary assistance. Gravel has been quarried and put out for repairs, a deduction, however, being made for inferior material, after repeated warnings to improve the quality. References to the boulder contract, fresh contractors, extended time, increased prices and more liberal conditions, appear equally ineffective in producing results. Mokau Riding.—At a meeting of the Tangitu settlers, when the route of the proposed deviation was inspected, it was resolved that in view of the increased estimated cost over the original figures, that the existing road be entirely regraded and widened throughout, which, it is considered, could be carried out at about half the cost of the deviation, and for which the money in hand would be adequate, whereas, to endeavor (o raise additional money at the present time would be almost impossible, and therefore, would unduly prolong the completion of the work until this financial difficulty could be overcome These proposals have been placed before the Resident Engineer, who, in tlie meantime, is verifying the figures of the re--1 spective routes. The timber for the coast road bridges has been delivered at Tongaporutu. The boulder contract at AA'ai-iti has been progressing as stone appeared on the foreshore. Tenders should be called for 500 yards of quarried shell-rock for maintenance work in this Ridinsr. The road through section til. situated at Mini;, has been surveyed and defined, which should prove useful to the council. I have made arrangements for 50 yards of gravel to he carted to the Pnkearuhe road for necessary repairs, and the re-building of the Waikaramarama bridge has been completed. Cr. Purdie expressed surprise at the amount of metal crushed for the roads in the Tikorangi riding, which he designated by-roads. The engineer stated that this was three years' accumulation. Ho did not know whether he. would be able to obtain maintenance metal for the main road in the Mokau riding, which was in a very bad state. In reply to Cr. Kinnintrton, the ensineer explained that a timber bridge had been placed on the Autawa road, in place of the pipes, in order to save time. He had not yet made any estimate of the difference in cost. The chairman considered it was bad policy to use timber where concrete pipes could bo used. TONGAPORUTU WHARF. The secretary to the Marine Department notified that the Order-in-Council licensing Mr Frank Kattenlniry to use and occupy a part of the foreshore at Tongaporutu as a site for a wharf, had been revoked, and that- Mr. R. O'Donnell, Snr„ had been licensed to occupy the site for a period of seven years. THE WILSON ROAD.

Mr. A. R. Greenwood forwarded copy of a resolution passed at the ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council on October 0, IS9I, agreeing to the deviation of the Wilson road through section S, block VII, Waitara, proposed by Mr. Greenwood, provided that the survey and conveyances to and from the council necessary to give legal effect to the interchange of land affected liy the deviation be completed by Mr. Greenwood when called upon to do so, at his sole cost. Cr. iPurdie stated that the previous owner had built liiii house partly on the road, and Mr. Greenwood required the deviation so as to safeguard his posi- ! tion regarding the house. It was resolved to inform Mr. Greenwood that lie still has permission to deviate the road. AN OLD MATTER. In reference to sections 25 and 20, Riverton township, LTrenui, wliicli were conveyed to the superintendent of the province in 1807, Mr. C. R. Stead, county solicitor, advised that the position now was that the land was vested in the Crown for the same objects as those for which it was originally acquired by the superintendent. In order to establish the council's claim to the land, it would 1 be necessary to ascertain for what purpose the land was acquired. If it can , be shown that the land was purchased for a public object within the council's jurisdiction, then, on application to the proper quarters, thcro will be no difficulty in having it vested in the council. In any case, if it can be shown that the land is now of use to the council, it

I might be possible to get the Governlnent to have it vested in the council without any -further evidence as to the objects for which it was originally purchased. Members expressed the opinion that it would be too costly to acquire the land, and it was resolved to leave tha mattet in abeyance. COLLECTION OF NATIVE RATES. The Hokianga County Council wrote asking the council's assistance in obtaining an amendment to the Rating Amendment Act, 1913, so that in the case of native land having no title in the ooiccs of the district land registrar or registrar of deeds, the lien for unpaid rates should be registered against the title in the Native Land Court. The county solicitor stated that the suggestion was a good one. The native land in the Clifton County Council was not quite in the same position as that in the Auckland province, as a large proportion was subject to the provisions of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act. As long as this land remained vested in the Public Trustee, there was a possibility of collecting a considerable proportion of the rates from him, and sooner or later the land will be individualised, and the natives will have titles against which liens could be registered. He suggested the following resolution: "That the council support the action of the Hokianga County Council, but that, in view of many cases of native land being subject to the provision!' of the AA'est Coafit Settlement Reserves Acts, a title under the Land Transfer Act is already in existence for the block affected, but owing to its being in the name of the Public Trustee and the non-completion of the freehold titles under the West Coast Settlements Reserves Act, 1013, for the various portions of the block, it is difficult (if not impossible) to register a lien, the amendment to allow registration of liens in the Native Land Court, whether or not a title in the Land Transfer Office or deeds register is in existence. On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Purdie, the resolution suggested by the solicitor was carried. AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE Mr. E. J. Butler, Mimi, waited on the council and suggested that the council should grant £IOO towards forming the road to his propertv, provided he offered £25. It was resolved to supply drain pipes for three culverts delivered at the junction of the main road, providing Mr. Butter did earthwork to the vaiue of the pipes to the satisfaction of the engineer. Mr. Butler did not think that was fair treatment. He had had. no assistance on the road, and his property had paid rates valued at £lB for about 30 years. He now wished to build, and thought that the council should vote £25 as well as the pipes. The chairman pointed out that the financial position of the riding would not permit. The council did not strike rates to make new roads. Mr. Butter accepted the offer, stating that he would make a further appeh.l. APPLICATIONS FOR FOREMEN. Before dealing with applications for the position of foreman at the rate of 12s per day, wet and dry, Cr. Kennington took exception to the chairman and engineer advertising at 12s per day, when the Council had decided that the wages should be lis per day. Ratepayers all over the county were discussing the matter, and he could give no explanation. Cr. Bower agreed. The engineer stated that the idea was to get thoroughly competent men in chargo of the important lengths on the Mokau Road, where they had men to look after. Cr. Kcnnington thought the responsibility was equal, whether the foreman had charge of a metal road or a road in the back-locks. The chairman denied that ho had exceeded his authority. He had not appointed any man. Other councils paid high wages, and Clifton would have to do so if they wished to get good men. If the men did not prove good men, the Council should dispense with them. Cr. Purdie agreed that a man should be paid 12s if he was worth it, in preference to paying lis to men who only earned ss. On the motion of Crs. Sander and Purdie it was decided to deal with the applications. Crs. Kennington and Bower voted against. Crs. Hicks and Old did not vote. Three applications were then received, and Mr. 11. W. Crozier, of Frankley Road, was appointed to tlio position of foreman at Waihi, the present foreman to bo removed to Okoke. ' GENERAL. The Mayor of Hokitika asked support to a resolution in favor of Parliament authorising a day of national prayer. — Already attended to by Parliament. A native named Kapinga, of Mimi, asked the Council to take steps to make a drain safe, which the surfaceman had cut through his flat, and in which he had lost several calves and sheep.—Referred to the engineer. The Minister of Public AVorks notified that the matter of granting a £ for £ subsidy on a loan of £SOO proposed to be raised by the settlers for the purpose of metalling a portion of the Kaipikari Road would bo considered when the estimates were being prepared. The application by the Mokau Coal and Estate Company for a slaughterhouse license at Mohakatino station was approved. The Postal Department forwarded statement of receipts and expenditure on the Ngatamiro telephone office, showing a deficiency of £l3 8s lOd on the year's working, the Council's liability being £-t 9s Td. —Cheque to be sent. It was resolved to take steps to recover cost of burying a horse at Matau, also to take legal proceedings against the owner of wandering stock. The Public AA'orks Department forwarded Gazette notice declaring portion of the Mold Road to be a county road. Accounts amounting to £893 Os 10d were passed for payment.