TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1917, Page 6

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlie last ordinary meeting of the Tarahaki County Council was 'held yesterday, when there were present: Crs.J. S. Connetfc (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J. B. Simpson, l\\l. Rinnic,, O. Andrews, J. Andrews, D. JkAllum, A. Morton, and G. Capper. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that since last meeting a larger filing cabinet had been purchased for the office and the smaller one disposed of at a satisfactory figure. The coal bin had been erected, the higher road formed, and the .first consignment of coal received. The lower road would be metalled whilst the crusher was at the Waiwakaiho depot. Metalling on the Lepper road was now completed, and settlers would appreciate the improvements, for during, the winter months the road had heen almost impassable. Foreman Taylor had made a good job of it in spite of the difficulties with which he had to contend. The few odd lots of stone on the Egmont road had also been crushed, waking a total of 824 yards. The roller was now engaged rolling on the Lepper road, and another week should complete the work. Owing to Foreman Hayes being still unfit for work Foreman Meredith had continued in charge of the rolling plant at Okato, and extra assistance should he given him on his own length in compensation.

Mr. Whittle had resigned 'his position under the council and Mr. A. Iluse had been appointed to fill the vacancy. On the '2sth inst., Mr J. Draper was engaged to take charge of the crushing plant so as to enable Driver Mackie to assist with repairs to the big engine, which should be completed in a few days. On the '27 th inst Cr. Morton and himself had represented the Council at a conference of County Council delegates at Hawera to discuss matters of mutual interest. The following tenders had been accepted during the month: Crushed stone, Spotswood, A. W. Cowling, 200 yards at 8s fid and 300 yards at 10s: Waiwakaiho, R. Parkin, 1248 yards at !i s fid; pit metal, Sutton road, J. Kendall, 50 yards at 6s 6d.

CHAIRMAN'S SUMMARY OF YEAR'S WORK. The past year 'has been a trying one to your Council. The continuance of the war and the •consequent further depletion of the man power of the Dominion has made it increasingly difficult to carry on the necessary work to maintain our roads in good condition. Fewer contracts were let. and several of those are not yet completed. Our permanent men have to get more stone than hitherto, and to hold our own we shall have to rely on them still further in the future. Roads.—-It has heen my business to visit every part of the County, and I must say that a steady improvement in the condition of our roads must be admitted. The whole of the roads may be said to be in very fair order indeed, with the exception of the Waitara Kidiris! and the recently merged area, the fornler consequent on the metalling contracts not being proceeded with. The roads in the late Okato Road District will require close attention for some considerable time. However, it is our duty to bring them up to the standard of requirements of this fertile area. The late Werekino Road Board's roads received special attention during the year, the Council having placed over 2500 yards on the Puniho road, which still leaves a portion of the road requiring attention. Toll Gates. —During the past session the much discussed Toll Gates Abolition Rill was brought before the House. This Council, 'in conjunction with Stratford, Elrham and Hawera, took steps to prevent the measure from becoming law, and the Bill lias been shelved in the meantime. Before passing on to the qustion of mergers, I would like to say that it would be impossible to keep the Main South Road open without the Puniho toll gate, unless we made a very heavy increase in the rates in the Omata and Okato ridings. Mergers.—The Okato Road District and a°portion of the Moa has merged during my terra of office as chairman. I desire to "congratulate, them on tile step they have taken, as I am confident it is in the best interests and in the interests of the county as a whole. While on this matter I trust you will .excuse me for going a' little further lirlto this question than T originally intended. The present conditions of things owin" to the war make it imperative that local bodies as well as the individual should effect all the economics possible. The existence of Moa and Waitara West Road districts fost the County ratepayers £479 per annum in loss of subsidy, and as the valuations increase this loss will increase at the same ratio. To this loss must be addiid the management of the two road districts, amounting to £O7O per annum, which could he whollv saved if the merger were effected. It is "quite apparent that Road Boards cannot be so economically administered as counties. For instance, for the year ended March 31, 1010, the management Charges of the Moa Road Board were 20 per cent, of its total income, the Waitara West f> 3-4 per cent., whereas the Council's was Oi per cent. There seems so much to be gained to all parties concerned by effecting the mergers that it seems to me only a slight misunderstanding that has prevented the matter bein" fuller gone into before. I would like "to see the three local bodies concerned meet around the table, and go thoroughly into the pros and cons of this important matter. If the mergers were effected the representaion would have to he re-adjusted. At present the Moa and Waitara, ridings with a total capital value of £1,383,243, have five representatives, against the rest of the Countv, with a value of £820,391 and four representatives. If the merger turned out the failure that is predicted by some persons associated with the road boards, the road district would be re-constituted under section 4 -'Road Districts Act, im)B," on petition of twothirds of the ratepayers of the area interested. . Financial—The fnnannal position of the various ridings are satisfactory, with the exception of Waitara and Okato. the former on account of the extraordinary expenditure on the Waiwakaiho bridge, and the hitter on account of the heavy demands for road maintenance and reconstruction in that riding The Waitara ridinc will have a strenuous time for several years to come, chiefly on account of the present debit balance and the construction of the Mangaone, Manganai and other culverts and bridges requiring attention.. The Okato riding will require tn t'ike some steps to modify their demand for re-metalling roads out of revcue or iixrca=e their .rates. The road oxp-nditnre in t.M« riding from April to September- SO was £2710, wherea* 'there w» only available tor .«•

penditure under all headings for the whole year. Further, the high cost of materials, tools and labor is considerably limiting the amount of work that can be done for twenty shillings as compared with previous years when things were normal, a o if there is no alteration shortly it is safe to predict an increase in the rates in future years. In conclusion 1 would like to tender you my sincere thanks and appreciation of help and consideration given to me at all times, and also for the honor conferred on me twelve months ago in electing me your chairman. The work was quite new to me, and entailed more of my time perhaps than one more conversant with the County. However, 1 can assure you I have endeavored to do everything from an impartial point of view, and in the interests of the Council and ratepayers generally. Metal.—During the year there has been deposited in the various ridings metal a* follows: Moa Riding, 2125 yards, average cost 7s, as against 8s 3d last year. Waitara Riding, 2942 yards, average cost 7s 2d. as against 5s 2d last year. Omata Riding, 1435 yards, average cqst 7s Od, as against (is 5d last year. Okato Riding, 2005 yards, average cost 6s Id, as against 5s 4d last year. The highest price was paid in the Waitara riding at !) s Od per yard, and the lowest price in the Moa and Waitara ridings at 5s per yard. The average throughout the County was 7s 3d per yard as against 6s last year. There was only one contract completed in the Mangorei riding, which was at Os per yard. Tlie reduced average price in the Moa riding this year is accounted for in the fact that last year we had 815 yards from Clarke's pit at 10s 6d and 100 yards on the Zig Zag at lis Od, neither of which has been completed this year. In addition to the above there were large supplies got out by day work at Puniho, Pitt's pit, Baker road and Sentry Hill, of which we have not costed.

Crushing, Rolling, /Scarifying and Watering Roads.—Wages, crusher, rollers and water-cart, £9Cfl 83 Od; coal, £215 2s 7d; repairs plant, £327 7s lOd; oil. waste, etc., £2G 9s 3d; depreciation, £144 7s 6d; £1079 15s lid. Which works out at 2s lOd per cubic yard but if the scarifying done by the small roller could be dissected and deducted it is estimated that the price would not exceed last year, viz 2s per cubic vard.

Cr. Morton congratulated the chairman on the comprehensive and concise report. The members recognised that the chairman had done his utmost in the interests of the council, and 'had devoted an extraordinary amount, of time to the work of the Council. The position had been rendered more difficult by trouble in obtaining supplies and the necessary labor, hut the Council had been able to get on remarkably well Had the Council known the great increase in the cost of upkeep, and provision necessary for roads an increase of rates would certainly have been made. Upkeep had increased by 20 per cent, but the rates levied remained the same. The question of a considerable increase would have to be considered next year. The county valuation was. generally extremely low, and it was impossible to keep roads in proper order with the small amount of rates received. He hoped that the matter would be considered by the Council and members of the various road boards in an impartial manner. With the increased valuation which must come there would be a greater incentive to work together. He trusted that the retiring chairman would accept office again during the comino year.

Cr. Simpson congratulated the chairman on the splendid manner in which lie had carried on the work of the past year. Ho asked for further information on the question of the merging with road boards. He did not consider the proposal was a fair one. The Council was still working under laws framed 40 years ago, which were not revised to meet the present increase in production. When a back country settler had asked for assistance he had been told to put his hands in his pockets and help himself. Those on the main roads were not asked to do that. Ho did not agree with the merging of the road boards with the Council jfor local interests w|ould be overlooked. As a rule he believed in amalgamation, but the proposed merging would be too cumbersome. If the State took over the upkeep of the main roads, something reasonable could be done to attend properly to the by-roads. He could not see what benefit, apart from increased subsidies, the Council would receive by the merging. If returned to I the Council ho would strongly oppose I the merging unless some satisfactory arrangement could hi; come to to make the travelling public take a share in the cost of maintenance of main roads. The chairman said that it was, a rule of the Council's that metalled roads should receive first consideration. The back country settlers were treated more liberally than if they went in for a loan, and it paid them handsomely to put their hands in their pockets and help themselves, for they reaped the benefit of the increased valuation of their property. It was quite impossible for the Council to do the work out of the ordinary revenue. They could only share what was left after the expenditure on the .main roads for the improvement of the back country. Xo satisfactory means had been devised whereby tolls collected from tho travelling public could be properly allocated. The argument that the Council should do more for the back country settler was a good reason for an increase in rates. The merging would do away with triple control, and he was satisfied that if representatives of the Council and members of the road boards met and considered the matter, an arrangement could be arrived at that would be for the good of the whole district. It was not in the interests of the ratepayers that the present system should be carried on any longer, and he looked forward to the time when the improvement would be made. Other councillors spoke in eulogistic terms of the chairman's work, and a vote of thanks was enthusiastically carried. ■

In moving that the council should vote £IOO to the chairman as remuneration for his services .of the past year. Cr. Morton expressed regret that under the rules of the council it was not possible to vote a larger sum. The amount was altogether inadequate even to cover mere expenses. Cr. Laurence pointed out that expenses had been very much increased by the fact that the chairman had also the work of the engineer on his hands. The chairman admitted that the remuneration was inadequate. He had taken over the work of the engineer when the latter went to the front, as a patriotic duty. He did not wish the council to meet him in any of the expenses incurred. ; After some discussion a committee, consisting of Crs. Morton. Laurence and McAllum, was appointed to go into the matter of the chairman's expenditure during the past year, and repprt to the ' * '■ on November 28-

The chairman declined to accept the resolution, but after discussion it was carried. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. ' Plant.—Enginedriver Maekie: During the month the crusher worked 17% days, crushing Franklcy road 400 i ya"Ms, Girrington road 301 yards. "Waiwakaiho depot IDS yards; total 080* yards. Started crushing Carrington road on the 12 th inst, and Waiwakaiho on the 23rd inst. The Avjling and Porter engine is still under repairs. Enginedriver Stewart: During the month I have been rolling and scarifying on the Franklcy, Baker, Carrington, Devon and 'Parrate'roads doing Kill chains in all. Enginedriver Orr: f have been rolling and scarifying on the Main South, Puniho and Carrington roads and completed 140 chains. ilea Riding.—Foreman Laurence: The timber has arrived to do Bark Whare Creek bridge. I have re-decked Ngatoronui bridge. Foreman Mallon: I have been engaged on the usual miscellaneous repairs. I require a wheelbarrow mid twenty-five fencing posts for Zig Zap. Foreman Bennett: I have had assistance and taken off some of the bad corners and widened cuttings. The decking of Manganui, Maketawa, and Jfgatoro has been repaired. Foreman Heal: Most of my time has been taken up assisting Foreman Tav lor The decking of Chain bridge and Upland road north bridge requires some renewals. Foreman Taylor: J. Neilson has delivered 801% yards on the Lepper, Egmont and Lepper-Carrington rtoads. .Sixteen chains has been rolled and blinded on the Lepper and Egmont roads. I require two 18-inch and one 9-inch pipes for Lepper road. Foreman Batten: I have been assisting at the crusher at I'rankley, Carrington and Baker roads I require 30 yards of metal to repair the old Albert road and eight l)-inch pipes to replace wooden culvert on Maude road. lam engaged forming umnetalled portion of Old Hospital, road. Foreman Kcast: I have been engaged in general maintenance work. Messrs S. and J. Williams caine out with plough and assisted free on the Maude road. Foreman Spencer: My time has been taken up chiefly with the plant. We crushed 3AO yards on the Baker road and metalled nine chains three yards \vith 113 yards, and spread the balance. 277 yards, on the Carrington road. The Mangorei creamery received four yards. Seven 9-inch pipes are required on the Upper Mangorei road. __ Waitara Riding.—Foreman J. Holmes: for 15J days f was assisting at the coal bin, Smart road. 1 have placed on the road 142 yards received from the crusher. Foreman F. Holmes: I was 17 days working at the coal depot at Smart road. The rest of my time has been taken up with ordinary work. Foreman W. Holmes: I have been engaged with tn«. roller and on the ordinary maintenance work. I was assisting at Smart road coal depot until the 23rd inst. Foreman Proud: Three weeks of my time has been taken up at the construction of the coal bin and the remainder with the crusher.

Omata, Riding.—Foreman Seamark: Spotsvvood road is cutting up with pur boulder carting which I will repair when the weather is favorable. lam at present blasting and spawling stone on the beach for A. W. Cowling's contract of metal for the tarring. Foreman Eva: My time has been taken up with the new metalling. The crusher put through Old yards. I have dumped CO yards on Vcalo road for Cole's hill when favorable. Last season we metalled 16 chains on the Barrett road and there is 28 chains left between the end of the metal and N". King's gate.

Oka to Hiding— Foreman Sefton: My roads are in fair condition. I have ploughed 25 chains of lower Weld road and am now forming it up. Foreman Meredith: Most of my time has been taken up with the roller. I finished my length on the l&th and started with the roller on the 23rd inst, in Foreman Hayes length, doing about 20 chains on the Puniho road and 20 chains on the Carrington road. Five 24-inch pipes are required oB the Upper Timaru road. Foreman West: I have been awav from home with tho crusher for six weeks in all and would like the allowance passed Foreman Wadsworth: Roads in this length are fair with the exception of top end of Puniho which I will attend to as soon as the roller is finished. I desire the Council to allot me a length of road to look after. I could take the to look aftei. I could take the late Okato road board roads and Foreman Meredith will help me through with any large work or when the crusher is in my length. . INSPECTOR'S REPORT. I proceeded with the erection of tho coal bin at Smart road. I finished the coal bin on October 24 and the rest of the month I have been collecting the dog tax in the Waitara. riding. I have ordered enough decking to re-dock the Richmond road bridge, Leppcrton, and also ordered 20 planks for the Waiongona bridge, Devon road, from instructions received from the chairman. PLYMOUTH ROAD. A deputation of ratepayers of the Ply. mouth road approached'the council to ask if any help would be given them for the improvement of the Plymouth road. It was suggested that if the- council carried out improvements on the western side of the bridge over the Tapuae, the settlers would carry on the work on the other 1 side. Some' of the settlers hao. been on the road for 20 years, and were no better oif at the present time. Cr. Binnie said that the council's difficulty in a c:iso nf this sort was that money wheih had been raised for a loan for a special purpose elsewhere would have to be diverted from its purpose. Cr. Morton asked if the settlers were willing to go in for a loan. The deputation stated that the settlers were quite willing to do so if the council would help. The chairman advised that the settlers should go in for a substantial loan that would satisfy them for some time to pome In the course of discussion on the matter. Cr. Binnie said that something ought to be done. It was the remarkable that as one went down .the coast the more self-supporting the settlers were. Those nearer town expected roads to be laid down free of expense to themselves. The settlers on Plymouth road were willing to help themselves. He proposed that they should be called on to go in for a loan to do what was required.

Cr. McAllum moved and Cr. Capper seconded, that the ratepayers be advised to raise a sufficient loan to carry out the necessary earthwork and metalling on the road, and to aSquire what land was necessary for deviations. Cr. Morton suggested that engineering and surveying fees in connection with the proposed work should be borne by the council. —Carried. KOMENE ROAD. A deputation of European and nativft settlers waited on the council to ask that the decision not to go on with the

work on Komene road should be reconsidered. Mr A. H. Johnstone spoke on behalf of the deputation, and stressed the facts that the natives on that road were not of a nomadic disposition, that that their rates had been regularly paid. Mr. W. J. Grey pointed out ' t , ia( . ag t]le native., on this .road had individualised titles their land must be treated in the same way as European lands The chairman said that 'the council had decided to suspend the work wholly on account of the difficulty in collecting native rates on that road. The 1016-17 rates were probably paid up, as a result of the council's action. It seemed that the council was taking a dangerous responsibility, but if guarantees could be given that the rates would be paid the work would be continued. After discussion it was decided that the matter be referred to the council's solicitor, and if he considered the position satisfactory to go on with the work. THE' ZIG-ZAG. A report was received from Messrs Madden and Palmer in connection with the proposed deviation of the zio-za* on the Junction road between Kaimata°and Tarata. Without a eloee su,rvey a definite opinion could not bo made, but apparently there was no other place near the present road which offered much prospect of a better road line. There was no line close by so much better than the present road as to warrant the large expenditure which would be involved'" The present road could be considerably j m . proved. It would be possible to iet an even gradient of 1 in IS or 14, but that would involve at least a mile of road lower down the hillside than the present one.

From Miro road westward towards Tnglowood. a very ohvious improvement was possible. A deviation could be made lower down the hillside which would render the road almost level and somewhat shorter. The rest of the hill on the Inelewood side might bo improved by widening and taking off bad points.

CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. G. Schwamm wrote to the effect that the settlers of the Upper Mancorel road were prepared to give £ for .€ for the metalling of the hill, providing the road was formed as far as Mr. TTaAvke's gate.—Decided that the chairman should report on the matter. Mr. Bononi White, of Lower Mangorel, wrote further in reference to the removal' of metal from his property bv the council—The information has'been supplied. Mr. L. Paul. Tnglewood, wrote asking that the council should forward the amount due on a bpulder contract he had taken up nearly two years a«o, and offering to accept £ls 15s. The matter was left in the bands of the ebaVman Major H. C. Ncetsford, Assistant Quartermaster-General, wrote aeknowledging the receipt of a letter re the Mangaone stream diversion, and the Rewa Rewa rifle range, and stating that the iPublic Works Department had been requested to have the area in question declared Crown land in terms of section 5 of the Public Works Amendment Act, 1001. and then set apart under section 21 of the principal Act for diversion or the Mangaone stream.—Received.

Mr. J. W. Archer wrote requesting that pipes be laid to take the storm water across a track on his property on the Upper Petone road. He undertook to lay the pipes if the council would provide them.—Foreman to report. Mr Okey, M.P.. wrote that the Minister of Public Works had agreed to contribute one-third of the cost for the reinstatement of the Waiwakaiho bridge.—lt was decided to wrote a letter of thanks to Mr. Okey.

Mr. C. W. Whittle resigned his position as foreman.—Accepted, Mesrs Bredin Bros, asked that the crusher site be taken away and the holes filled up on their property; also that a cheque for royalty be forwarded.—Left over for a report. The resident engineer of the Publia Works Department wrote in reference to the Under-Secretary, with a view of having authority issued at an early date. Mr. W. J. Tristram, acting secretar.y at the county councils conference, notified the decision of the conference as to surfacemen's wages.. Mr. J. Brown wrote in answer to a letter from the elerk in reference to the taking of metal from a pit at Tariki road without authority, stating that he had made an arrangement whereby the person who removed the- metal was to have •free use of the ground as long as he kept it clear of weeds, and no arrangement was made regarding metal.—lt was decided that an account for the metal removed be sent in. GENERAL. It was decided to pay Messrs Julian and Grylls 3s per yard on 130 yards of stone crushed, and to authorise a further 50 yards at the same price. The chairman and the Moa riding members will view the site of the proposed rcgrading at Kaimata and Junction road, and endeavor to arrive at a decision after consulting with the Moa Road Board. The engineer will be requested to prepare plans and specifications for a concrete bridge over the Mangaone stream on the Junction road east of Inglewood.

Accounts amounting to £IOO2 0s Id were passed for payment, made up a3 follows: General expenses. £484 15s lid; Moa ridine, £2OO 5s !ld; Mangorei riding, ClO5 lis 4d; Waitara riding. £309 5s ind; Omata riding, £2OO 18s 3d; and Okato riding, £ 135 3s. The council dealt with a considerable amount of routine business^. At the conclusion of the business. Cr. Morton expressed pleasure at the smooth manner in which work had proceeded under the chairman, and hoped that Cr. Connett would hold the same position with equal success during tho coming year.