EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1917, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake yesterday, when there were present: Crs. M. Fleming (chairman), K. •!. W. McNeill, S. Campbell, W. K. Wright, S. Forsyth, M. J. Mcßeynolds, J. Young and T. Harvey. VOTES OF SYMPATHY.

After the confirmation of minutes, the chairman stated that the council since the last meeting had lost one of its oldest and ablest members by the death of Cr. .Dudley, and on his motion, seconded by Cr. Mcßeynolds, the council adjourned until after lunch as a mark of respect. After the luncheon adjournment the chairman, in moving a. vote of sympathy to the widow and relatives of the late Cr. W. C. Dudley, stated that he had been . associated with local bodies for over 30 years, and during that period no member had stood higher in his estimation. Not only was the death of Cr. Dudley a loss to the county and the town, but lie was also a son of the Empire, no man having done more for the Empire in giving assistance than their late member. The motion, which was seconded toy Cr. McNeill, was carried in silence. The chairman also moved a vote of condolence and sympathy with the widow and relatives of the late Mr. R. Warner, a former member of the council, who was an old and esteemed resident of the district. This was seconded by Cr. Campbell and carried. ENGINEERS REPORT. Mr. C. R. Pease, the recently appointed engineer, submitted a lengthy general report on the state of the roads which he had been able to inspect since taking up his duties on October 22. Consideration of the report, which also' dealt with other matters, was deferred until the first meeting of the new council. He also submitted the following report of work done: — Oeo tiding (Northern). —The men have been engaged on the work of cleaning out water tables and ordinary maintenance on the Eltham, Patiki, Oeo, Kiri and Watino roads.

Oeo riding (Southern). —Main South road: The work included the spreading of clay binding near the Watino road, and ordinary surface worjk. A new joist has been put in the .Punehu bridge Skeet road: A new culvert has been put in under the road, and some repairs done to fencing. Watino road: Some patching has been done and a short length of the road near the Main South road covered with clay binding. Hone road: A small amount of ordinary surface work has been done. Opua riding.—Main South Toad: 482 cubic yards of crushed boulder stone and 70 yards of screenings have been laid on this road north of Hcimama bridge, completing contract No. 310, and making the total of stone used on this length 978 yards crushed metal nnd 12<> yards screenings. A length of about 29 chains fust north of tlie Arawhata road has been scarified and rolled In, again using a very small quantity, of maintenance metal to help to reface it. The water tables have cleared at places, and a short lengtli of road covered with clay binding south of the Arawhata road. Eltliam road: Nothing has been done on this road except the binding with clay of the best portion between the Main South and Mr. Mcßeynold's place. The crusher plant was withdrawn from this riding about October 22 and taken to the yard for repairs but as there were no tools or materials ready for this work the plai\t was allowed to be set up at the Waiau bridge and crush a small quantity of boulders for the Opunake Town Board, tho loan of the plant, I understand, having been granted by the council some time ago. Rahotu Riding.—A new 1 Sin. concrete pipe culvert has been .put in north of Rahotu, and a wooden culvert across the side track north of Kina Road has been replaced with 12in. concrete pipes, A pipe culvert south of Warea, which was blocked, has been cleaned out and a line of 12in. concrete pipes put in alongside it for the full width of the road. Several large rocks have, been blasted out and removed from the water-tables north and south of Warea. These rocks were left projecting into tho water-tables some time ago when cuttings were made on the roadsides. The bridge work at the Teihaparua stream has been dealt with in my general report. BRIDGE FOREMAN'S REPORT. Mr. A. E. White, bridge foreman, submitted schedule of material required in connection with the re-erection of the Waitotoroa bridge, and recommended that tenders for shingle be called as soon as possible, Cr. Wright urged that tenders should be called at once for the shingle, as the bridge urgently required renewing. The chairman said it was the worst bridge between Opunake and -JTew Plymouth, and the engine-driver had refused to take the engine over it. If it collapsed it would stop traffic on the road. Cr. Yotlng considered that all the new permanent bridges should be built wider than at present was done. The bridges were now being built for all time, and traffic was increasing every year. Some of the new bridges had been built too narrow and he considered that a standard should be set up. There wore also many had bends on the road that should be straightened. Cr. Wright said he had always favored the bridges being built 18ft. wide instead of 16ft., as it wa s difficult for two motor waggons to pass on them. It was decided to obtain the necessary shingle. Cr. Young considered that the road should be straightened, so as to remove the awkward angle at the approach to the bridge.

The chairman stated that the bridge would he 'built below the present site, which would remove the angle,

THE PUXEHU BRIDGE,

Mf. 0. A. Wilkinson, M.P., notified that a £ for £ subsidy had been placed on the estimates for the Kltham road bridge, and he suggested writing to Wellington to ask when the money would be available. In reply to a letter from the council, thanking him for granting a subsidy of £BOO and asking that payment should he authorised at an early date, as the bridge was lit ft bad state and tile counoil was anxious to call for tenders for its re-erection, the Minister of Public Works notified that he was obtaining a report. The chairman considered that the matter was very satisfactory, though it would be more satisfactory if the money was available at present. He Wd Mr, Rogers were greatly Indebted

to Mr. Wilkinson for assistance rendered over l.lio mutter when they were in Wellington, and on his motion a vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Wilkinson. THE WIREMU ROAD. The chairman expressed »vatili«dion at the sum of .1100!) being placed on fclie estimates for the Wiremu road, and he hoped that the incoming council would see that the money was expended and the vote not allowed to lapse ats was done previously. EMPLOYEES' WAGES. Mr. W. J. Tristram. Eltham, notified that the conference of local bodies had decided that the maximum wages of surfacemen should be 12s per day for time worked, excepting in special circumstances. The chairman said that the rate paid by the Egmont County compared more than favorably with that paid by other Taranaki local bodies. He pointed out that some local bodies, particularly Patea, Eltham, and Clifton, built cottages for their employees, charging rent equal to interest and depreciation. In Waimate all the employees were allowed half an hour's travelling time to get to work. ■ The action of the conference was approved GENERAL. The Valuer-General notified that owing to the reduction of the staff, due to enlistments, he could not at present say when the work consequent upon the formation of the new Opua Riding would be completed. He proposed to rubber stamp on the margin of existing rolls the riding in which each property is situated, and to type on schedules the assessment numbers and valuation figures for each riding. Separate rolls could be prepared at the next revision of values. The Recruiting Board notified that the first portion of the Dominion alphabetical roll of men of the Second Division Reserve was being printed, and the first part, A to E, was now ready. It was hoped that members of the council would check the list and advise of any entry in a wrong class or omissions. Mr. J. G. Rutherford, flax mill owner, Waverley, forwarded cheque for £2 8s Sd, in payment of timber destroyed by his cutters The Customs Department notified that a voucher for £135, being the amount of ordinary customs duty on the motor road-roller recently imported by the council was being forwarded to the treasury for payment to the council. The letter also indicated that preferential duty £3B Gs and primage £5 10s 7d were not repayable. Mr. A. M. Collins, Leura, notified that since interviewing the council he had not given any one permission to remove jh ingle from the Punehu ford, nor would lie do so in future without first communicating with the council. Two months previously lie had given a settler permisto remove shingle for some concrete work, but was under the impression that it had been removed at the time. i The engineer was authorised to see that settlers in the Rahotu and Pungarehu district who have received, notice to keep the road in front of their properties clear of weeds took steps to carry this out. The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that the Full Court had advised that the manner in which identification marks shall be affixed to motors was a matter that must be determined by the Governor-General hr Order-in-Coimeil, and that he cannot delegate his powers to registering authorities. This decision made it necessary to amend the regulations, and a copy was enclosed for consideration. The suggested amendment provides that numbers be fixed both in front and at the rear. The council expressed the opinion that identification numbers at the rear would be sufficient. ' » The engineer was instructed to order any duplicate tools urgently required. The engineer is to report on the question of storm water at Kahui Road, complained of by the Kahui Road.