TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY -MEETING. ~ | The monthly meeting of the Taranaki' County Council was held yesterday. There were present Councillors J. S. Connett (chairman), J. Andrews, G. Capper, A Morton, A. E. Laurence, J. B. Simpson, J. Wooldridge, and C. Andrews. An apology for absence was received from Cr. D. McAllum. , CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that the matter of the foremen's lengths in the Omata Riding had been settled, the lengths remaining as at present. In connection with Christmas pay, progress payments had 'heen made to A. W. Cowling, A. Haskell, and J. Kendall, certificates being senyin each case. The report continued: "I mave agreed with Mr. W. R. West regarding rental of paddock at Waiwakaiho bridge, and have accepted Messrs Cook and Lister's tender for dog collars. It ,is recommended that accrued thirds on the Petone-Carrington roads be spent' in connection with the erection of a bridge over the stream crossing the Carrington road near the Petone school. From enquiries made tile removal of screenings from the County road at K>imiro has been done under a misapprehension and the matter should be reconsidered. On request from the Wanganui Restar Company, extension of time lias been granted for commencing their tarring work at Spotswood to January 11, which would enable crushing to be done at Tozer's depot as originally intended. The plant is engaged on this work now, and with fine weather s-hould finish this week. I accepted R. Parkin's tender of os 9d for Colson's road, and 144 yards of crushed stone were used. I have also sanctioned an increase in the quantities specified in the Waiwakaiho contract to make good additional weak sections on the road. I deemed this course wise in view of present labor difficulties, as it may be years before another crushing is made at this depot. Altogether '443 yards additional were put through which would be deducted from next years' allocations. The Waiwakaiho flat i? now in good order from the bridge to the foot of the Mangaone Hill .and quite fit to be tar-sealed if funds permitted."

The chairman's actions in the matters referred to in the report were approved. It was decided What an offer of Kipa Manukonga of half an acre of land for the use of the Pnniho toll gate at the rent of £.l per annum be accepted.

report on plant. Engine-driver Mackie: The crusher worked 13% days crushing' 1045 yards of metal. Fnishcd Parkin's contract on December 21. Engine-driver Stewart: I have been engaged rolling and scarifying on the Devon, Smart and Lock's road completing 55 chains in all. Enginedriver Orr: We have scarified and rolled two miles 54 chains on the flreenwood, Lower Timaru and Main South roads. The wliare attached to this plant is practically beyond repair.—The report was approved. I RIDING REPORTS. Mqa Riding.—Foreman Mellon: My time has been taken up with usual miscellaneous repairs. There is a. culvert I,near Mr. (Jarr's place on Tariki road that requires replacing. Mr. Carr has four 12-inch pipes which would suit and he will sell them for Us each. The Zig Zag required 150 yards to maintain it for this winter, there is only 100 authorised. It is Very necessary to 'have further 50 yards when the contractor is in the pit. Foreman Heal: I have been engaged blinding the various mads under my control—lt was resolvect that the pipes be supplied a 3 requested and that Messrs Julian and Grylls be asked to proceed with the contract at Tarata pit and that they supply a further 50 yards at a price to be arranged by the riding councillors.

Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Batten: I have made a new depot as instructed and the balance of my time blinding. Foreman Roast: I liavo been employed at t'he usual maintenance work, and insisting Foreman Batten. Foreman Spencer: My 'time ha? been taken up with the usual maintenance work. A settler is carting wood on Upper Carrington road and allowing his team to wander in the water tables and damage the roadway. —lt was arranged that the foreman be asked to assess the damage caused to the Carrington road, and tfTat a claim be made for the amount.

Waitara Riding.—Foreman J, Holmes: I have received 849 yards of metal, altogether I have received 1531 yards for roads in my length. 1 would like authority to employ a man for two weeks to assist. Foreman F. Holmes: During tflie month I have received US yards of crushed metal—lt was resolved that the necessary work required 'by the foreman no done to the M&ngate& road. Omata riding.—Foreman .Seamark: I have received .S3 yards of metal on the Sutton road from J. Kendall. I require planks to construct crusher site at Spotswood. Foreman Eva: T liave been engaged at the usual miscellaneous repairs.

Okato Riding.—Foreman SeftDn: My length is in very good order. T have rolled and scarified three miles 45 chains on Greenwood. Lower Timaru and Main South roads which are very satisfactory. Foreman West: I liave been engaged at the usual maintenance work.

It was resolved that the matter of the expenditure of the Komene road loan he left in the li**4s 0 f the chairman and the members for the Okato Hiding with full power to act.

INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The county inspector reported that J during the month of December he had teen engaged completing tfhe collection of the dog-tax in the Moa riding. Acting on instructions from the chairman he was at present engaged in repairs to the MangapraJta bridge on the Te Arei road. CORRESPONDENCE. A telegram of seasonable greetings and expressing a wish for early and complete victory in the war to the Empire and her allies was received from lit. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward.—The chairman reported that a suitable reply had been forwarded. The local trustees for the Efficiency Board wrote thanking tfhe council for placing a room at their disposal for use as au office.—Received, Govett and Quilliam, solicitors, wrote asking the council to execute a memorandum of lease of section 24, Tarurutangi district, oh behalf of Frank Copestake, assignee of the section.—Authority to sign the memorandum was given. The same firm also wrote asking for the consent of the council to the assignment of the lease of part section 110, Tarurutangi district, from I. (5. B. Forrester to Roy John Dttisley.—(fonsent was given. The town clerk of New Plymouth, wrote in reference to work at Old Albert' road, stating that the borough engineer «»d been instructed to confer wfth thej county cviiflcil with * visw to the count:?

council undertaking the work at the borough expense. The borough engineer also wrote- asking that an estimate of the work to be done be submitted. —The chairman reported that he had authorised the work to lie done during the time the council's employees were working in the vicinity of the section requiring repairs.

The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote that the matter of the Mangaone stream deviation was receiving the attention of the department.—Received. The Public Works 'Department forwarded authority for the expenditure of £ 100 on work on the Lepper road.— Received.

The Public Works Department also forwarded authority for the expenditure of £IO3O on repairs to the Waiwakaiho river bridge.—Received. The resident engineer wrote stating that the council's request in respect to a grant for work at Car ring ton road would be acceded to.—Received.

Six ratepayers on the Surrey Hill road petitioned the council to rai6e a special loan for the purpose of forming and metalling Surrey Hill road from the end of the present metal as far as Mr. F. Morris' proeprty. Petitioners asked to be supplied with an estimate of the cost land the amount of special rate each would have to pay.—lt was decided that the engineer be instructed to submit to petitioners an estimate of the oost of the work. The district engineer of railways wrote that a private level crossing near Tariki, in order to permit of the council crossing the line with supplies of metal, Iliad been approved on certain conditions which were set out in detail.—lt was decided, on the motion of Crs, Laurence and C. Andrews, to accept the conditions and proceed with th? work. The Clifton county engineer wrote enclosing details of tTii> cost of repairs to the Tarata boundary bridge, amounting to £lB4 3s 3d. and'asked the Taranaki Council to remit half the cost ( £92 Is 7d). —The matter of dealing with material left over was left to the chairman and the member for the riding. TENDERS. Tenders for cartage of boulders for the Lepper-Carrington road were received, but no contract was let, as prTees were considered excessive. Tenders were also received for the erection of a bridge over the Mangaone river on the Junction road east. It was decided that the matter be left to the chairman and riding members to deal with.

HOUSING MACHINERY. On the motion of the chairman, a subcommittee, consisting of Crs. A. Morton, C. Andrews, A. E. Laurence, and the chairman was set up to go into the question of erecting suitable housing accommodation for th« council's machinery, and to report at next meeting. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £I«SS 7s 6d were passed for payment as follows: Administration £079 Is 9d, Moa Riding £lOl 17s Id, Mangorei Riding £33 lis 6d.. Waitara Riding £362 10s 3d, Omata Riding £2l, Okato Riding £96 17s lOd.