TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, '. The monthly jueclhig of the Taranaki County Council was held at the County Chambers yesterday. There were present: Crs. J. S. Connett (chairman), A. E, Laurence, J. 13. Simpson, J. Wooklridge, C. Andrews, D, McAllum, A. Morton, G. | Capper and J- Andrews. CHAIRMAN'S KEPORT. The chairman reported as follows: I have to report that I have arranged with A. W. Cowling to proceed with the lormatiOn work on hitf Komene road contract as soon as (possible. , Messrs Roberts and Sons' tender for the Mangaone culvert, Devon road, has been .accepted arid the work is being proceeded with. No tender has been accepted for the Mangaone bridge, -Swanson's fla,t. I have instructed Foreman Hayes to proceed With the metalling of the Honi and Lower Puniho roads, as soon as teams are available, also with the expenditure of money voted for the Oxford road. Foreman Meredith will do necessary for- } nmtion work on Devon road near Mr. I Wrbby's as soon as convenient. W. s'fhoiriiison is commencing his Egmont read contract to-day, and. arrangements 'have been made with the Inglewood Borough Council for the use of their soarifier for a day or two till our own plant is available. The Perth road metalling Was completed on March 1. This work was done under Foreman Meredith, and an excellent tarty was made. The total amount of stone crushed was 1180 yards, which wUa put at the rate of 112 yards per day (eight hours). The plant is now on the Upper Petone road and will proceed from there to Koru, and then to Bell Block. The tar-sealing at SpotßWOod was completed on February 12, and so far as can bo seen at present is quite satisfactory. It was not possible at present to place a completo statement of the cost of the work before the Council. Tar-sealing was commenced at Wniwakaiho on February 18. and a length of 63 chains was coated in four days. A second coat is now being put on and will he finished this week. The work has every appearance of being a first-class job. , The chairman's authorisations were approved, and a special motion of appreciation of the. work of Foreman Meredith and his staff on the Perth road was carried unanimously. REPORTS ON PLANTS. Enginedriver Mackie: During the month the following quantities of metal were put through the ftachine; Spotswood depot 817 yards, Perth road depot 098 yards. There was put through the machine at Spotswocd in all 931 yardsEngin.edriver Stewart: I have been rolling and scarifying on the Main South and Perth and Koru roads. RIDING REPORTS. Moa Riding.—Foreman Laurence: With the authority of Cr. Simpson I engaged a man for two days. I require three 18-inch pipes to lengthen culvert opposite Mr. A. Marshall's, Mountain read. Foreman Majllon: I have been engaged spreading metal. Messrs Julian and Oryllo delivered 154 yards oil the Junction road. I am at present assisting the inspector with the concrete wallForeman Dennett; My time has been occupied with the usual mahnienauce wo'K. I require 30 feet of 2ft pipes to replace wooden culvert near Mr, Burrell's, Mangaone Stream. Foreman Heal: I have been engaged at sundry repair work on the Eursthouse, Egmont and Junction roads. I require shovel and 10 lb a bridge spikes. Foreman Taylor: I have finished blinding Egmont road south and put in culverts and completed fillings on Lepper road. Repairs are required to the Bedford road bridge and the bridge on the Lepper-Carrington road- I asked Mr. L. Gopperth (Egmont road) to remove a log culvert which is blocked up and he is not making use of it and it is causing the water to cross over the road. The action of ,Cr. Simpson 'WaB approved, and it was also agreed to supply the pipes asked for by Foreman Laurence. Supplies asked for bv Foreman Bennett and Heal were also authorised. It was decided' that Mr, L. Gopperth be requested to remove the obstruction to the flow of water on Egmont road. . ' Cr. Morton referred to several small bridges in the riding which needed repairs, anil raised the question as to ' whether tihe time had not arrived when i the. Council should consider the putting of'ttre bridges into a state of permanent durability. He was opposed to the spending of large sums of money on temporary repairs, and thought the Council should face'the. position of erecting .permanent bridges as soon aa possible.

' The chairman intimated that councillors would have an opportunity of considering the matter at a later stage. ; . Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Batten: I *yas assisting wit'h the tar sealing at Wa hvafcaiho. I have inspected Upper Alfred road complained of by Mr. Lilly. It requires two 0-inch pipes to repair broken culvert. The drains tequire cleaning out; some rocks Bhould be blasted and about 1* chains require metalling for which Mr. Lilly offered some time ago to cart the stone. Foreman Keast: My time has been occupied' on the. Albert, Hill and Korito roads. The Hill road requires scarifying and rolling 'as the wheel tracks are cutting deeply into the metal. Foreman Spencer: Usual road repair work has been done. Trees are still overhanging the road on Mrs. Brydpn's frontage, Carrington road. .Complaints have been received of cattle lieing turned on to the road at night. The supplies for by Foreman Batten were authorised. With reference to Foreman Spencer's report it wtis decided to notify Mrs. Bryden to eut back the overhanging trees, otherwise the Council would have the work done at her expense. Waitara Riding.—Foreman .T. Holmes: The Waiwakaiho Flat, 83 chains, Oft, has been tar-pealed one coat. The wooden culvert at lower end of Henwnod road has been rt placed with co'.u'rete pipe#. Foreman F. Holmes: I have ben assisting -with the tar sealing and I also replaced two culverts on Egmont road with nine-inch eor.erote pipes. Foreman .Proud: I reauiro eleven fl-ineh pipes for culvert pn : Hursthcuse road near factory, also twelve H-inch on King rend near F. Roger's hill. Foreman W. Holmes: My time has been taken up with the usual ma : ntehanee work and assistincr the other foremen.

The pipes asked for by Foreman Proud wie authorised.

Cr. Laurence Drought up the question of the formation of the Lower Lopper rofi;' and it was agreed that if Mr WDaviq would assist with the supply of team* and plough the foreman he instructed to proceed with the work.

[ Omata Hiding.— Seamark;. I have broken down and spread 200 yards of on Jlurford road, metalling about 18 obiuns which is partly rolled. This road above the bridge is practically worn out and is being cut to pieces by the heavy loads oi luilk to tlie cheese factory carried by the milk wagyn. Another six months of such trallic will necessitate the Council re-metalling the whole road. The Barrett road is breaking up and requires maintenance metal immediately. I have metallea six chains of old Omata road leading to C. Moore's property. I 'have received 031 yards from A- W. Cowling's contract—B33 yards for tar work spread on 73% chains, 30 yards dumped .for maintenance work Main road, if.2 yards old Oinata road, 12 yards dumped for maintenance Lower Barrett road, fou; yards dumped i'or maintenance Spotswood road. I received from K. Parkins 170 yards of crushed chips and from L. Russell 104 yards of beach gravel. Foreman W. Eva: I have been assisting, at the tar grouting at Spotswood and tar sealing at Waiwakaiho. The balance of my time has been taken up with usual repairs.

Okato Riding.—Foreman McOrnth: I have had GO chains on Main road and five miles on Koru and Upper"Plymouth roads rolled and scarified. lam at present assisting at Perth road : metalling. Foreman Sefton: My time has been taken up assisting at the tar grouting at Omata and with the plant at Perth road. Foreman Collins: I have been enRaged at tlio usual, and am now on the Perth road assisting with the metalling. Foreman Meredith: I have been engaged on tlio Perth road practically the whole of my time. Foreman Hayes:' The Main road in my length is fair 'but the ordinary roadg are very rough, particularly the Oxford road. I have completed the work on the Saunders road, also ploughed and formed 45 chains of the road above the Carrington road'.'' I Sim assisting on the Perth road at present. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. As directed, I have made the 15 boundary blocks. I have also ordered the timber for Lepper, Carrington road, aiv Hurstliouse road bridges, and v. ill ifiake a start with the repairs when I have finished the concrete wall at Tarata. I have made a start with the wall at Tarata and expect to get it finished towards the latter end of the week. I have issued five licenses to drivers of vehicles in the course of the month. On the 14t'h I attended Court to prosecute two persons for breaches of by-laws. CORRESPONDENCE. The town clerk for the Borough of New .Plymouth wrote with refefence to the Waiwakailio bridge that the Borough Council had agreed to pay one-third of the cost provided tile total did not exceed £2752. As the total expenditure amounted to £3090 the Council deeirei* to know before deciding whether it would contribute the extra amount asked for whether (lie amount covered the whole of the work contemplated and the whole of the outstanding liabilities connected therewith. The chairman intimated that there was still a western wing to be erected* which was to be based on the weir construction when completed, and the sum mentioned (£3090) did not cover the whole of the liabilities connected with that work on the bridge.—lt was decided to inform the Borough' Council accordingly.

The Manawatu County Council forwarded a resolution which it asked the Council to support, asking the Minister of Railways to grant the resumption of special trains for local race meetings on account of the heavy expenditure to local bodies for the maintenance of main roads, through additional motor traffic.— Received,

H. Shaw wrote complaining of the state of Leith road, from the creamery downwards. The writer stated that nothing had been spent on the road sincß the Okato Road District was mer.ied into the county.—lt was stated that the foreman had instructions to attend to the road.

W. Fisher wrote urging attention to the Petone road before the coming winter. otherwise the residents of that locality would be subject to another period of isolation.—lt was reported that the crusher was at present engaged on work at Petone road.

W. A. Corbett, for the settlera of the Upper Saunders and Carrington roads, wrote asking the Council to erect two small concrete bridges over the Maungalete stream —one on Saunders road and one on Carrington road. It was pointed out that during last season there Were occasions when settlers, who have t<v cross the stream daily to reach the factory, were unable to do so on account of floods, and also that the stream had to be crossed by children going to school. Some of the settlers offered to assist with labor if the work wag done out of the milking season, i Contributions of material towards the work were also offered.*—lt was decided Lo ask the inspector to furnish an estimate, of the cost of the two bridges proposed.

The Auckland City Council forwarded a Copy of a resolution, and asked the Council's support of the same, urging strenuous advocation of the retention of the portion of Samoa taken from the Uerr.mns. —tt was decided to endorse the resolution.

Joe Sehrader, Inglewood, wi'ote com* plaining of the continued nuisance created and damage caused at Lepper road by straying cattle, and asked the Council to take steps to put* a stop to the offence.—The matter was referred to the inspector. (j. W. - Collins wrote, in reply to a notice from the Council requiring him to; discontinue carting on the Carrington road, stating that he did not cart more than half a coi'(| of wood at ji time, and submitted that provided hp did not carry excessive loads ho was entitled to,use any part of the public roads, and that he intended to do so. He proceeded to state that when he took up his lancf in' 189S he had to make his way to the place as best he could, without complaint, and he felt aggrieved that now that roads were formed, mostly by money paid by the settlers, of which he had paid his share, he should be deprived of the right of using them.—lt was decided to notify Mr. Collins that, if he continued to use the water tables when carting, proceedings would be taken against him. GENERAL. Mr. Potter waited on the Council •to ask that some attention be given to the King road in order to make it. poss'iblO/ for him to get out. in bad weather. ■ Hfe offered to assist in any way* -possible. —The Council decided to instruct' the foreman to do what was necessary. Mr, Patterson also waited on the Council and asked for some work to be done on the Upper King road. He offered to do ploughing and provide a horao for a scoop It was decided to send the foreman to assist, on the understanding that the settlers along the road also asI sisted.

Cr, Capper moved, in accordance, with notice ciren, that the motion agreeing

to the rate .per day to bo paid for the use of a mna,.team arid dray, be rescinded, and that'the' lViatter be left to the discretion of the foremen. The motion was seconded by (Jr. Laurence, and carried. •

It was decided tlmt the matter of providing pipe' ".moulds be left in the hands of the chairman to be proceeded vith.f.\vhen opportunity oll'eral. A petition, was received from 13 settlers on the Oxford and Saunders roads, asking the Council to put those roads in hotter order. The matter was referred to the members for the riding and the chairman to arransre.

The chairman .was authorised«to open and accept tenders for the iPetone road work.. , • •

Accounts amounting to £2109 9s 4d, allocated as follows, were pa/ssed for payment:— oen era 1 expenses £SOO 7s Bd, Moa Rifling £2lO lis 3d, Mnngorei Riding £oß'Us .7d, Waitara Riding £132 llis 6d, Oniata Riding- £725 2s Bd,"and Okato Riding £376 10s Bd.