TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1918, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

"MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Cm. J. S. Conuett (chairman), A. E. Lawrence, J. Simpson, J. Wooldridge, J. Andrews, D. McAUum, G. Capper, C. Andrews. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. A. Morton. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported as follows: Since last meeting I liave arranged with J. Kendall to get out and deliver on the Hurford Road 100 yards of pit metal at 6a per yard, and accepted A. Haskett's tender of 7s for an additional 380 yards on his Mahoetahi contract. Grylls and Julian will increase their boulder supply at Ngatoro and Maketawa depots, Junction Road. With Cr. J. Andrews I have purchased from W. Clare a set of bridge plant. In Mr. Clare's report the ordering of the necessary material for the Awai bridge on the Manutahi Road is referred toy and I have also authorised him to submit an estimate for a new concrete bridge at Kaimiro, Lepper Road. A set .of pipes, near Baxter's, on Kgmont Road South, has been sanctioned, and also raising the filling at the same place. C. Everett has been appointed water cart man with the small roller, and is giving satisfaction. No tenders have been received for the Petone Road job, although several contractors made, inquiries. 1 have arranged witli A. W. 'Cowling to proceed immediately with the formation of Homene Road. Boulder is being piled at the Kaihihi depot for Oxford Road, but no arrangements have been made for crushing. The matter in dispute between the council and Mr. Lile has been amicably settled. The report was approved.

WORK OF CRUSHER PLANT. Enginedriver Mackie.—The crusher worked as follows: Perth Road, 4 days, crushing 482 yards; Pitone Road, 3J days, 283 yards; Koru Depot, 4 3-8 days, 378 yards; Mahoetahi, 4} days, 203 yards; total, 16 3-8 days, 1345 yards. Enginedriver Stewart: My time was taken up scarifying and rolling new metal. I scarified and rolled in 54J chains on the Koru Road and 17* chains on Devon Road. Enginedriver Orr: During the month I have rolled and scarified 7 chains on the Hurford Road and 70£ chains on the Egmont Road.

RIDING REPORTS. Moa Riding.—Foreman Laurence: I have removed the wooden culvert and replaced with pipes on Tariki Road. I have put in 8 18in. pipes on Mountain Road, and filled in creek. Foreman Bennett: I have put in large pipe by Mangaone to replace old wooden culvert. Julian and Grylls have delivered 250 yards of boulders at Ngatoro depot. Foreman Heal: Most of my time has been taken up assisting Foreman Taylor on Egmont Road, and also working on Junction Road. Foreman Mallon: Most of my time has been taken up working at the wall on the zigzag, and cleaning water tables. I also assisted Foreman Bennett to put.'in a culvert on Junction Road. The Moa Road Board delivered 28 yards gravel at the corner of Motakawa Road, as arranged by Cr. Capper. I wish to resign my duties at the end of April. Foreman Taylor: Metalling arid rolling work has been done on Egmont Road south. I have put in pipes and made a start with filling, a!nd also done the biggest portion of banking up and water-tabling. I require one more 9in. pipe. The action of Cr. Laurence in authorising the purchase of 5 18in. and 7 12in. pipes was confirmed. It was also resolved to authorise the inspector to make two gates for Mangar.awliiti, 12ft. wide.

It was further decided to ask. Mr-. Clare, to report on the Manganui bridge; Cr. Capper's action in authorising metal was also approved. It was decided to accept the resignation of Foreman A. Mallon, and to invite applications for the position.

Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Keast: I have been employed at usual maintenance. Noxious weeds on the following frontages on Kent Road should be dealt with as they are a hindrance to traffic — Messrs. Cane, Foy, Hastings, Kearney, Shute, Bennett, Buckthought. Mr. Ible should receive notice to cut noxious weeds on his frontage on Albert Road. Foreman Batten: The Junction Road is worn exceptionally thin* and unless we can get the Kent Road depot supplies out I will be unable to hold the road this ■winter. I have been asaisting i Foreman Keast and Foreman Taylor. Foreman Spencer: I have been engaged on the usual repair work. I shall require a horse and cart for a day or two for banking up work. It was decided to authorise the use of the horse and cart applied for.

Waitara Riding.—Foreman J. Holmes: The Waiwakaiho Flat has received its second coat of tar sealing, and at present it seems to be a very satisfactory work. I have finished the crusher site on Mangati Road. We started crushing at Mahoetahi on the 25th, and have received 204 yards. Foreman F. Holmes: I. have been engaged at the usual repairs. I metalled the approach to the coal bin with 17 yards of metal from the Agricultural Society. Foreman Proud: I have put in pipes on Upper King Road, and formed 26J chains of the road near Mr. Potter's, who rendered great assistance with a plough and horses, also himself assisting. Foreman W. Holmes: I have been engaged chiefly assisting the other foremen. It was decided to send a letter of thanks to Mr. Potter for his assistance at King Road. Omata Riding.—The past month has been a strenuous one, the winds and dry weather being principally responsible. Traction engines are putting shoes on their wheels to negotiate the tar-sealed portion of the Omata Hill. Foreman Eva: My time has been taken up with the usual repair work, and assisting at the tar-sealing in the Waitara Riding. Okato Riding.—Foreman McGrath: I have placed 378 yards of metal on the Koru Road, A. W. Cowling's contract. Foreman Sefton: During the mpnth I assisted at the crusher at Pitono and Koru Roads. Foreman Collins: I require 30 yards of boulders on Pitone Road near woolshed for repairs. W. Fisher has offered to cart the boulders at 7 s perj yard. I require a horse and dray for a few days. Foreman Meredith: The work on Dover Road near Mr. Webby's has been completed, with the exception of 24 yards of boulders which require breaking. The work done <m the end of the Dover Road is very siiiisfactory. I require maintenance meii.l for Kaihihi Road, which is breaking up badly; also authority to engage a man and "plough to clean out the water tables on this road. Foreman Hayes: The roads in my length are fair. The Oxford Road requires metal for repairs at once. I have placed 153 yards of metal broken by Humphrey on the Hoani Road, and 'ive 23 left to repair the lower poH' 1 have carted 180 yards from Siu. to repair Lower Puniho Road, 16U j«ids

on the new formation and 20 y arils lower down. It was'decided'that the tender of Mr. Fisher be accepted, also that the application for horse and dray he granted. It was also agreed that Mr. Corbett be paid 2a 6d per yard for 23 yards of boulders.

REPORT ON BRIDGES. . Mr. W. J. Clare reported that all the piles for the Mangaone Bridge, Junction Road, are all worked ready to go forward from Waitara. In addition to the above, all the caps and sheathing have been obtained from the Waitara Harbor Board. The corbels decking and hand rails have been ordered in totara, and the stringers are ironbark. I have mentioned that the above is urgently required, and in reply the millers will obtain same as soon as possible. Re bridge at,Tarurutangi: In company with Messrs. Connett and Andrews, I visited the abovenamed bridge and decided to erect two concrete piers and obtain three ironbark stringers, and use the two existing steel girders in the new structure with totara decking and hand rails. All the above material is ordered, and the boxing for the piers. Re the Lepper Road bridge at Kaimiro: In company with the chairman and Cr. Andrews I visited the abovenamed bridge on March IS, and, on inspection, I found the present structure in a very decayed state and quite beyond repair. I am preparing an estimate for a concrete arch bridge with 18ft. .clear roadway, with a much less span than the existing structure.

INSPECTOR'S REPORT. I beg to report the following for the month of March: I finished the concrete wall at the Tarata zigzag on the 7th instant. In the course of a day or so I will go out and strip the boxing. I have made arrangements to sell the boxing to H. R. Neilson, of Tarata. I have redecked the Richmond Road bridge t at Lepperton. The concrete boundary posts are lying at Waiwakaiho ready to be put in their places. CORRESPONDENCE. Wm. Lacy, Tataraimaka, wrote calling the attention of the council to an arrangement made between Mr. Robertson (Stratford), contractor to the council, and himself, which was verified by the council, guaranteeing that 560 yards should be taken from the Timaru river across his property at 6d per yard. The letter stated only 117 yards had been taken, and the writer asked that he be allowed £2 in addition to the 117.yards at fld, for damage done to the paddock, across which two tracks"had been made, and as it was very wet at the time the place was very much rut up, and he had also had to re-sow grass.—lt was decided to reply to Mr. Lacy that the matter had never been agreed to by the council, which, therefore, could acknowledge no responsibility in it. •.**«

A. J. Bailey, Albert Road, wrote offering to pay, an annual rental of 15s per acre .( £2 5s per annum) for the 3 acres reserve at Hill Road; 12 months' notice on either side to terminate the agreement.—The offer was accepted. E. King," Corbett Road, Bell Block, applied for permission to fence in a short piece of roadway leading in to his property. The piece of road was not; require* by any other ratepayer, as it only adjoined the property of Mr. W. Jatftes for about 100 yards, and 7 his consent to the lease had been given.—Permission granted on payment of 10s per year rental.

Percy Richardson, Barrett Street, New Plymouth, wrote in reference to the country section (No. 38) at Okato, which he had intended ploughing and clearing some time back, but liad not done so on account of having been told by Cr. Andrews that the council intended taking it for a pound site. He stated he was not prepared now to clear the section unless he could get a lease of about three years.—lt was decided to grant the application for a three years lease, at a rental of £1 per year, provided applicant clears the section in the first year and keeps it clear during his occupancy. N. T. Rundle applied for permission to have 0 yards of boulders crushed at the depot for the Chapel Road, Bell Block. —Permission granted. GENERAL. The Minister of Finance wrote asking the council to assist in securing public contributions to the war loan.—Received. The secretary of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that the board intended to levy a rate of Is fid in the £IOO on the contributing focal bodies for the year ending March 31, lfll!).—Received. The Railway Department's district engineer wrote advising that the council could now proceed with its work of providing the level crossing near Tariki.Received.

Cr. Lawrence reported that the proposed regrading work at the junction of Kaimata and Junction Roads, to be undertaken by the Moa Road Board, had been deferred till next year. On the motion, of-Crs. Lawrence and Simpson the action was approved. Captain Mace and Mr. Mace junior waited on the council to ask for some repair work to be done to a/bridge on the Beacli Road. The deputation said the chairman had been approached, but had pointed out that as there was no public road there the council could not expend money on the upkeep of a private road. They pointed out that the road was the only outlet for the settlers in that locality, and that as expenditure on one bridge on that road had been authorised by the Government auditor for many years it could hardly be claimed now that the road was not a public one.—lt was eventually decided that the section of the road between Wairau Road and Timaru stream be declared a county road. A deputation from the Surrey Hill settlers waited on the council, asking for assistance in making the road and metalling. - With regard to a previous proposal to raise a loan for the district it was pointed out they were still prepared to go on with the loan proposal. The estimated cost of the proposed forming and metalling on the Surrey Hill was about £SO. The settlers were prepared to provide horses, ploughs, scoops, etc tree, if each man was paid for his labor. They were also prepared to supply good pit metal free of charge If the grant asked for by the deputation was not suflNient to complete the work they wished to have done, the settlers were willing to go on and complete the work without further expense to the council After some discussion it was decided to make a grant of half the cost of the £25 dODe at the mte ° f £ ior £ > U P t0 On the motion of Cr. Wooldridge it was deeded to ask the Government for t tor i. subsidy in connection with the erection of two concrete culverts on Sanders Road. Accounts amounting to £2193 4s were passed for payment as follows: General expenses, £689 19s fld; Moa Ridinsr i2 L" S . lod; Mangwei Riding, £66 5s 6d; Waitara Riding, £575 5s 6d; Omata Riding, £7B 9s 5d 5 Okato Riding, £457 ios od.