TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

V MONTHLY MEETING. ' : - The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday, there being present: Crs. J. S. Connett (chairman), A. E. Laurence, .T. B. Simpson, J. Wooldridge, 1). McAllum, A. Morton, G. Capper and J. Andrews.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported as follows:—I have inspected overhanging trees on the Junction Road at Mr. Atkinson's, and recommend that the road foreman be in charge when removal takes place, to protect traffic, as the locality is dangerous. Owing to the pressure of work and bad weather the foremen in the Waitara riding have been unable to remove trees overhanging telegraph wires at Waiwalcaiho; this will be done during the week, the telegraph staff assisting. The Upper Puniho road has been made passable for stock traffic. With Crs. C. Andrews and J. Wooldridge I met Mr, Archibald at Oakura re the deviation on the Victoria road as suggested by him at the last meeting of the council, and after carefully inspecting the proposed line of deviation, and taking into consideration the cost of carrying out the work, we decided that the better proposition would be to improve the grade of Victoria road, and w e recommend t'iie council to favorably consider any offer Mr. Archibald may put before them for that purpose. I have visited the Bell Block School and have gone into the matter of closing the road to provide additional playground accommodation for the children. I have consulted residents in the district likely to be affected, and found no opposition, and therefore recommend that the committee be granted permission to close the road during the pleasure of t'he council.

Considering the Wftiongona bridge at Lepperton to' be in a dangerous Rtate, I instructed Mr. Gafo to inspect the same and report to this meeting. I have also- instructed "Mr. Orant to repair the bridge on the Beach, road, Oaltura. Three additional pipes have been sanctioned for the Koroene road, as the numbers allowed proved -'-nt. Tim report was adopted, the chairman's action being endorsed.

CRUSHING OPEHATiOXS. The following reports were received of ttork done by the crushing' :»I i*«t during the month lOngine-driver Mackic —The Crusher worked 10 days crushing a total of TUT cubic yards. Owing to the continued wet weathor It Is practically impossible to do anything. Engine-driver Stewart—l have been engaged in scarifying and rolling as far sa the weather would permit.

RIDINT, REPORTS. Moa Ridlnfj —Foreman Laurence: I have been engaged at the usual maintenance work. One more day's metalling will complete Avalanche Jlill. 1 have reinstated wooden culvert and filled out road full width. Foreman llclicn:—My roads are breaking up badly and 1 have been busy repairing and maintaining them Foreman Ileal:—1 hare cut the blackberries on Kalpi deviation. I procured 'I 18-inch pipes from Moa Itoad Doard to repair culvert on Junction lioad.

Foreman Bennett reported bcluj: engaged chiefly in general maintenance work.

It was resolved to grant Foreman Laurence a further 100 yards of metal for the Ngatoronul road.

Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Batten :—I have had gTeat difficulty to keep the road up this month. As you are I have not had the crusher at Kent Road for three years and the road is right out. Foreman Keast: —I have been engaged in Warren's Pit. We had about 200 yards up to 22nd inst. We hare been getting stringers and bedlogs for pit bridge. Foreman Spencer:—l require a horse and cart for a few dayß to bank up filling on Upper Carrington Itoad which h;?s dipped away. I also requite 11 9-Incli pipes to replace a culvert on this portion of the road. Mr. Frank Haruwldge is allowing gorae and blackberry on his frontage to obstruct the water table.

The pippf, applied for by Foreman were authorised.

Waitara Riding Foreman .T. Holmeslnning the month I received 5H3 yards o? crushed metal the whole of which hua been placed mi the road When the weather takes up I wid repair the Mnngati Road. I require man with horse and plough to plough off grass on id do of road near Waitara Road. Foreman F. Holmes:—l have be*n engaged assisting at tho metalling and also repairing the Kgroont Road which hrolte up badly. Foreman \V. Holmes During the month I have assisted the other foremen. I have spread 10? i yards of metal on Corbett Road and dumped ('• ymds. The Mountain and Richmond roads broke up badly and 1 had to engage help to reinstate the same, nil the maintenance metal ha:; been used up and 1 will require some at once. There Is 16 yards left in Sentry Hill Pit which will he required between Sampson's Store and Cliffords. Arrangements should be made for metal to be broken In this pit. for delivery next month. Foreman Proud:- The continual wet weather has kept me busy trying to hold the roads Authority was given to Foreman .1. Holmes to plough grass off the side of the road near Waitara.

Omatft Hiding—Foreman SeamarkMy roads are standing up iairly well 1 have replaced paved gutter with fMnch pipes I have put in pipes and lengthened culver! 40 feet on Pheney Road. Messrs. Weston and Weston, as agents for Henriekson, should be notified to cut blackberry and eorse encroaching on old Omata Uoad. Mr. Alfred (Jeorgi? should be requested to remove hedge trimmings from water table* on old Omata Road He has I repeatedly mi his hedges and allowed the ir'mmings to obstruct the water tables. ! Toreman Eva:—The roads in my length are fair considering how the weather is punishing them. My time has been taken up with the usual repairs Okul.o Riding.—Foreman Mefirath ! have b?en engaged a* t"io iimi-i] mis"r'll::i!Coi!s repair work. Foreman Sefton : —Thi rands under n.y care are fair. I have been engaged at the usual mainter.are wnr\ worl; and aanistIng the Inspector with on the beach at C Mace's. Poroman Meredith :- l liave completed carting the boulders for Brnphy's Koad about 280 v-rds beln.i procured nt a cost, of £4G fis 8d The earthwork has also been completed at a cose of £H Gs Gd The bnuldors will be used as follows: lav in,'; ]."i chains now road lf> yards to drill 240 yards and re-MU't.-'lliuK 4 chains ;>i yards, and 8 yards will be used at Junction of F.rophy and tCalh'hi Komi Mr. Humphrey has complied breaVinn the s'one nti the Pr.er Koad and It renitlrc." a Itirther R varus to crnnect the two points of metal I have been assisting Foreman Hayes end spa»'.lin." at K\ihlhi Foreman Haves:—The Mt.in R-»ad Is siand?nq up r. }r v fair. I have ri-ns'rue:ed a corduroy track sis feet wide arrnsi Die two swamp.', on the r?>K'r I'uniho R'.ad. We bad to yaw and

r»p!it tlio ft should ho fairly satisfactory and enable the sott»L-r» to let the cattle in and out.

BWDOH CATU'KXTER'S HEPCTOT. IfrGomnieli'.i Calvert. WaliinsonnOu Juno Ifl,h [ hi-it>'l the librae ram?d culvert and i'n.iji'i all limrcrs e\*co]>! dot-kins and four : s in he in very sound condition 1 \vonhi Hint f'>uv new stringers be placed ).o7"oj i the one.s and near d.'vk'.n;; Willi ihe«e repairs carried out the aJo-.o named would be ouite sale tor ;«n tr.iflV Mr a number of years. Waiouiona 13ri«'%\ !.vi>i>«-rton —On Inspection of i'-r.s hrid-re I found it to be in a 'very unbound 'date T.i? iru-aes of the main span rre t;fl k.'t and u has been repaired with Oregon pine. On account of the soft-r.-Ms of this ol«fl3 of tiiah-i-, the tension rod I.Jocln me crush'njr !he timbers under the strain The end span <m Die north end: The 3'riiifccn are nil In h-'!o of decay including Ww (•.!p. ; iII On lii'.' -■ iitifti side the heavy i'!»u'UK'Ut ir, cni.'Vi'tJT hi the end pier with var.cua other rtefectr. ♦hr.mj.'iiout the hridijr ! Sv'oiiifi i! x .iit he to load; mi nwnv than ihiee tons. M;jiv/:i'>ne !»ri'!];o, .iunction Road The hra'< , 'v;-. 1 s«arc to hand for this Wvlu'o find 1 ; u: endeavorin;; !■> iuH all the piles and Lliealhhi:-;' I'etiaveJ to Bile of bridge this HridtyeThe hnrdwnnd stringera have c-:<.nt' t<> hand for this bridge utao. I 11rivo examined the totara now fytnj; at Man';;.<«ke culver!, Koad, and as it i:< all more or of sound Mua'diy I propose in t'-in-;ft.'r it to Waionrrona and Mangaorafca 1 to help wrrv out :;«;:we of the rejmlw 'to tl;e j'hnve named brh'jrer. U u"? r i '""d "J i (> c r * ' . • c-» hv. to McGnmV,' -- IS Vl.'v'illr I 1 ' 1 v ! il.e Olhcv «,, • ■» n-jd ucio to me chair-

CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs Slttdden and Palmer wrote that owlnfc to the break In the weather It was practically impossible for the contractor for the Kumene Hoad formation to complete the work, and they recommended that the contract be hold over until after the winter and that a proportion of the contract money be held till after the completion of tile work. The recommendation was adopted. An offer was received frpm Wm. M. Archibald, fcaaecl on a £1 for £1 subsidy by the council, to undertake excavating on the hill on Victoria Hoad, near the O.'ikura bridge, In connection with the re-grading of the hill. It was decided to accept Mr. Archibald's offer r.ml to contribute £1 for £1 on the amount expended, subject to the arrangement mode l>etiveen him and the riding members and chair-

P. B. Pltzherbert, solicitor, New Plymouth, wrote to tho_ effect that on the n.'ght of Saturday, June 15, his motor-car had bean blocked by gettlug axle-deep iu mud where the road was being repaired near Tariki, and that the cost of getting the car pulled out and also cleaning had been £3 10s, and he claimed that amouot from tho council, as the spot was In way lighted and there was no warning to drivers of the danger of the road at that time. It was decided to inform Mr. Fitzherbert that Hie council disclaimed any liability in connection with the matter. ■f.. J. Tilly, Kaimiro, wrote again regarding the state of the road leading to his property, reminding the council that the settlers had been informed previously that the matter would be attended to immediately, but that nothing had so far been done.—The foreman reported that the road was rather bad, but that there was a lot of rock to be blown out and he had not had time to attend to It. He had been working off his length a good deal during the past 18 months, and his work had got somewhat behind. He Intimated that the road would be attended to as soon as the roller had finished ou his length. GENERAL. It was stated by Cr.. Wooldrldge that he had arranged with Mr. C. Gill to supply metal tor the Sanders Road at 58 pet yard.—His action was approved. The Treasury Department wrote Intimating that the Acting Minister of Xi'lnance had approved of the Council raising a special loan of £IO,OOO for tho purpose of renewing bridges. The district engineer of railways wrote regarding tho work at the culvert near the Norfolk Ttoad station that the work already done had bean beneficial, but suggesting that the drain needed to be deepened by about nine inches in order to obviate any further trouble. A deputation waited on the council regarding a proposal to re-grade a hill on the New Plymouth Road at Oakura, offering io do the earth work at Is per yard. The amount of spoil to be removed was estimated at 2500 yards, und the deputation stated that in offering to do tho work at Is they were contributing equal to half the cost of the work. It was urged that practically nothing had been spent on the road for years, and the settlers considered they were entitled to have the work done, as the road was dangerous. It was pointed out to the deputation .that it would probably be a belter proposal to increase the special rating area agreed upon for work \n connection with another portion of the road, and Increase the special rating area agreed upon for work in connection with another portion of the road, and increase the amount of the loan sufficiently to include the new work, and so make a good job of the whole road. The deputation intimated that they could

not accept such a suggestion without consultation with the other settlers concerned, and they would not undertake to canvass the setUm In connection with the proposal. It was decided that the council could not accept the offer of the settlers, and the offer previously mnlc of £1 for £1 up to £2O holds good. : Accounts were passed for payment as follows: Ucnerr:! expenses, £378 4a 3d; Moa Hiding, £2!U 5s !Jd; Mangorel lodine:, £lO6 r>s 7d; Waltara Riding, £4IS 12h (id; Omata Kidirif,', 17s lid; Okato Hiding, £247 17s Id; Mai, £l4Bl Is lid.

INSPECTOR'S REPORT. As instructed I have carried out repairs to the bridge oa the Beach Road, Oakura. . I have attached dangor sign boards to the Wat* ongona nnd the Mangaoraka bridges on the Devon Road. I have issued two licenses to driver!? of yehicles through the month, and on the 30th May and 6th Jnne I attended Court to prosecute 13 persons for breaches of the County by-laws, ail of whom were fined.