CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1918, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was Held, at Waitara yesterday. Thera were present: Crs. R. H. Pigott (chairman), T. Mackenzie, H. A. Foreman, F. C. Jones, C. Musker, S. J. Kunnington, and H. Sander. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. P. Dowoett) reported as follows: Waihi Hiding.—The metalling contract lias been seriously interfered with by the bad weather, and the unmctalled portion of tho road is much cut up. It is apparent that tho boulders stacked at the depot will not he sufficient to reach our objective, viz., the Purangl Junction, and a further effort will" be required to produce tho necessary quantity. Levels have been taken for the proposed new bridge at Onaero. Tikorangl Riding.—The new culvert crossing and tho various entrances to the church, school and library have all been piped, and the water drained to its natural outlet ill the adjacent section. The new metal has been raked in and blinded, aud various repairs hava been carried out. The timber for repairs to tho suspension bridge is now on the site, and will be attended to when the bridge foreman arrives. If opportunity offers and the weather permltii, portions of the Ngatlmaru road will bo broken up and rolled back. Ngatlmaru Riding.—Timber for the Mangamaire stream bridge, North Matau, has been ordered, but its date of delivery Is uncertain at present. The gravelling operations have been impossible, except to the limited progress. Repairs to the Purangi bridge will be commenced this month. Urenul Riding.—A stretch of broken metal has been put down near the Pukcaruhe junction, and various repairs havo been effected to the finished portions of the main and the Okoke Roads. Further timber has been deposited at the Urenut bridge, and repairs will shortly be attended to. Tho Kaiplkari and Mataro roads require attention. No progress can be reported in connection with the boulaer contract. It Is hopod to metal somo bad sections on the l'iko Road If assistance is forthcoming from the settlers. Work is proceeding slowly In tho Okoke pit. | Mokau Hiding.—Further work and culvortlng have been carried out on the Mangamaeho Road. On the upper portion of the main road fascining and drain-cutting have been proceeded with, and metal repairs on the lower portion. The timber for the Tupokl bridge repairs has been ordered. As instructed at the last meeting, I made all arrangements for the deputation to proceed to Wellington in respect of the Tangitu deviation, but prior to our projected departure the Minister of Public Works wired to tho effect that the department would provide the necessary funds. As requested, all arrangements were in consequence cancelled. Thanks are duo to the Allnister of Public Works, and to Mr. \V. T. Jennings, M.P., for Ills aid In arranging preliminaries. The thirds proposals have been prepared and forwarded to tho proper quarter for approval. I had a number of applications for (he position of bridge foreman, some with considerable experience of large works. I finally selected James Jamleson, of Auckland, whose experience appeared to fit tliis council's requirements. He arrives here on the 12th instant. Tho whole work of the county has been restricted, and many works held In abeyance, owing to the continued bad weather, the official record being twenty-five wet days in Juno.

.MAIN ISOAD MAINTENANCE. Intimations, were received from the Taranakt Comity Council, the Waitara Borough Council, and the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, endorsing the Clifton Council's resolution In reference to approaching the Government In regard to assisting in the metalling of tho Main North Road at Jit. Messenger. It was resolved to arrange a deputation to the Minister of Public Works, and tho chairman and Cr. Jones were appointed to represent Cliflon County Council. Tho following resolution, passed by a public meeting of settlers of the Uruti Koad, was submitted by Cr. lluskcr: "That this representative meeting of Uruti settlers asks your council to urge on the Government the necessity of greater assistance from tho public funds towards the maintenance of main roads." In supporting the resolution Cr. Musker stressed a long-felt need for the spending of more money on bv-roads, and iir t ed that the only means of being able to do that would be to induce the Government to give more liberal assistance in the maintenance of main roads. A discussion took place along the usual lines, in which councillors generally stated that their ridings were not treated as liberailj' in the matter of expenditure on roads as tho amount of rates collected warranted. It was finally decided to endorse the Uruti settlers' resolution, and forward a copy to (he Minister of Public Works.

CORRESPONDENCE. W. ,T. Day, Until, wrote asking the council to bridge ami fence ii culvert which they had put in at his gateway, and across which his cattle had to go to get to an adjoining paddock. He pointed out that the work had been authorised by Crs. Musker and Jones, but the engnieer had stopped the surfaceman from doing it. lie expressed his intention of claiming damages for any injury to stock caused through the culvert being left open.— Cr. Musker reported that he and Cr. Jones had interviewed Mr. Day, and the matter was not as expensive as the letter might lead councillors to believe. All that was required was a few pieces of timber, and some wire for fencing. Material was close at hand, and Mr. Day considered he could do the work in about a day.—Tho engineer reported on an arrangement he had made with Mr. Day, who appeared quite satisfled at the time, and he was surprised to learn that Crs. Musker and Jones had sanctioned the bridge now suggested. He did not countermand any order given by councillors, but merel.v refused to sanction It.—Cr. Jones said that ho did not favor councillors Interfering In any way with the engineer and ids work with the surfacemen, but he understood that the matter had been left in the hands of hlmseir and Cr. Musker, and that was the decision they had come to. Cr. Musker said ho had no desire to interfere with the engineer, but the matter wa3 only a question of a couplo of days' work for the surfaceman, and as it was due to Mr. Day to allow him to take his stock into his paddock at whatever point he wished, he thought the bridge should be sanctioned. It was finally rosulved to havo the !:rldgo erected. A letter was read from the acting clerk of the Whangarei County Council, asking support to an endeavor to prevent tho Government from offering the poorer classes of land for the settlement of returned soldiers.—The letter wa3 received. GENERAL. An offer was received of a second-hand engine as an addition to the council's crushing plant. After consideration it was resolved, on the motion of Crs. Kennlngton and Jones, that the engineer be instructed to Inspect and report on the engine. ]u connection with the proposed l'iko Road loan area, it was decided to prepare a rough plan and submit the same to the settlers for their approval, and also flu estimate of the cost of the work proposed to be done. A formal resolution was passed authorising the raising of the Mangaoapa Road loan. Accounts amounting to £2llO 13s ii were passed for payment.