EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1918, Page 2

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, i Tho ordinary meeting nf the Turnout County iVinril whs held lit. Dpuu.ilio en Tuesday, whim iiiiti! uviv |ii L si-iit.: era. \v. 1!, Wright (chairiu;,ii), y. ,M. Cornish, T. HiiiToy, T. 11. 11. ;;>=nJiiir.. \V. i). (jiccii, A. 1. Iluwo. M. O'Kricii. .in.l A. Holdor. 1-oiivr or iiltiiMirn was (jraulud to Cr. McNeill, tin account of ili-hcalth. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. Pease) reported as follows : Uco Killing (Northern).—Tho exceedingly heavy ami continuous rainfall 'during tile whole of last month has sreatly interfered with the Whole of the work within tho county, and the time has arrived when the crushing and rolling plants 'should he brought in for tho winter, and undergo repairs. Tho first portion of ciiiir.M't No. 312 has been completed, 770 cubi" ~'.ls qf boulder stone and 58 yards of ]>;. .:ial being crushed at To Klri, and this, i.iih 1(18 yards of screenings, was put on to the Eithaiu. Koad from near the end of Watino Road to tho hollow east of To Kirl, a distance of about 70 chains. An attempt has been made to repair a portion of the Oeo Road north of Eltliam Road, but after about two days work the job had to be abandoned, as the surface could not stand the carting, and the new metal would not bear rolling in. The metal has been blinded with pit gravel and another attempt will be made to put It down properly If the roller remains in the riding. Patching lias been dona on the Eltliani Road, the lower portion of the Oeo Road, and at the end of Kirl Road. Opua Riding.—Some repairs have been done to tho small bridge fences on the Eltliam Road. Tho committee appointed to deal with the question of providing u ford across the Waiaua River on the Wlremu Road have met at the site, and decided to recommend that a low weir be put in the river below the Wiremu Koad as soon as it is safe to do the work without danger of Hood water. The probable cost Will be £BO. Opimake Riding.—Men have been engaged on the wort of pipe-making in the engine shed. New moulds lor 15iu. and lSin. pipes are at present being made at Hawera, and should he delivered in about a week's time. I beg to submit tb you for consideration plans and estimate for a new pipe-making shed and benzine, oil, tool and general store. Kahotu Riding.—Tho staff in this riding commenced work early in the month on contract No. 'J3O, and opportunity was taken to metal the new deviation of the Main South Road at the Waitotoroa bridge, which had just been opened for traffic, 103 yards of .crushed pit metal and 33 yards of screenings being used for that purpose. Work was then started on the original length for which the contract was let, via.: Between the ParUiaka Road and the Waitekawi, and when 191 yards of metal, yielding 45 yards of screenings, had been crushed and rolled Id, work on the main road had to bo stopped, as the metal coming from the pit was not considered good enough for it. At the request of the Parihaka Road Board and the Cape Egmont Dairy Company, the l'ungarehu Road, from tho Main South Road to tho factory, was scarified, and had 170 yards crushed metal and 22 yards screenings from the Cape Road pit laid on and Tolled in. Work was then started at the bottom end of Cape Road for tho road board, but only about two days' work could be done, on account of tho weather and the danger of cutting up the road with carting. Slight repairs have been done to tho Capo Road, and tho crushing plant has been moved to the Main South Road at Fungarehu, near to Wl Kudo's pit, as permission could not be obtained from Uie owner to set up the plant In the pit. It is probable that this pit will not yield sufficient stone to complete the contract. Bridges.—Comparatively little work has been done to the new. small bridges in the Rahotu riding, on account of the weather, so on the 2nd Instant I Instructed Foreman White to 911 in tho roadway over the Otahi bridge slab, which had that day had tlio necessary three weeks to harden, and throw the bridge open for traffic, and as soon a3 this was done, unless the weather improved, to close down tho bridge until more favorable weather. A little work has been done to the parapets and wing walls of tho Otahl bridge, and the earth ftllnig to the approaches of the temporary Puhlna bridge has been done. The centreing timbers of the Waitotoroa bridge have been struck and removed. Tho work at'tlie Punehu bridge on the Elthani Road Is proceeding satisfactorily, though the rain greatly interfered with tho crushing of the boulder Etono for metal for concrete. Between 300 and 400 yards of metal have been crushed, which will be sufficient to bring the abutments and centre pier up to the springing line. The concrete In tho western abutment has been brought up to within about 2ft 9in. of the springing line, and Is well out of danger of any flood water, the excavations for the eastern abutment are being proceeded with, and so far the material Is all largo river bed stuff, a good proportion of which has to be shot for removal. The hole makes the water Tory fast, but the pumping plant is coping with Vt satisfactorily, and If we can get through to good, sound material from which we can close sheet upwards, we shall be In a position to safeguard against a flood refilling the hole with the excavated material, which has been placed as a protection bank. The new concrete mixer has given every satisfaction so far. A new windmill has been fixed to ono of tho old bridge trusses to pump water from the river for the mixer, and an 800-gallon tank will bo set up alongside it within tile next few days. Concrete shutes are being made from disused pipe moulds to convey the concrete right across the river to the eastern abutment and centre pier. The timber for centreing Is being delivered as required, and the carpenter is cutting out the ribs, etc., for tbe arches. The special moulds for the bridge hinges have been made, and they will be cast immediately. The district engineer (Mr. H. H. Sharpe) has now fixed the flood water level, which brings the Toad surface of the new bridge to 2ft. 9ins. above the decking level of the existing bridge. I beg to submit to you sections showing tho relative lovcls of the two bridges, and the proposed road level of the western abutment at completion. The decking pf the existing bridge is in a very dangerous condition for either pedestrian or vohjular traffic, and something must bo done at once to protect the public still using it. On June 24 I accompanied the committee appointed to deal with tho position of the new bridge over tho Walteiiia River on the Eltliam Road, to tho site, and after pointing out the two possible deviations the committee decided that the new hr'dgo be erected on the lmmcdlato upstream side of the present bridge. I have found the survey pegs on tho easterly side of the Waiweranui bridge, and it appears to mo that the weir in tho river is outside the limits of the road, but I must Inspect this again when the water in the river is lower, when I will be able to traco the lino of tho constructed portion of the river. It was resolved to obtain gum boots and the gravel required. It was also resolved that the engineer bring in the various engines for overhaul when convenient. BRIDGE BUILDING. Some discussion took place over the fact that, several of the bridges that were being bulit were costing more than the estimate on which the loan was raised. Cr. O'Brien moved that in future no bridge be built by day labor, but that tattlers be called under the supervision of the engineer, i The chlarman stated that be had received an offer from a reliable contractor to erect bridges on a ten per cent, basis. Cr. Green favored building one bridge by day labor, another by contract, and a third on the ten per cent, basis. Cr. Holder favored Calling tenders for the whole of the bridges at once, hut seconded Cr. O'Brien's resolution, which was carried. It was decided to call tenders for the OaoUl (Main South Road), Mangahume and Taungatara (Eltliam Road) bridges. RAHOTU BILLIARD ROOM. Constable O'Neill reported that the proprietor of tho Rahotu billiard room had attended to tho various matters pr'ilausly objected to. and suggested that the proprietor be gr.nt. d a license. The chairman considorol that if the application was granted it slu.'iM be subject to the report of tho health Inspector. Cr. Greeu considered that as the council bad closed tlio billiard room It. should keep it closed until the improvements had been carried out. He considered that tho nuisance would not be overcome as long as the side door remained. He thought the health officer should be asked to report. It was finally resolved to grant the application, as the opinion was expressed that the Health Department could close the premises if unsatisfactory. BRIDGE LOAN. The chairman reported having Interviewed the Under-Secretary of Finance, who informed him that the bridge loan had been granted, and would be available. His expenses would only be from I'almerston. On the motion of Crs. Holder and Rowc, a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman. WIREMU ROAD. The committee appointed to examine the ford at tho Woiau River, on Wiremu Road, Inspected the site and recommended that tho engineer put til a weir about 2ft 6in high across the bed of the river, on the southern side of the ford, the work to be done at a time when the flow of water would not endanger the work v.hiio in progress. The chairman suggested that the r should petition for a grant, which the < could subsidise £ for £. Cr. O'Brien thought tho settlers shj for a grant of £2O to do the work. Tho engineer considered it would cost £BO. Cr. O'Brien considered the settlers would 'be prepared to do tos work (or £3O. '

olvcd to ask the Government for a vhlch the •council would be Cr. O'Brien stated that the ford at present was very dangerous, and might be the cause of a fatal accident. The chairman stated that there were two or three very bad holes in the Wiremu Road tween Warea and Kahui Roads, near Ravi which required attention. This would save the Slain Itoad considerably if attended to. and ft A resolution was carried striking the rate for llie ensuing year as follows: Oeo riding l%d; Opua, Oiiunako and Rahotu ridings, 1%& Crs. Cornish and Sinclair were appointed to afgti the rate hook. 'ho engine driver is to be instructed to furi a daily return of the metal crushsd and drainage rolled, etc. Mr. Mason (Te Kiri) asked that work should he done to Wcka Street at an estimated cost of £l, to which lie offered to contribute £7. Members thought the subsidy should be on a £ for £ basis. The engln=«» ™»° '» strucled to report on the matter. Mr Hammond, who is shortly going Into •ote offering a portable forge and some lours lor sale to the council. Referred to a committee with power to act. Mr. A. L. Collins reported that lie had Inspected the Avclhig and Porter traction engine at I'ungnrchu, and found that it was ail In good order, except a few minor defects, which could be easily remedied. The chair stated that the committee appoii chased the engine from Andrews The action of the committee was confirmed .T. A. Knight wrote offering to lease gravel ——e at Pungarelm for the sum of 10s per l. Tlio foreman is to be lnsrtucted to on the site. .. ,vas resolved to place notice boards re speed limit of cars each side of the Rahotu township, viz., at the Rahotu and Gregory Roads. Similar baords will be erected at Opunalre. The committee set up (Crs. O'Brien and Sinclair) recommended that tl ■- ' the new bridge over the Wr the Eltham Road, on the immediate upstream side of the existing bridge —Approved. It was reported that a London concrete mixer complete with 5%-h.p. engine, friction clutch, water tank, etc., had been purchased from C. A. Wilkinson for £4OO. The council decided to sign consent in connwtlon_ with J