TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. , The monthly meeting of the 'lViramiki ' County Council was held yesterday, there being present: Crs. .T. S. Conne'tt ' (chairman), A. .10. Lawrence, J. B. ; Simpson, J. Wooldridge, ('. Andrews, IX ; Mf'Allam, A. Morton, C. Capper, and J. i Andrews. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. : ,*The chairman, iii hi* report, ailcr detailing Hie result of the;, council's deputation to the M'oa Road Board, in re- ' speefc to the merger proposal, proceed- ! od: Burins the recent spoil* of bad wea- , ther, the small roller and watercart were | "Brought..in for necessary minor repairs. As the Tfemploti Road has broken up badly, J: have authorised an additional 100 yards of-boulders to be pulled at i .Stoiiey ■River" for repairs. Minor re- ( pirGfiWJnts of the bridge carpenter have i 'iieen attended to, and Richardson's ae- 1 count has been found correct. I have ( accepted lenders from W. Thomson, for > 'delivery' of 70 yards ( ,f broken metal i on the Hursihouse Uoad; from J, Ma- < 'Mg'* P'ff, "P0 of which goes to Foreman I TV Holmes and 100 to' Foreman Heal, i all on Egmont Road; and up to 50 yards c from 11. Parkin, for Yeale and Cowling roads. The report was adopted and the chairman's actions approved. , REPORTS OX PLANT. ' Engine-driver Mackie: During the t month the crushes worked six clays, i crushing 304 yards. Engine-driver ' Si-wart: T worked the roller fit days, 1 rolling and scarifying 4fii chains on i Mountain and Tariki roads. Engine- 1 driver Orr: We worked the small roller I "inc.' days, scarifying and rolling . r >3 t chains on Junction Road, on Foreman Battens' length. • RIDING REPORTS , Moa Riding: Eoreman Laurence —o',v- ' mg to the exceedingly bad weather, we ' have made no progress with Thomason's ( metalling contract. Up to the 27th. 304 ' yards had been placed on the road. ' Foreman Bennett—l have been em- ' ployed at usual repairs on the Junction ' and Tariki roads. There was a irul slip ; on the. zigzag, which has left the road [ very narrow. T have fenced it for the ' time being. T require eight Din pipe?, for culvert on zigzag. Foreman Heal: T have been attending to the ordinary re- ! pairs and assisting Foreman flatten. ' Foreman Taylor: During the month T finished repairs at wash-out on "Bedford Koad. T have great difficulty in maintaining Egmont Uoad South, the metal in some places having disaopoarnl. Cr. Lawrence reported authorising 4 yards of metal for urgent repairs on the Mountain Road, and his action was approved. The chairman and Cr. Lawrence were empowered to arrange for a lease of a cr:i-hcr site from Mr. VY. Jury, Tariki. The pipes asked for by Foreman Dennett, were granted. Th" matter of extra metiil asked for-by Fore man Mallon was left to (lie chairman io arrange. It was also resolved io send a letter of thanks to Mr. Burwell for assistance in removing obstructions from thee ulvert on his property. Mangorci Riding: "Foreman Bill en Most of my time was taken up with the small roller. I will be -lariing Alfred Road on-Monday, the orb Auw-t. Foreman K>(ist: T have repaired Kent and Albert, roads. We have between 400 and f.oo yards of melal nut. A small forgo would be a boon to sharpen the )d"k--. and drills. The motor lorry parting to the new creamery at Albert- Road lias broken up the road from Mr. Kirkbv's to the creamery, and I have'used all my maintenance metal patching the v.or-t places. Foreman Spencer— Mv lime has been taken up with usual repair work. I have repaired the Cliong Boundary Road. This road could he re-metalled out of the old pit. Mr. Saxt.mi has left gorse trimmings on the road and in the water-tables for the nasi Iwo months. ill was decided to request Mr. :>•;- ton to remove the gorse trimming. Waitara Riding: Foreman J. Holme? --I have been on tiie usual repair work. f was nine days assisting the foreman to procure metal to repair Mountain and Richmond roads. Foreman F. j Holmes—t require five L'.in pipes to widen a culvert on the Smart Road. I have been engaged on the usual repairs. Foreman Proud—My time has been S taken up on the usual repair work, jj Foreman \Y. Holmes—During the month | i procured (k> yards for repairs to the I Mountain, Richmond, and Manutnhi 5 roads. 1 will require another supply to 3 inrry the road over (lie wiuler. The 1 i-lank.; from the Matakara bridge, on the J Richmond Road, are fast clWr.ppcaring. I They are urgently required for profeeS (ion rails around the bridge. They are also being taken from the culverts below Leech's.

It was decided to ask Mr. T. French to cut. buck trees on his property; also, that the pipes wauled be granted to Foreman F. Holmes, The matter of extra, metal was left to the chairman to arrange. It was resolved to instruct the inspector to ascertain who was responsible for the removal of the planks in Ihe Waitara Riding.

Omnia Riding: Foreman Seamark —1 have been engaged repairing the roads rendered nece-s:\ry bv the abnqrmat weaIher. All my maintenance metal on the Barrett Road is gone, and I require some as soon as possible. Some persons are fultimr the water-tables to pieces, bv breaking the vehicle down the hills. Mr. Bain should be requested to cut gorse and growth overhanging the Scaly Road, on his frontage, Foreman Eva—My time has been taken up repairing Yeale, Frankley. Cowling, and Elliott roads. Mr. R." Parkin delivered 32 yards of metal on Yeale Road. Foreman Haves

-The Main Road has stood up well, but His district roads have broken up badly. Oxford Road became very bad, and I liril to trot 1-2 yards hand-broken and (i yards of crushed metal on the South Road to repair same. I also constructed a Din pipe culvert on this road. i require seven Oin pipes to replace stone crossing on O.vford Road. The matter of extra metal was left to the chairman. Mr. Bain is to be requested to clear the jiorse from hisfrontage on Sealv Road. The matter of drainage to the water-tables was referred to ihe chairman and Cr. M'Allum; and the matter of extraordinary traflic c.i (he county roads referred to the inspector. Okato Riding: Foreman ll'Orfilh— During the month (here was a wash-out at the Oakura deviation culvert, v/liicb I had to extend with sft of 24in pipes. I have started the re-grading of Victoria Road. The speed of motor-cars should be regulated approaching the Oakura bridge. Foreman .Seftoo—l am

assisting Foreman M'Grath.at VictoriaRoad. 1 have regraded Pitone Hill,, otf < Beach Road, and metalled same with- 50 yards of hand-broken metal. I have also metalled about 9 chains on .Beach and lower end of Pitone roads. Messrs Honeytield and 0. Pcmwarden supplied the carts and Mr. Rae assisted with, the work. Mr. Penwarden rendered me great assistance, working with me the whole time. Foreman Meredith—Some of tne roads have broken up badly, particularly Hcmpton Road. I have carted out 130 yßrds of boulders at .Stony River. T require seven loin pipes to replace culvert on lower end of Kaihilii Road. It was decided to send a letter of thanks to Messrs Honeylielcl, Penwarden, and Rae for their assistance on the Pitone Road. The pipes asked for by Foreman Meredith were authorised. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector reported that during the month he had been busy with the wandering stock and licenses. He also put notices on the bridges declared unsafe by Mr. Clare. Three licenses to drivers of vehicles had been issued. Three persons were prosecuted for breaches of the county by-laws; two were fined, and one had to pay the costs. The report was adopted, the inspector's attention to be drawn to. the number of wandering stock on the county roads. BRIDGE CARPENTER'S REPORT. •M'Gommell's Culvert: As instructed, I have ordered the necessary timber for the abr> e'' ■ d have been advised that it was ■;■]■:■ n the 18fh inst.,,including that i j,r other bridges. I beg to stav , while the lorry was conveying the timber from Waitara to Mangacmo bridge the decking proved too weak, and this shattered several of the planks on the above-named. I have bad temporary repairs carried out until the new material arrives. Bark Whare Bridge, Tariki: I have inspected this bridge, and, on examination, I found the two stringers very unsound, also some of the decking and wheel-guards. I have already sent two of the totara stringers from Mangaone culvert to this bridge, and I nsk authority to procure, 700 ft of new timber to complete the repairs to this bridge, and then the above-named will be in good repair for a number of years. The hut at Tariki has been dismantled and stored at Tnglewood. T have taken levels for th? following proposed new bridges: —Ngafnro, Waiongona-iti. Mangamti (M'oa Riding), and Waitara Riding, Waiongoiia Bridge, Lepperton, and I have plans and estimates in course of preparation. Mangaone Lridge, Junction Road: All piles and sheathing have been delivered on the site, and I propose to start the erection as soon as the Mangaoraka and M'GommeU's have been repaired, as the two latter are most urgent. All the totara from Mangaone'-Devon Road iias been transferred to Mangaoraka and Waiongona bridges, and I hope to get word of the arrival of hardwood at any moment, and then it will be distributed to the respective bridges. 1 hope to make a start with the repairs at Mangaoraka on the (ith inst. Saunders and Carrington Road Bridges: 1 have now completed plans and specifications, and have arranged io meet the district road engineer on the .'Hst inst. re same, and as soon as he gives his approval tli»se bridges can be proceeded with. It, was re-nlved that the matter of oenstructing a temporary crossing over the stream on Saunders Road be left to Cr. Wooldridge to deal with. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs Putt Eros. (Tariki) applied for permission to erect a water-wheel in the race running through their property, applicants to be responsible for looking after the race and keeping everything in order.—The matter was left in the hands ■ of the chairman and Cr. Lawrence, with i power to act. A letter was received from the Wha- ■ ngarei County Council, in similar terms > to that which had been sent to other local bodies, enclosing a copy of a let- . tin- sent to the Commissioner of Crown Lands respecting the class of land being i set, aside for the settlement of returned , soldiers, and suggesting that the Govi eminent be urged to see that the poorest . lands of the Dominion were not ac- , quired for that purpose. —It was dei cided io endorse tlje action of the WhaI ngarei Council. $ Messrs Sladden and Palmer wrote re- , garding the Hill Road formation, stat- , ing that to carry out the work accordi ing to their specifications would cost < £ I'm.—lt was decided that the coun- • ci! would contribute £ for £ contributed i by the settlers over and above the i amount ( .€SO) oll'ered by the GovernV\\ !•' .Aisle (Tataraimaka) wrote in . reference to some repairs he had made > to Albion Road while T. Collins was . working on the road. The work had taken Io hours longer than the time ; he had been asked to put in. He also . applied for a short strip of metal (about i ."j chains) to be laid to meet his farm, . and stated he would be. willing to pay i the necessary extra rates.—The matter was referred to Cr. Wooldridge to report upon. The hon. secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, wrote stating the branch had for some time been considering the "good roads movement," and as the Taranaki County roads had been referred to as models to be emulated, the branch desired any information that the council could give in regard to the cost of formation, maintenance, and any matter perlaining to the roading question.—The clerk staled that a reply had been forwarded. Nine ratepayers on the unmetalled portion of the Ngamotu Road, Spotswood, wrote asking the council to metal the road before another winter comes round, as lately it had been a quagmire. —lt was resolved to communicate with the Government, pointing out that the council considered that it was the Government's responsibility, as a sum of money had been set aside for metalling when the settlement was opened up. Tt was decided also to communicate with the member for the district on the matter. The Public, Trust Office wrote in respect to the council's application for a loan of £IO.OOO, stating that the application could be considered at 514 per cent, per annum plus 1 per cent,, sinking fund, for a term of 3GJ years. The. consent of tho' Governor-General-in-Couneil would be necessary.

The Minister of Public" Works (tire. Hon. Sir William Fraser) write to Mr. H. J, Okey,. MJ?., in respect to the application of,a. £2OO {£. for £fc subsidy towards the-cost of erecting two concrete bridges over a, stream on Saunders Koai.' tie • steSedt that- he- had reeeived! a report. iQA the matte? from the'resident sag!*

.new, and was prepared to issue authority for £2OO ( £ for £) directly detailed plans and specifications had' been approved by the resident engineer.— Plans have already been submitted to the engineer. GENERAL. Then sual grant of £2O per annum towards the cost, of technical classes was authorised. A Carringto'n Road settler asked (hat the engineer be sent out to inspect the bridge over the Kiri. stream* which he considered required painting and screwing up and. other repairs.—It was decided to instruct the bridge carpenter to inspect the bridge. It was decided to instruct the foreman of the respective ridings-to forward their estimates of metal requirements for the ensqing year in time to be considered at next meeting. The tenders of Mr. Carlin Gill, for the delivery of 40 yards of shingle at the proposed site of the Carrington Road culvert anil 44 yards at the site of the proposed Saunders Road culvert, at 5s per yard, were accepted. Accounts were passed as follows: General expenses, £I3OO ISs 2d; Moa Riding, £483 14s 3d; Mangorei Riding, £l*o 7s fid; Waitara Riding, £421 0s 3d; Omata Hiding, £O4 15s; Okato Riding,