TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. Before proceeding with the ordinary business of the meeting of the Council yesterday, the chairman (Mr J. S. Con»ett), reported as follows on the work throughout the County for the past /ear:— lioada—The work on the roads lias not, owing to a combination of circumstances, been as satisfactory as in the preceding years. The continuance of the war curtailed the field of labor, increased the cost of all supplies for t"e plant, road-making and bridges consequently reducing the amount that could bo accomplished with a given sum. lake, for instance, the contracts that jvere before you at the last meeting, uut of twenty-six contracts only sixtenders were received and accepted. In some instances, particularly in the Manfforei Riding, contracts have Seen unlet tor over two years. However to their credit, some of the foremen havo arisen to the occasion and obtained their own supplies. The cost of metal per cubic yard' is now much higher than formerly and consequently of little value for comparative purposes. 1 arrtd Roads.—During the year this elass of roa.d was taken in liand under two systems, viz., tar grouting and tar- 1 sealing. The former on the Main South Road at Spotswood whero 73 chains were laid down, this road having to carry exceedingly heavy traffic. Up to the present the results seem satisfactory. The Devon Road from Watwakaiho bridge to Mangaone Hill was tar-sealed and seems to he standing up to the fast moving traffic admirably. If the council intends to embark on this method of road construction it will b# necessary to install boiling, spraying and sweeping plant to carry out this class of work. Motor Haulage—Owing to the -scarcity of teams to deliver metal on the roads thereby Seeping the plant going at full capacity it was found necessary to install a motor truck. This has now arrived at Wellington and should be available at the beginning of the year. Concrete Roads.—The concrete road is unquestionably the road of the future but at % present time is prohibitive owing to the excessive cost not only in ■laying down, the road but. in preparing our grades And bends so as to enaWe us to lay down a highway fon*all time. Motor Transportation of Passenger and Freights.—This is assuming alarming proportions on our roads, so much so, that it seems lair to predict that ( within the near future all traffic will be propelled, fast moving, and on rubber I wheels. This class of wheel driven traffic is fatal to an ordinary metalled road and unless some means "can be devised whereby this class of traffic can be made to pay its quota of tha«con-. struction and upkeep, an unfair burden is bein<_ handed on to tho i ratepayers , who Jiave to maintain tlt»tfoads by direct taxation.

j MONTHLY MEETING!. ' Th* monthly meeting of the TaranakiCounty Council was held vesterday, tiler, being prefent Crs. J S. Connett (ehairman} A- E. Laurence, C Andrews, D. McAllum, G Capper, J. Andrews and A- Morton. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. J. B Simpson and J. Wooldridge. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported as follows: The influenzotjfcpidemic has seriously affected work throughout- the country during tha past month. The crushing plant at the chain bridge wa» worked shorthanded for some days but eventually liadfc-to be closed down Crushing at Kaihihi is also at ?■ standstill. The bridge gang at Manganui has also had to give tip for ,the same reason. Others of our employees who have escaped infection have 'been permitted to help on farms Or in factories where assistance was urgently required to carry on. Fortunately "through the splendid organisation set lip in New Plymouth to fight the disease, in country as well as in town, the epidemic has now practically ended. The toil has been heavy, but it is impossible to estimate what the position might have been but for this prompt action. The sincere thanks of the public are due to those ladies and gentlemen for the very valuable work they have done. With a view to keeping some work going the large roller was brought round to a gravelling job on Chong's road, where le?s men were required, but owing to the continued Srofcen weather, little has been don«. Two f3ams are casting out boulders at Baker roa4 It is hoped to commence crushing again nest week- On November sth Cr. Morton and I attended the conference of county delegates at Eltham, a report of which will be placed belSreT yon. We also went to Wellington on December 2 to give evidence for the Council before the Local Bills Committee in connection with the proposed Inglewood County. Owing to the short sitting of Parliament, on account of the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward having to leave immediately for England to attend the Peace Conference, the 'Local Bills Committee were not disposed to hear any lengthy evidence on any Eill, so the Minister in Charge (the 'Hon. G. W. Russell) suggested, with the consent of both parties, that lie would set up a commission to visit Taranaki, go thoroughly into the nroposal and report to him at a later date, and this was agreed to. The report was adopted. REPORT OF CRUSHING PLANT. Fjigine-drivcr Mackie-—During the month the engine crushed 73 ~ yards at Chain bridge and 66 yards at the Bacon factory. Engine-driver -Stewart.—l have done very little rolling and scarifying this month owing to wet weather and sickness. RIDING REPORTS Moa Riding:—Foreman Laurence.—My tine has been taken up with usual maintenance and assisting at Tariki cheese factory. Foreman Mallon.—l replaced a 9in- and loin, culvert on Junction road. Foreman Bennett.—l have been engaged on the roads and considerable time helping with milking owing to 80 much sickness. I could not find any portion of Zig Zag slipping away which had been made up \vith logs. There are wany corners that could be taken off to advantage. Mangorei Riding:—Foreman Spencer. I have obtained about 150 yards of lxralder3 in the river which should be carted out at once. Foreman Keast and Batten reported being engaged in tte usual repair and maintenance workWaitara Riding:—Foreman J. Holmes. —I have been engaged at the usual maintenance work and blinding owing to the excessive motor traffic at peacs time cutting nn the road=. Foreman W. Holtne«— n « instruction from the chairman Vorpmnn Harvey and I have a-arnngad our lemtttu. I have token

over Corbett, Te Ari, Brownj Malumtahi and Kaipakapaka Roads, and Foreman Harvey Manutahi and Mountain roads from Lepperton railway crossing to Waiongona. Foreman Palmer-—I havo metalled culvert on Karaka road. Mr T. laixton has shifted his, ferfee nearer Waitara River on Karaka road. This will necessitate the removal of an ISin pipe culvert. I have repaired fence around F. Old's pit. The weather being suitable, the grader is required to complete work left off last season. The Te Ari, Kelly, Waitara and Old Waitara roads could be improved by scarifying and rolling when small roller is available. Quarrraan Pliipps.—There has been 10 yards of metal, carted to Tarurutangi bridge. I have continued breaking metal in pit. Foreman F. Holmes, Proud and Harvey reported being engaged on the usual mninlenance work. Omata Riding:—Foreman Seamark.— T have widened side track on Omata Hill and metalled 9 chains of the steepest part. Foreman Eva.—My time has been taken up'with, the usual repair work. Okato Riding:—Foreman Meredith.— I have carried out 90 yards at Stony River Depot, rolled and scarified 20 chains cm the Main South road and widened filling on Bett's Hill. Foremrtn Hayes.—T have obtained 400 yards at Brnphy's Depot and have 70 yards broken in the river ready to pull out. I repaired footpath in Okalo and put 8 4ii;. pipes to carry water. Foreman McGra-th, Sefton and Anderson reported being engaged in general maintenance work, and that roads were in fair order. CORRESPONDENCE. The Celrk to the Egmont County Council wrote drawing attention to the bad corner of the Main South Road immediately north pf the OaVura bridge, and asked that it be improved as soon as possible.—The letter was received. The secretary to the Mwgorei Cooperative Dairy Factory- Co. wrote to the effect that a moisting of directors had resolved that the Taranaki County Council b<> .asked" to take the necessary steps to Tegalise the present line of road between the Smart road creameiry and the company'* at the Waiwakaiho river

Cr. Morton suggested, in the course of an explanation of the position, that the mutter should be referred to the clerk to report upon, with a having tlfft unused fcgal road elosej and the present road made a legal roadway. The suggestion was adopted. S. C. Smith, M.P., wrote that he had made representations to the Minister of Public Works in respect til (the Ngamotu Boad Spotswood special settlement, and that the Ministei had agreed, in view of the special circumstances to reinstate on this year's estimates the sum of £IOO, as desired by the Council. Correspondence was also received Jrom Mr Smith in reference to the Abolition of Toll-Gates Bill and the Inglewood County BillThe chairman of the National Efficiency Board (Mr Wm. Ferguson) wrote with reference to a petition signed by the Council, urging the establishment of memorial workshops for disabled soldiers. He pointed out that the Board had discussed the suggestion and considered if unsuitable at present for the requirements of New Zealand. A copy of the, report proceedings of the Counties Conference, held at Elthain on November 5, was received from the .secretary of the Conference.— Received. « Advice was received from the Public Trust Office granting the Council's application for a loan of £350. subject to the usual conditions, for the Surrey Hill road. It was .decided to take the necessary steps for the raising of thq loan. The Alexandra Borough Council wrote with reference to thaneost.of maintaining hospitals for incurables in favor-ably-situated country districts, to which tliev were continually being sent by members of thn» medical profession, and pointed out that this was hardly fair to the districts concerned. Support for the following resolution was asked: "Owing to lie spread of tuberculosis, and the growing practice of the medical profession in sending patients to favorably situated country districts, this Council is strongly of opinion that the Pulblio Health Department should undertake the control and care of all incurable patients."

It was decided to refer the matter to the Xaranaki 'Hospital Boardi ©ENTERAL. The matter of acceptance of tenders for the jsupply of dog collars was left in the hands of the chairman. The question of the final recommendation for the appointment of a roads overseer was left in the hands of the chairman and Cr. Morton and McAllum. The action of the chairman in postponing the poll for the ibriflge loan in the Moa Riding, on acocnnt of. the influenza epidemic, was confirmed and the clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to have the proceedings readjusted. It was also resolved that the chairman and riding members should meet the ratepayers at Inglewood to explain the necessity for the loan. Accounts were passed for .payment ae follows: General expenses £&0 10s lid, Moa Riding £237 ss, Mangorei Riding £240 4s 7d, Waitara Riding £153 8s -2d, Omata Riding £63 2s 9d, Ok&to Riding £291 Is lOd; total £ 1616 Is 3d.