TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.* I Tfre monthly meeting of the TaranauS ! County Council was held yesterday. In : the absence of the chairman (Cr. J. S. | Connett) through indispositon, Cr. A. \ Morton was voted to the chair. There were also present: Crs. A. B. Laurence, J. B. Simpaon, J. Wooldridge, G. Capper, J. Andrews, D. McAllum, and C. Andrews. Leave of absence was granted to the chairman. * REPORT OF CRUSHING PLANT. Engiiiedriver Mackie.—During the month I was down with sickness from the second to the fourteenth. We crushed six and a-half days ai Chain Bridge for 274 yards. Enginedriver . .ewart.— I have scarified an-j rolled 'A chains of Carrington, Chongs and Junction R&ads. SUMMARY OF RIDING REPORTS.

Moa Riding.—Foreman Laurenw: My time has been takeu up with general maintenance work. Mr. Sharrock removed two yards from Minganiii pit without any permission whatever. Foreman Mailoi- I have been engaged at blinding hnd assisting at crusher. Foreman Bennett: My time has ocen ctOcon up cleaning water tables and bliading metal It was decided to charge the value of the two yards of metal taken by Mr. Sharrock, and to inform him that no mttal can he taken frjui ih> pits without tho Council's fionsen;.

It decided that Forerun Bem>ett be instructed to proceed v/ith the filling at the Mangaone bridge, Junction road, in the Moa Riding: Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Batten: I have worked three days during my holidays blinding roads damaged with motor traffic on race days. I require pipe 3to replace crossing at Mr. Cane's. Foreman Keast: I have been engaged at miscellaneous repair work and assisting Foreman Batten. Foreman Spencer: During the month I repaired Tarahua road using 202 yards of pit gravel. We have also carted out to Baker road 132 yards of boulders., I am at present engaged with crusher at Chain Bridge. Waitara Riding.—Foreman J. Holmes: I have completed filling at Mangaone culvert. I supplied Bell Block Dairy Co. with one yard of metal for which they have agreed to pay including my time (two hours). Foreman F. Holmes: I -have been engaged in blinding and banking metal. I was off 1J days assisting with harvesting. Foreman Proud: During the month I have been engaged stripping metal pit and usual maintenance work. Foreman W. Holmes: My time bp,s been taken up with the general maintenance work. Foreman Palmer: Engaged at usual road repair work. Foreman Harvey: I have been engaged blinding and backing up metal. Stonebreaker Phipps: I have broken 24 yards at Tarurutangi bridge and also been engaged at the quarry Omata Riding.—Foreman Seamark: My time has' been taken up repairing roads. I procured six yards of gravel to repair Allen road. Foreman Eva: My roads are in fair condition. During the month I have been assisting Foreman Spencer on Tarahua road. Cr. McAllum reported that he had been over most of the roads in the Omata Riding, and found them, considering the want of material and shortage of labor, in fair condition. The top end of Frankley road is a bit rough, and that also applies to the top end of Hurford road. A good deal of baekbeny and furze is encroaching on the sides of the roads, and a fair number of branches of tiees require cutting hack, but no doubt on the appointment of an overseer these matters would be attended to.

The report was received. Okato Riding.—Foreman McGraf.h: 1 nave formed and blinded the tcp oi I<iri road. I formed and widened Sot chains. Mr. '.J Taylor ploughs! the whole of this road free of charge. Messrs Beetham and Taylor assisted with some ,of the earthwork free oi charge. Foreman Sefton: The metal in my length is breaking up owing to the continual winds. Foreman Anderson: I have been engaged blinding roads and cleaning out water tables. Foreman Meredith: My time has >he>.n taken up with the usual maintenance work.

A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Beetham and Taylor for their work and assistance.

EPIDEMIC MATTERS.

The Hastings Borough Council wrote asking support to a resolution urging on the Government the necessity of strengthening the financial position of the Public Health Department so as to extend its powers and functions to enable it to successfully combat and control any epidemic that might attack the community, and alho that a sohenie be evolved whereby the bacteriological work of the department may be extended in every direction, and that such salaries be offered as would induce and encourage men of great scientific ability to offer their servwes.

It was decided to support the resolution.

The Napier Borough Council wrote urging the Council to support a resolution pressing the Government to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the recent influenza epidemic. The Council endorsed the resolution.

The New Plymouth Borough Council wrote acknowledging the County Council's letter of appreciation in respect to the work of the Public Health Committee in connection with the influenza epidemic.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Moa Road Board forwarded a copy of the following resolution passed at a meeting of the Board held on Saturday last: "That this (board, representing tho ratepayers of the Moa Road district, strongly opposes the proposal of the Taranaki County Council to erect a toll-gate on the Junction Road, within the Moa Road boundaries."

Messrs J. P. Harrison, A. Gilbert, M. Gilbert, J. W. Henwood, jun., and James Tuck, ratepayers of the Waitara Road 'district, wrote asking the Council to oppose their properties merging into the Moa Road district.

It was decided to reply that the alterations of the boundaries between the County and the Road District had been fixed and it was now too late to take action.

Messro W. B. Card, F. 0. Jones, H. J. Green, P. F. Rail!, J. Jury, and K. Bishop, petitioned the Council to immediately form tho upper portion of the Plymouth Road, so as to enable the settlers on tho upper Plymouth and Carrington roads, to convey their milk to the Koru creamery. It was decided to refer the matter to the riding members for a report at next meeting. GENERAL.

The chairman reported that Mr W. A. Morton h<id offered to do ploughing on the road. Tho offer was "■>• cepti-v -i,r\ the foreman was authored to do the formation work. Tfc» chair-

man also reported that lie had accepted the tender of Messrs Cook and lister for the supply of dog collars at 7/6 per doz. and the re-labelling of old collars at 1/6 per dozen. The chairman's action was approved. Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., wrote intimating that a sum of £IOO had been placed on the Estimates for the Mgamotu Road. . Copies of the Public Health Bill and the Hydro-olectrical Development Beport (North Island scheme) were received from Mr S. G. Smith, M.P. It was decided to thank Mr Smith for the copies of the Bill and report, and also for his services In securing ths res instatement of Ngamotu road vote on the Estimates. v

The chairman's actions in inviting applications for the position of motor* lorry driver was confirmed, and the matter was left in the hands of a committee consisting of the chairman, and Crs McAllum and Morton.

Accounts amounting to £1537 5* 8d were passed for payment as follows: General expenses, £1164 10s 6d; Moa Riding, £IOB 9s lOd; Mangorei Riding, £47 Ss Hd; Waitara Riding, £ll9 2s 4d; Omata Riding, £l3 6s; Okato Riding, £55 12s 3d.