TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Monthly meeting. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday. There were present: Crs. J. S. Connett (chairman), E. A. Laurence, J. B. Simpson, J. Wooldridge, A. Morton, G. Capper, J. Andrews, and D. McAllum. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that with Cr. McAllum ho bad inspected the suggested line of deviation on the Hurford Road, near Mr. Huggins' property, and they were of opinion that a better grade could be obtained at a smaller cost by cutting down the hill on the present road. They also conferred with Mr. A. Okey re the purchase of a further area of land at the Frankley Road pit. Arrangements had. been made to secure supplies of gravel for tar-sealing from the Harbor Board's dump at Moturoa, to be carted by teams at present in the council's employ. The small whare under offer to the council at Sentry Hill had been purchased! The chairman stated he had investigated the matter of the deviation of the Upper Smart Road, which is about 40 chains in length, and he was satisfied that a better grade could be obtained on the deviation than on the surveyed line. The present track was in bad order, and nothing had been spent on it by the council. To make a good job would entail heavy expenditure in formation work, and when that was done metalling on the hill would be advisable. The tender of Mr. Hill was accepted for the delivery of 1500 yards of boulders at a depot on Mr. Rea's property for the Lower Petone Road. The tender of Fisher Bros, was accepted for 30 yards of boulders on the Upper Petone Road, to be hand broken. The report was approved and the chairman's' action endorsed. Permission was given to the Mangorei Dairy Company to fence the old Korito Road, and it was decided to inform Mr. Shield accordingly. It was decided that steps should be taken to legalise the portion of land used as the Upper Smart Road, and to close a portion of the old Smart Road. SUMMARISED REPORTS. Crushing Plant.—Engine-driver Mackie had crushed at Tapuac depot 309 yards, and at Oakura depot 476 yards. Enginedriver Stewart had been engaged rolling and scarifying on the Main South Road. The question of water supply for roads was referred to the chairman and the road inspector, with power to act. Moa Riding.—Foreman Laurence had been doing miscellaneous maintenance work. The Moa Road Board had dumped a lot of stone on the Tariki Road. Foreman Mallon had been carrying out the 1 usual repair work. Foreman Bennett had been proceeding with the filling at Mangaone bridge. About three more jdays would complete the work. Foreman Heal had been assisting the other foremen. The cost of stripping, spawling and delivering at crusher from Burrow's [ metal pit was Is 6d per yard. He would like the council to reduce his length of roads. It was decided to request the executors of the estate of the late J. Petroz to remove obstructions from the Mangaone stream running through their property. It was also decided that men be sent at once to the zig-zag to widen the corner near the slip. Mangorei Riding.—Foremen Batten and Keast were engaged getting out boulders at Kent Road depot. They had about 550 yards out. Foreman Spencer had been doing maintenance work and had also assisted with the harvesting. The chairman and road inspector were empowered to arrange for work on the Hill Road. Waitara Riding.—Foremen J. Holmes, F. Holmes, and W. Holmes reported being engaged in the usual maintenance work and assisting farmers with harvesting hay crops. Foreman Proud had sent out 30 yards of gravel for Manutahi bridge. Foreman Palmer had been blinding and repairing. Mr. Phillips, who has a farm at top of Te Arei Road, stated he was prepared to send a man with plough and team to plough up the sides of the road where necessary. This work could he followed up with the grader and make a good road. Foreman Harvey hoped to start the filling at Matakara bridge next week. It was resolved that the completion of work on the King and Hursthouse Roads be referred to the roads inspector to ascertain if cheaper metal is obtainable than that procurable from Pitt's pit. The offer of Mr. Phillips to assist with a man and plough and team to plough the sides of the road was accepted with thanks, and it was decided to put the work in hand forthwith. Omata Riding.—Foreman Seamark reported he had been blinding and had cut down small hills on Upper Barrett Road. It was decided to request Messrs Watson, Sanger, and Bain to cut back and burn overhanging trees and gorse trimmings. Okato Riding.—Foreman McGrat.h had received 410 yards of metal and 115 had been dumped'. He had placed 300 yards from Oakura depot on the Oakura deviation. Foreman Hayes had received 578 yards at Brophy's depot; 53S yards had been placed between Haylock's, on the Oxford Road, and Brophy's, on the Saunders Road, also 20 yards on the Upper Oxford Road. Twenty yards went to the Oxford factory. The new enginedriver took up his duties on the 18th ult. Messrs McGonnell and Gower are to be requested to cut back gorse and black - [berry on their frontages. The matter of arranging with Sladden and Palmer with reference to the Lower Pitone Road was referred to the chairman, and, if satisfactory, the work is to be proceeded with. BRIDGE CARPENTER'S REPORT. Tarunvtangi Bridge: The concrete piers are completed and all girders are in position. The deck and hand rails are now being erected, and I hope to have this bridge completed in three or four days' time. Waiongona Bridge (Main Road): I have made a start in getting tse concrete material ready for the concrete pier at this bridge, and as soon as the Tarurntangi bridge is completed I will transfer all the plant to this bridge and proceed with the repairs. Lower King Road Bridge: All timber required for this bridge lias been "transferred from Tarurutangi and the bridge erected. I have taken some decking from the Tarurutangi bridge and repaired some decking on the Waiongona bridge, Lepperton,and the Makara bridge on the Manutahi Road. Mutton Track Culvert: As instructed, I have inspected the creek on this road, and would recommend a concrete culvert 7ft. by sft. with 7ft. wing walls, the concrete walls to be 3ft. Cin. above the level of the road and 20ft. clear of the roadway. The total cost of concrete culvert and earth approaches

is £lB5. Ngatoro Bridge, Junction Road: All timber for repairs to this bridge has been delivered, and as soon as opportunity permits I will attend to repairs. Mangaone Bridge, Junction Road: I have visited this bridge, and Foreman Bennett hopes to have the earth work completed this week. CORRESPONDENCE. John Morratti, Ratapiko, wrote asking that something be done before the winter to the dip on the Tariki Road near Mrs. V. Harding's place.—The matter is in the hands of the road inspector. F. G. Arden, Frankley Road, asked that a culvert be put in at the entrance to the road leading to his property. The locality was always wet and often quite a quagmire. He offered to share the expense of the culvert and to give some pipes which he had if they Were of use. — Referred to the road inspector Emma Clarke, Smart Road, Pitzroy, wrote asking the council to do something to remedy the state of the drain in front of her house, which was an annoyance and a menace to health. It was alleged that through the council's neglect the drain had become choked with weeds, which caused the drainage to flow on to her property. Attention was aIBO called to the unprotected state of the culvert in the same locality. In a report from the county foreman (P. Holmes) it was stated that the drain drained Mr. Kibby's property and he had kept it cleaned of late years, and he should he required to cut back the furze and blackberry which were the cause of the trouble. —Referred to the road inspector. G. King, Wills Road, Bell Block, requested the council to form that portion of Will* Road from the railway crossing for a distance of seven or eight chains, adjoining the lands held by him on the one side and Mrs. W. James on the other. He offered to do all the ploughing necessary. —It was decided to put the work in hand. In regard to the matter of uniform by-laws for the Taranaki province, the committee set up at the Eltham conference held on November 5 reported that the cost (with the cost of the conference) would be about £350, and the committee recommended that the cost bo divided in equal proportions between the nine county councils and the Moa Road Board,' less borough and town district contributions, if any. It was decided that, in view of what appeared to the council the excessive cost, the council could not see its way to fall into line in the matter. Mr. Tate waited on the council on behalf of the ratepayers on Tate Road, and asked if the council would form and metal about 40 chains of roadway. There was metal within a short distance that could be easily stripped. It was their only outlet to the factory, and they thought that something ought to be done. The chairman replied that the council's policy was not to do formation out of rates, hut that if the settlers would proride half the coat the council would pay the balance. A deputation was received from settlers of the Mangorei Road asking that the council should form and metal the half-mile of roadway connecting the road with the Junction Road. The matter had been previously before the council. The deputation's suggestion was that if the settlers raised a private loan of £l5O the council should subsidise it with a like amount. The chairman pointed out in this case that if the settlers subscribed the amount of half the cost as a cash contribution the council would contribute an equal amount. A request by Mr. Patterson for some work to be done on the Lower King Road was referred to the chairman to deal with. Accounts amounting to £2245 5s 4d were passed for payment as follows: General expenses £lllß 17s 4d, Moa Riding £lB9 16s 3d, Mangorei £IOB Is 6d, Waitara £226 8s 4d, Omata £SO Bs, Okato £513 13s lid.