CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1919, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County -Council was held at Wailara yesterday. There were present: Crs. S. J. Kennhlgton (in the chair); T. McKenzlc, E. C, Jones, H. Sander I>nfl H. A. Foreman. An apology for absence :was received from the chairman (Cr. «. U. Plgott, who was aw.iy in Auckland. ENGINEER* KEPORT. The comity engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as under: _,.j. Waihi Riding—Arrangements have heen made for the provision of maintenance graveltor the upper end of the Ohanga road, the Mkorima road metalling specifleations have been forwarded to the resident engineer for approval. I propose calling tenders for maintenance metal for the Main road between the tollgate and the county boundary. The small bridge on the Inland North road will require early attention. Tikorangi Riding.—On the Otaraoa road ploughing and grading are now being proceeded with, but in view of the Government grant the heavier work will be deferred till a later period. I consider there is sufficient scope to proceed with the metalling from Loveridge's pit, out do not anticipate the pit draining out this season. ■ Ngatimaru Riding—The metal contractor at Tarata commenced his duties, but owing to noncompliance with his conditions of contract work has been suspended In the meantime. The repair work to the Purangi bridge has been satisfactorily completed, and tho old timber will be sold by auction shortly. The contractor for the Mangnoapa stream bridge will now proceed to cut the necessary timber for tilts work, which will take precedence over the other small bridges requiring erection on this road. It is expected that the hardwood timber for the South Mauiu bridge will shortly be arriving. Urenul Riding—Further work has been proceeding in the new quarry fronting the Main road, but the haulage difficulty has not yet been overcome. In the Okoke distr'ct, I understand, enlarged metalling projects are in view out of loan money, but until the areas are definitely dei-idei upon by the settlors, eveu the iniliiil work cannot be proceeded with. The minor bridge repairs will shortly be completed. Temporary assistance has been obtained for this district, but a permanent man Is still required. Mokau Riding.—The construction of the small concrete bridge is progressing. All false work and reinforcing are In place and the concreting is expected to he completed at an early date. About 75 chains of the Main road have been scarified, and re-coated with shell rock broken to two aud a-half gauge; various metal dumps hare been formed over a 10-mile route, and the crushing is expected to be completed this week. The Mangahia bridge will be temporarily strengthened to allow heavy metal carting to proceed to Mount Messenger. A decision with reference to procuring timber for various bridges in this riding should be arrived at. The cost, including cartage and construction, is estimated to exceed £BOO. With reference to the Wai-iti metalling contract, all necessary preparatory work, so far as the council is concerned, is in readiness to proceed. METALLING THE MAIN ROAD.

The district engineer (Mr. H. H. Sharp) asked if the council would allow the use of Its crusher, when finished working in its present position, to crush about 409 yds of rod: sp?.wis at Uruti for the wet j)lncc3 on Mount Messenger. Mr. J. W. K. Martin, contractor, wrote in reply to the council's inquiry regarding the completion of contract No 315—the two unmetalled gaps north of the devlat'on on the Pukearuhe road—stating that he was prepared to complete the same for the £4lO Government subsidy. The amount of metal required was roughly 500 yds, which worked cut tit approximately 16s per yard, the council to do tho crushing and spreading, according to the terms of the contract. The writer continued that it was part of the contract that hi>d been let to him, but he would not touch the job under £1 per yard under present conditions. His offer was subject to the council allowing him 12 months in which to complete the work. He did not anticipate taking more tbau six months, but past experience warranted him in asking for the period of time. He pointed out that when compelled by the council, owing to shortage of monev, to stop landltrg stone at the depot, there were at that time tht.isands of yards of boulders on the beach witlilu reasonable distance of the Wat-ttl crushing site, while to-day thero were practically only a few yards available. The contract referred to was one of which Mr. Martin was relieved by the council on account of the delay in its completion. Nine ratepayers of the Pukearuhe district petitioned the council to insist on the completion of the Main road metalling contract before any new work was undertaken with the crushing It was resolred that Mr. Martin's offer to complete contract No. 315, as originally laid off and comprising 105 chains, he accepted, subject jo obtaining the bal.inco of the stone required In six months. The price to bo £I7OO Incluslvo CORRESPONDENCE.

J. H. Hobos, luoro, wrote asking that something should be done to improve a small portion (about 10 chains) of the Matau South road giving access to his own and Mr. J. Wallace's properties—Loft In hands of tho engineer A request was received from David Paul that something be done to a bad place on the Waipapa road, which tho council had promised to metal about 12 months ago—The engineer to ascertain what assistance would be furnished by the settlers In the locality. The Whangaraomoiia County Council wrote stating that notlflcallon had been received from a meeting of ratepayers held at Matau that Crs Kennlngton and Sanders had expressed an onintlon ibat the Clifton County Council would subsidise any outlay by the W mngainomona County on the Junction road, within the county, to the ™« °£ £2 ?,' ancl tllo counc " asked if the Clifton Council would make a definite proposal road ™ '° "" fUU ' re mlntaiance of «ie v.„?i. K(lu ? ll ! e ' on suid tuat » meeting of settlers bad been held and it had been stated that thev would be prepared to subsidise work done on the portion of tho road referred to, but he did not remember any particular sum being mentf i'„«V h ?i ',' wou,d be done b ? 0" council. .„,;.?, to hold tho matter ovor, pendf 'T^ 7 ' wltn " Tlew i 0 »" adjustment of boundaries. f„r Cr '>,£ en "' nßt l? n Ud suftsested that tho rates il , l % l ea l from slr ' Wile 's section, when Co ?,?v d , b0 handod . OTCr t0 o,e Wlmngamomona 1 / r f P end "ure <m tho Junction road, ™J,w und J no suPPort- councillors being county for expenditure on their roads. n„nZ coraralUeß appointed by the conference of vX£ "T"" 1^1 ™ held »t Eltham on NoLT, fJ £ 6 °, in ° tlie " uestion ° r uniform byn!Jt? '?!. Whole of Taranakl, reported that the estimated cost, together with tho conference shoulder 1 '' 1 e £350 ' which »™s Pr»Posed rramtv p tor n° !n eqllal Proportion by the nine S C T* and the Moa R °ad Board, iess UBh 2 V tm ™ dlsWct contributions. En wonMhJ '""ad" as to whether the Clifton Council Itwl, ££ r , el r» Cd J°, J oontrlb, " e oa fat baste - f d to hold the ma " 6r ™ r «u>Hl the chairman returns to the district.

GENERAL. I? 3 T'r'! frcra lll ° Wa| P a r °''"tv whin .'iJL the time had arrived !tbS. Wt<l " of bulllllnt ' remanent roads con,irt»r n ?, o >,^ ( ' msary ' ""d funhnr "rat they K d v S» £"' sucn ™>ds should i-e constructed SLam" 1 ?, COS of the Consolidated Revenue -automatically given That, in order to get !hW? verD , m ,™t to bring in legislation In that foll,n'°," , (e " her b - v tn « adoption of the Victorian system or some modification of it) it will action T,^ V i° r l 0?' b °dles to take combined ou«i frZ mc '' P™P°sed tint a joint reman of Z C rT% cc "i" clls be sent "> "»> chairto Lm i C ° ,ntles requesting him " 0 as sociatlon as soon a XnnTT". e Parliament sits-so that arII s oTne S b ,° nl:l i le w,t " i " dlvidual *»"- mint JhJ 10 ", 36 t0 inlrtst on 'mediate Govern- ,"' r * lt W further pointed out that c„uld W n„'! 0W aSS : lmlnK sucl! Proportion. »h, 52° l ollger be Permitted to escape axatkn, and further that a tax of at lonstln rtlvWM„?, be collecte d through, the Customs and between 6 .LT° , e ? Ui , t . al),e B,stom » f distribution andTmali?»in°«' b ° di( f whicn I,ave to construct 'writing \l. ta n the , roads. The council intended above ~ ™ H° Unty As socintion embodying the woun m„ S r 3t on '' and hoped other counc s ttopott 3, "" ,ar reqUo3tS and 80 st ™<&™ Councillors were of opinion that littln u™,u rouSrV 5 ' "I" J-Wof a confaen f™'e lS », Relation, and consideration of he couneir l 0" ° 7er fOT a further meting of the «™^^&.«™?»>«