TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1919, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held at the County office, Xew Plymouth, yesterday, when there were present: Mr. J, S. Connett (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J. B. Simpeon, J. Wooldridge, C. Andrews, A. Morton, J. Andrews, D. McAllum and G. Capper. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that satisfactory arrangements had been made for Mr Branch to continue supervision of the council's work for the present month. As It has been quite impossible to secure a house In the Waltara Riding for Foreman Mallon I have authorised the bridge gang to build one for him at Bell Block and the Job is well In hand. A few iron rails have been purchased from Mr Roy Parkin at Waiwakaiho. On the closing of applications for Inspection I deemed It advisable to wire the threo most promising applicants to be present at to-day's meeting If possible, so that an appointment might be made without delay. So much criticism has been levelled at the council since last meeting for Its action In adopting the proposed by-laws dealing with wheel traffic that I considered it wise to call a public meeting to place the facts of the case before ratepayers and others. There was a good attendance and much Interest was manifest, and the explanation cleared up many misconceptions. A Dominion scheme of motor taxation was approved and toll-gates as a temporary expedient. A vote of confidence In the council terminated the meeting. The chairman said that he had taken a good deal of responsibility In the matter and would like to hear the council's opinion on the matter.

Councillors were of opinion that the chairman was deserving of thanks (or removing the misconceptions over 'lie matter, and on the motion of Councillors Laurence and Simpson the chairman's action was confirmed. In the course of a brief discussion Cr. J. Andrews stated that he had Informed ratepayers that It was not Intended to tax horse vehicles, as that would tax the fanneta again, and they paid sufficient taxes sow. The chairman stated that it was not Intended to tax vehicles, but the provision had been included so that vehicles might be taxed If necessary. OVERSEER'S REPORT. Mr R. Branch, county overseer, reported that the wet weather during the month somewhat hampered progress and found the weak places in many of the roads, especially In the Waitara West District. A very liberal allowance of metal will be necessary in the near future In this riding.

Plant.—For the month 941 yards have been crushed—447 yards Albert Road and 494 yards at the Waiwakalho depot for the main road I estimate a further 1300 yards to complete the main road from the Bell Block Hall to the present tarred road on the Waiwakalho flat, roughly 2 miles, 15 feet in width. This will be in readiness for tar-sealing next summer. The trucks are both with the plant and running well, pne truck will do the work after two or three more days when the second truck will be put with the grader. The small roiler is now under repair and driver Phllpotts haa betn put In charge of the big roller in place of driver Stewart; he having resigned. It will be necessary to appoint a driver for the small ro.ler when repairs are completed to same. I would recommend sending th small roller into the Waltara West Riding and also on the Junction Boad which is in need of attenMon. The county teams are hauling stone t<: the crusherall the horses are In good form. Moa Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out in this riding. The wet weather comhked with motor traffic hai not improved the roads.

Mangorel Ridmg.-The plant finished the Albert Road depot on the ltfih of tho month and general maintenance work is now under way. There la a considerable amount of watertabling and patching to be done in this ri.'.lng owing to tho foremen being oft thjir lengths for a considerable time.

Waitara Riding.—About 3 miles of grading Una wen done for the month. About 2 days' work on the Waitara Road will complete the work for the small grader, but there is a deal of work for the big grader if it will work satisfactorily. When the crushing at the Walw&lcalho is completed a further carting of handbrokon atone can bo put on the Mountain Road from the Sentry Hill pit; it will also be necessary' to take a few truck loads on to the Manutahi and Mountain roads for repairs. Metal is badly required on the Waiongona end of the Mountain Road. I have been unable up to the present to get any stone pulled or a contract let for this portion of the Mountain Road Omaia Riding.—Foreman Eva Is getting a fine Wt of stone ready at the Frankley Road pf Foreman Spencer is assisting. Foreman Seamark is engaged in maintenance work The ttam roads In this riding are vesy fair, but the by-mads are showing signs of wen' n ftm i will require a lot of metal in the n-.r ninro Okato Riding.—The main roads m- ~ Pn < d condition but as in the other byroads are more or less weak. General maintenance work Is being carried on, the bridges have been completed on the Oxford-Saunders Rd The fillings to the approaches will be put In band as soon as Foreman Hayes puts throueh necessary work on the Puntho Road. Wood carters will have to be watched cloaely on this road for the next few months or considerable damage will be done.

General.—Arrangements have been made for the bridge gang to build a house In Bell Block for Foreman Mnllon. It was impossible to secure a house otherwise, The small trader will be sent to the Plymouth Road at the end of th s week the settlers finding the horses and driver to do the work ;>s promised I Inspected ,Uie tunnel site on tho Junction Road by Mr Cartbew's property, but. could not recommend the Idea of a tunnel. I would recommend assisting Mr Carthew to open a ditch *ar v .x. chttln ? ln , hls property and thla would take the, water back with the natural lay of the land and do away with the necessity of tunnel or pipes under the road. I tried to arrange to meet Mr Carthew on the Bite but un to the present time I have not se"n him I would not recommend a tunnel by Corney ; s on j the Junction Road, but I would recommend driving a sma I tunnel and piping same, this I consWer would be the cheapest and most perma'Stat It trill be neotMuy to stmt a truck

to the Tarlki pit to run out some of the handbroken metal for maintenance purposes. BRIDGE CARPENTER'S REPORT. Mr H. George (bridge carpenter) reported as 1 follows: Mangorel Bridges.—Botli of these bridges ihave been completed, mostly out of the purlri taken from tiie old Te Henui bridge. The last named bridge has been dismantled and ail 'the icon-work has been stored at the Waiwakaiho depot. Some of the purlri was brought down and a crushing depot built at the Walwakaiho. About 90 posts have been stored at the depot. Saunders Road Bridges.—All concrete work in connection with these bridges has been completed and as soon as the concrete is seasoned in the No. 2 bridge all the false work will bo removed and then the approaches can be completed. Upper Kelly Road bridge.During the mouth a washout took place to one of the timber wing walls and this was reerected in timber. Wiaongowi bridge, Mountain Road.—The old bridge has been dismantled and all the iron rods, etc., have been stored at the Waiwakaiho depot. Surfaceman MaUon'a Bouse.—Most of the material is now on thp Bite at Bell Block and the men are engaged ih Its erection. Culvert by Egmont Road Factory.— A washout occurred to this culvert and repairs to same ware attended to. Tarlki Bridge.—l ask uathority to procure 400 feet of decking for this bridge, and also some other slight repairs which require doing. . The total cost would be £9 14s. ELECTRICAL EXTENSION. * In connection with the request by the Inglewood Borough Council for permission to 'erect electric lines on county roads, the county solicitors wrote that they were of opinion that by granting permission to the Inglewood Borough Council to erect electric lines on county roads the council could not be precluded from giving the like permission to other persona or corporations. , They also stated that though,, in Ihe unlikely event of a request being made for permission to erect lines on the county roads on which Lines had already been erected by another person or corporation, the council could, if it pleased, grant such request. They thiioghfi it would be advisable to consent to & condition being included to the etfect that such consent should not be deemed to give to the Inglewood Borough Council the sole or exclusive right of Meeting the electric lines on the county roads. It was resolved to grant permission on the lines suggested by the county solicitor. Mr. p. t. Beilringer (town clerk) wrote that the New Plymouth Borough Council, having decided to make very large extensions to Its electric lighting undertaking, was desirous of obtaining an extended area of supply. The proposed area embraced a large portion of the Taranakl County, and wad comprised within the following boundaries: The Tasman Sea, from the mouth of the Hangatahua or Stony Itlver to the western boundary of the borough of Waiiara. East boundary: Along the western and south-western boundary of the Borough of Waltorn and Maiinganui Rivers to the Bristol Boad. South boundary: Along Bristol Itoad, York and Wortley Roads, and northern and north-western boundaries of the borough of Inglewood, and the Windsor and Dudley Roada and Ngatoro stream, to the radius line on the Forest Road. Along tho Forest Road to the Hangatahua or Stony River. West boundaryAlong the Hangatahua or Stony Elver from the lorest Road to the coast. Before the extended supply area could be gazetted the consent of toe council was necessary, and he was therefore directed to apply for such consent actoidllglf.

Tne necessary permission was unanimously panted. The chairman stated that he had suggested that the boundary should have been extended to the county boundary at I'untho Instead of tile Stony River, but the papers had gone forward to Wellington. Cr AVooldridgo remarked that lie wished the boundaries had extended to Puniho, as they were talking of getting power down there, GOVERNMENT GRANTS REQUIRED. H. H. Sharp, resident engineer, forwarded a circular letter asking that all applications for road grants for 1919-20 be forwarded as soon as possible. It was resolved to. apply for a grant of £4OO and also s for £ subsidy on the Plymouth Road; Surrey Hill 'Road, £ for £, £856turnout Road, £2oo;' Ngamotu Road, £2OB- - Road, £500; Kill Road, eSOO. GENERAL. The Mlnistor of Public Works notified that hj« was having a report made in connection with the wiuncll s request that the grant for metalling the Ngamotu Road, Spotswood, should be increased to £2OO. . The question of supplying metal to Smart Road Freezing Works and the New Plymouth Borough Council was referred to the chairman and enpaeer. A '„ a A. Bathurst, \w. A. ijurreu and H. Jones drew attention to the damage caused to the road during the flood time by the growth of willows in the M&nraono stream In the section belonging to Potroze estate—To be informed that it is impossible to remove the willows at present, and to bring the matter forward in December. Mr. C. Hoakin asked that the road grader be used on the unmetaUed portion of the Brown Road (20 chains) leading to his property.— Gianted when the weather permits. Tarlki, asked permission to remove his fence to the road side of the drain, jo as to enable him better to cope with the blackberry.—Granted.

C ; Bln ? le ' Carrlr >£t°ii Road, asked I.IX ». e ? do36 certain portions of the road within his fence line.—Referred to the Inspector for a report. The council confirmed the striking of the l Urt tdtMn °I? : i udlng ' «®neral rate of hi ji S a Road diatrlct . and 2%d in the outlying district; Mangorel Riding, 2Wd: Wiitsra, !M) Omata, 2%d; Okato, 2Wd. Messrs. J T. Stewart (roller driver) J Holmes (Bell Block foreman for the past 2S ?£"> " d I: Ben ™ u (foreman) forwarded So vacaS BtePS WUI b6 tak ™ t0 flu

Accounts were passed for payment as follows* General, £2038 10s 7d; M oa Riding, £H7 a £ B< \ Cl ' 5 134 148 sd; Waltara, £504 17s sd, Omata, £9l is; Okato, £368 14a iih* total, £B2BB 17s 4d. lld *