TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Tarnnaki County Council was held yesterday, there being present: Councillors J. S. Conne.tt (chairman), J. Andrews, G. Capper, A. Morton, S. Vickers, C. Andrews, J. Wooldridge, J. B. Simpson, and A. E. Laurence. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman, in the course of his monthly report, referred to the conference of local bodies held recently at El* tham, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming an association of local bodies, and also to agree, if possible, on some method, other .than, by tcU gate or wheel- tax; of obtaining compensation for the extraordinary traffic at present carried on the main roads. (A full report of the conference and its decisions has already appeared in our columns). Mr "Connett also reported waiting on the New Plymouth Borough Council, with Cr. Wooldridge, to ask if any objection would be raised by the borough in the event of the council'seeking to get authority from the Minister to erect toll-gates on the nfain roads in lieu of the motor wheel tax prepused by the jwupfyi (A report of this conference*' and -the subsequent decision of the Borough Council,; have' also appeared in our columns.) The chairman: also referred to the agreement' entered into with the New Plymouth Borough Council to supply them with sufficient metal from the county's Waiwakaiho depot to re-mfctal the Main South road, from the Breakwater road to the county boundary; Driver J- Mackic has been given full cofitrol- of all 1 labor connected with the crushing plant, and also the'-lorry drivers. Additional requests, have, been made for Government assistance as follows:—Kirikare road £4O, in addition to £ for £ up to £800; Saunders Croad, up to £1000; Upland road, £460 and £ for £ to £900; Te'lArei, £ fofr iup to '£Boo. * ■% The report was adopted. RIDING REPORTS.

' Reports from the'riding foremen were received, of which the following is a summary:— lloa, Riding.—Foreman Mallon reportheavy motor traffic the Mountain road had been a heavy problem. About 300 yards of metal would.be required, though dnfy 100 yards were authorised. A wooden culvert on the Junction road required ten 12-inch pipes.—The pipes applied for were- authorised. Mangorei' Riding.—Foreman Batten reported he had examined that portion of the Alfred road, of which complaints had been made, and was of opinion it was not as bad as represented. He required a man and horse and dray for four days. Foreman Spencer reported that the Carrington road in the borough had broken up rather badly and required •20 yards to repair it- Nine flin pipes were' also required to repair a culvert near Baker horse and dray and also the pipes, applied for, were authorised.

Waitara Riding.—Foreman J. * Holmes ! reported receiving 1108 yards of metal from tiie crusher, the', spreading of which was practically completed! The roller was required"for a day or two longer to roll in .the metal. Stone-breaker l'hipps reported that 200 yards of metal had been carted out of the |>it" during the month.

Oraata Riding.—Foreman Seamark reported the side roads cutting up nadly. He required 20 yards of metal on the Lower Barrett road and 12 yards 011 the cheese factory road.—The necessary metal was authorised.

Okato Riding.—Foremen McGratli, Sefton and Meredith reported roads in fair condition, with the exception that the unmetalled portions were feeling the severe weather. Foreman Hayes reported main road had required a good deal of attention, and the by-roads were breaking up. The Upper Puniho road had broken up and some metal was required on it at once, which the foreman said lie would have to get out and have it hand-kreken in order to h«ld the road. There was also a bad place ilsar Mr Wells'. Metal could be got for this from Bredin's pit. BRIDGE CARPENTER'S REPORT. The bridge carpenter reported on the following works for the month:—Cross Rood Bridge, Huirangi.—During cue month the aproacbsa to this bridge gave way and I have had all the repairs to same carried out. Tariki Brid.ee.—l have ..repaired the decking at this bridge! and found'on examining it when it was stripped that two of the stringers were in a bad state of decay, I would recommend cfosihfe 'the bridge. against all traffic on a Sunday, and replace the two stringers with' f «otn& already oh the site. Steel Bridge,, Sentry Hill.—During the month a dray crashed into the fencing <m the aproaches and smashed a portion of the fencing, which I have had Repaired. Saundew, Carrington Road Bridges.—All the boxing has been stripped from bridges and both are now completed with the exception of the earth, work which is now proceeding. Foreman Mallon's house is proceeding satisfactorily and will be completed in about a fortnight. It was resolved to close the Bark Whare bridge when required, for repair purposes, the closing to be publicly notified. . ' .. The report was adopted- ' CORRESPONDENCE. • James Brivton, asked the indulgence of the council for a week or two in respect to the heavy traffic bylaw, in order to enable him to complete some chaff-cutting contracts, which the recent weather had delayed.—The matter was left in the hands of the chairman to deal with.

J. J. Lilly, K&imiro, wrote complaining of the condition of the Alfred road. He stated lie had been living on the road for over five years fund had during that time to cart all his groceries and other goods from neighbors, as the road was too bad for tradesmen's carts to get as far as his place. He hoped the council would do something at once to get the road made up as far as his land.— Dealt with in foreman's report. Mr A. Long, Tariki, applied for permission to take about two yards of metal from the Manganul pit, adjoining his property.—The request was granted oil the usual terms.

Mr S. G. Smith, M P., wrote enclosing SjCopy of a letter he had received from the Minister of Public Works, in reply to his representations on the matter, stating that the request for an increased' amount for nietalling the Ngamotu road, Spots wood, would receive consideration when the Estimated were being prepared. Mr Smith intimated his intention of following the matw up when next In WeH lington.—Received, The town clerk of New Plymouth wrote asking if the County Council could see its way to take the necessary legal steps to close a portion of the Old Albert ' *<uid. btifff a diauacui one. whish

borough desired to' acquire in connection with the • proposed hydro-eleotric extensions. The letter proceedd that the Toadway referred to was very broken, and that when the new storage basin was constructed it would be completely submerged. It was decided to inform the borough that the county was prepared to take all the necessary steps provided the borough defrayed all the costs of the same. The secretary of the Kaimata Hall Committee wrote asking if the council could effect some improvement to the road in front of the hall. Cr. Capper explained the position and stated what the hall trustees were anxious to do and what work they were prepared to carry out themselves. It was decided to inform the trustees that the council had no objection to the work being done provided it was earned out to the satisfaction of the inspector and without expense to the council. A petition was received from residents of Koru and Plymouth roads asking that the council would t,ake steps to have the.deviation from the Plymouth road to the Koru road, through the property now held by Mr Morton, a distance of about 12 chains, proceeded with at once, the cost of which would not be more than £l5O for which they were prepared to rate their properties for in-, terest and sinking fund. They also asked that the council would assist towards, the amount of the loan and the expenses. The deviation was also an urgent requirement, as the factory was going.in for casein, which would neces-. sitate the supply of milk in bulk, instead, of separated cream.

Messrs Green and Watson waited on the council in connection with the petition, and after consultation it was decided to take steps to secure the consent of the lessee of the property concerned in the proposed deviation.

Mr McCabe waited en the council to ask if the council could do something to have the swing, bridge re-erected at Oakura, between Koru and Surrey Hill. He stated that a quantity of old material Was still there, arid if the council would supply what material was required, the settlers would provide all the labor necessary. The bridge would be a great convenience to children going to school and also to settlers geiieruity. The matter was left in the hands of the chairma* and riding members to inspect and report upon.

J. C. B. Walsh, Hurford pad, wrote stating that he had taken up 255 acres of the late Mr Okey's estate and asked that the council should open up and metal the road so as to enable him to get out ,to the factory with milk. He also waited on the council on the matter, and it was decided that the engineer inspect and report on the formation required en the Upper Hurford, road, and also on the metalling to connect with the present metalled portion of the road.

' Five ratepayers of the Kirihare road wrote asking the council to take steps to raise a special loan of £BOO for forming and metalling the Kirihare road, and pledged their consent to the loan when submitted for signature.

It was decided to take the preliminary steps necessary for the raising of a loan. : ' GENERAL.

A letter was received from the provincial secretary of the Taranaki Farmert' Union supporting the protest made by other public bodios against the imposition of a wheel tax, owing to the far-reaching ofleets on the traffic of the whole province ,and upon the earnings of the farms in tli,e province.—Received. The Wanganui branch of the Westport Coal Company notified that in consequence of further heavy increases in freights and other charges the price of unscreened coal had been advanced to 3Ss per ton c.i.f- New Plymouth as from July Ist.—Received. Accounts -were passed for payment as follows: General expenses £7Ol 3s i>d, Moa Riding £lOl 18s 7d, Mangorei £79 !>s Gel, Waitara £437 Gs, Omata £4l lfls 3d, Okato £lB7 2a Od; total, £1548 r3s sd.