EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1919, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING I j The ordinary- meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake on Tuesday, when there were present: Crs. W. R. Wright (chairman), A. B. Coffin, Jns. Young, W. C. Green, M. O'Brien, T. 11. H. Sinclair, and S. Campbell. NEED FOR IMPROVED ROAD CONSTRUCTION. Before commencing the business, Cr. Young, who was elected in succession to Cr. T. Harvey, resigned, was welcomed to the Council table by the chairman, who referred to Cr. Young's previous experience as a councillor. Cr. Young, in reply, said thr.t while he had not been on the Council to revolutionise matters, he considered they would have to consider adopting some sufficient scheme of road construction. Tbo roads At present laid down were only of a temporary nature. He was! not taking exception to the way in which the work was curried out, but the roads would not j stanjl fast traffic. He considered that the i sooner the ratepayers realised the position and the Council took the mutter in hand and worked to some scheme of road construction ! that | would stand more than two or three years, the better, otherwise they would get deeply in debt. No doubt it would be necessary to strike a higher rate, but if they had land they must have roads that would keep up, with the times and carry heavy traffic. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer, Sir. A. C. Tease, reported as follows: Oeo Riding (Northern).—ln the early part of the month the deviated portion of the Eltham Road on both sides of the Tunehu Bridge, which had been metalled, was blinded and rolled in. It would be advisable to- include 100 yards of stone in this season's contracts for this piece of rond, as being a new filling a considerable length will In all probability require some attention. Several days were spent on patching the Eltham .and Tatikl Roads. The Kir! Road near the sawmill, where a disused culvert fell in, has been filled up. ' A small wooden bridge on the Wiremu Road is in a very decayed condition, and is becoming dangerous, I have saved timber for stringers from the Puneliu Bridge timber should it be the wish of the Council to re-erect it in wood. The old truss bridge over the Punehu River has been pulled down and stacked, and is ready for sale by auction. The timber required for the erection of the Taungatara j Bridge has been carted to it. Oeo Riding (Southern) .—The men have been engaged on patching, clearing water-tables and outlets .and general surface work. The main South Road, Patlkl, Skeet and Watlno Roads have been patched from end to end. Opua Riding (South). —To completo Contract No. 341 we were compelled to pull the plant out of the crushing site and re-set it on the sido of the road near the Mnngahume school. The contract yielded 818G cubic yards crushed metal and G8 yards of screenings. Seven hundred and eighty yards of metal were put down on 71 chains of the Eltham Road, 12 yaTds were used for refacing 6 chains of the road opposite the crushing site and the remainder tipp°d for maintenance. The cost per cubic yard for labour, fuel, etc., was 4s 2%<J, the quantity used being 11 yards per chain, and the total cost per chain, including metal, £7 lis o'4d. The small percentage of screenings is due to the fact that the screen had to be removed part of the time as it was impossible to back drays under it after the heavy rain. A considerable amount of banking up of the sides and water-tabling has been done on the Eltham Road. The roadway has been filled in over the small bridge west of the Mangahumo and the approaches fenced off. The diagonal top decking on the Taungatara Bridge, Eltham Road, has been removed, and the 12ln. by 2in longitudinal decking from off the old Punehu Bridge has been put down .In its place. Nine 12in. pipes have been put in on the lower Walteika Road to replace an old culvent which had collapsed causing scour to the surface of the road. One of the Council's horses Is without a dray, and either the horse should be disposed of or a dray purchased Some difficulty has been experienced In providing grazing when working on the main roads, and if it is the intention of the Council to continue using its own teams, which seems to be the host method so far as the recently merged roads are concerned, then it will be advisable to consider the question of leasing or renting paddocks at Opunake, Rahotu, and north of Pungnrehn. Opua v ßldlng (North) .—Foreman A. Crocker commenced work on this section on July 28, and is engaged on the work of patching the whole of the by-roads in the section. The Improvements to tho Wiremu Road on both sides of the Arawhata Road have been done by Mr. Bartle's men and he has also done the drainage work on tho Arawhata Road for which the Council made a grant of £lO Thirteen chains of open drain has been cleaned out opposite Mr. C. Humphries, jm\, for which the Council pays half the cost.

Opunake Riding.—No 2 plant was engaged several days crushing about 300 cubic yards of boulder stone on the Ihaia Road for the Opunake Town Board, the Garrett steam roller being used for scarifying and rolling in. Rahotu Riding (South).—A few davs work have been done on the Main South Road, patching and water-tabling, and concrete pipes have been done on wet days. A damaged pipe culvert on the Saunders Road has been temporarily repaired until dryer weather, when it 1 will be taken out and replaced with new ones. [ Patching has been done and water outlets

cleaned out on the Opournpa And Tipoka Konds. The upper Kabul Road hits required a falr amount of attention. It is in a very bad state of repair and practically worn right out, pit metal of doubtful quality is the only material available for patching, and the surface is constantly breaking up in fresh places dn ily. The lower Kabul Road has been patched and the water outlets cleaned out. A pipe culvert nn the Gregory Road, damaged by a contractor has been repaired and filled in, and the cost charged to the contractor. A ditch on this road, south of the Kabul Road has been cleaned out. and lowered, a pipe culvert removed to a better position, and a portion of the road filled in whore It was waterlogged. Rahotit Riding (North). —Foreman N. HelssenbiUtle commenced work on this section on July 17, and has been provided with a whare and ono of the Council's horses and drays, and after one day's work water-tabling on the Main South Road the men proceeded to patch and clean ont the water-outlets on the F.ayley, Stent, and'Warea-Ncwall Roads. Previous to this, some patching had been done on the Capo Road. The rough wet weather during tbo last mouth or more has dealt vevv severely with the main and by-roads. The blinding on the main roads lias been washed out and blown away at several places, and as most of the recently merged by-roads are no worn as to bo low in the centre and retain the water they aro breaking up Into holes very fast.

Bridges—Bridge No. 25 (Warners') on the Eltham Road is almost completed, and wilt be filled in at an early date, leaving the timbering under the slab to be removed later. This work has been greatly delayed by the recent stormy weather. Plant.—New moulds of stronger material are required for the manufacture of 91n. and 12in. pipes. The whole of the road constructed plant was brought in and the work of overhauling commenced, several of the wearing parts of the engines have been taken out and sent to Hawera to repair or renew as required. The Government Machinery Inspector has inspected the whole of the plant, and I believe found it in a satisfactory condition subject to the usual minor repairs, but he recommended that the Fowler and the AvelIng and Porter tractions be provided with permanent hoods. The- engine-drivers have been taken off the plant repair work on fine days to chip ofT the old paint, clean up, and repaint with 9iderosthcn the steel bridge over the Waiaua' River. The motor car ordered at the June meeting of the Council is due to arrive by the ss Lorraine, in about 10 days, some provision should be made for properlyhousing the car.

General.—To put the matter in proper order It might be advisable to pass a resolution that the names and addresses of occupiers of land, on whoso frontages blackberries is growing, be ascertained, and notices be prepared for the next meeting of the Council. Particulars of the estimates for road reconstruction and tnrscaling along with the requirements for the first year have been supplied to the -Public Works Department in connection with the application for a subsidy. Tho outside wood and Ironwork of the Council's offices at Opuhake and Rahotu and the Domett Street shed requires repainting before the summer season. The report was adopted. Crs. Sinclair, Coffin, and &e secretary were appointed a committee, 4 wflh power to act, In connection with a paddock at Opunake, and the chairman and the Ralrotu member for the northern end. OHAICU ROAD. The Minister of Public Works notified that representations had recently been made regarding the expenditure of the £75 appearing on the appropriations for the Newall Road to Ngariki Road section of the Ohaku Road. The Council had held a balance of authority amounting to £74 for soinb years without any authority coming to charge. The resident engineer reported that the Council did not re- | gard the construction of this road as an urgent matter during the war, but that the Council was now prepared to proceed with the work. The object of the letter was to inform the Council ihat the unauthorised balance of £4Ol would be issued, directly satisfactory plans, specification!!, etc, had been submitted to the resident engineer. 4 The chairman said that this was a step in the right direction, an \ he thought the committee should meet and Instruct the engineer what to do. Mr. O'Btien said that the Council should approach the Minister regarding unexpended balances on other portions of the road. VISIT OF MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. In connection with the proposed opening of the Puneliu Bridge. Mr. C. A Wilkinson, M.P., wrote that, when In Wellington, lie interviewed Sir William 1 Fraser, Minister of Public Works, in regard to fixing a date, but although Sir William had fully intended to do this, the long train delays and the opening of Parliament prevented his coming, which all regretted. Sir Wm. Fraser wrote to the same effect The chairman considered it would be better to defer tho opening ceremony until the Minister was able to visit the district, as the Council had various matters to place beforo him, particularly in regard to the Wiremu Road. Cr. W. C. Green suggested that Sir Joseph Ward should lie invited, but it was decided to defer the matter. PROPOSED INCREASED SUBSIDY. A report was received of tho proceedings at the meeting of Taronakl Local Bodies' representatives held at ' Eltham, when a remit was passed recommending that in order to abolish toll-gates and eliminate ohjectlonal traffic bylaws, and to enable local bodies to successfully . cope ylth tho large and increasing motor traffic, the Dominion Conference urge upon the Government the necessity of Increasing th present local body subsides fo 10s in the £ on all general rates collected

The chairman said that he personally favored the subsidy being increased to 10s, hut he did not see why a road running alongside a railway should be subsidised. If the people did Jiot like to use the railway it was their own fault. Subsidies should be given <o counties away from the railway that had to carry all heavy traffic or were in isolated districts.

" Cr. O'Brien thought that It would bo unwise to differentiate, as that might defeat the object of the resolution Cr. (ireen said Hint (ho railways were very Utile Rood at present, and llie Government themselves wero usinjr the rond with their motor lorries. Moreover, thpy were hoping to have a railway In their own district and would Ihen be cut out. ■ On the motion of Crs. Green and Campbell, It was resolved to support the remit. Th» chairman was appointed the Council's delegate to the County Conference, GENERAL. Renewal of the slaughter house licenses In respect to Quickemion Bros., Rahotu, and S. Campbell, Opimalte, vrere granted. The State Advances Department notified payment, to the Council's account of £145 on account of the Auroa Road Special Loan. Notification was received that Cabinet had decided that any expenditure by local bodies In connection with the forthcoming visit of HMK. New Zealand would he validated. I) Ross. secretary of tho Egmont County Patriotic League, notified Ilia appointment of Mr. A. C. Pease as its representative on the Repatriation Cominittee.

Tho Stale Advances Board notified that it had resolved to grant the Council a loan of £,1001) for the purpose of reconstruct!!!" bridges and culverts in the The chairman and clerk were authorised to sl"n and seal the debentures. "

Some discussion took place ovr the payment of accounts in connection wilh the -epidemic. and it wns resolved, on the motion of the chairman and Cr. O'Brien, to write to the Public Health Department and ssl; for payment of outstanding accounts in connection therewith.

It was resolved to obtain "00 yards of additional metal at the Cipua Road.

Messrs. O'Brien and Campbell were appointed to sim the rate tool;.

In accordance with notice, the chairman moved that the resolution authorising the purchase of a Bulek car be rescinded, and that another make of enr be purchased if necessary. This was seconded by Cr. Green and carried OH the understanding that If the Buiek ear is not delivered by August 28! h , the chairman, Crs Sinclair and Campbell should bo empowered to purchase a car.

The resolution strililug tho general rate was confirmed.

The engineer was authorised to take the names of all ratepayers having weeds, blackberries, etc.. on their frontages. The engineer was authorised to let contracts for metalling the ■ Opua flat, and ;ilso the road through the town.

Tho question of the disposal of the late Parihnka Iloail Board's offices and land at Rahotu, was referred to 'ho chairman, Crs. Green and Young.

In accordance with notice, Cr. 8. Campbell moved that the special order Jiiilliorlsing payment of Interest and sinking fund on special loan In the Oeo Riding he charged to the jeneral rerenne of that rldlnc, be rescinded. This was seconded by Cr. Green; and carried