CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. R. H. Plgott) Who was attending ihe Counties Conference In Wellington, Mr. S. J. Kenniugton was voted to the chair. There were also present: Crs. T. McKeuzie, H. A. Foreman, F. C. Jones, and H. Walte. An apology for absence was ! received from Cr. C. Muslter, who was also jln Wellington in connection with county matters. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Tho engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett), reported as follows:—■ Waihi Riding.—Tho newly-appointed col-lector-has taken up his duties at the Wallil 101 l gate; the system of issuing tickets has ! been Instituted, and matters are proceeding satisfactorily. On the Epiha Road, instructions have been given to form up the eastern portion, and .the western or foreshore end has been attended to. Further supplies of boulders hayo been deposited at the various depots for ' future crushing, and quarrying for repairs will shortly bo proceeding In the Onaero pit. Tlkorangi Riding.—Each road requires an allocation of reserve metal for emergencies. Tho contractor has obtained the necessary additional spawls and deposited them at the depot and subsequently carted out the resident of smaU material for re-coating portions of Vlckery's- Flat and hill. Plans and specifications have. been .returned, approved, for the Otaraoa deviation, and I propose calling tenders for the work, to close at the next meeting. Ngatimaru Riding.—On the Mangaoapa Road the main bridge has been satisfactorily completed and takep over by the Council. The contractor will now give his attention to the smaller bridges, for which 7000 feet of timber Is In sight. The formation party on this road are proceeding slowly, but are. hampered by shortage of labor, and the delay in railing pipes. With an improved railway service, the timber for tho' South Matau bridgo should be forthcoming from Wellington, which will permit this work to proceed. The labor for quarrying maintenance gravel for the Junction Road did not materialise, and it appears necesBary to rely upon the respective foremon to quarry what is required. The clearing of Blips, etc., has given improved access to the Ngatolo settlers above the low Tevel bridgo. The timber and pipes at Klore railway station Will shortly be removed to Matau. Urenui Riding.—Further supplies have been carted out from the native reserve on to the Main and Okoke Roads, but In view of no action being taken with the boulder contract, larger supplies of gravel will be required In tho future, and I could easily dispose of 200 yards per month' for the next six months if this can be procured. On the I'lko Road, the ■Black bridgo was inspected, and arrangements made for repairs: As a small milling plant will probably be established in the Okoke district, I am looking to get future supplies of timber from this source. Owing (o no labor being available, the access road to the new quarry at Okoke has not been completed. A consignment of 40 pipes and .10 planks were forwarded to this district during the month. Maintenance and repairs have been carried out on tho Mataro Road, and on tho Kalplkirl Road. Twelve settlers and three teams were voluntarily forming up and improving the road with much vigor, Ihe settlers having realised that outside labor was not obtainable, and the only remedy for improved access was collective and Immediate effort, Mokau Riding.-—Attention has also been given to the Mangamaeuo Road, hut owing to Its lr.catlon the only permanent remedy is metal The Ri Road bridge was Inspected, and will receive. attention when the bridge foreman Is in the district. Prospecting in the vicinity of the Okau Koad has proved the existence of shell rock, and I understand an early application for a maiailhc loan wl'il result. The new foreman has taken titi his dirties at Crtau and giving his attention ■•- lha most necessary works, i request author.-'; '<- call for tenders for 500 yards of shell rr-'.. Mulders, at Uruti, for main road repairs, in :->og sections thereof are nearly worn throng.': This will help to maintain the road until ::.■"- '.:r;rer works under loan are initiated. At ',.;;.-itl the westerly weather has prevented :■»:■• large quantities of stone being recovered from the foreshore. The Paranlnihi tunnel and the Jlimi-Pukearuhe Road have been attended to The lodgment of water opposite Mr. Phillip'.: house ran he remedied In various way::, but the natural fall is through his own property. For the option of enrine-drlvcr, I suggest giving a rial to one of the road freemen, who has ■Mplied for the position, provided he nomin- . lis a satisfactory substitute for the position ;„■ vacates.

Twelve applications were received for the oosltion of bridge foreman, Mid tho matter of tho appointment was left in the hands of the engineer. It was deckled !o notify all Government departments that officials passing through toll gates under the control of the Council must produce passes.

A LIGHT RAILWAY. Or. Jones mentioned the matter of the FloPlo inU Awakino districts having constituted themselves a railway area under the Light Hallways Act, and said that according to a newspaper report, the necessary petition had been signed and sent, to the Minister lor gazetting. The proposed line had been surveyed for Pultetutu, and was estimated at about £2OOO a mile. It had been stated that a 30-mile system would cost about £50,000, which would be less than the cost of metalling a road thoroughly. (.'v. Jones pointed out thai as r railway from Wahara and this end of the district was just as essential as for the northern end of the district, the Clifton Comity should endeavour to co-operalo with the others and have a proper railway laid down which would carry the traffic through from this district, to the north and vice versa. He .did not wish It to be thought that he was against the proposed lines to link up with the Main Trunk; but the line through this district had been djlayed too long, and he thought It was time something should be done. In view of the fact that two Councillors were absent from yesterday's meeting he dirt not feel disposed to ask the Council to pass a resolution, hut intended bringing the matter up at the noxt meeting for an expression of opinion. Accounts amounting to £551 7s 2d were passed for payment.