TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

atONTHLX MEETING. The monthly meeting of fh» Taraaalfl County Cotradl was -lielci yesterday, there bolng present Crs. J. S. Connett <chalrrmm}, A. J3. -Laurence, J. Q. Simpson, J. Wooldrldge, C. Andrews, s. Tickers, A. Morton, G. Capper, and J. Andrews. The chairman gave a Tesume of the proceeding' of the Counties Association conference Belcl In Wellington Inst week. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded .lilrn for attending the conference and also for the comprehensive report submitted. ENGINEER'S BEPOBT. The engineer (Mr. K. D. Cllmle) reported as follows 3 BIDING MATTERS. Moa Hiding.—The foremen have heen occupied with general repair and maintenance work. The Mountain road. Tarlkj end, Is not too good, but under Misting circumstances It is for the Council to decide what amount of work should be done on these toads, beyond ordinary maintenance work. With Cr. Capper I made an inspection of the Zig Zag, and since have instructed Foreman Yercoe to widen the load three or four feet at one place and to put in six nine-Inch pipes. When this has been done the road should be Quite safe pro* Tided motorists travel at a reasonable speed. Taken on the whole the roads In this Biding are In very good order. | Mangorei Elding.—Since the Sth September the (mall roller has been at work on the Carrlngton Boad under Foreman Spencer's supervision. About five chains near borough bouni dary were re-surfaced but in other places the road has been scarified and rolled only. Foreitian Batten sent In his resignation as roadman on the 15th Inst, as it Is his intention to go (arming. Applcatlons ior the position have been advertised A3 Instructed I have looked Into the matter of Upper Carrlngton road. From the end of the metal to the Momona bridge site, a distance of 53 chains, this road 1? In a very bad condition, it was once formed dray width but Is now In a "has been" state. To put this length in order will dost approximately £350, but It is useless td spend this amount on formation alone unless the road Is metalled at the same time. It will be impossible to get any material up to the bridge site wtthont considerable expenditure and It will be a waste of money to patch. There Is an amount of £l7 accrued thirds available for expenditure, and I beg to recommend that this be spent to Improve tin crossing over the Momona river, and any surplus over to be spent 'clearing stumps off the formation. All the roads that I have gone over In this riding are in very good order. Waltara Biding—As Foreman Palmer was the most experienced man in tbe use of a grader, this machine was sent out to him to use for clearing grass off road sides. To date, the grader has been used on the Blchmond road five days with excellent results. It Is my Intention to send the grader, In turn, round the various ridings and to try and get most of the roads done before next winter.. Mr. Copestake's team, which has been hired for the work, is proving most satisfactory. In regard to Pennington road, I suggest that Mr. Petersen and the Maori settlers be asked to provide teams and plough and that the grader be used to round up the formation which at present is very rutty. A filling at Petersen's end requires about four feet more depth and the existing 12-lnch culvert moved. Five new pipes will be required for this. If tills filing Is done it should be an obligation on Mr. Petersen's part to securely fence the sides, for If this is not done. Ills cows being driven from paddock to paddock will destroy the filling again. If the ploughing Is done by the Interested parties, I estimate the cost of this work at £25. Levels have been taken and a pian prepared of work required at the new culvert on Richmond road. This work can also be done mostly with the grader and a wheeled scoop, and I hope to do It while this plant Is about the district. Levels were tnken at the culvert under Egmont road near ralwny crossing. I find that It Is possible to lower this culvert nearly three feet. It may bo necessary to dig a drain about ten chains lcng In order to get the water away more quickly. Approximate cost of this work is £53. Levels have also been taken for filling at Mutton Track culvert. This work can be ffone on with any time labor Is available. During the month Foreman Mallon was off a few days owing to Illness. The other foremen have heen engaged at ordinary repair and maintenance work. It is my intention to get metal carted out from the Sentry HUI pit for repairs. Foreman Palmer requires 32 yards on Waltara. and Tate roads and the same amount can be used on the Mountain road. NOl 2 lorry will bo available for this work tiext week. ;

Omata Riding.—Surveys have been made and pans prepared for the deviation of Allen's Hill. This work can be gone on with as soon as the weather settles. It has been possible to reduce the grade from one In to an even grade of 1 in 16, and the existing bad bends will be done away witn. Plans have also been made of the Hurford Road Hill. I have written to Mr A. Wood giving him an estimate of £3OO for making a good grade on both sides. This does not Include the) cost of re-metalllng. In company with Cr, Tickers I looked over the top cud of this road and in order that he may get across to his section I recommend that Mr. J. Walsh be mado a grant of £2O on condition that for this amount he forms the road to my satisfaction. In regard to the side road oft Frankley Road and which gives access to Mr. E. J. King's property, nothing can be done until the accumulated growth of gorse and blackberry Is cleared. This has spread practically all over the roadway. [ understand that the adjoining owners are about to make a start at destroying this growth. When this Is done a further report will be made. Levels have also been taken on Honeysuckle Hill. It will not be possible to Improve this grade, and It will be necessary to widen thf filling about three feet to make allowance for a double road. While men are out that way I will take the crown ofT the Oakura end of the Tapuae Hill. The foremen have been engaged doing repair and maintenance work. Foreman Eva, who has been off on the sick llat, resumed work on October let.

Okato Riding—General maintenance and reps Irs have been carried out on these roads. A culvert, on the beach road behind Mr. Putt's farm collapsed and has ieen repaired by Foreniuu Meredith. In regard to the contract for Komene Road metalling I have seen Mr. Cowling, contractor, and he will bj prepared to make a start with this work In December. foreman ■ Hayes Has completed the fillings at culverts on Carrington Road and Saunders Road, and he has been engaged on general maintenance work since. In company with Foreman McGrath, I inspected the proposed deviation of the Plymouth Road at the junction with Koru Road. There is a much better road- line than the one now proposed, but to date I have not yet had an opportunity to go over the ground with the settlers Interested. 1 will make a survey of this new line as soon as possible and hope to meet the settlers on the ground. Plant—The large roller was put into Messrs. Rollo and Millar's for repairs at the beginning of the month and is still there. The small roller has been doing good service since It was done up. No. 2 lorry (Parkin's) has undergone a thorough overhaul during the month and is now being fitted with a new driver's box. This lorry will be used nest week to cart out metal. Driver Phllpott has been empoyed overhauling Parkin's traction engine and other plant, and other time has been filled in at the crusher. The crushing plant has been employed mostly crushing aggregate for the Meat Company. A total of 1500 cubic yards having been supplied since the completion of the Borough Job. This has all been delivered by No. 1 lorrv. There are now only 500 cubic yards to deliver after which the plant will be free to crush metal for our own use. All other plant and horse teams are in good order. General.—Sketch plans havo been prepared of a eoncreto benzine store and the lurcc building. Mr. Clare, bridge foreman, accepts the full responsibility of these two buildings. I have also prepared a lay out plan for the proposed tav boiling depot at Smart Road. I have engaged men to do the' necessary excavation and will have that work under way in a few days time. I was successful in being able tn purchase two large boilers from Messrs. Bortliwlck and Sons. Ltd, Wsitara, and have arranged with Messrs. Johnston Bros to cart them to the site th's week. Another motor lorry will he a neresfc'.ty as soon as the work of tar-seaiing starts, and I will be glad to have authority to call for prices for the supply of o six-ton chassis. Prices for .the supply of other plant, road sweepers, etc, will come before you at the meeting. In regard to the supply of tar, arrangements have been made to purchase 8000- gallons held in stock by the New Plymouth Gas Works, and they have agreed to supply a minimum of 14,000 gallons in the next, twelve months.

Cr. Lawrence said in view of the fact that the Moa district was likely to^become the Inglewood County in the courso of. a short, time, he did not think the Council should do any morq than maintain the roads in good repair. He said the Council had boon accused of wasting a lot of money in the Moa district and'he looked upon that as a reflection upon him personally. He thought if the roads were kept in good repair any other work should be left until "these clever people got control."

Several other Councillors supported Cr. Laurence In the view that all the Council should do in the meantime was to keep the roads in reasonable repair One member of the Council said that • tho action had put the clock back for the Moa Riding at least a couple of years.

In the matter of the Upper Carrlngton Road, the Council felt that the expenditure nf £350 on formation was too heavy to he undertaken, It was pointed out' that the only loan on the road was one of £6OO for the bridge, and a suggestion was made t.hnt n loan for the work might be raised, I; being further pointed out tat ttee bridge

i»? withoat in» twa, n *aS lUtimitely decided to arrange a meeting of the ratepayers Interested to discuss the 08 °* carrying out tot mot*. The work on the Pennington Road, as we* «ojnmended in the report, was authorised. The chairman and Cr. Vickers were deputed Jo confer with the owners of property affected os the proposed deviation of Allan's Hill, and that provided satisfactory arrangements were made the work should be proceeded with. Cr. Vtckers reported that the settlers on Hurford Boad had agreed to petition the Council to take the necessary steps to raise a loan for legradlng the hill on their Toad. .The grant of £2O recommonded to Mr. Walsh on the conditions suggested by the engineer, was authorised. It was decided to notify Mr. King that ©wing to the present condition of the road the Council could do nothing until the growth of noxious weeds was removed. Authority waa given to take off tJie crown al the OaJwra end of the Tapuae Hill, The engineer was authorised to mafco a survey of a new road line for the proposed deviation on the Pl?mouth-Koru Boad and to confer with the ratepayers as to whether they would approve of the new line. In regprdi to the plant and work, the chairman snkl it was intended to go ou with the re-surfacing of the roads in the Omata riding with metal from the Waiwakalho depot, with a view to tarring in that district at an* early* date. It was decided to purchase another motor lorry as Suggested by the engineer, and that the work of tarring be carried out In accordance with the scheme outlined by hUn, his proposal being to utilise one of the lorries as a tarring machine. BRIDGE CARPENTER'S REPORT. The bridge carpenter (Mr. Clare) reported 01 the following works for the month of SenUmber Richmond Road Bridge—The parapet walls are completed at this bridge and all gear and boxing has been transferred to the Waiwakaiho depot. County Oarage.—This has been re-erected at the Walwakalho depot, and is now used for storing all bridge gear, etc. Chain Bridge.—The decking on this bridge has been attended to and some of the old decking has been cut into post lengths and transferred to Big Jinf's Hill for fencing. Momona Bridge.—As requested I have prepared alternate estimates for this bridge. No. 1 concrete piers and wing walls with steel girders and hardwood superstructure; No. 9, proposal for ferro-ooncrete throughout and use th« two steel girders now on hand and incase same in'concrete for the two beams "\th. some additional reinforcing Concrete Benzine Store.—This building is well forward and should be completed in v.boitf u week or ten days. Cab for Dump Truck.—This is also being fittod arid will be completed In a few days Concrete Depot—All the timber for the roof of this building, doors, etc., has been ordered and a start has been made with the excavations and clearing away for this building.

Mr. CUre also reported on the Oikura linage as follows—As Instructed I have Inspected this bridge and on oiwslnatlon I found that the pier on the with side w nadiy fractured nii<3 |a.lso shews sighs of some recent fractures. I attribute this to tho heavy abutments and heavy loads crossing over arid my opinion Is that the safety of the prldge Is depandent on the Iron tio rods or anchor rods, and if one of these was to give way under the strain It would throw a greater stress on the remainder and would probably cause the pier and bridge to collapse. The north pier Is slightly fractured, out t 00 not think this pier requires anything doing to It, and tho abutments also are not heavy against It I have gone thoroughly Into the matter for repairs to the south pier and the only recommendation I would maJte is ti erect another pier and wing walls gaalnst the present structure and bring the pier up to tho bottom of the girders of the bridge. If this method were adopted It would have to be carried out In the dry season when the river Is low, to ensure a proper foundation being obtained. lam confident, if this proposal were adopted, Uiat the existing trouble would be brought to on end and that no further trouble would take place. My estimate for carrying out the abovd proposal will Cost £550, I would suggest that warning notices be placed each side of the bridge warning heavy loads to cross over slowly It was decided to erect the warning notice boards as suggested by the carpenter on the Oakura bridge. HUM ORD ROAD MATTERS.

Eleven residents of Hurford Koad, Omata, petitioned the Council to authorise the openIns of the road tfurveyefl from Frankley Koad to Hurford Road. Mr. W. Walsh waited on the Council in teyard to tho matter.

Cr. Vlckers pointed out that it had been the custom for Hurford fioad residents to cross tho property on which the road was surveyed. The land had changed hands and the new owner had nailed up all the gates, and what the settlers wanted was that the fences across the road should ho removed, and the settlers were then prepared to form a Jrack through. air. Walsh alsi asked that the metalling proposed to be done on Hurford Road should be extended seven or eight chains to serve his property.—The Council decided that nothing cnuld be done in this matter at the present time. It was decided to notify Mr. •Farnham to remove the gates on the road between the Hurford and Frankley Roads. FALLEN SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL. Messrs. Harper, Lepper, and W. Cartwrlght waited on the Council in regard to a piece of waste land at the Lepperton corner, where a deviation of the roadway had been made, abutting oil to tho railway, which the Lepperton residents desired to acquire tot the purpose of erecting a memorial to fallen soldiers from the district. The Council assured the deputation of Its sympathy with the project and approved of the site as an excellent, once for a fallen soldiers' memorials, and it was agreed that the Lepperton residents be given consent to proceed with the proposal and that the Council would give every assistance In the matter. GENERAL. C. M. Farnham, Frankley Road, wrote applying for leave to move his fence nearer to the road, on account of the weed-Infested state of his frontage to the road, the distance to be determined by the foreman—The application was granted. Jas. Hall, Albert Road, drew the attention of the Council to the condition of a portion of the road in regard to the growth and spread of gorse. Along tho whole of his frontage It was "In possession" right out to the edge of the metal, and was in full bloom, and in a short time tho seed would be carried along the road to spring up In front of other properties. He hoped the Council would make a move to check the menace to the neighbouring properties'.— Referred tot the inspector. A. Jackson, Bell -Block, applied to purchase the small ploce of ■ roadway running between his two sections on Corbett Itoad, amount to . about h«Jf-an-acre. He offered £2O for the land, which, he said, was of no use to anyone but himself.—No action was taken in the matter.

The town clerk of New Plymouth wrote' asking permission for the Borough Council to erect electric lighting and power transmission llniJs along Eliot Road to' the Rqtok*re Dairy Factory.—(Permission granted The Valuation Department wrote stating that, provided the service of tin additional competent valuer could be obtained, the revision of the valuation of the TaranaW Cokinty would be commenced/ during <he coming summer. Mr. Will Lawson, wrote asking for a subsidy of £2O in connection with the publication of a descriptive booklet of the Taranakl dlstriet.<—No action taken. Accounts were passed ,for payment as follows: General account £7lB 12s 2d, Moa R'ding £lO7 3s 94. Afangorel £l2O 12s, Waitara £617 14s 2d, Omata £33 3s Gd, Okato £l7l 8s 7d; total, £I7OB 14s 2d.