CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1919, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. . 1 The Clifton County Council met at 'Waitara on Friday. Those present were: Councillors R. H. Pigott (chairman), H. A. (Foreman, F. C. Jones, C. Musker, H. Waite, S. j. Kennington, T. McKenzie. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr. C. E. Dowsett) reported as follows: Waihi Ridjng. —The roads generally are breaking someAvhat earlier than usual, and systematic blinding is i)Hperative. The formation work, preparatory to metalling on the Inland North Road, I propose doing by day ' labor under the foreman. The bad portions on the Epiha Road have been ploughed and improved, hut could with advantage -be extended another five chains eastward. The Turangi Road metalling subsidy appears on the estimates, and the settlers should submit their petition if anxious for the work to proceed. Water has been scarce at the toll gate, but with the very limited requirements there, a full settler's fee would be aii excessive charge, and the Borough Council might favorably consider an application for a reduction. Any additions to the building made by the occupier should be on similar terms to similar applications, and, after approval. Tikorangi Riding—The je-coating on Vickery's Hill has been completed, and attention given to bad places on the Waihi Road. The tenders for the Otararoa Road formation close to-day, and am suggesting proposals traversing the area of the contract must be held over until the grades are permanently reduced. I arranged to visit the site of the proposed Tikorangi Road deviation on Wednesday last, but the weather prevented it, and I propose reporting on this at the next meeting, or sooner, if desired. . Ngatimaru Riding—Repairs to decks on the Makara and Mangamoeahau Bridge are required, and will be attended to as soon as the timber arrives, which is long overdue. Quarrying has been proceeding on the recently opened gravel pit at Pukeho, and repairs have been proceeding as far east as the Purangi Saddle. On the Mangaoapa Road about 7000 feet of sawn timber and about 3000 feet of squared timber are ready for the small bridges contract, and I hope most of it will be on the site by next meeting. The formation work, is proceeding very slowly, owing to the shortage of labor and delay in getting in the necessary pipes. The roads generally are in. good order, with the exception of the North Matau, aud instructions have been given to put this in order for the season's wool carting. On completion of this it is proposed t(i re-commission the grader. The Tirangi Road requires attention, and T am prepared to proceed now, if suitable labor can be failing this the foreman could undertake the work later. Most of the hardwood timber for the South Mat.au bridge is at the Kiorc railway station, and opportunity will be taken to get it to the site, and the construction will then proceed. The Tarata foreman has resigned, and un application has been received for the position. I hope to set all works in hand in this riding completed early in the New Year. Urenui Biding—The output of gravel from the Native Reserve is increasing over 100 yards having been put out thimonth, but this still leaves my requirements unfulfilled, and T hope to get thi> quantity increased as time proceeds The Moerangi Road requires a repair metal, and this is hems quarried in the Onaero pit, and I propose sending a few !oa<h\ to the township from the same quarry. Small repairs have, seen carried out to the Urenui bridge, and the inlet and outlet to the concrete culvert below the township has been completed. Temporary repairs have been carried out to the Black bridge on the Piko Road, and 'the work in the immediate future is to form up this and the Okoke roads, to finish the completion of the pit road, and put an additional pier to the small Okoke bridge. An application was received from the settlors on the Matnro Road to improve the upper portion, but outside labor is not available. I informed the ' applicants that authority would be given to any settlers who could assist. As a likely man is offering, I again suggest the re-casting of this riding by anXadditional man, whose duties would be the maintenance of the Kaipikari, Moerangi, and Mataro roads, and the main road from Kaipikari to Onaero ff adopted this should give increased attention and efficiency, which is now lacking. Mokau Riding.—Some 12,000 feet of bridge timber has now arrived, and is being sent out to a depot at Uruti for distribution as required, and I hope shortly to proceed with all necessary bridge, work. Fascining and sanding have been proceeding between the 3n and 37 mile pegs on the main road. An inspection was made of the metal showing above .the Okau Road, but considerably more stripping and preliminary work is required before one can give any definite opinion as to its quantity and quality. I understand it is proposed to metal 11 miles of the Okau Road and three miles of the Mangatoro Road, and estimating; it at IS yards to the chain, over 20,000 yards of stone will be required for this-purpose. At Waiiti further stone has been secured from the foreshore, and on the Nopera Road arrangements were made to improve certain sections requiring attention. Applications for the position of enginedriver are submitted, and T am still negotiating to secure the services of a leading bridge hand. \

General.—ln view of the severarico of the Npatimaru Riding and the possible re-casting of other ridings, the work could be carried out more expeditiously by installing the offices at Urenui, and bv the impetus given to the township the residents might elect to form themselves into a Town Board and administer their own affairs in a more pro ; gressive manner. The toll revenue is now averaging considerably over £I2OO per annum, and, when the obstacles to through traffic are removed, this sum should be very considerably increased. The report was adopted. COUNTY WHEEL TAX. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., forwarded a copy of the. Counties Amendment Act, 1919, which he said (under date October 27) would shortly become law and would provide that all counties would be placed on the same footing in regard to wheel taxes, and the writer was quite sure that the by-laws recently advertised by the Taranaki County council would be revoked. The clerk was instructed to write' thanking Mr. Wilkinson for his services.

. Coundillor Musker said that it was a remarkable thing that the Taranaki County Council had not included any provision for refunding to neighboring ""unties and boroughs any portion of

the tax collected from registered by those neighboring bodies, but ;when they (the Taranaki County Counjcil) were hit they wanted something handed over to them. COUNTY APPLIES FOR SUBSIDY, The Taranaki County Council applied for a contribution towards tiie maintenance of the Devon Road under Section 101) of the Public Works Act, 1908,1 tm the ground of the road affording ac-1 cess to and from the Clil'ton district and being largely used tor traffic to and from that district. Several councillors expressed the view that the application was not justified. Councillor Keimington suggested that the only satisfactory solution of the difficulty would be to abolish the Taranaki County and divide up its area so that the surrounding counties should control the main road leading to them for the whole length from the Borough of New Plymouth. Thus the Clifton County area would be extended along the Devon Road to New Plymouth, the Egmont County would take in the land neighboring the Main South Road, and the Inglewood County would extend its area to New Plymouth along the Junction Road, Councillor Foreman did not see why Taranaki County was entitled to anything. All the heavy goods from Clifton County went to New Plymouth by railway, The same applied to outward heavy traffic. A tyre tax was spoken of and the opinion was expressed that the Taranaki County, consisting of rich dairying land, was best able to bear a heavy rate and that New Plymouth should be asked to contribute before back-blocks counties. CORRESPONDENCE. Eleven residents and ratepayers petitioned for the metalling of Whakapuki Street, Urenui,—The chairman and engineer were deputed to deal with the matter. A request from 11. L. Slight for the use of the county paddock near the Mangamaeho bridge was referred to the riding members and the engineer to report upon at the next meeting. In consequence of a complaint", the matter of cattle trespassing on the Okoke Road was placed in the hands of he council's solicitor.

A. MeMiillian, Mataro, wrote claiming the value of £4 2s Od (less value of hide) of a beast which met its death through falling over a blutl' opposite Mr. T. Chapman's house on the KioreMatau Road which the council had fenced, but not completed at one end.-—The council decided to reply expressing regret at the loss, but disclaiming responsibility.

An application from the Taranaki Education Board for its two motor vehicles to pass free Through the Waihi toll-gate was acceded to. An application from a roadman occupying a county cottage for a reduction of his rent as there was not sufficient land on which to keep a cow, led to, discussion on the general question of cottages and roadmen. Eventually it wa<s decided that the applicant (Mr." Taylor, Urenui) be not allowed a reduction, but be granted fencing required on the county section at Urenui, and that Mr Wliitfcaker (Okau roadman) be allowed the county cottage free of rent in view of his isolated position. The secretary'to t »e Taranaki Counties' Conference wrote that the solicitors advised that, in view of pending legislation extending the hours of local bodies in the matter of by-laws, it was not desirable to proceed with the proposed uniform by-laws in their present form. The lion, ncretarv to the Okau Settlers Association wrot:> regarding a swing bridge being erected by the Public ( \V"orks Department across the Tongaporutu River at .the junction of the Mangatoro and Okau roads. The association claimed that the decking consisted of rimii of inferior quality that had been cut for years and would not last for more than two or three years. As the bridge would no doubt be handed oveftto the county council, the association asked the council to refuse to take it over with the decking complained of, in view of the expense that would soon have to be incurred in renewing i£. ■—The opinion was expresesd by councillors that if the council interfered 'af the present stage they would be told to mind their own business as they were not paying for the work. It was decided to inform the association that the matter would be kept in view. The District Health Officer wrote '■suggesting. in view of » report made to him by an officer of the Public Health Department, that the Inglewood Bacon Company be notified to take, steps to abate a nuisance caused at Urenui by the reception and detention of pigs at the company's yards. The present site should be ploughed, and all manure buried 4in. deep, and another site should be chosen well away from any houses, to -meet the approval of an officer of the department.—Tt was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the Inglewood Bacon Company for compliance. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr. A. E. Winter was appointed to the position of engine driver, and Mr. T. Hartigan was appointed roadman at Tarata, The engineer was authorised to endeavor to secure a bridge foreman. Contracts for road work were accepted as follows:—Supplying stone Inland North Road (Tikorangi), .J. Foreman (15s per yard); formation, Otaraoa Road, W. D. Foreman (£279). It was decided to increase the salary of the clerk to the sum of £3OO per annum, Account?- amounting to £OSO las 5d were passed for payment.