EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1919, Page 8

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The OTdlnary meeting of tho Egmont County Council was held at Opunako yesterday, when there were present Crs. W. R. Wright, (chairman), Wfitson, A. B. Coffin, M. O'Brien, J. Young, T. H. H. Sinclair, W. C. Green, and E. S. Forsyth. An apology was received for the absence of Cr. Campbell. THE AUROA ROAD. E. De Mey, Awntuna, notified that lie had written the Eltliam County Council regarding the disgraceful condition of the top of the Auroa Road, and they replied that he should write to the Egmont County Council, which was tho proper quarter. He asked that the road should be put in order, remarking that portion of the road was to receive a coating of tar while those further up had to bo content with a patched up arrangement. If the Council had not the money then the ratepayers should be allowed to spend their own rates on the road. The clerk stated that the proportion of rovenue received by the Egmont County was £6O 16s. There was a credit on the road of £214, but against that there was owing to the "Itham County Council about £".O, After discussion, Cr. Green referred to an recount received for work during* tho past six months, £IOB 15s, and moved that the engineer inspect and cheek the work. This was carried. On the motion of Crs. Young and O'Brien, it was resolved that a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Green, Forsyth, and Watson meet, the Ellham County Council and endeavor to come to some arrangement over the mutter. OXFORD-CARRINGTON ROAD. A similar positon arose in regard to an account, of £129 14s received from the Taranaki County Council in connection with the maintenance of the Saunders Road, and a similar resolution was carried. The chairman remarked that the position would be Improved if tho proposed expenditure was notified beforehand. OEO RIDING MATTERS.The chairman stated that the payment to tho Klthaju County and the proposed payment to the Waimate Couhty had seriously affected the financial position of the Oeo riding, 1 and he suggested that the tenders be not opened. He then moved that a committee consisting of Crs. Campbell, Forsyth, Watson, tho chairman, and the engineer, bo set up to go over all the roads of the riding and allocate to each the amount considered absolutely necessary. 1 This was seconded by Cr. Young and carried. UNIFORM BY-LAWS. A letter was received from Mr. W. J. Tristram, secretary of the Taranaki Counties' Conference, stating that owing to legislation extending tho powers of local bodies having been Introduced there would he slight delay in forwarding the completed by-laws for the Council's aprpoval. ' Cr Green said that the sooner the Council moved in the direction of getting its own bylaws the better. The Council had no bylaws at all, and he considered that it was an absolute disgrace to the Council, and not fair to the ratepayers Cr. Green gave notice to move that unless something definito was received by next meeting, the Council should take steps to draft its own by-laws. Cr O'Brien said that he would give notlco to move that the Council wait for the conferences by-laws seeing that they had already contributed to their cost. The chairman stated that he could not accept that as a motion. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. A letter was received from Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.. who stated that he noticed by the press Venom of the las' meeting that it was stated there were difficulties; in retard to local bodies borrowing money from the State Advances Department. For the Information of tho Council he pointed out that there was no difficulty, providing the limit to be borrowed did not exceed £10,001) per annum, and that if the Council made application in the proper form there would be no trouble The question of the reconstruction of roads bad certainly cropped up In conj.tdion with advances, but. it had just been decided that if the application was made In the proper manner, there would bo no dlfflculty plnced in tho way Nn construction was classed by the Audit Department as part hi maintenance, and the Art did not provide for anything In the way of o tonn for maintenance of the road. However, the whole ma'tor was now perfectly clear. The chairman said that the Council's trouble was that the limit of borrowing was fixed at £IO.OOO per annum, and as they wore pledged for £"000 for tho bridge loan they , ! r<n jy iiad a margin of £r>ooo, which would be I ftUfftcient for one or two by-roads, but would 1 to. cjeless In the case of the loan proposed j for the main roads. Cr. Green moved that steps be taken to ; raise the available this year to tar seel : the Kaiiu Road, who were the first to raise ; the quesMon. The chairman pointed out that Warea woiv the first in with a ncflHnn. After further discussion, it. was resolved nn the motion of Crs Green and Young, that ! Mr Wll Pox representing the Kahili Road be | written to asking whether they wished to go 1 on with the proposed loan, and if so to taxe the nece*nsry S'eps tn imply for the loan. The chairman stated that £<looo was ar.i 5 !- rible. and it would take £14,000 to complete the Warea and Kahui Uoads He pointed ou' : thnt the bridges must be the first considcra- i tlon. | In reply »o Cr. O'Brien, the chairman stated ! that an application from Ihaia Road would be considered, but. he thought it would be neces- ; nary to wait till normal times to raise the : money. I Tho motion was then carried. | ROAD BALANCES. When discussing the financial position of Arawhata Road, which the clerk stated was In credit, Cr Green pointed out that the Council should tako Into consideration the finanL clal pnsiton of these roads when taken over ! from tho Rond Board. It. was not fair that j ! a road which for years past had lent its | ; money to other roads should now under the county have to start off scratch lie asked what "would be the position when those roads reoulred money expended on them He therefore moved that a committee consisting of the chairman. Crs. Young. Sinclair, O'Brien, and the mover should he set up to go into the question of Road Board road debl's and credits This was seconded by tho chairman and carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. Pease) reported:— Oeo Riding (Northern) .—Several days have been occupied with cleaning out water tables nt the vest end of tho Stratford Road, and nn wet days patching has ben done on the ISlTham. Oeo. ami Stratford Roads. Several flhor' lengths of the Eltham Road have been scarified and rolled in again, In all about 00 chains, the cost of which was under 17s per chain A double line of "ft diameter concrete pipes have been laid across the Kirl Road to take the water of the Mangakeaka Stream in a new position as from evidence obtained from local so'tiers one lino of pipes would be incapable of taking the storm water. The men are now engaged on the work of buildim: a wooden stringer over the Manga - tawa Stream with old and now timber at the eastern end of 'he Wiremu Road. Oeo Ri'ilnp (Southern) —Work has been confined to the Skeet and Main South Roads The water tables ou the Skeet. Road have been cleaned out from T'atiki Road to the Ouri bridge. An old 12in pipe culvert which ran across the Patlkl Road from Skeet Road has been taken up and a new line of 12in pipes laid right across the end of the Skeet Road This has enabled us to fill In the side of the road at the juncMon and improve the approach to Skeet. Road from the north end of I'atiki Road, and fill in a dangerous open drain Water tallies have been cleaned out on the Main South Road at the two Oeo bills, and at the cutting beyond the Oeo pah., relieving a bog hole at one of them A length of the road bevond the pah lias had clay binding •put on The motor roller is now engaged scarifying and rolling In. without any new metal, tho Main South Road from A Allan's gate to 'he racecourse gates. This work is almost completed and costs will be given next mnnlh It is proposed to take the motor roller next to the Tatllci Road and scarify nnd reform about 20 to 30 chains above the Hone Road.

Opua Riding (South)— Water tables have been cleaned out. at several places on the Main South and Eltham Roads. A fair amount of pipos have been made on wet days The price of these pipes will have to be raised again unless the price of cement is kept down, which is hardly nrobabh; A fair amount of blinding has been done at the worst places on the two main roads. A new line of 12in pipes has been put in across tiio lower Waitcika Road. I have arranged wi'h settlers to cart out. and dump paddock st.one r.n the Mnin Sou'h Road beyond the WaiTelka bridge and the Kltluun Road at Young Rond. at a reasonable price.

rtpua Rldlms (North)— The Collet crusher was sen*- u?> the Namu Rnart on October 2uHi to crush n heap nf old contract stono ami Ivmidors onvted out. some time nso hy thy li«t* I'hrlhrikn Hontl Pounds own teams; 124 yards wore put through, of which S2 yards wore used to n-faco about 1" chains of road, and 42 yards dumped at various places for future maintenance. From here,* the plant vas taken to the Opua Road near the factory, where a heap of boulders were put through tmd used on two lenp'hs of the road on ti'l #l&< and the plant Is sow working

at the bottom end of the Opua Roar], using the Acme crusher which will ulao crush part of the stone for Contract Xo. 348 on this site, tallies and costs will be given on completion. Previous to the 20th the men were engaged patching on the Namu und Aravhata Roads and cleaning out water tables on the Namu Road. Concrete pipes have been maoe during wet days.

Opunake Biding—One day's patching lias been done on the Main South Road, and a portion of the Main lioad blinded with clay at tlie Walaua Hill.

Rahotu Hiding (South).—One day's patching has been done on the Main South Road and concrete pipes liavo been made on three net days at the Rahotu yard. Ngarikl Road has liad the attention of tho men for mio day. The upper and lower Kina Road hits been patched and the water lables cleared from the bottom lip to Mr. Barrett's. The upper and lower Kahili Road has required a lot of attention, and lias been patched rrom end to end. Most of tile by-roads are completely worn out and it will be an utter impossibility to cope with theni another season on the money available from the present rates. The men are at present clay binding the Main South Road near the Pungaereere River. The tar sealing in front of tltc Rahotu post office and hotel will bo proceeded with the next dry spell. Rahotu Riding (North).—Tho Main South Road has been patched from Pimgarehu to the boundary at Punilio, a pipe drain has been put in north of the Rinikcre Road, and about 60 chains of the load clay blnded north of the Waitekaure Stream. A considerable amount of patching lias hccn done to the bottom end of the Warea Road, Some large stone have been removed from the cart track la the lower portion of the Newall Road Patching has been done to tho Ruakere and lower Parihaka. Roads.

Bridges.—Mr. A. E White has given a reasonable price for "uildlng the Waitcika bridge on the Eltham Road, and the work can be started at once. Foreman Wnttridge leaves London on the 14th inst., and is due back here about the second week in .Tanuarv, when the work on the Taungatara bridge'on the Eltliam Jload will he commenced. lam ordering the steel for this now to he delivered in about two months' time, and thereby save about £9 to £lO per ton on present prices. General.—l have examined the'road in front of the Oaonui stofe and I have promised to repair it as soon as any stone is available [ hare also examined the side of the road in front of the Te ICiri school, and proposo to lift {he road at the entrance pate and form a channel near the metal to convey the surface water past, the gateway. After writing to four carrying linns for quotations for carrying materials from Now Plymouth, Hawera, and Ehhani. I have only received one reply. A three ton dump truck would he a very useaddition to the Council's plant. A new suction hose has been supplied to the Aveiing and Porter cngino to replace tho one stolen from tho engino whist standing at tho Council's yard. . I would suggest that tho Council consider the question of providing houses for the workmen as the matter is likely to bocome

On the fitii inst., I met some of the settlers Interested in tho repairs to the Wiremu Road at tho top of the Kabul Road, when wo traversed tho road from Newall to Ngarikl Road and fixed on tho parts most needing attention, I have ararnged to start taking the levels of these parts on Thursday next for the preparation of the necessary plans required by the Public. Works Department, and will submit same at the earliest possible date. In the meantime, I hope to find labor near the road for the laying of concrete pipe culverts. As the Public Works Department will not pay moro than 12s per day I shall be pleased If the Council will instruct' mo as to providing 'he extra. Tate of wages we shall hare to pay to obtain the labor. It was resolved to accept Mr. White's offer to build the Waitelka bridge on tho Ettnain Road. The matter of work on the Wiremu Road vras left to the engineer. It was resolved to ask tho Public Trustee to subsidise the work on the Wiremu Road. A DEPUTATION. Mr. Bradford waited on the Council and asked for a cattle track to his property on tho Arawhata Road. -Tho property nad been paying rates for over 18 years, and he was unable to get cattle on to it without going through other people's property. It, was resolved that the engineer Inspect and report on the road, and If money is available some relief will be given the settler who, Councillors considered, should be given access. GENERAL. Applications for billiard-room licenses by A. Tynan, Tungarehu, and Momona, ltuhotu, were approved. On the application of Mr. A. H. Moore, secretary, it was resolved to again make a grant of £2 2s towards the free reading room at the Opunake Athenaeum. ,