TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1919, Page 5

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Taranakl County Council was held yesterday, there being present Crs. J. S. Connett (chairman), A. E. Laurence, J. -B. Simpson, J. Wooldrldgo, C. Andrews, S. Vlckers, A. Morton, G. Capper and J. Andrews. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman reported that an agreement had been reached with Mr. Hair for the purchase of a pleco of land foj deviation purposes at the Hurford road comer, for £6O .In regard to repairs at tho toll-gale, Punlho, ihc chairman reported he had lnapected the same and was of opinion that what was asked for was necessary, and ho was authorised to have the same carried out. It was decided to purchase Mrs? Batten's property, Kent road, as a surfaceman's dwelling, and the chairman was authorised to have the house renovated. ENGINEER'S. REPORT. The engineer (Mr. B. D. Clirale) reported as follows: Riding matters: —Moa Riding: Foremen have been employed doing maintenance work and blinding metal on their various lengths. The roads generally in this tiding are in good order and with prosent attention should be in thoroughly good condltloi when they are handed over to tho Inglcwood County. Mangorel Riding: The small roller has been working on the Junction road all the month and has been doing useful work scarifying and resurfacing this road. For the next ten days or more it will be used on Foreman Keaat's length to do necessary work on Kent road. As satisfactory arrangements are now being made In regard to a house, Foreman Laurence will now bo moved from Tarlkl on to the vacant length In this riding. The road formation gang has been employed improving corners on the Junction road and will finish up in about a fortnight's time. Owing to wet weather contractor Sauthcombe has been delayed in the work of hauling boulders and It will be some time before ho has 1000 yards out. It may be advisable to got him to haul another 1000 yards, as a considerably amount of metal Is required to prepare the Junction road for tho tar sealing, Foreman Spencer has been employed supervising work done by the small roller but this last week was relloved by Foreman Keast. Walter a Riding: Blinding and maintenance work has been carried out during the month, but some of the roads are breaking up rather badly. Foreman Palmer has completed grader work on tho Mountain road and has been awaiting the team Id order to do formation work with the grader on Te Arel road. Mr. Peterson Is to notify mo when he is ready to help with tho work on Pennington road. Four teams have been employed hauling stone from the Walwakalho river at tho Mutton Track, but the weather has prevented any great progress being made. At tho end of this present week the teams will bo brought down to haul stone at the crusher. Foreman Million was granted GO yards of metal to repair tho worst portion on "Connett'a Flat," Devon road. Ha has also been filling In corners at tho junctions of various side roads with the Main road, and as opportunity offers will be given racial fdi" these. During the month the following roads have received metal that was authorised, namely, Smart, Egmont, Henwood and Paralte roads. Omata Riding: A start has been made to prepare Allan's Hill for formation work and as soon as arrngements have been completed with owners of adjoining properties, this work will be pushed on ns quickly as possible. About 300 yards of mclal have been dumped for recoatlng this hill. Foreman Seamark has taken charge of the work of resurfacing and recoatlng the South road and this road should be In good condition for tar sealing after New Year. Tho largo roller will be employed on this work. Okato Riding: In company with the chairman I Inspected Upper Saunders road and found that the total monies available (£1300) will hardly be sufficient to make a thoroughly good job. Since then I have seen the Public Works Engineer and placed the matter before him, and I will be glad to rocelve authority to apply for an extra £2OO grant. The same thing applies to the proposed new culveVt on the Carrlngton road which gives acess to Mr. Georgo Richardson's property.- For this I wish to make application for another £IOO, as I consider it will cost £3OO to put In this culvert. The toll house at Punlho has also been examined. The repairs asked for by tho toll keeper will he put In hand as soon as labor Is available. Foreman Hayes hos cleaned up and carted away all rubbish, etc., from around the place. As regards the metalling contracts to be done In this riding It Is my intention to make arrangements to get them started btfore tbt New Vim. Mom of tht toad* la

tills riding have been blinded and nro In Terr good order. . Plant.—All plant Is in very good order aw the two rollers are both working Well afte* their rocent overhauls. The new lorry fcae been fitted with it cab and has been in tm most of the month carting metal out. No. 1 lorry has been In the shop for an orarP-Mll and Is now in efficient condition for the mm* mer's work. Both traction engine* wen examined by the Government Inspector last week, and he reports that both are In etceUent eontlon, especially the one recently purchased from Mr. Parkin. Loon Work and Genornl.—Fair progress hoi boen made at the tar depot and the boiler* will bo In place In a few days. A schedule showing the amounts of loan money expended to date is being prepared. The situation M regards tar is now quite satisfactory. During tlio month a quote for the supply Of 105 tons of asphalt at £ll 5s per ton was received, and Oils lias been accepted subject to prompt delivery. I have been able to purchase about fifty empty barrels and these have been tent on to the local ess works. The various detail* of the tar spraying gonr are now well In hand and delivery should be given Jn a week or 80. In regard to the position of roads in the Moa Biding, the englnoer asked for torn* guidance as to the amount to be spent on them and what work was to be done. If the Junction rond had been remaining In the County he said he would have carried the scarifying and rolling further than had been done. After some discussion It was agreed that the foreman should blind the road and oat any metal that could bo raked np fNB flit sides to fill In any holes that needed attention. In view of the approach of summer It Waa considered that this would keep the road fet,* good state. • It was decided to make application t» M additional £2OO for the work on the tTftpet Saunders road. In respect to the Carrtnftoa road It was understood there was an amount on the Public Works Estimates tor the work. The engineer wns asked to report on the requirements of Barrett, Burford, and Pbeanef roads. It was also decided that the metal be supplied for the repairs necessary on the toad leading to the Omata dairy factory. It was decided that the Komene road and the Pltone road loan works be' curled out Immediately after the holidays, and that Andrews" Bros, plant be engaged for the work. The report was then adopted. , BRIDGE CARPENTER'S BEPOBT. The bridge carpenter (Mr. W. J. Clare)' reported as follows:—Cab for No. 8 dump true* has been completed. Hen's fitrto- No. % bat naß teen completed and Is now ready for w«> Machinery depot: A start has been mad* Wttk this building and I hope to see all the ftmndetions In place this week. Bridges: The at**) • bridge and the one by the' Floor JBtt, Settrf Hill, have both had some small repairs dona during the mouth. Some small Tepalrs had* been done to the Kahnlro bridge, l*pper xoMtt 11 was decided to Instruct the tngbuMc 0f prepare plans and report cm <be> teatmStbVci strengthening the Oakum taUgn. MATN EOAD MAWI3HMJJCE. ' The Stratford County Council wrMetjAJffey to the Taranakl Council's request tributlon towards the cost or nadittßanKM the Mountain and Junction reedtlEiinH*; matter had been deferred umfltW tad of the financial year. The clerk to the Clifton Counts- Council; wrote that his Council could not regogtOM tag > liability to contribute towards ttm~ cost «€ maintenance of the Devon road In the Tar*, nakl Connty. Further action In the natter wee dattnad until next meeting. . OTHEK BOAD WORKS. Mr. S. 0. Smith, MP., wrote w«0 Wesrd.to tbe grant towards the maintenance of the Upper Epont road, which the Mauler «f Public Works had authorised. He alio atated 1 ho had made representations In regard to an Increase In the amount granted towards {he Saunders road and that the Minister bad Jntlmatea that as soon as sn estimate OB flit work was known and forwarded to Mb he would give the application every eosstdtndko. It was decided to claim the- Government subsidy on the Eirmont road on the cost xrf getting out boulders for the repairs to the road. A. C Tiawroy wrote on behalf of Mr, John Bea, of Omata, drawing attention to tits state of Barrett road, from the bcttom of Burton's Hill to paßt Mr. Baker's property. Part of the road had not been metalled and was In such condition that several farmers along the road who supplied the Frankley rood eheesjftetory had to traverse Mr. Baker's property. If it was not possible to spend any money on the rond at once it was asked that the engineer should Inspect the road and satisfy himself as to the necessity of something being done' la the near future. Mr. P. Baker waited on the Council In regard to the same matter. Ha also asked If the Council's engineer could give an estimate of the cost of opening up new cross toads to the Frnnkloy road and to the Hurford road across his property, and that of Mr, Jcllyman. with a. view to the settlers raising a loan for the purpose. It was decided that the engineer should five the estimates asked for when he could make it convenient to do so. It was decided to Inform Mr. Lawny that no work of a pormanent character could be done without the settlers raising a loan for tlio purpose. E CTxon wrote on behalf of the aettlari on the unmetalled portion of the Upland road Inrurutangl, asking If the County engineer could Inspect the road and estimate .the cost of forming and metalling, as they were anxious to have the work done.—lt was decided that the engineer should go Into the natter and report on the same. The Council decided to make application for a loan for the metalling work on Corbet* road of £ for £ up to £7M. It was also decided to take steps to raise loans of £BOO onch for metalling the Te Aral road, and work on the Klrthau road. DEPUTATIONS. .. S J T -.O V ' I "'! nle Vhl ' tA m tlla CouncU to ask that tho engineer should Inspect and prepare an estimate for the formation and metaUmTor the Upper Punlbo Head, with a view to the work " SDIUB '" '" " '° ftn !m carryta * ** *•>• Mrs. Paddlaon waited on the Council to ask f some metalling work could be done on ,l, ™ Kin f P oad ' " s " was '» » t»<l condition. The chairman pointed out that the Cotucll'a financial poslton would not pormlt r-f aiming coins done ot present, and augMted the best way was for the settlers to go In fat a loan for the work. Mrs. Paddlson said some were In 'avw of a loan, but others were not. ■ Mr. Connett suggested that porhaps those who had been against a loan wouldTebange their minds when they knew that It waa iffite Impossible for the Council to do anjtMaf at present. »«j«nw» CIjEABINO A CREEK. K. E. Palrfax Cholmely, Bell Block, Wrote again calling attention .to the state oTtha Mangaono Creek. At prese>it 'here was 2ft din of standing water In tbe culvert tlndsr he Hcnwood Road, and during the winter bee !l 'i ver Sft - This was dne io the blocking of the creek, and the raising of r < L C n lver ,.' uni ! er (ha EffmoM Bo ">- «na Council, he said, some time ago. forced all the Bottlers except one to clear the ereek between the Hemwood and Egmont Roads, cost In tills Instance waa considerable, and tbe good that should have resulted was spoilt by one settler not clearing his soctldn. Efforts had besn made by the other settlors » let that portion cleared, but only evasive replies were received. The writer asked for a drfnlte reply as to when the Council would bare the obstacles removed. A letter was received from Messrs. Johnstone and Croker, solicitors, on behalf of Mr. B. Sampson, on the same subject. It was decided to Inform them that the' work would be done during the «nUni suniraor. vwmuuj CENERAL. «^ h . e ? toa Roa<l Boa«l 'Milled for an amount equal to the amount of rates collected from sailors on tho Richmond Road, whom proK e 'DlsWct' lt * Iy b ' m tat °-°» •'■»»'. The Council dediced It could not see lta wa» to make the grant asked for Jta'n-K' J 11 ""?, S <*?°l'Committee wrote to know If the Council would sell to them three • ?Jin.f» «! c y! ? lil ' ot »<««» top wnich were lying on the road near the school.—The request was granted, the committee to pay 8s 6d per yard, being the cost of screenings to the County. A Jackson applied to have a portion of the Corbett Road closed, he granting the right for all time to run the surface water from the road through the said property, ana agreeing to pay all costs re the closing of the toad.— The application was granted. The secretary of the New Plymouth Motor and Horse Drivers' Union asked the Council to appoint representatives to meet the delegates of the Union to discuss new clauses In respect to conditions of employment, wages, etc. A notification In respect to tbe above was received from the Taranakl Employers' Association that a conference of ihe parties cited ■ by the Union would be held prior to meeting the Union delegates. It was decided to take the same notion as in connection with other awards, and apply for exomptlon.. A letter of thanks was received from the raranakl branch of the New Zealand Society of civil Engineers, for the use of .the Councils chamber for their hslf-yearly meeting ■ held on the 11th. Inst. «■«••• The Taranakl Education Board re-applled - for the exemption from toll charges fir Its ■ cars when travelling on the Board's business Ao action was taken, the clerk stating that' no rebate could legally be made. „f *> w >a" . decl<le , d to me tha ÜBU »' contribution' f T 2 L ,oWar(l3 tho funds or the New Ply- ..' mouth Technical College for the year, 1919. Accounts amounting to £4790 were passed for payment, including £237; «u loan account, <