CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1919, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

! MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waltara yesterday, when there were present Crs. R. H. Flgot' (chairman), T. McKenzie, H. A. Foreman, F. C. Jones, C. Musker, 11. Walte, and S. J. Keun'nigton. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dbwsett) reported: Waihl Hiding—Additional boulders hare been deposited at the Waipapa depo', and the quantity on hand will suffice for present needs; future requirements will be at Onaero, to replace the gravel opposito the pah, ami I have arranged for 300 yards for this purpose There is nothing further to report' in connection with either the Nlftorima or Tiirangl, metalling The inland North Road metal can ho put down moro expeditiously by supplying boulders and crushing on tho she, In placo of spawllng at the pit and hand-breaking on the road, and (lie former method I would recommend.. Further quarrying will be carried out at the Onaero pit for this and the Urenul Riding. Tiltorangi Hiding.—Tho Otaraoa road contract has been signed, and the work of formation has already commenced. Winter has arrived from Purangi and taken up his duties, and crushing is expected to commence this week. Pipes nave been ordered for creek giving access to metal pit in Mr. Alleman's. The bertrand Road suspension bridge will require attention early in tho New Year, the truss being very much decayed In places. An inspection was made of the proposed deviation on ' the Tikorangi Road, and as there is opposition to entering private Piropi&rty, I propose subrai'ting estimates for cutting down grades and metalling same. Ngatimaru Riding.—J, Hairtigan has taken tip his duties at Tarata, and instructions given as to work required. On the Junction Road, gravelling has been proceeding from the Pukehou end and carried to the Purangi zig-zag', and this length is now in good order. On the Mangaoapa Road the contractor has some 12,000 feet of timber ready for the small bridges contract, and Is now squaring out the remaining 2000 feet. The formation party hare got tho large culvert In position, and the filling completed, and this allows a further section of the road open for dray traffic. On the Matan-Kiore Road various points have been taken off, and fillings raised, and four sets of concrete pipes have replaced wooden culverts. Nearly tho whole of the timber for the erection of the Mangamalre stream bridge Is now available. The foreman is engaged on the North Matau Road in Improving bad sections through the bush and upon completion will give attention to tho grader work tJrenul Riding.—Quarrying Is . proceeding In the native reserve, and patching and re-coat-ing have been carried out, but I should prefer larger supplies to meet all requirements. When the foreman is at liberty, metalling will proceed on Nikori Street, and cutting down grade on Whakapaki Street in the township. On the Plko Road facing and metalling have been completed opposite section 3, where the road traverses the bush Tho Black/ bridge requires renewal, and if an offer is raado to cut timber in the locality I will submit proposals and estimates of the work. Two sets of 42-ln monler pipes will be forwarded to replace . small bridge on the Okoke Road, opposito Section 10. I hope shortly to have the pit road completed and proceed to cart out metal for ropalrs Nothing further has transpired in connection with the Kaka, Ptko, and Okoke metalling loans, and the boulder contract from the foreshore at Urenul Is still In abeyance. Mokau Riding—Additional repairs have been effected to tho Mangamaeho, Vruti, and Jupp's bridges No applications have been received In connection with the shell rock contract The bridge carpenter became suddenly 111 on November 19th, and was removed to the hospital. On the Pukearuhe Road the forming up In connection with the completion of the motalling contract will be proceeded with, and the repairs to the Pap&tlkl bridge will shortly be effected The Nopcra Road work will be undertaken when the other parties are ready to assist. The Mangahla bridge will Bhortly be undergoing renewal, and I propose taking a section of the sl'e of Mangamaeho bridge for re-bulldlng purposes Notices will be placed on all main road bridges, limiting the speed to eight miles per hour, and the live load to Ave tons. Further timber is arriving for the Okau Road bridges, and opportunity will be taken to get It on to the various sites. Explosives were ordered for Improving points on the Kiwi Road. Owing to the non-arrival of the Council's car, I have been considerably 'hampered in my duties during the month. URUTI ROAD. A letter was received from Mr. H. H. Sharp, District Engineer, stating that as the outcome' of a deputation from the Council, the Minister of Public Works had agreed to make a free grant of £6OO to enable the Council to metal an additional hair-mlle on the Urutl Road, because a considerable portion of the road passes thrqugb country from which no rates were paid. The letter stated that It was assumed that the Council would not apply for payment of tho freo money until the two and a-half miles >o which the £ for £ Item of £ 1145 in the Estimates had been com-, pleted. Tho chairman stated that this did not properly represent the position. The settlers had already metalled a portion of the road and the deputation asked that the Government should grant £6OO to metal a further halfralle, after which the settlers themselves would metal another two and a-half miles. The matter was left in .the hands, o{ the clerk to reply. CATTLE GRAZING ON ROADS. Mr. Jas. B. Carr asked permission on behalf of the Okau settlers to graze weaner calves on the Okau Road between the hours of sunrise and sunset from December Ist to April 30tb. They claimed that this class of stock would not damage the roads, and would help In keeping down rubbish. Cr. Jones favored the Idea. : Tho chairman said that It would establish a bad precedent, Tho engineer thought the Council should take a firm stand and prohibit all cattle on the roads. Cr. Jones held that it was difficult now to get the rubbish kept down on the roads, and no harm would be done by granting the application during tho summer. He then moved that the ranger be asked not to impound weaner stock on tho Okau Road during December, January, and February, between the hours of sunrise and sunset. This was not seconded. Cr. Foreman: "That means that we give permission to raise stock on the roads." He moved that Mr. Carr be informed that the request cannot be acceded to. This was seconded by Cr. McKenzie and carried. Mr. G. L. Young, ranger. Toko, advised that the roads were again being abused with wandering stock. He had had one man fined £5, and asked that others should be cautioned. Cr. McKenzie referred to the nuisance caused by horses including stallions which wore continually running on the roads In tho Walhl and Tiltorangi district. It was resolved to have the animals Impounded. LOANS REQUIRED. Messrs. H. Walte and seven other ratepayers of the Tarata district petitioned tho Council to raise a loan of £2300 or a sufficient amount to complete the metalling and improving of tho Autawa and Pita Roads from the Junction Road to Sections 1 and 2, Block 8, Huiroa, providing the Government subsidise tho loan £ for £. Tho Council resolved to take the necessary iteps to raise the loan, subject to the retiuired particulars being supplied. Messrs. B. O'Neill and thirteen other settlers of the Katplkirl Road askod tho Council to raise'£4oo, tho loan required to secure the Government £ for £ subsidy for metalling portions of the Katplkirl Road. The necessary steps will bo taken. PROPOSED RAILWAY. A letter was received from the New Plymouth Borough Council supporting the proposal for a railway from Waltara to To Kuiti. The Awakino County Council notified that tlto matter would be considered. AH prelimlaary steps had been taken under the local Railway Act for tho formation of a railway district and the setting up of a Railway i Board, with the idea of constructing a rail-! way from Puketutu to Aria, and it was likely tills could be extended to Waltara. The To Kuiti Borough Council also wrote supporting the proposal, and stating that they would Join the Waitomo, Awakino and Clifton Counties In forming a railway league for llie furtherance of the proposal. The matter will be further discussed when replies are receivad from the other local bodies concerned. ROAD GRANTS. Mr. H. H. Sharp, District Roads Engineer, forwarded a list of votes appearing on the Estimates for expenditure by the Council, and asked to be advised as to which works it was desired should be proceeded with Immediately. The Information was asked for to enable the Minister to decide which of the works should bo approved first. j The engineer submitted a list in tho following order: Uruti, £ for £, £940; Kalplkori, £ for £, £400: Okoke, £ for £, £275; Plko (on account of £3500 £ for £), £500; Kaka (on account of £BOO, £ for £), £400; Klore to Matau, £SO, Turangt (on account Of £9OO, £ for £), £7OO. GENERAL. A letter was received from the bridge foreman stating that he- could not accept the position as he hod taken up a position with th» Public Works Department at To Rotl,

The engineer referred to the difficulty of obtaining a man and suggested that this might be overcome t o some extent If a conveyance were provided which would enable him to move about and also bo suitable for sleeping accommodation. In tho event of a bridge foreman being secured the engineer was authorised to procure tho necessary conveyance. Mi- C. E Sanson, Urenul, asked tho Council to make some alteration in the method or position of tho drainage now being discharged from the main North Road on Ills leasehold property between Urenul and Waitoilol, as It was polluting his drinkinir water. ■ It was resolved to inform Mr. Sanson that while regretting the Inconvenience iie was put to tho Council could recognise no responsibility in tho matter. A Jotter was received from the Eltham County Council forwarding letters from Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.l>„ and the Hon. Sir W. Fraser in connection with obtaining metal from Mt. Egmont. Tho letters wcto to tho effect that the Minister of Public Works was obtaining a report by a competent engineer for tho cost of completing and re-Instating the Waipuku line, the cost of re-erection of quarrying machinery, and the estimated cost of metal to local bodies Cr. Foreman brought up tho question of metalling Foreman's Hill on the Otaoroa Road He stated that £IOO had been allocated for this work some time ago. Members agreed that the road, which was tho main road between Tarata and the coast, had been neglected. It was resolved to call tenders for the work to close at next meeting. The chairman was voted an honorarium of £4O. Accounts amounting .to £750 2s 3d were passed for payment. The next meeting will bo held on Friday, January 9th, 1920.