CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1920, Page 3

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tne monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at aWlta'ra yesterday. Present: Councillors R. H. Plggott (chairman), T. McKenzle, P. C. Jones, C. Musker, H. Waitc, S. .T. Kennington and H. A. 'Foreman. ■' ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported : Waihl Riding The quantity of metal crushed and laid down on the Main road amounted to 588 yards, and In addition various sections were scarified, rolled and Improved. A few yards remained over at tlie depot, hut owing to shortage of petrol It was necessary to rut this out, and when supplies arrived I deemed it advisable tu proceed to Wul-itl. The Xikorima formation and metalline contract was let. during the month and the specifications duly sinned. The newly-appointed toll-collector has taken up his duties. The Tursngl road settlers ore again urged to move In the matter of the acceptance of the Government subsidy. The Parthaka bridge was examined and round to he quite unsafe to carry the heavy traffic required. I am placing on site timber for emergencies, hut early action should be taken In re-building. I propose putting in a cut and concrete structure on the south side of the present site, using the existing bridge to carry traffic during reconstruction. On the Inland North road the weather has prevented either the formation or boulder contract.

Tlkoraugi Riding.—The Otaraoa road contract Is proceeding slowly, bad weather and labor conditions being militant to much progress. A cut was made in the metal In Mr. Sarten's property, and an access road graded*out. The quantity appears limited and tfhe quality second-class, but It will serve the purpose.' required. The length of the access road to be formed Is a.bout five and-three-quarter chains, and the services of three men will be temporarily employed thereon. I arranged for Improving the formation of White's hill, but It requires metalling to be of any permanent value. The usual maintenance work has been carried out. Ngatima/ru Riding—Further work a! a small nature has been done to the Mangaoapa road repairs. It is expected that the small bridges' contract will be completed by the end of the month, and by that time tho 'works should bo sufficiently advanced to allow the road to ho .opened. The heavy rains left their mark In this district, the Otaraoa, Pukemahoe. Klore, North and South HaUu, and Junction roads having suffered more or less with slips and wash-outs, but Ihese are mostly being attended to. The Purangi district, In particular. Is feeling the absence of a permanent roadman. Foreman Ilolfe lias completed grading the South Mato-u and Junction roads, southwards from tho school, to be followed by tho Mangnmaire and North Matau roads. The grader can then be transferred if required I propose relinquishing control of the Tarnta district, at the end of the month, and notifying (lie roadman of tho change in nu*nrlty to the Inilewood County Urenul Riding.—The work of metalling the township streets is being proceeded with, to be followed by metal repairs to the Moerangl read. Further gravel has been quarried from the native reserve, and the contractor has been promised an advance of Od per yard, provided over 100 yards per month are stripped. Teamsters and others are.' notified that the Council aro prepared to purchase, subject to quality and prices, suitable travel or stcno in any quantities in selected districts During (ho month (lie Okcke rnad mita,ll'li\ r was laid oft, and levels taken to the Piito junction, and plans and soccirlc.itions are about completed. My estimate for this work is £335. lam therefore readv to call for lenders for metalling portions of the Okoko Piko, and Malaro roads Owing to the number of slips, some extensive, that came down and their claim to Immediate atteH'lon, the culvert iv tho Okoke road was not put in as advertised but this will receive attention when tho roads again become normal 1 recommend that T. H. Sanson's application re storm Tvater drainage t«> agreed to nt i cost of 30s.

Mokim Hiding—Work on Hie Jin in road hoi comprised removal of slips, pitching mc'.al. I'lUUn;; drains, and opening culverts The bridge foreman lias been engaged In renewing the sheeting, etc., on. Ounliam'a briiljff also cleaning and painting steel girders. The horse, cart mid harness has bonn delivered Into his custody A portion of the timber for Bower's bridge. Okau road, has reached its destination, and I hupp to eorMndc arrangement whereby all supplies al the Vnifl depet Kill shortly he tranrfenvd n. their re speetive sites and the \ariuus works put in lianTS*. There appears to be nothing definite as to where ilie C3OHO. voted for the M'mlllokau road metal Is to be spmt. alihujidi at ilio time of jraiilinß the mone.v 'he Vim' fiat was definitely derided upon. The crushing plant arrived at Wnl-11l on the 21st ]■';•;>- Titary, and eenimeneed woik. hut ihe rain duiekly took a hand and chocked all w,,gress. The iilienemeii.il weather during the mouth of February has retarded all ordinary wi.rk, and weited imteh extraordinary work, slips, wash-outs, and general damage being reported over many roads, usually in good order at this period of the year.

ROAD fIRIDCE LOAN. In tho course of his report the engineer stated: "In reply to requosis for estimates for Main road bridge building, I reproduce (ho following from an earlier report :—Parl!uika £300; Walau, £12110; Onacro, £1080; Ilrerul, £2900; Mangamaeho, £1M0; TTruti £1.120; Mangahla, £10(10; total, £lo.oofl' Further, an amount must be. provided to meet £ for/£ ti subsidise the money already in hand for the Tlkorangl and Co'lson's (Okoke) bridges. This will require £IOOO, making the total required for bridge loaji £II,OOO. In addition my estimate for metalling is £14,900, and if this is enrried out additional plant, estimated at £IBOO, will be required. These sums total fi27,500, and with advances in labor and material since my estimate was mado some months ago, and lo cover possible contingencies, I intend adding 10 per centi, making a. grand total or £30,000 required, and I must urgently stress the point that the completion or tho works enumerated are certainly matters of necessity. The engineer stated that the, Parihaka bridge required timber for temporary repairs The chairman pointed out that It would take considerable timo to get the preliminaries for the loan put through. Or. Foreman did not think It worth while going to ihe ratepayers with the poll. Ratepayers In the Tlkorengi and Walhi ridings would not vote for a lean for metalling to be done in the Tjruti and Jlolrau ridings. If the Council went In for tnr-seallntr. and some of the money was expended in the Tikorangi Riding, the position would he different., His remarks did not apply to the bridge loan, as he understood Oio whole County was liable for any bridge over 30ft. span. Cr McKenzio considered that the Council should face the position regarding a bridge loan. It was no use spending money on temporary repairs. The chairman stated that he had brought the matter up so that councillors might give It thought, and discuss tho matter next month. Cr. Musker thought the engineer should be given authority to proceed with the Tarihaka bridge as the cost was only £3OO. This was carried, on the motion of Messrs. McKenzie and Musker.

MANGAMAHOE ROAD. Mr. W. Gordon . Glassford, of Waltoitol, wrote stating that the Mangnmahoo road was blocked tor cart truffle, a huge pins having fallen across It some eighteen months or moro ago. It would lie possible for traffic to squeeze through, but tor a bad hole or wheel track, which could not he avoided and was dangerous. He understood the engineer had put a man on to do the road up, hut sacked him before he got there. He trusted this would be seen to at once. The matter was referred to the engineer. DEPUTATIONS. Messrs. C. Wells, Purdle and W. W. Holler, settlers on the Fukearuhe road, waited on the Council and stated that some twelve months ago they had asked the Council to metal a portion of the road In front of Mr. Grelg's house, the settlers to find one-third of the cost and the Council two-thirds. Owing to shortage of labor the work had not been done. They now asked that the Council should metal an additional four chains, making eight chains In all. The settlers agreed to -do the earth work, which they estimated would cost iild. Mr. Moller stated that he was willing to cart the metal at 10s per yard. The engineer stated that the cost would be aihouti £72. It was resolved that Uio Council will expend up to £SO for the eight chains, the settlers to find the balance of the money and do tho earth work. Mrs. Brown waited on the Council and asked that a portion of the old Main North road, opposite tho Urenul l'ah, should be

closed. Sho offered to purchase the land and give tho Council a strip in exchange.— Held over pending a report.

GENERAL. The committee reported that, twr tenders had been received for the Nlkorima metalling, and that the tender of .1. Foreman at £832 Is 8d had been accepted.—Approved. Formal resolutions were passed in connection with the raising of a. special loan for tho Mnngalila voud. C. A. Simons, of Matau, naked permission to erect a fence along the roadside hetween the. road bridge and his bridge, a distance of about 8 or 10 chains, so as to fence off about twa »««», vltleh was at tuttm eomtd with