CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1920, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at. Waitara yesterday, there being present Cra. R. H. Pigo'lt (chairman), T. McKenzie, H. A. Foreman, V. C. Jones, C. Mucker, and S. J. Kennington. '■ ENGINEER'S REPORT. ■ The engineer (Mf. C. F. Dowftett) reported as follows: ," : . -,. V.'ailil Riding—So far nothing lias'niicii dime in connection with the NtkoTlnra formation Jiml metalling contract. Any further deln** will postpone the. work until next season. Oil the Inlamt Xorth Road, the- formation wiirk is well advanced, the pipes ordered, and a certain quantity of boulders areiafready on tlui site. . The. wing o( Hip Wala_u, flridje has been attended . to. Tho toir'collector resigned during the month, and temporary arrangements were made to carry on ,tlu> work. 1 propose crushing existing stone' supplies at all depots and scarifying and rolling'any portions of the Main North Road where such work is necessary. , y

Tikorangi Hiding.-—The formation <;on!ra«t on the Otnraoa Road lias been advanced' "ii further stage during the month, and If etWdltions are favorable it should he well on to completion, by the next meeting. The access road to the metal pit is completed, and' If the settlers intend quarrying tliere is- notlfinji to. prevent them getting to work. On the Inland North. Koad, p)pes have been <>rdgr(;d for the factory hill culvert and other various sections on this road, notably, north of tlie Cemetery requires breaking up and rolling, and for which further stone will be required. Larger pipes for Albanian's crossing are ordered, and other necessary works will be receiving attention.

Ngr.llm.aru Riding.—Last week I tool: f! A Hopo out to tho I'uvangl district, appointed him roadman,, and Instructed lilm In his duties, which comprise some arrears and work occasioned by ihu recent floods. On the Jlangaoapa Koad there remains the completion of one small bridge, to linlah this class of work, and instructions were jrlvm that by tho end of the present month the road works under loan and subsidy must cease, as the moneys authorised were exhausted. The erection of tho Month Matou Bridge should now bo proceeded with, the condition of tlie old structure, being precarious and the date of completion Is long overdue. As timber cannot be obtained from outside sources the beams for the N'gatoto Bridge will be sought for front tho local bush i'.tko. rako Road was Inspected re drains, arid 7 understand a present adjoining occupier promised to attend to them If two culverts were put In, which request was acceded to. However, works of minor Importance would still be justified. alio Council's me.n optr.-'inn in the Tarata district were retired at 'the end of last month, and the roads generally <vcr« in good order and condition. The Mang;:maire Bridge requires watchful attention and dirlvlng the tunmil in aubaututicn. still awaits a rr.an of enterprise. L'rcnul Riding—The metalling In tlm tow.isltip was completed as far as contemplated, and the plant transferred to tho Onr.er'o Hill, where Improvements have been eft'er.eo, and metal repairs are now being carried cut on tlie Moerangi Road. ((Harrying gravel !r, still proceeding in the Native Reserve, but the carters are very uncertain and unreliable. They make frequent requests for work, and at that.-stage It appears to end. The authorities for the Mataro and Oitoke metalling contracts have been received, and tenders are now to be called when required. On too Piko Koad the approaches to the Hngan Road and Black Bridges suffered as the result of the recent (loots, and various other subsidences and slips occurred on this and the Okoke Road, while the south pier to the truss bridge near Marsh's 13 much cut of plumb, and requires attention. The pit road still remains unfinished, consequent on the demands for work elsewhere.

Moliau Riding.—Tlie Mangamaeho Road which was blocked by a heavy slip, has now been rc-openeil. The main road has been patched at the southern end, water-tabling, sanding and culverting being carried out at the northern end. A large drain Immediately south of the Alt. .Messenger school will be cut and kei>t open by the adjoining' occupier lit return for which the Council will supply pipes for the outlet. Oh the Pukearuhe itoad the (metalling contract was completed during the month, and the remainder of the maintenance, nlot.ll crushed, and an application has been -rewarded for the balance or the Government -subsidy. I regret that the roadman lias resigned his position In this district, as there are various works requiring immediate attention. I interviewed the settlers In connection with the formation and nietalllii" opposite Cleaver's, anil I understand they Intend starting forthwith. •"Correspondence In respect of the Parinlnlht tunnel is placed before you. On the Jfangaaonga Koad arrangements were made to cut. six chains of drains, put In four culverts, and effect general improvements, and, In addition, to cut limber for the erection of the bridge. The britlge foreman Is now camped on the Okau Itoad and started work at Bowers' Bridge, to be followed by repairs to Te lielnga, Kiwi, Boar and Kotare bridges. If assistance can bo obtained, the Mnngatoro ltoud will receive attention. The suspension bridge givlnr access to the Dorwent Settlement at Ton-a-porutn was Inspected, an estimate is being procured, and the work will bo put In hand In due course.

lyener.il.—A meeting was attended at AValjoltol in connection with the claim for gravel but nothing; definite was decided on On the 19th., a meeting was held to apportion the County into Hidings, and duplicate plans delineating same are in course of preparation. The capacity of the entailer was tested at Pukenruhe with spawls and also boulder stone and it, was again proved that with competent and continuous feeding over (It) varcs per diem could ho put through. The'purc-h-He therefore, of a new machine, at present prices, can, I think, be postponed. GENERAL. Seven settlers of Blocks XII and XVI, Upper Waitava Survey District, petitioned to be transferred lrom the Clifton to the Whangamombna Comity.—lt was resolved the Council would do what it could to facilitate the transfer, and petitioners were recommended to'communicate, with the Wlmngamoiiiona County,

Mr. J. W. H. Martin wrote thanking the Council for the leniency and patience extended to him during 'the currency of the Pukearuhe road metalling contrac; Which he had. Incidentally lie wrote: "It is my first experience in road metal contract work, and Uod forbid that I should ever again lend my name to such a so-called ratepayers' concern as that just finished."—lt was resolved to acknowledge the letter with thanks. Tta District Engineer wrote advising that the sum of £225 was available for work in connection with the Pariniriki Uiatrict.-The. Council resolved to hold the matter over.

I Jhe Waipa. County Council wrote enclosing a copy of a resolution, for which support was sought, urging the Prime Minister to push forward a vigorous immigration policy in order to. meet the very pressing need for more workers in the interests of the Dominion industries and production.-The resolution was endorsed.

~ M 'V ''"I 1 ", H - E '», toll collector at the Waihi Gate resigned his position on account of the state of his health.-The chairman reported that the man had left tlio gate, and until someone could be found to fill the place, Mrs. Winter had been collecting the tolls. Kleyen employees of the Council petitioned for an increase of 2s per day in their wages as from Jlareh Ist. on account of the high cost of living, ami SYf J''. S "' fi I,rioM 0f the '"'"•ssaries ot life-1 he matter was dealt with in committee.

Coirespondence was received from the Town Clerk of New Plymouth iu regard to the Government-s decision to appoint a commission to inquire into the ohmtion as to whether the right of the TarafJ,7 fo,u.eil.tom«kea vehicle lotiu-'I- hy-law under the Counties Arn«v wt ~, ] [n ; K shm , l(l , |(> ]i(i _ vok t a«, also'in, regard to general arranj* yt in connection with the visit of tk ,'mce of Wales. 4«R..vf amounting to £l-200 14s Stl were passed for payment.