CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1920, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yesterday, when there were present: Crs, R, H. Pigott (chairman), T McKenzle, H. A. Foreman, K. C. Jones, C. Musker, and S. J. Kennington. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. C. F. Dowsett reported:— Walhl Riding.—The boulder supply at the Turangl depot has been "crushed and laid down, amountiug to 292 yards, and various other sections have been scarified and rolled back. Arrangements have been made to secure any stone on the beach at Onaero and to make a depot at Ohanga Read junction. This site Is selected to obviate paying double royalty, and renews afresh the Idea of purchasing the land and giving access to the beach by the Ohanga road extension. Nothing has been done In connection with the Nlkorima Road contract, i The crushing started on the Inland North Road on the lTth but the weather breaking shortly I after prevented any great progress being made. Pipes to connect at the Turangl Junction have gone out to the site. Tlkorangl Riding.—The concrete culvert at the foot of the factory hilt has been placed In position, and the culvert in late Alleman's will shortly be attended to. Owing to the absence of repair metal, I suggest that 250 yards be got out to be eventually crushed and distributed in 50 yard lots at five different and suitable places in the Riding. The road I north of Mr. Hlne's should be picked up, I broken over, and rolled back with additional metal. The usual patching and maintenance ! has been attended to. Ngattmaru Riding.—The roadman at Purangl left to take up a more remunerative position elsewhere. The timber for repairs for the Ngatoto Road bridge Is already on the site. Various slips have occurred m this district, but they are receiving attention. The re-building of the South Matau Road bridge Is still held up, pending the completion of the pile driving at a Government bridge. The Mongamalre Road* tunnel is progressing satisfactorily, the top heading for a distance of 30 feet being completed. Urenul Riding.—Further gravel supplies have been carted out from the native reserve, and Quarrying Is proceeding as usual. On the Plko Road further sections have been laid off, and the metalling contracts can proceed when money is available. I understand a tender will be submitted for the Jlatiro Road metalling. The roadman has left to take up mere profitable occupation, and a man has been appointed on probation. Owing to tidal action, and periodical sancOnsr up on tho beach, contractors fight shy of tendering for the work of stone supply from the Urenul foresbofe. Various slips and subsidences occurred as a Tesult of last week's rain, but they are mostly being attended to. Mokau Rld.ing.—Patching and repairs have been carried out over tho metalled portion of the Main Road, and Instructions were given to effect repairs to the Mangamneho Road J. Maudsley is now in charge of the Unit! dls trlct, with power to get assistance ivh-u required. Further pipes will be provided for the culvert south of the Mt. Messenger School. The bridge work has been In abeyance, the higher Wages offered -elsewhere making It difficult to obtaih anyone for the back country. The suggestion of a deviation giving access to the Mangaoro Road and cutting out the old bridge is worthy of consideration and n report. Maps have been prepared showing the amended County boundaries, and also the new Ridings, a copy being hung In the Council Chamber. Parinlnlht Tunnel.—ln reporting upon this work, I will briefly review the three different proposals suggested, viz , (1) giving access from the beach by way of Rlgby's Point. This point Is about 3 to 4 chains long by 2 to 3 chains wide, and about 120 feet high, and my qunntitles do not embrace the whole point, but the seaward side, and that portion which rises perpendicularly by about 50 feet ■ composed of solid papa. It thence merges into a. slope of about 45 degrees of soft papa and earth for a distance of about 50 feet, and terminates by again assuming the perpendicular for about 10 feet, when the tableland is reached. Were this obstruction removed, the route Inland would be by the miouth of the Tanm.irunul creek, but not Infrequently objectionable, as quick sands are met, with there, which would prove dangerous to stock. I estimate that approiimately 45,000 cubic | yards of hard material would require to he stripped, and at present prices this would be | nrohlbltlve; (2) to cut a track (caving the beach Just north of the present tunnel, and reaching tho tableland, by a road say Bft wide, and a grade, say, lln R. Tills would require a track of about 15 chains long To blow out an obstruction promiscuously, or blast for the production of material for transport elsewhere, Is quite a different proposition to cutting out- a uniform track, and this suggestion is also considered prohibitive: (Ml ' tho third proposal Is to permanently Improve tho existing tunnel, and this it Is proposed to do in the following manner: The major potion of the tunnel would be lined with mixed timber, the frames to be hardwood of dimensions Sin by 9ln. supporting totara sheeting with possibly locally split slabs on top. The floor of the tunnel would require to fce thoroughly rlenned out and graded, and nnm completion of this it would receive a bottom course of handpitched boulders, to be surmounted by a fairly rich mixture of concrete, say, 5 to 1 with supporting shoulders ,The floor would also require to have picked bpawls four to five Inches embedded In the surface to give a foothold on the gradient of one In four. The seaward entrance would he conStruoted with a substantial reinforced con

orete parapet wall, embedded In tUe solid papa, to secure a foundation. The length of the will Vould be about 48 feet and buttressed at Intervals to withstand shock. The upper end of the tunnel would also require concrete for a limited distance where the oVerltead material threatens to cause future trouble. In Inspecting the locality generally, I am of the opinion that (he original military authefcity responsible lor the tunnel reviewed all the possibilities as I have done, and arrived at the conclusion that the method they adopted was the line of least resistance and expense. My estimate is £1307 10s. In addition, the road from the lunnel and Tongaporutu requires the renewal of four small bridges, estimated to cost £275, also culvertlng and formation estimated lo cost £75. This expenditure would be necessary, no matter which of the three proposals were adopted, and would be additional to either scheme. This would, therefore, lirlng the total cost to £1747 10s. I would suggest that the Government be approached for half the amount, and that the balance be supplied by tho Clifton and Awaklno Counies, together with tho proposed contributing companies, MATAU MATTERS. H. V. Simons (Matau) drew attention to the state of the Tlrangl Road, which was Impassably for any traffic. This he considered was due to Mr. Kennington's stock grazing on the road, and it .was useless doing anything until the fence was up.—Left In the hands of the riding member. G. H. Rnwllnson (Matau) also drew attention to the state of the Rahaka and Tlrangl Koads, In each case the settlers adjoining had a gate alongside the Main Koad, and use the side roads for paddocks, thus saving considerable fencing. He also suggested that the Council supply pipes and the settlers using the Rakaha Road put It In reasonable order, otherwise fence the road and remove the gate, leaving the Council to put the road In repair He also referred to the Tlrangl Road, stating that he planks were off liree bridges. He hart Interviewed the riding councillor on several occasions during tho past four years, but all the satisfaction got was "I will see what I can do," and it amounted to seeing, but not doing—Left in the hands of the riding member to' ararngo with the settlers to repair the road, otherwise the road must be fenced and the Council will repair It. HOSPITAL LEVY. The secretary of the Taranaki Hospital Board asked the Council to endorse the resolution passed at the conference of controlling bodies, urging the Valuer General to have t»e lands comprised in each hospital district revalued simultaneously, falling which that the revaluation of the lands of any one local body should not be used for hospital levy purposes until the whole of the revaluations of that Hospital district are available. ?he Council unanimously agreed to endorse the resolution. The Taranaki Hospital Board notified that the Council's levy for the ensuing year would be £1194 Bs, payable In monthly Instalments of £O9 10s Sd. MOTOR TRAFFIC REGULATION. ' The Manawatu County Council asked the support of the Council in. having legislation introduced giving Magistrates drastic powers in dealing with motorists convicted of driving at an excessive speed or In a dangerous way, also that every driver of a motor vehicle should have a license, and that the amount of the fine for breaches of the Act should bo increased to £IOO. The Council decided to support the resolution as far as it applied to more drastic penalties, but did not favor the clause regarding licenses, considering that it would not be right to compel owners of private cars to take out drivers licenses, though It imlght be desirable in the case of cars plying for hire. PUKEARUHE ROAD, Messrs. n. Wells and W. W. Moller asked the Council to take steps to raise a loan to complete the metalling of tho Pukearuhe Road. They prepared to ask the Government for a £ for £ subsidy. It was resolved that the engineer make an estimate of the cost. THE TARANAKI COUNTY COMMISSION, In connection with the Inquiry into the Taranaki County Vehicles Licensing By-Laws, Sir. L. B. Campbell, commissioner, asked that the Council should take a tall v extending I over a week at the toll-gate on the Main North Road, showing the origlp and destination (county or borough) of the various classes of traffic. The chairman stated that the return had ! teen made, but tho week had proved a very ' wot one. ' In response to the request of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Council agreed to pay its quota towards the expenses of a solicitor to which' tho New Plymouth Borough Council hnd agreed to pay half. SETTLERS' REQUESTS. Sirs. F. p. Mcßae asked the Council to Improve the entrance to her form at Urenul. She had paid £4O in rates, and about £4 would make a good job of the entrance.— To be Informed that the Council does not metal entrances to ratepayers' properies Mr. G. L. Young wrote stating that Larsen .Uros. had not made any attempt to remove the gate across the Waltara Valley Road, but had erected two more gates. He tnercfore asked th 3 Council to take action. On tho motion of Crs. Kennington and Jones, it was resolved to Inform Messrs, Larsen Bros that as they have not moved the gate to a safe position they must now remove It, unless they can come to some arrangement with Mr. Young. Mr. Gordon Salway (Waitolto!) wrote pointing out that , Mr. Gordon Glassford's fence on tho Nopere Road was not on the correct toad line, and he asked that notice be given to erect the fence so as'to give the full I legal width of the road, which was very | narrow In places, and with stock became very muddy. He had already spent several poundß on the road, but it was useless to do any- I thing further until the fence was shifted Mr. Galssford is to be asked to remove the fence as requested. GENERAL. The Public Works Department notified pay-

merit of £3 Os Od for the use of the Council's pile driver at Uruti, .and alsp £303 lis being grant towards flood draluuge Muugaoapa stream bridge. The Public Works Department forwarded gazette notice vesting control of the Tongaporutu bridge and approaches Jn the Clifton County Council. The Health Department notified the formation of a. new health district to be known us the Wnnganui-Taranaki Health District, comprising the Taranaki, Stratford, Hawera, Patea and YV&nganui hospital'districts. It. Fowler (Uruti) an ex-foremltn of the Council said that he was prepared to vacate the county cottage as soon lie could secure another, and he was also prepared to apologise to Sir. C. F. Dowsett in front of witnesses Received. Alfred Cruso also askfefl thG Council to pay il:» board, amounting it/ £4 IDs, ns he had been promised the house within a week.— The Council declined liability. McEldowney Bros. wrote offering to lease portion of road reserve on Pariklfte ltoad. They also pointed out that they had no objection to the lower portion being leased to \V. Murray.—Left to McEldowney Broy to arrange the matter. The district road engineer forwarded particulars of proposed deviations on the Okau and Mangare Roads. The Council decided to grant the Public Works Department 30 12-inch pipes for work on the Mimi-Mokau Road. The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that ho had forwarded the Council's repiesttttlons regarding Saturday half-holiday to the Hon. W. 11. Herries, Minister of Labor. The Premier also notified that he had forwarded resolutions re Native rates and duty on children's footwear to the Hon. W. H. Herries as Minister of Native Affairs and Minister of Customs respectively. The Hon. J. B. Coates (Minister of Public' Works) notified that he would give the question of hiring motor wagons for metalling purposes every consideration. An. application was received from L. H. I Smith, Waitavft, offering «to take up tho position of ranger for £1 each day he was sent I out and driving fees. The need for appointing a ranger was stressed, and applicant was given the position under the control of' the engineer. Tlie engineer was instructed to report at next meeting on the deviation of the Mangaonga Road. It was resolved to send the estimates for the Paranlnihl tunnel to the chairman of the Smart Road Freezing Works.