EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1920, Page 2

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Egniont County Council met yesterday. Preesnt: Crs. W. R. Wright (chairman), A. B. Coffin, J. Young. T. H. H. Sinclair, W. 0. Green, E. S. Forsyth, M. O'Brien, F. C. Watsou, and S. Campbell. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. K. rease reported) : Previous to going into the ordinary riding reports I would like to point out that a considerable amount of work has had to be done in connection with blinding the roads where they have been scoured by surface water owing to the blockage of between 30 and 40 culverts under the roads. Those blockages were mainly caused by the exceptionally heavy rainfall, but in many instances especially where the culverts were only 12 inches in diameter, and yet quite adequate to deal with exceptional flows the blockages were caused by empty benzine tins and the stump ends of fence posts carelessly thrown on one side by settlers repairing fences. After a careful survey of the district after the heavy rains I have come to the conclusion that too little attention has been paid to the side drains on the main and by-roads for a groat number of years back, and the Council is now faced with the problem of having something like thirty miles of these drain's to clear out, with, of course, the assistance of the adjoining settlors. It will be Just as well to tackle this question straight away, and at the same time definitely decide upon the action the Council will take with regard to the outlets of these road drains, as in most cases, through neglect of the settlers to deal with the water after passing on to their land by reason of stock trampling in the sides of the outlets, mi surface water is dammed back to such an stent that it becomes detrimental to the maintenance of the various Toads. Thts t B a question that will certainly have to ne faced before any permanent work in the say of tar-sealed roads can be laid down. OeD Riding (Northern).—A considerable amount of patching has been done over the whole of the Tiding. A line of ten 24-lnch diameter pipels has been laid neros3 the easterly end of the Stratford Road to replace an old wooden culvert collapsed, the road was widened at this point. At the westerly end of the same road a line of ten 3ft diameter pipes have been put in to replace a collapsed wooden culvert. A new drain has been cut in front of the Te Klri school property, and two crossings have, been made to the school and cottage, the necessary pipes for which will be paid for. By the Education Board. Tenders have beer, called for the falling and clearing of the bush on the Wiremu Road between the present clearing west of Kir! Road and the Mangalnwne River. I would suggest that the Wiremu Road Committee hold a meeting before the next Council meeting to consider these tenders and the making of a dry track between the Kir! Road and the Taungatara River. Oeo Riding (Southern).—There Tielng only one man employed in this RiiS-ig at the present time, there is very little to report beyond the fact that he nas oeen engaged on the work of patching, water-tabling, relieving water channels and blinding scoured portions of the Main South, Skeet, Wattno, and Nopera Roads. The Oeo Bridge on the Main South Road has two or three broken joists which are at present temporarily structed awaiting new ones. The Our! Bridge on the Main South Road Is nt present being refitted with new hardwood blocks. When this is done the bridge should last for some time, as although of a fairly light construction the timber in the bridge seems to ho reasonably sound for a bridge of 23 years' standing. The only difficulty with our Howe truss bridges Is the excessive load from heavily loaded and speedy motor lorries.

Opua Riding (Southern).—Men have been englfged on tlio work of periling and watertabling on the Main South, Eltham, and Lower [ and Upper Waiteika Roads. Repairs have been done to the decking of the Taungatnra bridge on the Main South Road, and a new permanent structure has been put under the saono bridge. The men in this riding have metalled tho entrance to me Domett Street pipe shed with old shingle unfit for use for pipe making, so that motor lorries can deliver cement to the shed. Mr. Clements of the Waiteika sawmill has already put down about 100 yards of pit imetal on the rond, out of the 500 promised, the subsequent distribution of the metal is under observation. Several large concrete pipes have been made ut the old yard. The whol eof the 9-In and 12-ln moulds of which we use a lot have been moved to the Domett Street yard, as this is the only place where pipes can be made in really wet weather. Opua Riding (Northern).—Some work has been done to the side track on the Main South Road at Opua Flat.' Water tables have also been cleaned out there, ana a certain amount of flax has been grubbed out at one of the bends where the view of the road was obscured. New tension borrs are on order for tho Hetaana bridge and a new strut for flame, the bolts being dangerously rusted and the strut decayed. Something should be done with the- flax on the Opua flat, as I am given to understand there is a flax mill still working on the Lower Parihaka Rond. Considerable amount of patching lias been done on Opua and Arawhnta Roads. On the Opua Road a. drain from the Main South Road as far as the Misses Cross's estate, a distance of about 80 chains requires cleaning out. Miss Cross Is agreeable to pay the cost of this work so far as she is liable if the other settlers will agree. Opunake Riding—Patching has been done at the Waiua bridge, blinding has been done north of Opunake and a considerable amount of 9-in. pipes have been made at the yard, 10 tons of cement having been received for this purpose. Rahotu Riding (Southern) .—The chief work in this riding during the month has been the scarifying, reforming nnd rolling la of about 135 chains of the Main South Road, which with about 90 chains of the same class of work done last month making a total of 225 chains between Kina Rond and the Pimga--eero stream wns carried out at a cost of 14s Cd per chain for manual and team labor with the addition of fuel, oil, etc., for the roller nnd pump. Some of this work was | done as low as 13s 2d per chain during dry weather. This seems a very reasonable price for making the surface of a road good for say 1% to -two seasons, bill It must bedistinctly borne in mind that It is wearing the road as far as its currying propensities are concerned down to the bone. A time will coins when this class of road will need a '■ new supply of from 18 to 20 yards at least of crushed metal per chain, to deal satis- ! factorily with the moving traffic to be borne, i About 16 chains of the Lower Kina Road v ' has been ploughed and formed, and two days patching on the metalled portion has been done. I have examined the Tauru Road and ! flr.l that the recent cutting to divert the I TungnreeiT stream was not In the best Interests for the road or the settlers affected. One portion of the Tauru Road .is already completely washed away and a portion further north is suffering constant erosion. The

sooner this stream, is diverted at a point where it should have originally have been done two years ago which would have caused the necessity of only one ford, or one bridge, the. better for all concerned. I would suggest that the Rahotu members of the Council inspeqt this at an early date as any further interference with the Tauru Road in the shape of cutting slopes as ford approaches is likely to cost a considerable amount of money at some future date to either reinstate the road or divert it. Rahotu Riding (Northern) .—The Main South Road has been patched between the Waltoto Road bridge and Puniho, and watertoblhig has been done north of the Waltekaure. Three telegraph poles on the Main South Road between the Cape anil Bayly Roads have been removed by the Telegraph Department, these were standing in positions interfering with our improvements for clearer view of the road. Patching has been done on the Stent, Bayly and Cape Roads. Decking to the bridge over the Matanehunehu stream on the Carrlngton Road has recently broken in by the Wares sawmill lorry. The sawmilliug people have supplied new timber for same and temporarily repalrett the bridge. New decking is on order for the, Telkaparua. bridge on the Warea Road, which is in a very bad condition. A huge log blocking Dirty Man's Creek bridge on the Newall Road nas been removed. This will no doubt ease the danger reported to the bridge some time ago. Since having the cracks showing on the facades of one Waiweranui bridge at Warea pointed up with cement, I find that on three recent examinations no movement sufficient to make cracks has 'taken place. Bridges.—Applications have been sent to the Board of Trade for supplies of cement for the Taungatara and Walteika bridges on the Eltham Road, and a further application will shortly be sent for the Oaoitj bridge on the Main South Road, which will no doubt comt to hand. In the meantime lam endeavouring to get the late foreman over me wmoßu bridge to resume duties here. General. —Notices are prepared ready for posting of the removal or lowering of toes overhanging roads, and the cutting away of hedges where roads at Junctions are obscured from view. As good 3tone for road , repairing i 3 becoming scarcer every year, and there is a considerable amount of paddock stone available in the district suitable for the time being for the Tepair of by-roads, I would suggest that settlers bo offered u reasonable price for the putting out on to the side of the by-roads of paddock stone In heaps of not less than 90 cubic yards. VALUATION. The Council endorsed the resolution of contributing local authorities in the Taranakl Hospital district urging the Valuer-General to have all lands in hospital districts valued simultaneously, falling which tho revaluation of the area of any one body shall not be used for levy purposes until the other revaluations are available. During discussion, it was elicited that there Is a possibility of tho county being revalued at an early date. This re-valuatlon could not be used this year for levying purposes as the rate is already struck. ' THE WAIATJ RIVER. The Opunake Town Board directed attention to the Waiau Hiver erosion, the flood last week having caused a big encroachment on King Street, the Education Reserve, and Harbor Board paddock leased by the Council, it was suggested that continued action bo taken by the parties concerned to get the Public Works Department to assist in turning the course of the river off the weak spot now affected. i, It was decided that tho Town Board and Education Board engineers he asked to meet the Council's engineer and present a Joint report, after which the Public Works Department will be approached. THE WIBEMU ROAD. Cr. O'Brien favored pushing on with the Wircimu Road work, and moved that the engineer be authorised to extentx me grants by whatever means approved by the Government engineer, day labor or small contracts. He urged vigorous prosecution without delav. The engineer said no work could be done on Uio road till it was pegged out and surveyed by the Public Works Department. He hoped to be able to put the work in hand early in the spring. Cr. O'Brien reiterated that there was too much delay.

The chairman said that the sanction of the Public Works engineer had to bo obtained before ' tho money could be spent. If the Council acted -on Its own the Government would not vote the nioney. Cr. O'Brien's motion was defeated, and on Ihe motion of the chairman it was resolved that the attention of tho district engineer be called to the necessity or going on with the work as soon as possible. .'Cr. Watson was addt-ii to the Wiremu Road Committee, vice Cr. Holder. GENERAL. Tho secretary of the Tarannki Hydro-Elec-tric Leaguo forwarded a request for a contribution from the Council towards the cost of obtaining a report as to whether an adequato source of supply Is available wltuin tho province, and cust of plant, etc. The amount applicable to tho Council was £T9, nnd if a power district was ultimatelv formed any money contributed by the Council would be refunded bj the Board —Eenuest - agreed to. The DepartmeM of Itdustriti and Commerce wrote appointing the Council to deal with applications for cement, bricks, and timber for erection of dwelling houses, and essential farm buildings within the district on behalf of the Board of Trade.—The Council decided to undertake ths work for three months. The chairman and Cr. Young were appointed to arrange for the Council to be represented In the deputation which proceeds to Wellington to-day to interview the Minister regarding the OpunakerTe Roti railway.