INGLEWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1920, Page 3

INGLEWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Inglewood County Council met yesterday. Present: Messrs. A. Corktll (chairman), .T SI. Ifair, A Cowley, 11. .Tones, j. j>. Simpson, SI. S. Cameron, ,T. Hunter, J. H. Lyons, and It. Stuart. ENGINEERS REPORT. The engineer (Sir .Whiteside) reported as follows: During the earlier part of last month the road making plant was engaged In strengthening up the Mountain Road from the Borough boundary southward where a stretch of about 40 rhains of road wi» dealt with, and 314 yards of boulders were crushed and deposited on,the roadway. This has been blinded, surfaced with screenings and rolled. No scarifying was done in this case, was feared chat by so doing at this time of the year, should heavy rains occur the road might becume difficult for vehicular traffic. The metal has settled down alright notwithstanding that no scarifying was done. Latterly the crustier was transferred to the junction of Dudley and Bedford Roads, where 390 cubic yards of stone was crushed, 292 cubic yards being placed oiv»fhe Dudley Road west, and 84 cubic yards on Bedford Road, north of Dudley, and 20 cubic yards south of Dudley. The clc/ntor belt of the crusher has been giving trouble through wear and tear, but it has not been possible up till, the present time to procure a new belt owing to shortage of stocks. The builder for the new Slakara bridge (ferroconcrete), willhave finished the concrete work shortly. There will then remain only the plastering and earthwork filling the embankments approach to the bridge. The completion of this bridge has been greatly delayed through shortage of cement. The fences to the approach to tho Manganui River on the Junction Road have been repaired. On the Motukawa Road, about a mile from Mr. Standisli's holding a portion has never been widened sufficiently for metalling. This road requires reforming and trimming up In places; also draining. There is labor now available to do the necessary work should the Council deem It advisable to put the work in hand. Some metal patching has been carried out on the Hursthouse Road, but it has not been, possible to arrange with anyone willing to quarry and break a supply of metal to fill weak places as no one appears to want the work. Maintenance work has been carried out on Ihe Mountain and Junction Roads, also on Bristol, Durham East, Bedford, Lincoln, Aaitawa and other roads. The owner of land over which boulders have been carted for metalling the Mountain Road objected tn allow any more stone to be taken until an understanding was readied and an undertaking given that royalty on the stone taken nut by tho Tarannki County Council should be paid. This hitch has now been settled. After an overhaul of the crusher it is proposed to continue crushing stone for the upkeep of the Mountain Uoad near the Makctawa River. A quantity of boulders in various localities should be obtained during the coming spring and summer to be crushed for road maintenance purroses and filling the pot holes as they appear, and as the metal appears thin. This is all that, can be done until financial arrangements are made for tar sealing. Tenders should be called for this contract To get the"White truck into commission and use in conjunction with the crusher at small depots will require a portable bin to hold say six ya*ds of metal The jin would be filling while Ihe truck was away dumping. Such an arrangement would, enable the truck and crusher to work'without holding one another up With the longer elevator required the portable bin would cost about £2OO. Should the necessary cement be' procured, it is' proposed to put in hand the construction of new concrete bridges on the Bedford Road North of Dudley Road. All the consents 1o the road deviation at Slakara River have been obtained but the Governments; also a deviation of the Bedford Road. The Council Is asked to put its seal on these plans so that validity ran be given to the proceedings and same can be gazetted. TOURIST TRAFFIC TO SIT. EGMONT. When in Inglewood, the Hon. I). H. Guthrie was waited upon by a deputation from the County asking that the Tourist Department should make a grant towaros the maintenance of the roads giving access to Sit. Egmout. In connection with this he forwarded a reply from the Hon W Nosworthy, Sflnister of Tourist and Health Rescrts, regretting that he could not see his way to authorise any expenditure from the funds of ,the Tourist Department on ,roads outside the Park. The improvement of such roads appeared to be a matter for the Public Works or Roans Department, as it would enhance the value at adjoining properties Tho Tourist Department, he pointed out, derived no benefit from the Sit, Eoaiont district. 3IETAL SUPPLIES. Some discussion took place regarding the question <of obtaining supplies of metal from Sit. Egmont quarry. Cr. Simpson held that Inglewood County was more favorably, situated in regard to metal than any other County in New Zealand. They had stone in all the rivers, and also In the various pits, and with a crushing plnnt and dump trucks, could supply cheaper rhnn from the Mountain. Other local bodies had gone in for tar scaling, many on account of scarcity of metal, but Inglewood could make its toads 20ft wide if necessary as easily as others could make it Isft. The chairman said that the main reason for local bodies going in for tar sealing was on account of the metal roads not standing up to the present day traffic. With the railway running through their county they should be able to handle the Egimont stone cheaply. Slembers expressed surprise at tho cost of the Sit. Egmont stone. Finally 't was resolved to communicate with i the Public Works Department and ask for definite information as to when stono was available. Cr. Lyon seconded.Cr. Simpson held that the question of obtaining a stronger crusher and dump tracks was worth investigation. The resolution was carried. EVERETT ROAD SCENIC RESERVE. Sir. G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands, notified that he!had received reliable information that after obtaining permission to enter the Everett Road Reserve for the purpose of obtaining road metal, the Moa Road Board did not erect a gate and keep It closed, with the result that dealers' cattle had been able to gain entrance to and damage the reserve. The chairman said that cattle had been wintered In the reserve for years before the permission was given to the Board to enter the reserve. Slombers also said that other entrances had been made, and it' was resolved to forward this Information to the Commissioner. ' BEDFORD ROAD. Arnold Hall wrote drawing atention to the state of the bridge over the Waiteptike Stream, Bedford Road./ He stated that he was wlll- [ ing to assist the Council as much as possible. W. B Reid, Kaimiro, also asked that something should be done on the Bedford Road, about 35 chain of which was very bad. One of the approaches to the bridge had also been washed away. With Sir. Taylor, Taranaki County foreman, he had patched it up, but It was now about ready to go again. The engineer will report on both requests. WILLOWS ON RIVER BANKS. A leter was received from the Public Works Department relative to the damage caused by willows on river banks. Cr. Jones said they had an instance of this in the Slangaone Valley. Cr. Simpson said that the rivers coming down from tho mountain were causing great damage by erosion. In many eases the original bush was being washed away. He understood the Department would give advise as to how this couli be overcome, and ho would like to'havc an expert sent up to report on the matter. It was decided to ask for advise as to the most economical method of getting rid of willows. DEPUTATION. Mr. and Sirs. Main waited on the Council and asked that a gate placed across the road by Sir. Cameron should be'removed. In-the course of a discussion, it was elicited that anpHicrjnts also; had slip bars across the road, but they stated that- no one used the road above them, and that their property was on either side of the road. Tho Council advised applicants to endeavor to get the matter amicably arranged., as If one gate was removed the other wouid also have to be removed. GENERAL. Tho question of travelling expenses of members was discussed, and it was decided to pay mileage one way at Is 6d per mile up to eight miles and over eight miles 2s per mile, with a minimum of 15s. The chairman's honorarium was deferred till the end of the year. . D. Blackburn, on behalf of settlers of the Otaraoa Road, asked that the engineer give an estimate as to the cost of metalling a portion of the road from the Wiri Road, with a view to the sotlters going in for a loan.— Acceded to. Slessrs. Swindlehurst and Beneficld notified that owing to the bad state of tho tracks, and the weather conditions they did not sec their way clear to coaiplete the Everett Road contract —After discussion it was resolved to cancel the contract and call fresh tender* 'At the completion of the woit

U. W. Crozicr was gii-pn grazing rights over 1 the County's crushing reserve at Ihe Junction ltoad, Waiwaltalho, and 1. W. Uncles was given similar privileges in connection with the, crushing site on the Junction Road, near Ngatoro River. Applications for the position of dog tax collector and ranger wcro received, but,none were accepted, the Council deciding to call fresh applications at a stated salary. The tender of T. A. Kennedy for dog collars at lHid, was accepted. The committee set up to report ort the allocation of surfacemen recommended that the district ahould be divided into six, sections as follows, viz.: Uatapiko, approximately 21 miles of road; Tariki, 17% miles; Kaimata, 21% miles; Egmont, 17 miles; Tnnita, 37% miles, each one man; and Inglewood, 70 miles, two men—Adopted. It was resolved to call applications for surfacemen at the rate of lis per day, wet and dry. , The formal resolution regarding the striking of the rate, was approved. Application by tho engine driver for Increased wages was re/used. Cr. Simpson drew attention to the damage caused to the Durham Road West the previous night owing to a creek having overflowed the road. Cr. Simpson also drew attention to the unsafe conditions of the Mangaorar.a Bridge on the Lender P.oad. Kaimiro. Tin's bridge had been tagged as unsafe by the Taranaki County Council, and settlers were considerably handicapped in the matter Of heavy cartage. As It was apparently impossible to secure sufficient cement for a new structure, he thought tho engineer should report as to whether the present structure could not be strengthened.— The engineer will report. It was also resolved to erect warning notices at all dangerouz bridges. Owing to the lateness of the hour, Cr. Lyon was given permission to hold over until next meeting" his notice of motion to the effect that /he engineer supply information re tar sealing, bridge repairs, cost of metalling etc.