CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held At Waitara yesterday. Prosent: Messrs. ft. H. Plgott (chairman), T. McKonzie, H. A. Foreman, F. C. Jones, C. Musker, and S. J. Kennington.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows

V> aihi Riding.-The unraetalled gap on the inland North Road has beon completed the contractor putting out 320 yards. The foundation was hardly consolidated as is evidenced on the surface. A start has been made with the Nikorima Road contract, a quantity of stone having been deposited at the depot. At Onaero, over 500 yaras of boulders have been stacked in a convenient position for crushing. The matter of the Ohanga Road extension is being investigated, and I would suggest that, traversing the good land a 50 link Toad would be cheaper and meet requirements, and where the ground is broken an «L ess a full chain be Teserveoi. < Tikorangi Riding,—An effort Bhould be made during the coming season to metal the hill opposite Cunningham's on the AVaihi-Otarao* Road, as its condition gets extremely bad. About 12 chains would do the worst of it Possibly arrangements could be made when Mr. w, Foreman's hill is being imeUlled. In reference to this latter contract, had it been completed to contract date, viz., 7th February last, there would still have remained ample time to metal the cutting, and the inconvenience attaching to Its present condition would not erist. The usual maintenance and repairs liavo been attended to, but my suggestion re reserve metal supplies should be gjven effect to.

ISigatimaru Riding.—A vacancy still remains at Purangl for a suitable man, and arrangements have been made to carry on temporarily. The work on the Mangamaire tunnel is proceeding satisfactorily, the top heading having been completed, and the work should be well advanced in another month. The contractor hns already made a start at the South Matau bridge and this work will now proceed without interruption. Isolated slips have occurred in this district, but they have been attended to. On the Ngatoto Road arrangements were made to effect temporary repairs to tho Hoe Hoe crcelc bridge. Urenul Riding.—Further re-coating and repairs'have teen carried out on the main road and quarrying is still proceeding in the Native reserve. On tho Mataro Road, some repairs were necessity, south of the Mangapoua bridge and the contractors were requested to quote u price for metalling from M'uce'a gate to connect with the preseht metal. In view of the roads holding so much moisture wherever shaded by trees, these should be cut, otherwise an additional coat of metal will ne required in many places.- On the Avenue Bond bridge, one pile has gone out; it Is not intended to drive another Immediately, but to distribute weight on the remaining three, if labor can be obtained. On the Okoke Rod one of the main plors en the Mdgc .near Marsh s is threatened, and I have left wire ropes to secure It in the meantime, but .more serious attention will he required later on On the upper Oltoke and Plko, the w.rst phase or back country Toads is always experienced, the foreman having more than he can carry out single-handed in coping with subsidences, sllpj, threatened bridges, «tc.. and there Is a considerable expenditure required in this district in the future.

Mokau Riding.—The foreman nt TJruti haa resigned, not through dissatisfaction with the work, but because he is guaranteed a wage very superior to that offered by the Council. I have employed a dray for six days in shifting metal for repairs from the lower to the upper portion of the main road. The Jllmi flat is bad, and I notice the Department is Riving it atention, which I hope Is a prelude to it being metalled this summer. # The western pier on the Tupoki Road bridge Is in danger of collapse through scour. I have had temporary repairs effected, but permanent repairs will require early ntteiition to include three main piles 25 feet long; one wing pile; one stringer and sheathing. At no very remote dale In the past, repairs were effected here costing £43, and m.v present estli matfe is for n similar sum. I "would suggest that the settler interested would make a contribution as in the past. On the Okau Road, the bridge work is proceeding and I have sent jut an assistant which will allow the Toad foreman to resume his duties. I also arranged for assistance at &© Kotare'end. With reference to the Mangaonga Road deviation, the ground traversed by the proposed road is wet at the south end, and broken at the north end. Tho approximate distance is about 22 chains, and my estimate Is as fol* lows: Rock cutting, 400 yards at 2s, £4O: side cutting, 1100 yards at Is, £55; fonr culverts fc3u; drains, £5; fencing both sides, £6O: difference in area of land taken and given IV. acres, costing £ls, or a total of £2lo' Alternative to this is cost of bridge and timber has io come from outside and piles are driven, my estimate is £lO5. on the Fukearuho Road, further metal repairs have been effected and tho road maintained. With reference to metalling the northern end from the factory to the Waikariwnarawa creek 1 submit the following estimate: Approximate chain?; mottil 10 s 9 equalling 2800 yardsi at 15s, costing £1950; culverts, £2O; earthwork, extension of work proposed to be cairied oijt by the settlers opposite late Mr. Greig's, £SO; total £2020, •

As the Riding boundaries are now settled the Council are advised to proceed with the necessary preliminaries for a loan. The Main f;orth Road Is quite worn out in places, and the condition of many of the bridges is nrecarious.—Adopted.

GENERAL. Mr. W. Larsen, Pehu, wrote in regard to and wandering stock on the Rerekino track, stating that the first gate complained of would be removed to a different site temporar'ly until such time as tha Council defined the road line.—Mr. Larsen to be iufS J he Bate must be removed, ™ *,/! tructlon erected by Mrs. Young. The Tlkorangi HaJI Committee applied to I,» e w om i f ur ai,Mnch drain pipes to cation o refus"ed ° f moranSl HaII ~ A PP»c^ r - k °(, the '"E'ewood County Council wrote asking the Council to submit accounts necessary for the adjustment between (he two Countlcs.—At the completion of audit, the chairanan and Cr. Foreman will Interview "smbera of the Inglewood Council. The Public Works Department forwarded S dniMße grant, for the Mangaopa bridge and road.—Received. ~,^J etter received from the clerk of \hangamomona County Council, asklnei whether the Council was in favor of the transference of properties in the U.pper Wain? r "thi U 5 V « y I),strlct ' n l d is to what amount 2L„ J . a " ri,ed ol > the sections lmd been expended.—lnformation will be supplied. n p t)I et n r . frt ™ the secretary Trsdo under direction from the Board, stating that further to the circular regarding the administration of the build- : 1 0I J. S wl ' ich revested certain action! should be taken by the Council, he was now t0 , »tnte that the reference to dwellings and essential farm buildings, was intended to cover repairs, additions, and alterations and It was desired that the Cotm»L tH L wl , t J l applications in the same nay—lt was decided to comply with the Board's request. «' orka informed the ,1' ?'S> Stornße PfoPO""! In npeninc up the Mount Egunont quarries provided for storage of the foot station In bins delivering' Into trucks by sravity, to the extent of 2100 yards.—Received.