EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1920, Page 2

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Egmont County Council met yesterday. Present: Crs. IV. R. Wright (chairman), A. B. Coffin, Jos. Young, T. H. H. Sinclair, W. C. Green, S. Forsyth, M. O'Brien, K. C, Wateon, and S. Campbell. TOLLGATE SUBSIDY. The Bangitikei County Council expressed its intention of co-operating with the Council In ilegard to toll gates and subsidy, but was strongly of opinion that an increase of the Government subsidy was preferable to the establishment of toll gates. The chairman agreed, stating that it was Ihrough the agitation for toll gates that they hoped to get the Government to take soros action. THE UPPER KAHUI ROAD. H. G. Lysaght wrote drawing attention to the bail state of the Upper Kahui Road. He ouggested that, a man with a horse and dray should be kept on the road throughout the year. Ho also added.that the rates on his Ngarikl Road section should be diverted to the Kaliui Road. ; ,, I Cr. Campbell said that the road was.in a bad state, but there' was plenty of ■metal available, and if the settlers would.. only put their heads together, should soon be able lo hava a good road. Cr. O'Brien held that rates on roads not used should be diverted to the Kahui- Road. The chairman said that the rates on Mr. Lysaght's Ngarlkl Road property could be diverted to Kahui Road as asked by Mr. Lysaght, who said that ho did not use the Ngarlkl Road. Cr. Young objected. Ngarikl Road was metalled and badly required the .money. The chairman said that the system of separate road accounts should be abolished and every Joad dealt with according to its merits He moved to that effect. Cr. Young agreed that a by-road should have Its rates expended on another road for a yenr or two, but later when it required to expend the money, should be entitled to receive that imoney back. All roads had the right to go in for a special rate. Cr. Qreen considered that the feeling of the Ngariki Road ratepayers should be ascertained. There was a good deal to be sold on both sides. , Cr. Sinclair -.considered It would be unjust to do away road accounts, as these yas little community of Interest between two roads. The chairman then moved that the Council have power to allocate the -money to roado at it* discretion. Cr. Watson seconded. Cr Green lieid that this was opening up a big queßtloir, He fardred voting an amount to the Kahui Road. Ths motion was lost.

THE LOAN PROPOSAL. At the special meeting of the Council last Week some discussion took place In regard to the raising' of a special loan for tar sealing the Main South Road, and It was resolved that the clerk obtain Information as to the prospects of obtaining the money. At yesterday's meeting a reply wan received from the Public Trust Office that owing to present heavy financial commitments, it wa9 regretted that the Public Trustee was fully committed, and therefore could give no undertaking -or promise that a loan of granted. In any case, the Public Trust office does not grant local bodies more than £ 50,000 in any financial year, and If the loan was subsequently granted, It would be on that basis. The letter suggested that the best course was to get the poll taken and gazetted, and then approach the Public Trustee again, when if the financial situation was easier, some portion of the loan might be granted. Tlie Public Trust Office also notified that the rate of interest now charged In respect to loan to local bodies .was 5% per cent, plus 1 per cent, sinking fund, and the term Was 30% years. ' , . , , The chairman stated (hat all they required the first year would be £20,000, and this should help them to get the loan. There was about twenty miles of road that could be tar-sealed without remetalling, and he moved that steps be taten to take a poll.

Cr. Watson seconded. Cr. O'Brien said that if provision was made to ultimately tar seal the by-roads by means of a loan, he would support the proposal Without this there' would be solid opposition from ratepayers on the by-roods, who considered It most unjust that they should he rated to tar seal the Main South Road. IP howeifer, an undertaking was given that a loan would later bo raised over the county for tar-sealing the by-roads, he felt it would be generally supported. Cr. Campbell.agreed. - Cr. Green thought that the loan for tarring the main road would be carried. They imust keep the main road open to Ret their produce away, and this should be their first consideration. Ho hid no objection to authority being taken to raise a loan to tar seal the whole of the by-roads, though It need not be done at once. , Cr Young pointed out that there were 150 mllcß of by-roads, and If they raised a loan for bv-roads at all must Include the lot, even though some of them were not much used now. Every ratepayer on a by-road used the main road. The chairman said that as tar-sealing would mean economy of maintenance he did not think ■ratepayers would be called to pay any extra rate for tar sealing the Main South Boad. Each by-road could raise its own loan, and oa the same reasoning there should be no increased rate. This would also enable any road that did not favor tar-sealtng to do without it. . Cr Sinclair explained that every ratepayer had to contribute to the by-roads. If the main road was tarred, the money saved in maintenance would leave more for expenditure on the by-roads. Cr. O'Brien said that a rosy picture had teen drawn of tho savings, but the people on the by-roads had decided not to "put their trust In promises." They would require an undertaking in a legal way that loan proposals would be iflaced before the ratepayers of tho County later for the by-roads, otherwise the Main Boad loan would be turned down. , ■ , ~ Cr. Campbell questfoned whether tar»seallns nrould tend to economise maintenance. *aimate, ho said, had had to Increase Its iaie, despite Increased valuation. Cr. O'Brien pointed out the hardship at present existing to ratepayers on the by-roads, rs the general rate could not be used to pay the Interest on a special loan. The chairman stated that they should en» deavour to get this altered. Cr. Sinclair said that to provide for all the by-roads they would have to obtain authority .for about £5(10,000, as they would hare to make provision to complete every by-road, some of which would not be required for very many years. The chairman said that be would not agree to such a proposition. The by-roads must work out their own salvation. Cr. Young said that the. by-roads would be able to have the use of the plant at & reasonable cost, and It would probabiy be cheaper for each by-road to raise its own loan. Some of the by-roads were not even formed. Cr. O'Brien said that the by-roads should; be included in the proposal and only sufficient money raised at present to tar seal the main road. Unless this was done the ratepayers would not only turn the loan down, b*t would also turn the main road councillors out next November. Cr. Green pointed out Hie difficulty of the engineer bringing down an estimate of the cost of tar-sealing by-roads, which ran into hundreds of imlles, many of which were not even formed or laid off. After further discussion, it was pointed Out that the resolution passed last meeting covered the posltign. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Oeo Siding (Northern).—Eltham Road has been patched from boundary to boundary, and

a fair amount of water-tabling has been done ro it at various places. Stratford Road haa been patched aud the water-tables cleaned out at the far end. A considerable amount of water-tabling bus been done on the Kiri Road and a small amount on the Watino Road. A drain at the lower end of the Oeo Road which overflowed and scoured the road at several places has been cleaned out. A line of eight 12in. pipes has been put across the Kh\ Road near the gra,vel reserve to relieve the water from a hollow and t the road widened several feet for about two chains. The approaches to the Ouri Bridge on the Eltham Road have had attention, planks are needed at each end of the bridge decking to prevent the road metal from passing under the decking and over the abutments Into the river, these will be put in as soon as they can he obtained. I have purchased a quantity of paddock stone for the Watino Road, some of which has already been delivered. A horse and dray is very much needed in this portion of the riding. 4 Oeo Riding (Southern).— Only one permanent hand is employed In this portion of the ridr ing Jit the present time. The roughest places and srtiurs on the Main South Road, east of the Oeo River, have been blinded with clay and same water-tabling has been done west of i the Ourl Bridge. Repairs to the Ourl Bridge j have been completed, and some repairs have been done to the Oeo Bridge. Clay bltndin* has been laid down on the rough, portions of the-Watino Road near the railway reserve and about ten days have been put In cleaning out the water-tables using the best, material taken out to blind had patches. Opua Riding (Southern).—Some patching hag been done to the Main South, Kaweora, Ihaia and Upper Waiteika Roads. A new 12in. pipe culvert has been put It on the Main -South Rofla, also one 241n on the Ihaia. Road,' friid an old culvert on the Upper Waiteika Road has been cleaned out along with a short length of drain. Several days have been occupied with the work of making 3ft concrete pipe? for a new culvert on the Kiri Road. I have examined the drains on the Upper Waiteika Road and find that they are more oi; less blocked with various growths and silt for their entire length, and in places much trodden In .with wandering stock, etc., it is not advisable to interfere with them just at present, hut they should be thoroughly cleaned out. duriug the dry season. A new culvert of greater capacity than the existing one, fs required neAr the entrance to the sawmill, to efficiently deal with the waver in a tributary of the Waiteiira strea<m during rainfalls. Opua Riding (Northern) .—A fair amount of patching has been done to the Arawhata Rotd and for this purpose we took 20 yards o, J stone from J. Stronge's place, a badly scoured length towards the top end of the road h-»s heen made good with a coating of pit chains having been laid down and a length of: about 3 chains of ditch cleaned out to ease the outlet of the culvert which waß the of the trouble. The Helaama Bridge tu tha Main South Road Is being repaired with new truss bolfs.and hardwood blocks, struts, etc. Opuhake* Riding.-—Three days hiyve'been pui in making pipes in the' Dom^t'Street shed Thd' work 'of 'laying a hew concrete pips culfilling in the open in front of' the Rev. Strand's house hA3 been commenced, hut is delayed on account of fay shortage of 12in pipes, Rahotu Riding (Southern). —About twentyfive chains of the M'ain South Road between the Oaoiti bridge and the Kina Koad has been scarified, reformed and rolled in, usin£ rnW i /our yards of new metal to reface a place. On completion the Garrett roller wns brought, inn the shod to undergo repairs. A day'.? patching has been done to the road between th* Kina Road and Oaonui Bridge, whilst some patching and a little water-tabling has ceet done between Rahotu and the Waitotoroa Bridge. A length of about six chains of the Lower Kina Road has been scarified ;m<! refaced with about 12 yards of pit metal afterwards being rolled in. Patching his beeu 1 done to the Upper Kina Road for its entire , length, and all the water outlets attended io.! Three days have been spent on the work o; patching the Witiora Road with pit metal from D. Lusk's The Opourapa Road nan been patched and all water outlets opened. A length of water-tables has been cleaned out on Tipoka Road and the surface patched. Three days have been spent on the work of patching the Upper Kahui Road, and one dav .-n the Lower Kahul Road. A short length of concrete pipes have been laid down at meh end of the existing stone culvert across the end of the Manihl Road, the sides levelled off and filled in where required to improve the approach to tho road whiph was dangerous The new work will be coatett with pit inietal when the filling is thoroughly settled. There being no foreman in the northern end of the riding, the men from the southern end to a wash-out on the Cape Road, opened up ihe water-tables and patched the lower part of he , road* Only ono half-day has been spent hi the shed making pipes and repairing the shed. ' Rahotu Riding (Northern). —A littlo water- : tabling has been done? on the Main South Road. Water-tables ha.ve been cleaned o.u* 1 and patching done on the Pungarehu Rea*i, | and patching done on the Warea, Nov.mll, 1 Stent and Bayly Roads. A culvert across I the Upper Parihaka Road which was blocked : and overflowing has been cleaned out, several ' Natives took exception to the cf 1 the Council's men on the roaa aurrnj* the j progress of the work, and I shall be pleased to receive your instructions as ro uny future I work that may be required to be done lere. Plant and General. —Tho engine drivers have been engaged on the work of repairing bridges, re-assembling engine parts and doing general repairs to the whole of the road making plant, and they will have to finish the re/mlrs to the travelling whares as it is not pos-'blo to get a carpenter. We are greatly in.rma ot about six each of 12in and oin pipe moulds made of strong gauge or %in iron mati, a* we cannot at times cope with the demand for these small pipes, whilst we are. overstocked locally with the larger diameters. •■Mr. Bell, of the Public Works department, is at present engaged on 1 the work of pegging out and taking the levels of the Wlremu Road from the Arawhata Road northwards. The Wlremu Road Committee's recommendation in i connection with the falling and clearing of the i Wiremu Road at the Te Kiri end have been forwarded to the district engineer for consideration. GENERAL. ; Messrs. C. W. Revell and Sutton, ratepayers on the Ruakere Road, waited on the Council in connection with the raising of a consent loan of £Bso.—The necessary steps will be taken. Cr. Green asked for assistance in repairing the footpath In front of the Rahotu Hotel, to which the hotelkeeper was prepared to pay half. The chairman considered thai the people in Rahotu should go in for a loan of about £2OO to take the backblocks look off the township.—Left to the engineer.