CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 8

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County "muni wa3 bold yesterday. Present: Crs. " H. ligott (chairman), Keiininjtgn, 51cKcnsae, Muskcr, Foreman, and Jones. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report was presented by the engineer (Mr. C. P. Dmvsett) ■- Waihi Rldinir.-irurlhcr stone has been oba.ncd and stacked at the depot at o,aero cubic"™ y Prob "" ly : " mmtea t0 '« toe In ». N ° U "" B fUrther to be ™ done in connection with the Nikorinn Bond jailing contract. The pipe ™ t % .? tag access to the beach has been placed n av able nded to Wllen ,ab ° r is

T.korangl Riding.-The road giving access t. the sto, le ouarry on late A = « ; I™ been completed and quarrying has "read? zrrit u is " pected ,h " <■■" o"™ iload formation contract will be completed ns season. Metal patching and" be been attended to on the Ngatimaru and c her reads. The renewal of truss on be put in hand without delay. -Xgatimaru Riding.-The recent heavy rain caused nun.™™ slips «„ the Njato to toads and arrangements were made, that all hould receive attention in duo course For tuiely, n o bridges Mre affe( , ted _ >*■ <° still remains a small sura to he expended on the Kiorc saddle, and the foreman has been notified of the amount. At the Man gama.re Road tunnel, the filling, also the T £cs u .un\?r T 1 fe»L h S Off. Tie South Matau Road bridge has been satisfactorily completed and taken over b r the Ccuucd, and the work of filling |„ approaches i 1 ; ve i in t l,an t "' ,o be """"«' »> sr« he old structure. This dLstrlct has teen 11L " /n"' I,erraaMnt b "lßfs, and when Bo fo's .ml Evan's bridge, are repaired, for which t.mber is provided, the expenses in this direction should, in the future be small Urenul Riding.-Crushing operations are'expected to start almost immediately, and the metal deposited according to plana already formulated. On the Matnro Road approved specifications are in land fo- starting (he work at the Mangapnra bridge; if this is slirifd, furtiier speclfi.\it;ons will bo nccc sary, I understand the settlers are prepared to parcel out flie earthwork in seel ions and carry out same, as outside labor appears to be unprocurable. The heavy rains experienced were responsible for numerous slips on all roads which were attended to as soon as conditions permitted. The output of firavol from the native reserve was not up to requirements, the .main difficulty lelng the acquisition of teams. Tte repairs to Hie Avenue Road bridge and other necessary works will be attended to when the bridge foreman is in the immediate locality, Itokau Riding.-The flood of October 21 and 2U resulted in general damages In this riding, the principal of which was the bodily lifting of the superstructure of the Manga - mneho bridge, main road. fortunately the bridge foreman was in the district'and Umber available at the depot, consequently as httle delay as possible was experienced in effecting repairs. I have on many occasions reported on the condition of this bridge, and its unsuitr.bility for main road Traffic. [ would suggest that plans be prepared forthwith for a new reinforced concrete structure. The piles could be cast as soon as material is put on the ground, and tiie bridge foreman who has had experiencr of this class of work could proceed with the erection by day labor. On the Okau Road all bridges are completed with The exception of one tower leg to the Kotare suspension bridge, and arrangements were made with the foreman to get assistance and give tWs matter attention. Numerous slips are reported on all roads, and efforts are being made to remove same as earlv as possible. Arrangements were made' for permanent assistance at the Kotare end of this section. Owing to the non-arrival of necessary limber the repairs to Derwent bridge wore only partially completed, necessitating another visit to complete. The timber for Uic Slangaonga bridge is not yet on the site, The iiiiptovonicms to ihe formation at the Okau Junction have been completed The timber for Murray's bridge is due to arrive this week, and this work together with the Hi and I'ruti township bridges will be shortly attended 10. Repair meal has been arrtr.jed for on the I'ukeaiuhe Road, and when the data comes lo hand, the correct line of Ihe Noperoa Road fences will be defined. General.—As tie new riding boundaries are now in operation, I propose allocating the men as follows: Waihi Riding based on Onaero; Tikorangi Riding, based on Waiter: ; Urenul No. I based on township, covering main r.iad Irom Onaero to Mang.imaeho Road, Including Kaipikari and Okoke hill to .south side Ureuui Xo. 2, based on Pukcr.n ie fron Jlimi .htoi'on :o Gilbert Road and side niils; l ; reiuti Xn 3, based on Okoke, to cover the Okoke. Piko, and Kaka Roads, from smith side of Okoke Hill to (he store as at present, arranged; I'ruti Riding No. l, based on I run from Mangnmaeho Road Inclusive to >.O Messenger saddle, and including Ifanpihia Road; trrutl Xo. 2, to include Urutl, Mnlci Rottd and Tangiln Roads; Mokau Hiding Xo. I. based on Okau from Ahilici to Kiwi, included; Mokau Xo. 2 based on Kotare from Kiki to Kotare stream and Papakinn, Paraninini tunnel to Tonganorutu, and Huliwal Roads as required. Ngatimaru Hiding to continue as at present arranged.

BEACH STONE. The Waitnra Harbor Board wrote notifying that all stone and shingle on (l- e Wailii beach was the property of the Board, and could not he removed without permission being obtained. It was decided to seek the Board's consent to remove boulders from the beach for tiie roads. THE WAGES QUESTION. Communications were received from a num■r of Council employees asking for increase ■ wages to meet the cost of living. Intimation was received that tho workers - mod to clear ihe slip at Urenui refused work for less than His per day. it was decided that permanent men receive Ms per day and free' house, or allowance 'f Is per day, and tlat casuals be paid His per day from (leiober 1. The matter of ; tlio bridge foreman's wares was left to the engineer. THE TANGITU TUXXEI,. In reply to Mie Council's inquiry, the District Pngineor wrote statin? thai the Tanjitu ■ Tunnel was about two-Mills completed; no 1 work had heeii done since th o contractors i had ceased operai-imts. The job had been ai'cerlised for lc-tiintr without getting env offers, and lie had offered the work to several likely men since, but failed to persuade them t" rake it no. He pointed out that it was a most difficult matter to secure men eap- ■ able of pultun.; throui;]' such an undertaking, : but no effort was being spared to have liie work commenced again. I xcATuiAitr mmxe. I The Matati Ratepayers' Association wrote (slating tliiu it was proposed Mint the ivhole 'of ids Xgalinmru Hiding be withdrawn from I tho Clifton County, cud all on the rijht bank of Wallara Itiver be joined to Ihe Injdi'woml County and all the portion of tin- left bank be joined to Stratford. I The Association desired particulars as to ir.'ionue .'V|,"iidiiuro (maintenance), and Oiler I iioios for tiie information of rlie deputations i which were to wait on the Stratford and j Inglowood Couiiries I It was decided lo supply the Information as requested. j LABOR AXT) COXTRACTIXfI. | irr. Dowsett reported that like engineers j i i other counties In- had received no applii c..ii(.iis ill responce to mill by adi-orisumeiu tuv labor. I Tho chairman said he was afraid Mie nasij tlon was going to he acute for some time , yet, lie. remarked that, no tenders had been I received for metalling contracts advertised, iand lie forecasted that the Council would have to go in for lorries for transport, and 4»Mi<ier th« question of a loan (or machinery.