CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1921, Page 8

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The Clifton County Council met yesterday. Present: Cm. R- H. Pigott (chairman), T. McKenzie, H. A. Foreman, E. C. Jones, C. H. Barnett, S. J. Sutton, and H. A. Harrison. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer, Mr. C. P. Dowsett, reported as follows: Tikorangi Riding—Work has been resumed on the Otaraoa Road formation, and it should be completed without further delays. Arrangements were made in connection with carting the boulders from Mr. Alexander's pit to a depot at the summit of West's Hill and that quarried from Mr. Knuckey’s pit to Alexander's Road, the former, when crushed, to be laid on White’s Hill and the latter beyond the cemetery on the Inland North Road. Both graders are now in this Riding and available for any necessary work if teams can be obtained. No forward movement of importance has been made in connection with the Nikorima Road metalling contract, and fuller advantage should be taken of the very suitable weather. The usual maintenance and repair work have received attention.

Waihi Riding.—The metalling proposed to be done on the Ohauga Road is divided into three sections, and comprises 115.75 chains. Should , gravel be used an approximate estimate is under Ills per cubic yard, but if crushed stone is used this would be increased. With reference to extending this road to the beach the ground at the seaward end is somewhat broken, and would require adverting, etc. The metalling on the Mataro Road is now progressing slowly, but more teams are required to carry on expeditiously. Material is coming to hand for the Parihaka culvert, and arrangements are in hand for diverting and deepening the stream through the adjoining sections. Ngatlunaru Riding—At Purangi the usual maintenance and repairs have been attended to, and small repairs effected to the County cottage. The Pita Road has also received attention. The approaches to the South Matau bridge have been completed and the road widened on the south side. Owing to the local residents being busy with their harvesting, nothing further has transpired in connection with the stripping and opening up of the new metal quarry. The roads and bridges throughout this Riding are generally in fair order, and the time is ripe and opportune to transfer this territory to other authorities whose towns are the natural centres to a number of thriving and prosperous settlers.

Urenul Riding.—The Main road between pegs 21 and 23% has been improved by using the engine and grader to clean out the water-tables, removing grass shoulders, and also scarifying and rolling other sections, but broken metal in place of gravel over this length is urgently required. The dangerous papa face on the Kaip’kari Road is receiving attention. The truss bridge near Marsh's, on the Okoke Road, has been repaired and understrutted, but Its life is now very limited. The large monler pipe culvert near Northcott’s has been placed in position and the old bridge removed. It is expected that the gravel pit near the store will be opened shortly and should provide suitable and sufficient gravel for all repairs. On the Piko Road arrangements were made to provide timber and effect repairs to the Black bridge. On the Pukearuhe Road blinding and repairs have been proceeding very slowly. The Papatiki bridge has been strengthened by the addition of new stringers.

Uruti R'.ding.—The usual maintenance and repairs have been attended to. The maintenance metal is getting used up with no prospect of future supplies, although tenders are still open for quarrying stone, and any offer will receive favorable consideration. The Mold tunnel will bo attended to when a further portion of the road is inspected pr'oi to its, being gazetted to the council.

Mokau Rld'.ng.—Ari application has been made to have repairs effected to the Coast Road bridges. The money, however, Is not yet forthcoming, and the. material will be difficult to obtain. All the timber locally obtained for the renewal of the Mangaonga bridge being now deposited on the site, the work will commence this week; also other work of -a necessary nature will be attended fa, '.ncludirtg an improved connection with the Main Rond. Wliilst. the bridge foreman is in the district the Derwent suspension bridge will also receive attention. The motor roller is now in Waitara for minor necessary repairs. THE TORI ROAD. At last meeting Messrs. Roy and Nicholson, cn behalf of Messrs Scott Bros, askcTl the council to take the necessary steps to close the Tori Road from its junction with the Qkau Road to the south end of section 29, block IX. Mimi S.D. At yesterday’s meeting letters were received from Messrs. F. Calvert. J. H. Bowe, A. O. ’ Peterson, and Bower Bros, objecting to tho road being closed, and the three firstnamed also asked the council to give notice to have gates removed from the road. In view of the opposit'.on, the request was not acceded to. SETTLERS’ REQUIREMENTS. Messrs. Gray Bros., Okau, wrote drawing attention to the deplorable state of the Mangatori Road. Last November the settlers had cleared some bad slips, but the water was still running on to these places, and with the first heavy rain the road ’would became impassable. The upper portion of the road was blocked to motor traffic, and carts could I only get through with difficulty. The ser- | vices of & surfaceman were required for several weeks to put it in order, f \Nqt\i w.'.1l he done on the road as soon as labor is available. Mr. E. G. Bleakley, Urenul. drew attention to the state of the small bridge on the Avenue Road, which required repairs.—Referred to the engineer. Visaljko Bros., Purangi, asked the council to repair the Pukemahoe Road 6 feet track, pointing out that they were prepared to find the labor.—Held over pending a report from the engineer.

QUESTIONS OF ACCESS. Messrs. Roy and Nicholson, solicitors, wrote pointing out that some years ago Messrs. Parsons, Freeth, and Skinner consented to a special loan being raised for deviating and metalling part of the Main North Road on the express stipulation that a crossing road should be made and legalised by the council out of the loan moneys, so as to give full access across section 34 (swamp) to section 39 and other adjacent lands. The council had made this access road, but recently a settler had (thej’ understood) illegally caused a deep cut to be made across the road, thereby effectually blocking its use. They therefore asked the council, on behalf of Mr. Freeth, to take steps to put the access road in a full and sufficient state of repair. They also a’sked that the council would at once see to the completion of the legalising of the access road. Mr. W. J. Freeth waited on the council in explanation of the matter. After some discussion !.t was resolved, on the motion of Crs. Bennett and Jones, that the matter be referred to the chairman, Cr. Sutton and the council’s solicitor, with power to take necessary steps to put the matter in order. The resident engineer notified that Mr. E. Mount, holder of sections 43 and 41, block 4, Mimi Survey District, was asking for access. He would be best served by a road qpm Ka'.waru through section 10, and a bridge. This would require legalisation of 8 chains of road, and he asked whether the council would be prepared to undertake the expense of legalisation. The chairman said that as representatives of the ratepayers they could not undertake the expense of legalising a road for one individual. Cr Bennett pointed out that indirectly the countj’ would get tbe benefit, as it would give direct access to some good country, saving two miles of road. Cr. Sutton said that he understood the Government were prepared to assist Mr. Mouat to the extent of £ for £ on a bridge costing £lOOO. e Deferred for a month for further information.