INGLEWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 8

INGLEWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The Inglewood County Council unet yesterday. Present: Crs. A. Corkill (chairman), J. M. Hair, A. Cowley, H. .Tones, J. B. Simpson, W. Topping, G. Capper, J. Hunter and R. Stuart. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. S. Whiteside) reported Tar-Surfacing.—The portion of the road south of the borough to about 8 chains past the Dudley Road has been tar-sealed. A further stretch might have been done, but the supply of crusher screenings was insufficient to continue the work. Ngatoro-itl River Bridge.—The new twospan ferro-concrete bridge on the Bedford Road is now completed. The plastering has yet to be done, as well as the earth work forming the approach. Autawa Road.—The two culverts referred to last meeting have been renewed with concrete pipes. I would draw attention to the financial arrangements for this work. The commitments in the nature of contracts entered into amount to £4BOO, the loan is £2500, and the Government grant is £5OO, leaving £lBOO yet to be provided for. Toi To.’. Road.---The contractor has signed up. for a contract for £1049 17s 6d, and has commenced work.

Ratapiko/Road.—’Most of the roads radiating from this centre have had attention, and are in good order. x Motukawa Road.—The new metal pit, when opened and stripped by the contractor, did not come up to expectations as to quality. I suspended work on the job until the council could review the situation. Kohete Road.—Progress has been made with the metalling of this road,. and about 8 chains of the worst portion of the road has been done. Kaimata North.—The worst portions of the road were scarified, reinforced with new metal and rolled. Junction Road.—The portion of road on Hie hill east of Kaimata Village has been scarified, strengthened with fresh metal, and rolled down. Egmont Road. —The traction Engine, roller and stone breaker is now set up on the Egmont Road, where approximately 850 cubic yards of boulders has been crushed. Most of the metal produced at this depot will be used to strengthen up the road in the vicinity of Kaimiro, while the balance of it will be conveyed to the Junction Road by the dump truck for maintenance purposes. Ngatoro River, Junction Road.—The old

wooden structure bridging the river has had a new compression block inserted, fresh planks put in, and general repairs effected. I have prepared plans for a new ferro-con-crete bridge of 60 feet clear span. The design is a circular arch 1 type of 33% feet the intrados, and 39 feet on the extrados. The roadway between the kerbs to allow motor-cars to pass each other is 16 feet wide. I estimate the cost af £l5OO. Manga-o-Raukau Bridge, Kaiml.ro.—The old wooden bridge is now practically past repair I would recommend the council 8 ' to consider the advisability of reinstating this bridge at an early date. The estimated cost for a ferro-concrete design is about £6OO. The report was adopted. CURTAILING GOVERNMENT GRANTS. The resident engineer (Mr. T. M. Ball) forwarded list of balances of authorities held by the council to date. These included Egmont Road £lOO, Autawa (£ for £) £5OO, Kaimata South* (£ for £) £2OO, Makara stream bridge and appnpaches (£1 for £5) £25 ss, Mangaone North (£ for £) £2OO, Motukawa (£ for £) £250, Ngatorp-iti stream bridge (£ for £) £74, Ratapiko (£ for £) £3OO, Toi Toi (£ for £) £5OO. A circular letter from the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) was received to the effect that owing to the world-wide financial stringency there was urgent necessity for the Government to limit ail expenditure to essential work. It would be necessary, therefore, to restrict the expenditure of votes provided for road and bridge works, in common with otter public works. In the event of unemployment arising later, the Government, being in control of the expenditure of votes, would be in a better position to deal with the difficulty. He was not prepared to financially embarass local bodies by cancelling all unredeemed authorities, but it was necessary to cancel every authority or portion of authority In respect of which no definite obligation or contract had been entered into. On receipt of the schedule of unexpended authorities the county was asked to indicate on the form the information required to enable the department to ascertain what amount it would be necessary to honor under each authority to cover actual commitments which could not bo cancelled. With regard to moneys offered the council for expenditure, but for which no authority to ex.-, pend had yet been issued, no claim for expenditure could be recognised, and offer of expenditure ' was hereby withdrawn, even though the proposals might have been submitted to the engineer for approval.

The resident engineer also notified that the issue of authority for metalling on the Everett Road, Bustoll Road, fqrming and metalling at Makara stream bridge and approaches, had been deferred for the present. z He also notified that no promise could be made with regard to grants for the Ngatoro Road bridge and the Mangaorakau stream at present. The matters would receive careful consideration when the estimates were under review.

The chairman stated that he had interviewed the engineer, pointing out that the Everett Road metalling had been completed some time, and that as the Makara bridge had been built at a cost of over £lOOO, and was useless without the approaches, the engineer agreed to recommend the grants for these two works. He, however, was unable to recommend payments of the grant on the Bistol Road metalling, which had not been started. He had also arranged for the engineer to inspect the Ngatoro and Mangaorakau bridges. The engineer agreed that these wanted renewing, and promised to recommend a grant on a £ for £ basis. Later, on the motion of Crs. Capper and Jones, it was resolved to take steps to raise 'a loan for the erection of concrete bridges, at an estimated cost of £2300. A grant will also be applied for from the Government, and it is hoped will be available whfen. next year's estimates were being prepared. MOUNT EGMONT METAL. Mr. R Masters, M.P., notified that during the March session he had asked the Minister of Public Works whether in view of the fact that local bodies tad intimated that their requirements would be 109,600 yards per annum, as agfinst the 60,000 yards, the minimum quantity required by the department to secure a minimum price, he would assist the local bodies by expediting the opening of the Mount Egmont quarries so that metal might be obtained next season. He had now received a reply stating that the Government would construct a railway as fast as the funds available would permit. It- was doubtful whether metal would be available till next season, as special machinery must be selected, imported, and installed. GENERAL. ' In view of the legislation that was likely •to be brought down in connection with the Government dealing with arterial roads, and in view oi the statement that was being made outside Taranaki that the forward policy in connection with road construction in the province was due in a large measure to the fact that there were a number of tollgates, Mr. R. Masters, M.P., wrote asking! for appropriate information regarding the 1 present indebtedness of the county in the matter of loans received for the construction of main and other roads throughout Tara-, nakl. Ayling and Gibson wrote drawing attention to the fact that stone had been parked on their property, Egmont Road, for fifteen months, and they asked when the stone would be crushed and the royalty paid.—lt was pointed out that the crusher was now in the district, and the work would be completed in a few days. Ayling and Gibson also asked that the arrangement made with the Taranaki County Council whereby they were allowed to erect

a gate across the Bedford Road, should continue.—No objection. Messrs. Clifford, Burr and Cameron wrote agreeing to carry on the work of re-forming the Autawa-Plta Road up to Mr. Ihlein’s wood shed, a further distance of 50 chains. —lt was resolved to vary the contract to include this 50 chains. The ranger reported that he had impounded 8 cows, 3 horses, and had seized 16 cows and three horses, the fees amounting to £2 16s. Later the ranger interviewed the council and tendered his resignation, which was accepted, members expressing satisfaction with his work. At the suggestion Simpson the engineer was instructed to give *an estimate of the cost of forming and metalling Bedford Road between the Norfolk and Durham Roads, with a view to the settlers going in for a loan. The engineer is also to report on some bad corners on the Ziz-zag.