HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1921, Page 8

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING.

The Hawera County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. J. B. Murdoch (chairman), R. J. Linn, E. A. Washer, B. C. Lysaght, C. J. Hawken, J. Dunlop, A. Larcom and R. Douglas. The county foreman (Mr. A. Muggeridge) reported as follows: Waingongoro Bridge, Sketet Road. — The bridge carpenter is still engaged on this bridge, and has put in two new chords, and there is another* one to go in. The chairman and myself went out to have a look at the bridge, and it is in a very much worse state of repair than was anticipated. A good deal of the timber is only held together by a very thin crust that has been preserved by the tar which has been put on at different times.

Skeet Road.—The Public Works Department has been carting a considerable quantity of shingle over a portion of this road, which has cut it out badly in places. It will cost £5O to procure the metal and put the road in a proper state of repair. Little Tempsky Road.—-The metal has been delivered on a portion of this road asked for by the settlers. It is now being spread and broken. Kotukutuku Bridge.—The approaches to this bridge are now practically completed, and the traffic is going over. There is a portion of* the road on the eastern side that has yet to be widened. Tangahoe Valley Road.—The big cutting bn this side of the Tangahoe bridge is dangerous Irom overhanging debris, which will have to be removed. As soon as the men have finished at the Kotukutuku this work will be undertaken.

Ohangai Road.—The five chains that required metalling at the watercress I creek is now finished, and the road has ; a good surface from the Tawhiti Road j to the Mere Mere Road. The crusher is | now at the back of the station, and will be put in position shortly in readiness for crushing the metal for the Tawhiti Road. There are about 50 chains of road to tar on the Normanby—Okaiawa Road, and a mile on the Main South Road. When this is completed it is intended to close down the plant for the season. PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. The circular letter from the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works), in reference to curtailing expenditure (already published) was read. The chairman said the council wae only committed in i-espect of the Kotukutuku bridge,, which was estimated to cost £3OOO, and the Government had promised £2300. Whether the council would be able to get the balance he could not say, but the schedules had been forwarded and could be filled in by the clerk. MATANGORA ROAD. Settlers from the Matangora Road waited on the council, asking that repairs be effected to the road, which, they said, was in a very bad state. In reply to the chairman, the deputation said they would be prepared to raise a loan for metalling the whole road, but in the meantime they particularly asked that one bad hill be attended to. The chairman said that to do the job satisfactorily a loan of £lBOO would be necessary. The foreman estimated that to put the hill in order about 60 or 70 yards of metal would be required. It was decided that the foreman attend to ■ the worst portions of the road as cir1 cumstances permitted. ELECTRIC POWER BOARD. The secretary to the Taranaki Progress League wrote asking if the coun- t oil was in favor of one provincial power board for Taranaki, and whether it would allow a copy of a petition praying ’ for the formation of a power board' to . remain in the council’s office, in charge ( of the clerk, so that ratepayers might t sign it. The chairman said he favored . one power board for the whole of Tara- • naki rather than two or three boards. j On the motion of Cr. IJouglas, seconded • by Cr. Dunlop, the council expressed 2 itself in favor of one large power board, ' and agreed to allow a copy of the peti- ‘ tion to remain in the council office. • FORMING STREETS. 2 A petition was received from twentyf three ratepayers in the Hawera Riding, 5 aakiiig the council to have the necessary steps taken to raise a Ipan of £lBOO j for the purpose of constructing Rata Street from Glover Road to Maire Street, Maire Street from Waihi Road ; to Rata Street, and Rimu Street from - Waihi Road to Rata Street. They under- . took to pledge their properties, as a i special rating area for the purpose of - providing interest and other charges in 1 the loan. —The chairman said the petition was quite in order, but he,4oubted ( if the money could be obtained at the

present time. It vas decided to give effect to the petition. GENERAL. The Taranaki Progress League wrote inviting the council to nominate'a member for a seat on the executive of the ‘league.—Or. Linn was nominated for the position. It was decided on the recommendation of a sub-committee to adopt the Health Department’s offer in connection with the appointment of a sanitary inspector.