CLIFTON COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1921, Page 8

CLIFTON COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL, THE PAST MONTH’S WORK. The Clifton County Council met at Waitara yesterday. Present: Crs. R. H. Pigott (chairman), T. McKenzie, H. A. Foreman, T. C. Jones, H. R. Harrison and S. J. Sutton. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported as follows: Tikorangi Riding: The Nikorima Road contract Is again proceeding, the contractor embracing the opportunitj* of securing further stone from the foreshore at Waipapa. It is expected the contractors will shortly recommence quarrying in Mr. Sarten’s pit, Otaraoa Road. Considerable supplies of boulders have been gathered from the beach at Turangl for the- Inland North Road contract, and portions have been conveyed by lorry to the site. The grader Is now disengaged, and is awaiting a suitable team for the purpose of forming up the already ploughed Waipapa Road. Waihi Riding: Crushing commenced during the month at Onaero, the sections to be covered with broken stone being Topless’ Cutting, Mataro Road, portion of the flat at Moerangi, and certain portions of the Main Road. In addition, a certain quantity wilt be dumped for future repairs and maintenance. The contract for supplying metal for the Parihaka approaches is in hand, and quantities of boulders are already stacked. The contractor has been notified that two chains each will be required at the junction of the Inland North and Allen Roads, and also at the junction of the Main North and Epiha Roads.

Ngatimaru Riding.—The foreman’s time at Purangi has been largely devoted to the Mangaoapa Road, and this will claim further attention, as it appears to be an established route for cream lorries to the railway. As there are good shell rock deposits in a central position on this road, this route should be metalled. The other roads In the vicinity ha\e received attention. At Matau the foreman has been Improving various sections of the Kiore Road, and will shortly be putting the grader In commission. Due notice was given of the intention to remove the fence at the Rakakaka Junction. AH plans have been prepared in connection with severance of this portion of the county. An obstructed tunnel has been opened up, and various other matters have received attention on the North Matau Road.

Urenui Riding.—On the Matapo Road various Improvements have been effected, and the work suspended in the meantime. Contractors are ready to proceed with the Kaipikarl Road metalling contract as soon as money is available. On the Main and Okoke Roads patching and repairs with gravel have been proceeding from the Okoke pit. Oh the Plko Road the Black bridge and others will be receiving repairs and renewals, and portions of an order of 50 deck planks has been delivered at Okoke. Mrs. Sanson’s application for relief from accumulated storm water would require cutting a drain about four chains long, at an estimated cost of ft 4, The Avenue Road has been ploughed, and is In process of improvement. On the Pukearuhe Road it is expected to proceed to completion with the metalling at the school and opposite Mr. Moeller’s.

Uruti Biding.—ln terms of the resident engineer's suggestion, the Main Road to the 33-mile peg has been patched and maintained. Further repairs have been effected to the Mangahia Road. The fence between the county cottage and the adjoining occupier has been attended to, and the other roads have received attention. The consent in respect to the Tangitu deviation has been signed by the occupier and requires the council’s endorsement.

Mokau Riding.—Sanding bad holes in the vicinity of Putikl has been commenced, and will be continued as circumstances permit. Further temporary assistance has been obtained for the Kiwi Road, but lack of accommodation at the eastern end of the Okau Road prevents the appointment of a permanent, man. No replies from alleged contributors in respect to the Parininihi tunnel improvement have yet been received.

General.—The proposal submitted in connection with the screen for the crusher was not endorsed by the makers, and I am adopting another scheme in terms of a plan submitted herewith. Details of information in respect ail lorries and egrs plying for hire within the county are also submitted. The report was adopted. MATAU MATTERS. The secretary of the Matau Settlers’ Association forwarded resolutions passed at a general meeting of the 'association at follows: (1) That the Clifton County Council be requested to strike a separate rate, to be sufficient, with the Government subsidy of £ for £, to metal that portion of the Matau-Kiore Road from the railway crossing to the tunnel; (2) that the Clifton ton County Council be approached to metal four chains on the approaches to the Mangam aire bridge on the Matau-Kiore Road, and that the work be completed during the coming summer. The covering letter stated that it was understood the Purangi settlers intended sending their cream this season via Kiore, and under those circumstances should help to bear the cost of the work. The chairman said that by the time they had raised the necessary loan it would be well into next year, Cr. Harrison said that the settlers intended to go in for a metalling scheme ultimately, but they felt they had a better chance of obtaining a small grant. On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Musker it was resolved: “That the association be informed that the council is of opinion that a petition should be obtained from the whole of the settlers interested, before the council would be warranted in taking action, and that the council is not in a position to undertake metalling work now, on account of straitened finances, and suggests that the settlers interested should raise a special loan to metal the four chains approaching Mangamaire bridge. ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Inglewood County Council asked- for particulars' in connection with the adjustment of accounts between the Clifton andInglewood Counties. The letter also stated that it had been decided that as another portion of the Ngatimaru Riding was petitioning to come into the county the adjustment be held over till then, when the whole thing could be fixed. The chairman considered that there was no advantage to be gained in delaying the adjustment, which had now been held over for over twelve months. It was decided that the council could see no reason to defer the adjustment, and would prefer that the adjustment of the first merger be completed first. GENERAL. The clerk to the Whangamomona County Council wrote in further reference to the transference of properties from the Clifton County td, the Whangamomona County. As advised in a previous letter, arrangements were made with the Valuation Department that the Whangamomona County Council should rate the said properties for the current year. The gazetting of the alteration of the county boundaries was unfortunately deferred on account of certain irregularities in procedure, but, notwithstanding this, the department revalued the land at the time of the revaluation of the county, and incorporated the areas in the new rolls. He therefore asked if under the circumstances thp council would agree to cancel and withdraw I he rate demands already made. The delegates representing Clifton at the conference held in Stratford had agreed to refund the amount of general rate collected for the pwied of 1930-1922, lew sdauuatraHvß

charges.—The matter has been attended to. W. Lange wrote resigning his position as surfaceman at Purangi. It was resolved to accept the resignation with regret, and to forward a letter of condolence with Mr. Lange in the bereavement he had sustained in the loss of his wife.

It was resolved to ask the local Inspector of Health to forward a quarterly report of sanitary conditions in the county. The Valuation Department forwarded voucher for £6lO 5s 3d, being subsidy on rates collected.

The engineer was authorised to carry out necessary work to give access to the beach at Wai-iti.

Mr. W. J. Freeth again waited on the council in connection with acquiring land to give him access to his property at Pukearuhe, which the council had neglected to gazette when the road deviation was carried out. Mr. Hobbs, who was the owner of the property through which he required access, stated that he would sell the necessary land to the council at cost price.—It was resolved that, providing Mr. Freeth acquires the necessary land, the council will put in the culvert.