INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1921, Page 8

INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. WORK FOR THE MONTH. The monthly meeting of the Inglewood County Council was held yesterday. Present : Cr.; R. Stuart (aeting-chainnian), R. Hair, A. Cowley, 11. Jones, W. Topping, G. Capper, J. Hunter, and J. B. Simpson. The chairman introduced Mr. R. D. Climie, the new county engineer. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., \vrote advising that the Government was opening a shell rock quarry at Te Wera for the supply of metal for roads.—The letter was received. The council’s solicitor (Mr. T. F. Martin), wrote submitting the opinion that to raise the loan for the road plant for the council would require special legislation, raid advising the council to try and get the proposal included in some Government BUl.—•Received. The Taranaki Electric Power League wrote regarding the inclusion of the Inglewood county in the scheme, stating from what area 25 per cent, of the signatures of the ratepayers was required, and that the signatures had been received. A letter was received from Mr. R. C. Gray, foreman of works, regarding his position, &na stating that for the two months since his aj pointment he had been given no work to do, as neither tie chairman nor the engineer of the council had been able to give him instructions. He stated that he had reported te the engineer (Mr. G. S. Whiteside), who had referred him to the chairman (Mr. A. Corlrill). Mr. Corkill had referred him back to the engineer, and he had spent the two months dodging between the two. He asked for his salary, amounting to 41* 13s 4d for the time he had been employed. The engineer stated that Mr. Gray had reppited to him soon after his appointment, and it was arranged that he should take up his duties a week later. At the end of that time Mr. Gray stated that he could not take up his duties for three weeks, as he had to go Kataia to a brother who was 111. Three weeks’ 1 holiday was granted, and the engineer later received the letter then before the council. It was decided that a committee consisting of Crs. Stuart and Capper should interview the chairman (Mr. A. Corkill) in connection with the matter. A telegram was received from Mr. R. Masters, M.P., stating that he had applied to every financial institution to raise the council's £5OOO loan, and found it Impossible to d<> so. He had had a long discussion with Mr Massey, who strongly advised the council to take Public. Trust .money if they could gel It. Mr. Masters stated that he was negotiating with the Public Trustee on the assumption that the council was taking his advice. He asked for an urgent wire in reply they would accept if he was successful. The rate of Interest was 6 per cent. The clerk stated that he had wired acceptance of the £5-000 if it could be procured.— His action was confirmed. Tie Minister of Internal Affairs' (lion. W. Dc.wnie Slewart) wrote with reference to the council’s resolution to the effect that haraship was caused a large number of residents in the Inglewood county by their\having now to go to Waitara, some twelve, miles distant, to effect registration of births, deaths, and ■marriages, owing to the recent alteration of the boundaries. The Minister pointed out that there was some regardin'- the alteration of boundaries. The alteration which had been effected was to take part of the Waitara district Into Inglewood district. If the council desired a further portion o? the Waitara district included in the Tnglev.ood district formal application would be given due consideration. It was decided to apply for alteration of the boundaries to be the same as the boundaries of the county, Messrs. Priest Bros, and IL Mills, of Tariki Road. Kniraata, wrote complaining that Mr. J Harding had refused to cle::n out obstructions in his drains and water courses so as to let the water off their places, and asking the council to give him fourteen days' nofiee to affect a clearance. The obstructions wore not only affecting their properties, hut also din.aging the. road.- li was decided to ask the engineer to report on the matter. Mr. s. G. Smith, MP., wrote enclosing a copy of a letter received from the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. ('nates) in response to representations made for grants In regard to work to various roads In the county. The Minister stated that the representa- | tions would be given his careful consideration I when the forthcoming estimates wore being/ prepared.—-Received. Mr. G. S. Whiteside, engineer for the council, applied for the granting of four weeks leave pay as he was leaving the employ of the council at the end of the month.—The application was granted, Mr. S. Nielson applied for five days’ special leave to attend examinations.--It was decided to grant, leave. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: —The Inglewood county chairman, with myself, met the chairman and engineer of the Taranaki county at the site of the bridge over the Waiwakaibo river on the Lepper-Carrington road. The channel of the river having been obstructed with large boulders, the river is now setting in against the eastern abutment of the bridge, and if this is not protected, there Is a great likelihood of the river forcing a new channel through the approach to the bridge on the eastern side, thus rendering the road useless. A groyne was constructed there a couple of years ago and has done good service. At the outer end of the groyne, however, the river has scoured the shingle and the groyne has subsided a little, but, it still retains Its position. The groyne should now bo -made up to Its original level. The remedial measures agreed’ to be adopted were to have the large boulders impeding the proper bed of the river, from the channel and bend of the river to the eastern side, with a trac-

tion engine. This will form a protecting wall for the river bank and at the same time will clear the channel. The work is a joint liability of the two counties. The Taranaki County Council will either carry out the work and charge half of the cost to Inglewood county, or if Inglewood county executes the work the Taranaki county will pay half the cost. It is for this county to suggest now it would like the work cjone. It is a Job that should be done during -the summer months. Waiongona Bridges, Bedford Road.—The metalling of the deviation of the road, also the four embankments approaching the bridges have been completed. The shingio used was 212 cubic, yards at 6s per cubic yard, £63 12s. The spreading cost was 4d per cubic yard. The counter sinking and side banking cost 8d per cubic yard. There were 16 cubic yards extra earth put on the northern bridge and 103 on the north side of the southern bridge and 21 cubic yards on .the southern side of the same bridge, making a total vf 140 cubic yards at the cost of Is 8d per cubic yard. The estimate was 2s per cubic yard. The total of these two bridges completed to date is £llO2 15s lid, of which amount the Government granted £4OO, and the special rating area raised a loan of £7OO. The estimate was £llOO. The estimate being slightly exceeded is accounted for by the fact that one of the bridges was cement plastered, wliich was not in the estimate and that there had to be more metal put on the approaches than anticipated on account of the marshy nature of the ground. Ngatoro-iti Bridge.—This bridge, as completed, cost £B6l 9s, of which the Government found £4OO and the land-owoners raLsed a loan of £5OO. This shows a surplus of £3B 113, which can be devoted to plastering the bridge and any other improvement thought desirable. Motukawa Road.—The contractors for the continuation of the metalling have thrown the contract up. Tenders have been called for the work of completing it. Autawa Road.—The contractors have resumed work on this job. Toi Toi Road.—Slips have been removed on this road and a new concrete culvert put in. Tarata Roadman’s Cottage.—Two mysterious outbreaks of fire occurred to this building within four days. On the last occasion, October 23, lad it not been for the.heroic efforts of n Mrs, Williamson, who lives in a neighbouring house, the building would have been c<i:ni ietely destroyed. The fire had got a firm hold of the celling above the kitchen nu-ntelpicce, and the flame was raging from the floor upwards, This lady plucklly stood on two chairs, and with the assistance of some school children who passed up the water, she doused the flames until the fire had subsided and the house saved. It is to he

hoped that those in authority will appreciate the valuable services rendered fiy this lady. Plant.—The plant, hfis now nearly been renovated and will be put into commission this week. Pip-’ Manufacture.—The .pipes manufactured during the month were 52 twelves, 54- eighteens, 8 twenty-fours. 8 thirtys. and 5 thirty-six inches. The cement used jn their manufacture were 75 bags, and then is seven and twe-third tons of cement in stock. The pipe sales were 6 twelves and 14 cighteens. There were sent out for roads, Autawa 32 twelves, 18 eighteens; Toi Toi 6 twelves. Tar Work.—Restar has been obtained to surface the portion of road by the various bridges on the Mountain Road, as previously mentioned. However, the weather has been so wet and unfavorable that it was not possible, to carry out the work. As to the stretch*of' tar carpeting done south of the borougn last year, this should now have the second or finishing coat put on. It would be false, economy now to attend to It as thus recommended After that probably one dressing with tar every second year will be sufficient to keep it in repair, although experience Indicates that a light coating every year gives the best results.

As this will he the last meeting of the coqtocil at which I shall be present in my official capacity, I desire to take the opportunity of thanking the chairman, members and clerk for their courtesy and the assistance extended to mie. Should any matter or business arise pertaining to my department require further information or explanation, I shall be happy to supply the council or its engineer with all in my power. It was decided that the engineer should confer with the engineer of the Taranaki county with a view to the work of making safe the groyne . for the protection of the Lepper-Carrington Road bridge over the Waiwakailio river. It was decided to send a letter of thanks to Mrs. Williamson for her work in saving tte Tarfita roadman's cottage from destruction by fire. The report, was adopted. RANGER’S REPOR’I. The ranger reported that during the Inonth he had impounded one horse and seized five horses and 8 cows and one heifer. In the Tarata district he had found several dead cattle only half buried on the Autawa Road, all in a decaying state and constituting a menace to the settlers on .the road. He also reported several persons for plying for hire without having licenses, and asked for instructions in the matter.—lt was decided that the ranger should be instructed to exercise the powers he has under the by-laws in dealing with people without licenses. GENERAL. Mr. A. Corkill’s resolution, of which notice was given at last imeeting, that the resolution as submitted by the Clifton County Council’s solicitor pertaining to the alteration of boundaries of the county by Including a portion of the Ngatlmaru riding of the Clifton county In the Ei: f st riding of the Inglewood county be given effect to, was carried.

Mr. George Morton waited on the council to ask that a bridge on the Tariki Road should be strengthened in order to allow of the heavy trucks carrying metal for the Kotetl Road to cross the bridge and to do away with expensive double-handling of the metal and allow of bettor metalling of the road.

It was decided that the engineer should report on the matter at the next meeting.

The engineer was instructed to prepare plipis for the replacement of the Mangiiorakau bridge, on the Lepper Road.

The chairman and members of the council wished Mr. G. 8. Whiteside, the retiring county engineer, every .success in his future occupation.

Accounts amounting to £624 7s 4d were passed for payuneib