TARANAKI COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1922, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. PAST MONTH'S WORK. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held at New Plvmouth yesterday. Present: Crs. J. fc>. Connett (chairman), S. Andrews, J. S. Wooldridge, A. Penwarden and A. Morton. Leave of absence was granted Or. S. Vickers. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The county overseer (Mr. G. Meredith) reported for the month of February:— Plant and General.—During the month the crusher has worked 17 days, crushing a total of 2028 cubic yards of metal, which has been distributed as follows: Mangoret depot, Kent Road, 200 yards, spread over the weak places on the lower side of the road; Mangorei Road, 4 yards. Junction Road, dumped 24 yards, spread between Mangorei bridge and factory, 280 yafds, dumped at crusher site 68 yards, delivered to Mangorei factory 40 yards, to Mr; Western's 52 yards. Ahu Ahu depot: Metal crushed,, 1360 yards: this tyis been laid on the Ahu Ahu Road from the end of metal near the Main Road towards the beach covering 1 mile 5 chains; there is still 15 chains to do»lo complete this work, about l’/ a days' crushing. The crusher will then be shifted to Oakura depot to complete crushing metal for Timaru HUI. Great credit is due to the crushing staff for the way the crushing has been carried out during the month, 900 yards of metal being crushed in one week of 47 hours from February 20 to February 25. The record was reached for one day on February 23, when 188 yards were put through the crusher and spread on the read In 8% hours. Shingle Delivery: From Mack's dump, Waiwakalho, to Oakura Hill, 76 yards; from side of Omata Hill, 20 yards; from Kaihihi Road dump to Main Road, Okato, 60 The lorries were also used for carting 20 barrels of bitumen to Okato from Smart Road depot, and 48 barrels of tar to Oakura, 36 yards of metal from Walrau, 8 yards from Okato for the Timaru- Hill, and three cords of wood from Koru Road to tar depot, Oakura, and one load of bridge gear from Waiwakalho depot to Stoney River bridge on Carrigton Road. The total of metal and shingle shifted during the month with the lorries was 2228 yards. Teams.—Foreman Jury has been engaged in hauling approximately 300 yards of boulders at Waiwakalho, 440 at Oakupa depot, and is at present engaged hauling boulders at Stoney River depot for Petone Hill. Contracts.—Mr. W. Anstis has completed his, contract on Timaru Hill, and has made a start on his Klrihau Road job. Mr. Baker Is still pushing on with his Kiribati Road contract, and hopes to finish in about a fortnight. Mr. Card’s contract on the Upper Carrington Road is nearing completion. Messrs. Hill and Cross are hauling boulders at Klrihau Road, and getting on very well with the work. Asphalt Work.—During the month the tar employees have been engaged in the Okato Riding. One mile of road between Betts’ Hill and Okato township has been top-dressed with bitumen. The plant was then shifted and set up at Oakura Hill, where one mile of road has been sealed with tar, one coat only. The Oakura bridge has been re-metalled and tar grouted. The plant was then shifted to Junction Road, where It is at present working. Mangorei Riding.—ln the early part of the month the foremen in this riding were engaged with the metalling on Junction and Kent Roads. Since then most of their time has Been taken up by blinding the various roads which broke up badly during the dry spell. Waitara Riding.—The foremen in this riding have been engaged the greater part of the month blinding the various roads. Foreman Palmer has done a considerable amount of forming and rounding up on the Te Arel Road. I have Instructed Foreman Harvey’ to do two or three days’ work on the top end of the Wortley Road.

Omata Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out in this riding. Foreman Seamark has completed the grading of the Burford Road hill. Foreman Eva has been engaged blinding the various roads In his lengtn and has also placed twelve 36-lncli pipes on the Upper Carrington Road on Mr. Card's contract, to take the place of a wooden culvert, which gave way under the extra filling. The quarrying of stone in Frankley Rotid pit will be carried out by day labor, Foreman Eva taking charge of the work, Okato Riding.—The foremen In this riding have been engaged with the tar work, metalling Ahu Ahu Road, blinding, and with general miscellaneous repairs, Foreman Hayes doing the tar spraying in Foreman' Walsh’s length. The pipes for Upper Carrington Road, near Mr. Whltenead’s, have been sent out. While inspecting Petone Hill culverts with a view of lengthening same to take the extra filling required, it was found that the culvert to take tpe Petone Creek was part tunnel and part 2ft pipes. This will be lengthened 20 feet on the up-stream side; the pipes for this are on the site. The culvert in the small stream on the northern end, of filling consists of old timber, and is beyond repair; With the . approval of the chairman and the riding members, a small tunnel has been driven to take the place of the old culvert, Mr. A. Humphrey taking the contract to carry out this work at 2s tid per foot. The tunnel is 4ft. 6in. by 2ft, and 81% feet in length ; cost of tunnel, £ 10 3s' 9d; cost of intake, outlet, and fencing same, £6; total, £l6 3s 9d. An 18-lneh concrete pipe culvert, including cartage and putting in, would have cost approximately £3B 17s. Pipes will be supplied for the Oxford and Cowley Roads as required. FRANKLEY ROAD POST OFFICE. The Poet and Telegraph Department’s district engineer (Wanganui) wrote in connection with the proposed office at Frankley Road, and enclosing warrants in which the council guarantees to pay any deficiency in the working of the lines up to £2l a year for five years. The latest report, the letter conpmied,. gives the estimated deficiency at £3O a year, hut only two-thirds of the estimated deficiency in the working of the lines is being charged. The bond provides accordingly for a fund equal to two-thirds of any excess of revenue that might be shown up to the amount of £2l a year. The chairman and Cr. Morton were authorised to sign the bond as requested by the Telegraph Department. LEASING CLOSED ROADS. E. K. Bain, Lepperton, offered £5 per acre fdr lease for 15 years, or such other term as the council might decide, of portion of closed roads in the township of Lepperton, viz., Barton Street, Cross Street, part Smith Street, part Whitcombe Street, and part Old Road.—Adjoining owners to the roads applied for will be communicated with before further action is taken. . UPPER SANDERS ROAD. W. A. Corbett, Pngarehn, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the Upper Saunders Road. This road, he said, was felled and stumped by the Government 22 years ago, and not a shilling had been spent on it since. As he wished to build on his section be would hike some assistance in forming the road for a distance of about 60 chains. He asked that gelignite and detonators be supplied. —The sum of £l*2 was voted for expenditure on this road, and gelignite, as requested, will also be supplied. BANK BALANCES. The Napier Borough Council forwarded a copy of the following resolution, and asked the council to give it due consideration, and, if it was favorably received, to advise the Government to that effect:—“That the Government be asked to introduce legislation providing that credit balances of local authorities on loan accounts shall be set off by the banks against debit balances on other accounts as regards payment of interest on the latter accounts.” It was pointed out that the Napier

Council considered that the banks in New Zealand were acting in accord in the direction of practically nullifying section 45 of the Finance Act, 1920. The council decided to endorse the resolution. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Department of Agriculture, New Plymouth, acknowledged receipt of the council’s letter in reference to the spread of noxious weeds in the Barret and Pheany* Roads districts. The inspector had visited the district, and, with the exception of one property, satisfactory work was being carried out.— It was decided to airect the inspector’s attention to the rag-wort on the Kirihau Etoad. GENERAL. The chairman and Cr. Morton were also authorised to sign an agreement with the borough relative to boundary roads. In reference to the carting of wood on the county roads, it was resolved that Mr. Whitehead be charged 10s per cord royalty on 34 cords of wood, and that Mr. G. Benton be granted permission to split firewood on the county road at the same royalty. ' The Lands and Survey Department forwarded plan of the road ‘line, which was necessary to give access to the Katere Settlement. —The plan was approved by the council. Tenders were received, as follows: Saunders Road, Mr. Hill, 2/6 per yard; Upper Carrington Road, Mr. Green, 6/9 per yard; Pitone deviation tunnel, Mr. Humphries. Any two councillors were authorised to sign contracts on behalf of the council.