CLIFTON COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1922, Page 7

CLIFTON COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, FAST MONTH'S WORK. The Clifton County Council monthly meeting whs held yesterday. Present: Cm. H. A. Foreman, T. McKenzie, F. C. Jones, C. Barniit, S. J. Hutton, R. Mounsey. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. H. R. Pigott) In Wellington on county business, Cr. Foreman was appointed to the chair. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported, inter alia, for the month as follows: Tikorangi Riding.—The formation contract on the Otaraoa Road has now been completed, and the grant applied for, and the various roads have received their usual attention In the matter of repairs and maintenance. An offer has been received to quarry and break 300 yards of stone In Mr. Alexander s pit at 3s per, cubic yard, and I would recommend its acceptance.

Waihi Riding.—The plan in connection with the acquisition of land giving access to the beach at Onaero will be handed to the county solicitor with Instructions to proceed with the title. The gravel reserve at Onaero Will receive attention in the matter of clearing noxious weeds, etc. The usual maintenance, culvertlng and repairs have received attention.

Ngatlmaru Riding.-—The adjustment of roadmen’s boundaries following the re-edjUßtment of the county boundary has been effected. Tiie approaches to the Mangamatre bridge have been improved and metalled as far as supplies would allow. Three sets of concrete pipes have gone forward for the Mangaoapa Road* and the usual maintenance work and repaint have received attention.

LTrenut Riding.—The metalling contract on Kalplkari Road has been proceeded with when the weather permitted. The usual supplies of gravel have been quarried and distributed from the Okoke pit. No headway has been possible on the Piko Road metalling contract beyond uentional formation, though considerable quantities of gravel have been quarried at the Hogan Road and other places. An attempt was mode to proceed with Messrs. Whittaker and Darke'S metalling contract, but the inclement weather again Intervened to prevent any appreciable progress. At Pukcaruhe the contractor has already a portion of his stone deposited, and this will be broken down to gauge and placed upon the factory hill as early as possible. At Wai-it! it is expected to also perform similar work. Although the grader has been in this district for some time, little advantage appears to have been taken to use It. The Wai-itt Road in particular requires attention. The Mnngnmaeho bridge and approaches have ; been efficiently maintained, and working plans i and specifications are submitted for approval. ;

I am prepared to proceed with the erection at once, either by day work or by a straightout contract. Posts and stringers have been ordered for Mr. Bleakley, and some additional kerbing for the township footpaths. An offer has been received to cart and deposit boulder stone opposite Mr. Phillips', Mtmi Hill, at current, prices, and I would recommend assistance up to, say, 500 cubic yards.

Unit! Riding.—The widening near the 30mile peg is nearing completion. The contractors for quarrying shell-rock on the Uruti Road face have commenced operations and done a considerable amount of stripping. The complaint that the culvert near the Uruti factory was responsible for hacking up water in Messrs. Jones and Burkett’s property had no foundation in fact. On the contrary, the council’s action in putting Jn an additional culvert of larger dimensions will relieve the property of much accumulated water in floodtime, and their solicitors have been notified accordingly.

Moleau Riding.—iNo further sanding has been possible: if the weather remains bad >t may have to be definitely abandoned. A load of cement pipes has been sent forward for the Okau Road culverts. The usual maintenance and repairs have been attended to, and the answers to the advertisement calling applications for a new roadman are submitted for the council's selection as desired. Thirds proposals have been prepared and submitted to the Land Board for approval. TANGITU TUNNEL. Cr. Foreman brought up the matter of the Tangitu Road and tunnel. He said the ratepayers had been paying interest on the tunnel loan for about six years, and the tunnel was not yet completed. Cr. Barnitt said lorries had been carting •materials to the tunnel and had badly cut up the road below tl»e tunnel. He thought the Government should be urged to put the road in order and complete the tunnel. He moved that the Government’s attention be called to the delay In the completion of the Tangitu tunnel and the hardships thereby caused to the ratepayers. This was carried. PARININIHI TUNNEL. The clerk was instructed to write to the Smart Road Freezing Works Company, Borthwicks', Ltd., the Waltomo County Council and all interested parties with reference to subsidies tp the council’s proposed expenditure on the Parininihl tunnel. It was pointed out that the renovation of this tunnel was neces-, sary to provide a stock route to relieve the main road. The Smart Road company, reported Cr. Sutton, had promised a contribution of £250.

ANTECEDENT LIABILITY. The Pahiatua bounty Council asked support to a resolution : "That all local bodies throughout the Dominion be asked to approach the Government requesting it to apportion a part of the loan being raised on the London market for payment of local bodies’ antecedent liability.” The opinion was expressed that the Government had brought about the position requiring the antecedent liability to be met. either by annual Instalments or by loan, and they should be prepared to lend some relief. It was decided to support the resolution. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. The Public Works Department wrote asking the council to supply particulars of claims for Government grants to be placed on the Public Works Estimates for the following year, and It was decided to apply for the following grants placed in the order of their urgency: Uruti (formation and metalling and bridge construction), £1500; Okoke (formation and metalling), £1000; Walpapa (formation and bridge construction), £1000: Plko (formation and metalling), £2000; Kaka (formation and metalling), £800; Mataro Road (formation and metalling), £350; Kalplkari (formation and metalling), £500: Mangamaeho (formation and metalling), £1500; Turangi Road (formation and metalling), £900; Mangahia (formation and metalling), £ 1300 ; Pukearuhe (for- , ination and metalling), £1250; Ahititt-Kotare terminals on Tongaporutu-Mangaroa Road (formation and metalling), £BOOO. These grants will be applied for as £ for £ subsidies on the council’s expenditure. GENERAL. A. Winter, employed by the council as a roller-driver and surfaceman, applied for extra retrospective pay, and tendered his resignation. Mrs. Winter also resigned the position of toll-gate keeper. It was resolved that the council could not entertain the application for extra wages, and both resignations were accepted. The engineer was instructed to take the necessary steps to fill the vacancy on the Waipapa toll-gate. Mrs. Winter was granted a fortnight’s leave on full pay. The Inglewood County Council notified that negotiations with the Public Trustee for a loan to liquidate the Inglewood Connell’s liability to Clifton County In the adjustment of accounts had been unsuccessful, and that It had been decided to approach the bankers In the matter.—Received. The New Plymouth High Schools Board wrote regarding the prevalence of noxious weeds surrounding the council’s gravel pit at Onaero, and asking that the matter of eradication be attended to.—The engineer rei>orted that the roadman had been instructed to attend to the matter. It was decided to grant the Inglewood County the use of a road-grader at 15s per day. On the motion of Cr. Sutton it was resolved to call tenders for the Mangamaeho bridge as soon as the plans are approved, and subject to the chairman's interview with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works. The chairman telegraphed from Wellington, stating that his interview with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works regarding bridge loans within the county had been satisfactory. It was resolved to take action under the joint by-laws in enforcing the regulations h *** y tr4UflC during the will*