TARANAKI COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1922, Page 5

TARANAKI COUNTY.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR’S WORK. ROADWAYS AND FINANCE. A summary of the work done under the direction, of the Taranaki County Council during the past year was given by the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) at the statutory annual meeting of the council, yesterdays The report deals with the expenditure of moneys on permanent roadways and maintenance and general finance. It states, inter alia:—

Weather conditions, though most satisfactory to producers, have not been conducive to getting the best value for county expenditure. Contractors have had the greatest difficulty in getting their work carried out, in some cases having to hold over until next year, the travelling public, too, having been subjected to considerable inconvenience where regrading work has been in progress. For tar work the season has been the worst experienced for many years, especially for first coat work. Metal crushed and hand-broken for the year totals 14,100 yards, made up as follows: Okato Riding, 9660; Oxnata Riding 1653; Mangorei, 2436; Waitara, 351. The report goes on to state that the crushing plant will shortly start operations in the Waitara Riding, and two miles of the Devon Road will be re-coated ready for tar work next year. This will be followed by further re-coating in both Mangorei and Okato Ridings, the intention being to expend the road improvement loan in each riding each year in proportion to the amount raised. In connection with this loan, seven and a half miles of road have been asphalted with two-coat work, making the total treated to date 13 miles. The chairman continued: Through the higher cost of labor and material during recent years, our original estimates for this work have been somewhat exceeded, but with the fall in prices now taking place, I am still hopeful of getting our programme pretty well completed by the time our loan money is expended in two years’ time. Money is available for the Saunders and Cross Road (Kelly to Richmond), and formation work will be commenced when possible. Applications have been approved for the following loans:—Leith Road, £150; Tate Road, £400; Albion Road, £345; Corbett Road, £1000; King Road, £7OO.

Bridge repairs for the year have been light, but the rebuilding of three of the four in the Waitara riding condemned two years ago, but replacement of which was held over on account of the high cost of construction, can be no longer delayed. Plans and estimates of cost are being prepared by Messrs. Sladden and Palmer. The ratepayers will shortly be asked for authority to raise a loan for this purpose. In conclusion, the report stated that the council had a fine body of men, under the supervision of Mr. G. Meredith, and the chairman expressed appreciation of their work. He also thanked fellow-coun-cillors for their co-operation, and “our ever-zealous clerk, Mr. Ellis.”