TARANAKI COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1922, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL, OVERSEER’S REPORT. The Taranaki County Council met yesterdav. P"(sent: Messrs. J. S. Connett (chairman), J. Andrews, J. Wooldridge, O. Penwarden, S. Vhkers, and A. Morton. The report of the overseer (Mr G. Meredith) stated that during the month the crusher had worked at the Mutton Track depot five days, crushing 536 cubic yards of metal, which was delivered as follows: Recoating Egmont Road, 108 yards; delivered to Hillsborough factory, 8 yards; while 420 yards had been spread on the Mutton Track and rolled in, covering a distance of 40 chains. The crusher was then shifted from this site to the Mangorei depot, on the Junction Road, to crush 2000 yards of metal, which will be used to recoat the Junction Road between the Kent Road and the Mangorei factory. The lorries and crushing staff were engaged carting pit metal and shingle as follows: Metal from Smith’s pit and from the side of Henwood Road, 356 yards; 292 yards were used for recoating on the Henwood Road and 64 j'ards dumped on the various roads in Foreman Proud’s length for maintenance; metal from Railway Pit, 148 yards, dumped on the Tate, Waitara, Richmond, Te Arei, Manutahi and Mountain roads for mintenance; Hurford Road metal, 108 yards of hand-broken metal was carted on to this road for recoating.

Shingle.—Carted from the bin at Fitzroy, 112 yards to Junction Road; from Mack’s dump to Junction Road, 100 yards; to Devon Road, 20 yards; and 8 yards to the pipe depot at Waiwakaiho. The total metal and shingle carted with the lorries during the month was 1388 j’ards.

The 200 tons of bitumen ordered arrived during the month. This has been carted to the different roads for the coming season’s asphalt work. Two hundred barrels were taken to the tar depot at Oakura Hill, 120 barrels to the Junction Road, 305 barrels to the Devon Road, and 320 barrels stored in the sheds at Waiwakaiho—a total of 945 barrels. Teams.—Foreman Jury was engaged during the month carting 353 yards of metal from the Korito pit on to the Korito Road, and 50 yards to the Kent Road. He was at present hauling bouldera at Junction Road, having hauled 300 yards to date.

Rollers.—The small roller has been engaged scarifying and rolling on the Frankley, Elliott, Hurworth and Korito roads, and is at present working on the Devon Road, where repairs to the asphalt are being carried out. The large roller has ben scarifying and rolling on the Egmont, Mutton Track, Hurford and Ngamotu roads.

Contracts.—Messrs. Green Bros, have made a start with their boulder contract on the Upper Pitone Road. Mr. Southcombe Is pushing on with his boulder contract at the Junction Road depot. Mr. Coriing is hauling boulders at Oakura. Mr. Phipps has made a start with his contract, breaking stone in the Sentry Hill .pit. Mr. R. Hill is not making much progress with his contract, quarrying stone in the Puniho pit.

Concrete Pipes.—Since the 15th instant, 8 12 in., 12 9 in., and 2 24 in. pipes have been made.

Mangorei Riding.—General maintenance work has been carried out in this riding. Foreman Dryden lias been engaged with the metalling on the Korito Road, which work was now completed. About one mile had been recoated and rolled, and several portions patched and repaired, the road now being in very fair order. The reconstruction work near Marsh’s corner is almost completed, and a start has been made to straighten the road opposite Mr. F. Jordan’s gate and to cut trees back. A start was made to drive a tunnel, but owing to the loose nature of the soil at this particular place, this had to be abandoned, and a pipe culvert has been put in. A start has been made with the filling. Foreman Moyle has been engaged blinding, water-tabling, patching and general repair work, and has also ploughed and formed up a portion of the Lower Mangorei Road. The entrance to this road leading off the Junction Road is in a very bad state, and a 9 in. pipe culvert 36 feet in length is required to carry the water past the entrance of the road, and the approach wants filling up about 2 ft. 6 in. This would greatly improve the entrance to the road and also protect the asphalt portion of the Junction Road.

Waitara Riding.—The foremen In this riding have been engaged with the metalling on the Henwood. Egmont and Mutton Track roads, blinding, patching and general repair work. Foreman Harvey has almost completed the earthwork on the Kelly to Richmond Cross Road, while Foreman Palmer has been engaged with the grader. A start was made on the 7th of the month shearing off the grass edges from the metal on the roads in this riding. and up to the present time very good work has been done on the Waitara, Te Are!, Tate, Old Waitara, Richmond, Wills, Brown, Paraiti and Smart roads. The Kelly, Wortley. Richmond roads between Te Arei Road and Lepperton and the Egmont Road, have still to be done in this riding. It will be necessary to strengthen the Kelly Road bridge before the engine which Is hauling the grader can be taken into the Leppcrton district. Omata Riding.—Foreman Seamark has been engaged breaking stone, cleaning water-tables, and scarifying and rolling on the Hurford Road. A portion of this road has been recoated with 108 yards of hand-broken metal. Foreman Eva has been engaged scarifying and rolling on the Elliott, Frankley and Hurworth roads, cleaning out water-tables, patching and general repair work.

Okato Riding.—The foremen in this riding have been engaged cleaning out water-tables, patching, and with the usual miscellaneous repairs. Foreman Hayes has completed the formation and grading on the Upper Saunders Road. Re extra stone for this road, the overseer added that he had arranged with Mr. M. R. Hill to haul a further 250 yards of boulders at 2/6 per yard, while respecting Mr. Greenway’s request for culverts on the old South Road, he had inspected the road and found that the old stone culverts now In were unable to cope with storm-water. To replace same, it would required three 9-inch culverts 21 ft. in length. Mr. Greenway offered to d<> all the necessary filling over the pipes free of cost, providing the council put the pipes hi. The recommendations with reference to the entrance to the Lower Mangorei Road were agreed to, while it was also decided to agree to Mr. Greenway’s request, for pipes for culverts on the old South Road, the work to be done when the pipes become available. It was also decided to call tenders for carting metal to the Te Arei Road.

Cr. Vickers drew attention to the Western Road, Omata, and it was decided that the question of grading be referred to the chairman and Cr. Vickers, with power to act. INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

The inspector (Mr. H. Y. McGahey) reported that from August 8 to September 5 eight persons had been fined a total of £6, with costs amounting to £5 18s, for breaches of the county by-laws, chiefly with respect to wandering stock. Three cows, a horse, and a calf had been Impounded at the Lepperton pound, the driving fees amounting to 9s, while summonses had also been issued against three other persons for allowing stock to wander. His recommendation with regard to giving notice to a number of settlers to cut furze from their road frontages, and to another who had made a practice of grazing his horse on .he road, instructing him to cease the practice immediately, were agreed to. BRIDGE REPORT. The bridge carpenter (Mr. V. W. Arden) reported that he had renewed one short land stringer and had painted the Olds Bridge, Kelly Road, throughout. There were two short land stringers to put. in in the east, end of the bridge, while the centre main stringer was to be under-strutted. He intended doing the work as time permitted, and then it would be quite safe to carry the engine. He had been on the engine grading the roads in the Waitara riding from September 5, and was at present running the crusher engine at Mangorei. Comment was made on the apparent apathy of the ratepayers concerning repairs to bridges, the chairman expressing the hope that ratepayers realised the urgency of the work. RICHMOND ROAD. Messrs. E. Paul and Williamson waited on the council with respect to a loan for the Richmond Road. The settlers were unanimous ; n their desire to have the whole road properly formed throughout its length, and they wanted to know what was the present position with regard to tlie matter. It was pointed out that, their application had been approved, subject to a grant being

obtained. Nothing had so far been granted. It was decided that the overseer should make an estimate with regard to the cost of the whole work, and that this should be submitted to the ratepayers concerned, to ascertain whether they would agree to a special rate for the undertaking. in the event of their agreeing, another application for a loan should be made. BITUMEN SURFACED ROADS. Mr. A. R. Bayley, secretary of the Omata branch of the Farmers’ Union, advised that at a Well-attended meeting of members, a resolution had been passed drawing the council's attention to the grave danger of the bitumen surfaced roads to horse traffic, especially on the hills, and asking that an adequate and safe side track be provided on one side on each hill as soon as possible. The letter added that members fully realised jhe council was doing its best to grapple with the roads problem, and that a request like this one would mean extra expenditure, but during the discussion more than one speaker had said it was not a question of money, but one of life and death perhaps. There had been several lucky escapes from very serious accidents. The chairman said they all knew it was necessary to have side tracks where the roads were steep. Cr. Vickers thought it might be of some benefit for the council to experiment on some short hill. Other councillors thought that the cost of ccwistitietiiig side tracks on all the hills would be too great at the present time, while it was also pointed out that iVw that tne cold weather was passing the danger would be lessened. It was decided to acknowledge the letter and point out that the council was doing everything in its power to safeguard the interests of the general public. GENERAL. Mr. D. Hiitchon, representing Mr. W. J. Gray, who was also present, waited on the council in support of tho latter’s request that the council acquire under the Public Works Act certain land at Okato for the purnose of constructing a new road giving IJm Improved access to his property. Mr. A. A. Bennett appeared for Mr. F. I. Greenway, the lessee of the land it was suggested should he taken. After hearing both sides the council decided to take the necessar.v steps to support the application. The Department of Internal Affairs advised that the commission appointed to consider the question of altering the boundaries between the Taranaki and Egmont counties had recommended that the exiting boundaries be maintained. Under tlie circumstances, therc- ; fore, it was nnt proposed to make any alteral tion.—Received. 1 Messrs. Kendall Bros, advised acceptance of the council’s offer of 2s per yard for the delivery of 500 yards of boulders at the Kaihiki depot.—Accepted. Mr. H. G. Southwell, secretary of the Waitara Chamber of Commerce, wrote drawing attention to the very dangerous nature of the comer at the junction of Nelson Street and Mamaku Rond, and asked that If possible steps he taken to reunore the danger. The chamber felt that the matter was one of great public Importance.—The matter was left in the hands of the chairman with power to act. Mr. E. L. Humphries, secretary of the Reform League. Inquired whether it was possible to engage the County Council office for genera! i election day ns committee moms for Mr. Belli ringer’s executive.—Approved. Mr N. Perridge agreed to give £3O for portion of the old Plymouth Road opposite his ’’••ontnre and also the land acquired from Mr W. H. Looney, which was not. now required for a road.—The action of the chairman on the matter of tho deviation of this road and the sale to Mr. Berridge was confirmed. Mr. A. AV. Peterson offered £1 per annum and to keep a piece of land, about four acres in area on tlie Waitara river, clear of weeds In return for the use of the land. Referred to Cr. Wooldridge with power to act. Five ratepayers petitioned the council to raise a loan for the purpose of fonming and metalling the Atkinson Road. Ratanui, as far as Mr. J. Wilton’s gate.—Tlie overseer was instructed to prepare estimates. With reference to the forthcoming circular road race, Mr. E. L. Humphries asked if the council would allow all competitors to pass through the toll gates on the day of the race, the fees to be charged to the committee.— Approved. Mr. AV. G. Goodwin advised that the Brooklands Dairy Company suppliers proposed erecting a private telephone lino on their boundary lines and requested permission to cross the county road with the wires.—Approved. ' A license to treat offal and melt tallow was applied for by Mr. P. A. Openshaw, Lepperton. —Granted.