TARANAKI COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1922, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. WORK OF THE MONTH. The Taranaki County Council met yesterday. Present: Mr. J. S. Connett (chairman), J. Andrews, J. Wooldridge, A. Penwarden, S. Vickers and A. Morton. The following report was submitted by the overseer (Mr. G. Meredith) : Plant and General.—During the month the crusher worked 20 days, crushing 2026 cubic yards of metal, which was delivered as follows : Junction Road, recoating, 1940 yards; dumped on top of Mangorei Hill, 40 yards; delivered to Mr. Hale, 28 yards; to Mr. Weston, 10 yards; and 8 yards to the Devon Road for tar work. Metal carted to Devon Road, for repairing edges of asphalt: 20 yards from Walwakaiho depot and 44 yards from Kyngdon and Co. Shingle: Carted from Tate's dump (Waitara) to Devon Road, 64 yards. Total metal and shingle carted during the month, 2154 yards. Teams. —Foreman Jury was engaged during the month hauling 900 yards of boulders and » yards of shingle at. Mangorei depot on the Junction Road. Rollers: The large roller was engaged all the month scarifying and rolling on the Junction Road, while the small roller was working on the Devon Road, where repairs to asphalt were being carried out. Contracts. —Messrs. Green Bros, have made good progress hauling boulders on the Upper Pitone Road, and have now approximately 600 yards out. Mr. Southcombe has completed his boulder contract on the Junction Road. Mr. Hill has made a start hauling the 250 yards of extra boulders for the Saunders Road. Mr. Cowling has about 550 yards of boulders out at the Oakura Depot. Mr. Northcott has been hauling boulders at Timaru depot, and Is at present hauling shingle off the Ahu Ahu beach. Concrete Pipes.—During the month six 12 in., one 24 in., three 18 In., and 15 9 in. pipes h&ve been made.

Mangorei Riding.—Foreman Dryden's time has been taken up with the metalling work on the Junction Road, and two miles of this road between the Kent Road and the Mangorei factory have been recoated, the metal being laid down 14 ft. wide, and an average of 14 yds. to the chain has been put on and rolled in. Foreman Moyles has been engaged cleaning out water-tables, shingle-blinding the asphalt, and clay-blinding the various roads in his length. Waitara Riding.—The foremen in this riding have been engaged patching, blinding, cleaning out water-tables and general repair work. Foreman Harvey has completed the earthwork on the Cross Road, and Mr. Phipps is making good progress breaking pit metal for this road. Foreman Mallon has been engaged reinstating the edges of the asphalt on the Devon Road, and a week's fine weather should see thb> work completed. Weather permitting, a start will then be made with the asphalt on the Devon Road. Omata Riding.—-Foreman Seamark has been engaged cleaning out water-tables and has also removed the old crusher site on the Ngamotu Road, the spoil from same being used to fill In side track and bank up the metal at the junction of Ngamotu and Main South Roads. He is at present engaged re-grading a hill on the Weston Road. Foreman Eva has been assisting with the metalling on the Junction Road during the month. Okato Riding.-—The foremen in this riding have been engaged patching, blinding, cleaning out water-tables, banking up metal and with general repair work. Foreman Hayes has completed the crusher site on the Saunders Road, and also filled up a considerable amount of side track in the Okato township. The Croydon Road settlers have made a start regrading the hill adjoining the Main Road, which they propose to metal when the crusher is in that locality. Foreman Walsh Is «n charge. The report was adopted. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector (Mr. 11. McGahey) reported that he had made frequent visits to the various ridings during the month, and found that the roads were free from wandering stock. He had collected £l7 10s for heavy traffic licenses and £1 for transfer-fees for motor registrations. During the month fines amounting to £1 10s, with costs £2 Bs, had been imposed by the magistrate on owners of wandering stock. One horse had been impounded at Lepperton and sold by public auction. The report was adopted. JUNCTION ROAD BRIDGE. A lengthy report on the Walwakaiho Bridge on the Junction Road was received from Messrs. Sladden and Palmer, who inspected the bridge in company with the Inglewood County engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett). The report stated that so far as could be ascertained the bridge had been erected about 30 years, and was of rimu. The main timbers of the trusses were in fair condition, with the exception of one of the flitches on the lower chord on the downstream side, and the lower ends of three of the principal braces, also on the downstream side. One or two of the filling pieces of the lower chord would also require renewing. A new king-post was required to replace one broken on the upstream side, while the upstream trusses were out of alignment and also out of plumb. As reported by the bridge foreman, new decking, decking joists, diagonal braces under the decking, and guard-rails were necessary. The present centre bearing timber was quite inadequate, and, owing to the method adopted of fitting it beneath the braces, was practically useless. It should be replaced with a timber of- prsper size (12 x 5) and the diagonal braces so arranged as to avoid cutting the beam. The report suggested that the lower chord be repaired by renewing the defective flitch and the decayed ends of the braces where necessary, and putting on new thrust-pieces sufficiently long to take the ends of the braces thus shortened. Several places where decay was noticeable on the upper timbers especially, should be cleaned out and treated with hot tar. The Tension rods required screwing up, and the whole bridge required painting. In replacing the wheel guards after rcdecklng, it was suggested that they he placed II ft. apart, thus affording another 9 or 10 inches of width for traffic, it was also desirable that some attention be given to the bases of the concrete piers, as there were signs of underpinning in one place. The report concluded that the bridge was of somewhat light construction for the traffic it was now called upon to carry, and the fact that it was at the foot of a hill on either side rendered it liable to severe stresses, particularly in the case of a motor-lorry heavily

laden and crossing as a considerable speed. Furthermore, it was too narrow for a main road. In the meantime, the engineers thought, the bridge would serve for four or five years longer, provided the above repairs were carled out, but it was most desirable that vehicles with heavy loads should cross at a moderate speed, say five miles per hour, and that loads be limited to, say, eight tons, including weight of vehicle. The engineers agreed with the figures supplied by the bridge foreman for repairs, and estimated that the additional repairs over and above would not exceed £lOO. The total expenditure necessary would therefore be about £285. The report was adopted, and the chairman was authorised to give effect to it, provided the Inglewood County Council was agreeable to doing its share. COUNTY STAFF. The chairman drew attention to the report of a country correspondent to a New Plymouth paper, disparaging the work of the county staff and that of one foreman in particular. The council had a very good staff, he said, and their relations were most cordial. Each man was doing good work, no matter where he was, and taking a whole-hearted interest in the affairs of the county. He was surprised that a newspaper had published such a report, and considered the remarks were entirely unwarranted. Cr. Vickers agreed and eulogised the work oi the foreman who had been mentioned, saying that he was one of the best men the council had. The chairman’s remarks were also endorsed by the other councillors, Cr. Penwarden suggesting that the council take the matter up not only in justice to themselves, but to the council’s employees. The matter was then dropped. ANTECEDENT LIABILITY. The Government Insurance Department advised that its board of investment was prepared to entertain a loan to ♦»>». onunnu nt £7360,

to repay the council’s antecedent liability, on the basis of half-yearly instalments covering principal, together with Interest at 6 per cent, per annum on the amount outstanding, so that the loan would be liquidated at the end of 10 years. Each half-yearly instalment would amount to £512 17s Id. The offer was open for a month from October 12. The county clerk advised that he had applied for authority to raise the loan under the Finance Act, but no reply had been received. The chairman said that the cost of the loan would be about %d per cent. Cr. Morton inquired whether the council could obtain accommodation from the bank until such time as they could obtain a loan under more favorable circumstances. They might be able to obtain the money on easier terms in 12 months’ time, and it might pay them to wait. He was doubtful, however, whether money would be cheaper then. Cr. Wooldridge said he was sure the money could be obtained much more cheaply in 12 months’ time, and In the meantime they could either pay out of rates or obtain the money from the bank. He suggested that the money coming from the Inglewood County Council bo earmarked for the first year’s instalment. It was decided to accept the offer from the department. HURFORD ROAD. A petition signed by 18 ratepayers was received, drawing the council’s attention to the state of the upper portion of Hurford Road, and asking that it be graded aud metalled. Messrs. Shrimpton and Walsh waited on the council in support of the petition. Mr. Shrimpton pointed out that the road was in » very bad state. There was any amount of stone within a few chains of the road, of which about half a mile required attention. It was impossible to get up the road during the winter months.

Cr. Vickers said he agreed with the deputation. He did not think the settlers down the road would support a loan, but they might assist with labor.

In reply to Cr. Morton, Mr. Shrimpton said he could not say definitely how much labor the other settlers would give, but he thought the majority would assist. Cr. Morton added -that whatever the policy of the council had been in the past, its policy now was to do new metalling only where the ratepayers concerned found the money. Cr. Penwarden pointed out that the rates paid only for maintenance. The chairman added that ratepayers seemed Inclined to overlook the fact that the increasing stretches of road were increasing the council's liability for maintenance. The matter was left In the hands of the chairman and Cr. Vickers, to confer with the settlers concerned. KING ROAD LOAN. A deputation waited on the council with respect to the King Road loan, and asked that the work be expedited. The chairman said the council appreciated the urgency of the work, but the grant fo the road had not yet been obtained. As bogj as the money came to hand the work would b. proceeded with. GENERAL. The Post and Telegraph Department advised that, conditionally on the council guaranteeing the actual deficiency on working (estimated at £l6 per annum), authority would be granted for the establishment of a telephone office at the residence of Mrs. Hinkley for the benefit of the Koru settlers.—Consideration deferred. The metalling of eight chains of the Puniho Road, between Mr. Frederick Old's gate and the Carrington Road, was asked for by that ratepayer. He stated that it was about 12 years since any work was done on the stretch referred to, although repairs had been promised. —-It was decided to inform Mr. Old that as the contribution from the Egmont County towards the upkeep of the road was so small, it was impossible to do more than was being done at present. Messrs. Stevenson and Hall advised that they had put in seven weeks’ work on the Upper Puniho Road, as the road was Impassable when they took over their section. They asked that the council meet them half way.— It was decided to inform the writers that the council could not do anything in the meantime but the council would reconsider the matter favorably if they left the road in good condition on completion of their wood-cutting contract. The returning officer (Mr. J. M. Adam) applied for the use of the county tollhouse at Puniho Road as a polling booth on the day of the general election.—Granted. A petition was received from a number of ratepayers on the Upland Road, requesting the council to raise a special loan of £lOOO for formation and metalling the road from the end of the metal. The signatories pledged themselves to sign the necessary loan consents. —lt was decided to take the necessary steps to raise the loan. H. Kendell applied for a refund of rates for Rotokare reserve overpaid by him In 1921. — The council favorably considered the application, and the matter was left in the hands of the chairman. It was decided to order the timber for the construction of the pound at Okato and to call tenders for painting and lettering the board, The resignation of the inspector (Mr. H. McGahey) was received and the appointment of a temporary Inspector was left in the hands of the chairman. The tender of Mr. F. G. Reid, Petone, for the supply of dog collars at 7s Id per dozen, was accepted.