CLIFTON COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1922, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Clifton County Council met at Waitara yesterday. Present: Mr. B. H. Pigott (chairman), and Crs. H. A. Foreman, R. Morrisey, S. J. Sutton, T. McKenzie, F. C. Jones and C. H. Barnitt. Mr. C. F. Dowsett (engineer) submitted uio following report:— Okoke and Plko Roads.—The roadman reports that the Hogan Road timber is now on the site, and that the balance will be forthcoming at once. No progress is reported in connection with the metalling contracts of tixese roads, but after a wet spell they take a long time to dry. Uruti Bridge Repairs.—This timber was ordered early last month, and is now overdue. Arrangements have been made to have it put on the site immediately on its arrival. Mangamaeho Bridge.—An unusual delay has been caused In the casting of the plies, and although no blariiS can be attached to the contractor, the foundry cannot be relieved of responsibility. J. hope, however, to have the whole lot ready by the end of this week, when the abutments will possibly receive attention. LENIENCY FOR EX-SOLDIERS. A returned soldier settler who is being pressed for payment of arrears in his rates, forwarded through his solicitor a statement of his position. He said he had been on active service for three years and 111 days, and suggested that the council owed much to the returned soldiers. His wool clip had been hung up for months, but if the council could see its way to extend the time limit he fully intended to pay every penny. He also entered a counter-claim for £3 12s for work he had done for the council. Councillors remarked that they would not be hard on returned soldiers, and a sympathetic hearing would be accorded them. The matter was left to the clerk with power to ' act. THE PUKEARUHE TUNNEL. In reply to the council’s letter calling attention to the urgent need for repairs to the Pukearuhe tunnel, and the coast road northwards, in order that stock might be diverted from the Mimi-Mokau Road, the Minister of Public Work® staled that, inquiries would be made and careful attention would be given to the matter. Cr. Jones said that as it was merely a question of finance, they would have to devise some simple expedient. About £275 would be required for renewals to bridges. The engineer reported that four small bridges required repairs. Cr. Jones moved that the chairman interview Mr. T. Ball (resident engineer at Stratford) with a view’ to getting the department to undertake the flooring and grant £ for £ subsidy, or arrange an amended scheme. — Carried. SETTLERS WANT ACCESS. Mr. D. Mcßean (Ngatamlro) wrote complaining of the Public "Works Department's action in providing a grant of £3OOO for the main roads, while not even Is was granted for reading access, or an attempt made to clear up tracks. It was unfair to be rated so heavily for the new bridge loan when the Government, In all probability, would he taking over the main road bridges. If this was so, would their special bridge loan cease when this happened? He asked that the couoncil pass a resolution on this matter and forward it to Wellington. The chairman said what wns really aimed at was access to Awakino. It was decided that the clerk should reply that ratepayers on the main roads were not liable for by-roads’ special loans. The other matters were left in the hands of the clerk. HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. A circular was received from Mr. W. T. Lindsay, hon. secretary of the northern counties, regarding hospital contributions. It was stated that the present, method of collecting contributions from county councils was extremely unfair, because the contributions were assessed on land values only, and no payment was asked in respect of the number of people who might use Jhe hospitals. The circular also asked that the two following questions be submitted to every candidate for Parliament: (1) Will you undertake, if elected, to insist on the necessarysteps being taken tn remedy this Injustice by levying the hospital contributions on a. one-third population and two-thirds capital value? (2) Failing obtaining satisfaction from the Minister, will you, with other country members, join in introducing legislation for the above purpose? It was decided that Messrs. Jennings, Rolieston and Masters he sent copies of the questions suggested.

On the application of six ratepayers in the Urenui riding, it was decided to take the necessary- steps to raise a loan of £BOO for the purpose of metalling a portion of the Mangamaeho Road, commencing next financial year. It was decided to provide an estimate for forming a six-foot, track from the end of the Manga hea Road to the estate of Mr. Colesby. About one ipile would be required. Permission was given to Mr. H. M. Purdy (chairman of the North Taranaki Dairy Company), to carry a pipe under the road, subject to the supervision of the surfacemen. The chief accountant of the Public Trust Department. Wellington, advised that in connection with the council’s loan of £4OOO, a voucher for £3984 16s 6d had been forwarded to the post office at Waitara for payment to the council. This represented the amount authorised less certain deductions. Mr. J. Wallace (Kiore), asked if the council would allow a'grant of £1 10s to put the road in order. He also drew councillors attention to the bad state of the Kiore Saddle. There had been no repair work done on it. for the last four months. As there was about 500 gallons of cream going over this road every week, besides wool traffic, the repairs were urgent.—-The chairman remarked that this was not a council road, and the request was refused.