CLIFTON COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1928, Page 23

CLIFTON COUNTY

WORK ON THE PUBLIC ROADS MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS. MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly jneeting of the Clifton County CoTineil was held on Thursday, when there were present: Councillors H. A. Foreman (chairman), F. Sarten, C. H. Barnitt, H. A. Bower, J. E. Phillips, G. IV. Rogers msd R. Moungey, The engineer (Mr. N. C. Fookes) reported as follows for the month:— Tikorangi Riding.—General maintenance has been carried out on all roads in this riding. The erection of the surfaceman’s cottage at Tikorangi is almost completed. The grader will be in the riding during the coming month to trim up several clay roads before the winter.

Waihi Riding.—The backing up of the metal on the Inland North Road has been completed and a etart will be made this month with the gravelling of the surface. Blinding and general maintenance has been carried out on other roads as required. Urenui Riding.—Planing, grading and general maintenance has been carried out on all roads in this riding. The formation and gravelling contract on the Okoke Road is progressing favourably, 46 chains of gravel having been laid. Uruti Riding.—General maintenance has been carried out on the Moki and Uruti Roads. A start has been made on the erection of three small bridges on the Puke Road, all the timber necessary having been sent in. The eulverting and trimming up of the May Road is progressing favourably. The metalling of the Tangitu Tunnel and parts of the deviation has been completed. MOHAKATINO ROAD IN BAD STATE. Mokau Riding.—General ‘maintenance, grading and sandstoning has been carried out. The metalling on the Okau Road was completed early in the month. The Mohakatino Road is in a very rough state, and I would recommend that the grader be sent up to trim up this road before the winter sets in.

Ngatimaru Riding.—General maintenance and grading has been carried out in this riding, and all the roads are in good condition for handing over to the Stratford County Council at the end of March. A start was made with the laying off of the Matau North and Waitara Valley Roads for widening, and the data will be handed over to the Stratford County. The council will have to decide what is to be done with the grader and tools in the riding. Main Highways.—The main road has been gravelled and graded throughout its whole length. The new planer was also used on the Urenui pa flat and the Waitoitoi length. The crusher has been working on the Turangi Beach, 1281 cubic yards having been crushed and dumped on the main road. The crusher is now working at the Waipapa depot, and this stone will also be dumped on the ‘main road. Tenders have been called for the concrete lining of the water tunnel at Onaero. The contractors on the Waiau bridge are making good progress with the work. Most of the excavations are completed, and the two main piers are concreted to 6ft above water level.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR. Mr. C. H. Rowe, county inspector, reported having issued 337 new drivers’ licenses, which he considered very satisfactroy. One hundred dogs had been registered during the month, making the total to date 820. He had had very little trouble with wandering stock, only 14 head being found. Fees collected were: Drivers’ licenses, £lOl 2s; dog tax, £l3 15s; stock, £1; total, £ll5 17e. W. H. Foreman, Tongaporutu, wrote stating that the Hutiwai Road required attending to. A culvert was blocked, while a few small slips filled up the water tables and turned the water into the roadway. The top end was in the worst condition, there being several small wash-outs in addition to slips. He stated that his sons would repair the u-ppeT end but not lower down.— The matter was left to the engineer. J. Riddle complained of the bad state of the Hickman Road giving access to his section in Block VII, Waitara S.D. He paid £33 per annum which included two special rates. He offered to help with repair work to a reasonable extent. —Councillor Sarten and the engineer were appointed to deal -with the matter. W. A. Henwood suggested that, as the Piko Road had received a coat of about four inches of hard sandy papa for a distance of about three chains, the council should arrange to blind it to make a good permanent roadway.— The council recommended that this work be done, provided no more than £ 10 was spent. Mr. J. C. Rolleston, M.P. for Waitomo, requested information of the total length of roads in the Clifton County, wliioh had been declared subsidiary highways, also distances in other counties in the highway district.—The county clerk was directed to furnish details. The Public Works Department advised having forwarded the following amounts in respect to several works:— £749 Us 2d, £1239 12s 9d and £1 13s 9d. With regard to the metalling of the Pukearuhe Road, the district engineer of the Public Works Department advised that the department was prepared to recommend a subsidy on this year’s estimates, providing the amount of applications did not exceed the allocation for the county.—lt was decided to apply to the Loans Board for sanction for the

loam. ROAD FROM MATAU TO KIORE. The Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister for Public Works, writing with reference to the request from the council for a subsidy of £5OO for metalling a mile of the Matau to Kiore Road, stated that he was inquiring into the matter and would communicate later. Mr. T. M. Ball also requested particulars of tile proposed work. As this road was in the Ngatimaru riding, which had been transferred to the Stratford County, it was decided to refer the matter to the latter council. With regard to the proposed Government subsidy on the Kaka Road, A. F. Jones stated in a letter that he had promised to pay £75 if the council would apply for a £2 for £1 subsidy on the work. Nothing could have been done then until March 31, but as this time had expired and as the metalling season was drawing to a close, the writer asked if there was any possibility of getting the work started soon. He added that he would Ire willing to dump maintenance metal in any quantity at prices submitted. —The council decided to accept the offer for metal. It was resolved that the council apply to the Local Loans Board for £lO<X) on the Pukearuhe loan. It was decided that the council should proceed with the raising of the Okau Road loan of £2OOO, provided that the Government grants a £2 for £1 subsidy tor . metal and makes a free grant for earthwork. The matter of roadmen for Pukearuhe was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer, •with power to act. L. Butler’s tender of £219 for contract No. 422, Onaero culvert, was accepted.