EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 August 1924, Page 8

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake on Tuesday. There were present: Crs. W. C. Green (chairman), J. A. Pettigrew, R. Ferguson, E. A. Collins, G, Gibson. J. S. Tosiand, H. Donald, J. Hickey (junr.) and J. Young. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. A copy of order in council declaring a _ length of '3 miles 30 chains of the Newall Road, commencing at its j unction with’ the Main South Road' and tenni.natiiig at its junction with Warea Road,' a. country road, was received from the Public Works Department. An estimate of the cost- of draining, culvertin’g, grading, forming and metalling the Upper Ihaia, Road for two and a half miles, extending from the Wiremu. Road, was requested by P* O’Sullivan, E. G. Holmes, and RL G. Campbell on behalf of the settlers concerned.—The overseer was instructed to supply the required particulars. The chairman intimated, in response to Or. Tosland’s inquiry, that if the settlers were prepared to rate themselves the Public Works Depart: meat would subsidise on a £ for £ basis.

A letter was received from L. Allen (Pihama) asking that a gate across the Tatahi Road be removed —C-r. Tosiand explained that the gate was for the purpose of enclosing the lower end of the road (which had no outlet) to provide accommodation for the school children’s horses.-—Councillors expressed the opinion that some endeavour should be made to meet the convenience of the public and at the same time provide the accommodation required by the school children, but as the council had no jurisdiction in the matter, it was decided to notify the Pihama School Committee to move the gate.

AY. G. Gilmer, Kina Road, Oaonui,; forwarded a claim for cleaning 14, chains of drains along his frontage at’ 9s per chain, of which he was to re-j ceive 4s 6d per chain. The work was, done in 1922 and authorised by Foreman Goody while Mr. Pease was; engineer.—lt was decided to hand the] account to Mr. Goody for certification.! An inquiry was received from the! Newall Road Co-op. Dairy Co. as to] whether it was possible for the council to arrange with the contractors for the early commencement of the recon-* •struction work of* the Okahu Road, a&! the company had suppliers who werej at present unable to get their milk to 1 , the factory and were compelled to sup-j ply cream which, in their case, was) unsatisfactory.—The chairman stated that it was practically impossible to do] a great deal at this time of the yean under the unfavourable weather condi-i tions.—lt was decided to notify the] company that the contractors' were be-! ing instructed to push on with the, work as early as ppsisiible. The Taranaki County Council for-! warded a. copy of agreement relat-i ing to the maintenance of the Piuinihcl boundary road.—'After perusal anckdis-j eussion, it was decided to submit 1 , the* agreement. through the chairman, to the council’s solictors.

Subject to certain conditions, the Opunake Racing Club tvas granted the use of the council’s grader. : WANDERING STOCK. Discussing agreement reached between the council and the Opunake Town Board regarding the appointment of a ranger to aot jointly for both bodies, councillors complained ojf the damage caused to fences and pro‘perty by unattended stock. Beside]* being a menace to the safety of the general public, wandering stock especially dangerous to school children, cases being instanced in which it’ was necessary to escort children on their way to school. It was hoped that thje new arrangement would effect a big improvement. In view of the arrangement mentioned, the engagement with the present Rahotu county ranger was terminated. ! REPORTS. The report of the overseer (Mr. D. J. Harrop), which was adopted, stated, inter alia: Oeo Riding (southern): Main South Rbad.—Patching has been done from the Taungatarai bridge to the boundary, and the water-tables have been cleaned out in places. Twenty yards of crushed metal was borrowed from the Opua riding. AYatino Road.—Maintenance metal has been knapped and the road lias been patched from Air. J. McHardy’s up to the boundary. Oeo Riding (northern) : Eltham Road.—Maintenance metal lias been knapped and a considerable amount of patching has also been done. The crushing plant was removed from the Opua riding and set up at the Punehu bridge dump, and a start made crushing maintenance metal for the diffeiy ent roads, and which is being carted out by the county's lorries. Maintenance metal has been knapped and patching has 'been done on tiie Opunake-Stratford and Upper Oeo Roads.

Opua Riding (southern): Main South Road.—The crushing plant was engaged crushing at the Taungatara, 416 yards being crushed, 380. yards of which was used to face over 60 chains pf road and 36 yards of metal' was dumped for maintenance. Two hundred and eight yards of. stone was carted from off E. Mulligan\s property, 66 yards from M. Brophy’s property, and 142 yards were carted from off the road side. This work was carried out by the county hands. The crushing plant was removed to the Eltham Road and set up by J. M. Hickey’s and 181 yards of stone was crushed from contract No. 476 and delivered by the county lorries, 140 yards of which was laid down in a coat on 20 chains of road, rolled in and blinded. Thirtysix yards of metal was dumped for maintenance and 8 yards was dumped for maintenance on to the Ivaweora Road.

The report of the bridge foreman (Mr. F. Rountree) was adopted, stating, inter alia:—My gang has been disbanded during the month, Mr, Harrop placing two men with the crusher gang. Towards the end of the? month I took four men out and made temporary repairs to the culvert bridge, Upper Kina Road. As instructed. myself and two men have made a start doing preliminary work in connection with shitting Taungatara bridge over to one side. A*s the necessary material for temporary piers, etc., i.s not at hand we will not be able to do much there till it comes. Also, the lorry has not always been available when required. I. shall require another benzine pump, or perhaps two more,*for new bridge foundation work; also hand winches with necessary i°pes, blocks, etc. The new carpet decking on the Waiau, Waiteikn and (Jur bridges ought to be asphalted. 1 want a detailed plan of false work etc., along with the finished plan of now bridges. This is customary, and council should insist- on gottiim same from engineer. T think the order for timber for false work of new Tauimatara bridge should be placed so that we will not he delayed once the job is authorised to proceed.