EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 November 1924, Page 4

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Egmont County Council met at Opunake on Tuesday. There were present. Councillors \Y. C. Green (ciiairnn.n), J'. A. Pettigrew, E. A. Collins, G. Gibson, H. Donald, J. Hiokey, junr.. ai’d J. Young. THE MONTH’S WORK.

The report of the overseer (Mr. L. J. Jiarrop), stating inter alia as follows, was adopted : —Oeo Kiding (Southern): On tue Main South Hoad patching has been done with crushed metal between the Taungatara bridge and the boundary, and the water-tables cleaned out in places. The White lorry was engaged for three days carting crushed metal from the Taungatara dump and dumping it where required. Patching has also been done on the YVatino, Puketapu, and Hone Hoads. Oeo Riding (Northern): The Eltham Road has broken up badly and has been patched with crushed metal from the Watino Road to the boundary. Patching has also been done on the OpunakeStratford, Kiri,, and Oeo Roads. Opua Riding (Southern): Patching has been done on Eltham Road with crushed metal and the water-tables cleaned out in places. Patching has also been done on the Kaweora and Lower Waiteika Roads. Coal has been stacked up in the county shed and pipes made on wet days. Rahotu Riding: A stone culvert on the corner of the Main South Road am? Opourapa Road, which had become blocked, has been taken up and replaced with 9 by 12 inch pipes and the wings of the road widened out. One day’s patching was also done • with crushed metal. Patching has also been done on the various by-roads —Ngariki two days, Manihi two days, Lower Kahui one day, Upper Kahui two days, Tipoka two days, Cape Road two days, Harvey two. days, and Opourapa two days. Newall Riding: On the Main South Road patching has been done between Puniho, and Pungarehu and the water-tables cleaned out in places. Patching has also been done on the by-roads, Bayly five days, Warea five days, Stent four days, and Paora one day. Owing to the heavy rain on Thursday night, October 30, followed by heavy floods on Friday morning, the Matanehunehu and the Waiweranui streams flowed across the road, doing a fair amount of damage to road surface j various small culverts in places also flowed over. The Matanehunehu stream is likely to change its course just above the stream on the south side. I would recommend that a stone groyne be put in to keep the stream to its proper course. Rahotu Riding: The tombs supporting the Waitaha and Pungaereere bridges have been swept away; notice boards have been erected to warn heavy traffic. The swing bridge across this river down th e Rahotu Road has been swept away. , BRIDGE FOREMAN. During the month Mr R. J. T. Dillon (New Plymouth) was appointed bridge foreman by the committee set up to deal with applications placed before the last meeting of the council. WANDERING STOCK. The ranger (Mr H. Wiltshire) reported that during October 51 head of stock (18 horses, and 33 bullocks, cows and neifers) had been impounded. During discussion of the report reference was made to the presence on certain roads of working bullocks, which had strayed on to ratepayers’ property and caused damage to pastures and stock. Cr Tosland remarked that he had driven bullocks off his property on several occasions, and it was not always convenient to get into immediate touch with the ranger when the trespass was committed. . Cr Young suggested that', when it was not possible to get the ranger on the spot ratepayers should themselves impound the bullocks. Crs Collins and Pettigrew pointed out that when submitting their tenders contractors usually took it for granted that they would be permitted to graze their bullocks on by-roads, and probably quoted accordingly. Another councillor expressed the opinion that contracts should be let on tfie understanding that bullocks would not be used, but Cr Collins considered that bullocks were the most suitable animals for the work. He thought, however, that the council should make it quite clear to contractors that bullocks would be impounded if found straying. The chairman supported Cr Young’s suggestion, and said the council could not allow, any unattended stock on the roads. - It was resolved to give further consideration to the question when letting next year’s contracts.' MATAIvAHAWAJ ROAD. Cr Tcsland introduced Messrs J. Pettigrew and- J. D. Conaglen, who waited on the council to request*, on behalf of the settlers on the Matakahawai road, that action he taken to put the road in order so as to give access to the main road. The deputation explained that if about 60 chains of drainage work could be undertaken immediately it would help considerably and would suffice for the present. The chairman assured the deputation of the council’s sympathy. He had no doubt that the settlers had a claim demanding favourable consideration, but stated that as the county rate had been made as low as possible difficulty was being experienced in meeting all demands, and he did not think the council could possibly authorise expenditure on the work at the present time. He suggested that the settlers should consider raising a loan to supplement the £SO free grant for the road which was on the estimates.

Mr Pettigrew intimated that £ls could be arranged for, making the sum available £65. , It was decided to make immediate application for the grant and to call for tenders for the work as the money was available, the chairman intimating that the council would endeavour to arrange for an additional amount after March 31. BRIDGES. The bridge fo,reman (Mr R. J. T. Dillon) verbally reported concerning necessary repairs to the Taungatara bridge (Main South Road) pending the erection of a new bridge, and was authorised to engage a staff and proceed with the work immediately. The foreman was further directed to prepare plans for the replacement of the Pungaereere bridge (Rohutu Road), the estimates not to exceed the amount of the loan, £9OO. MAIN ROADS CONSTRUCTION. Mr C. Ei. Skitrop waited on the council and supplied requested information relating to the re-formation and tarsealing of main .roads, as decided upon. With reference to the continued delay in the receipt of necessary authority to proceed with the work, a length}' discussion took place, and in conclusion it was decided n.n the motion of Crs. Tosland and Gibson that the chairman and Mr Skitrop he appointed to interview the district engineer for public works with reference to certain details in the specifications, and that as soom as the plant was ready for opera-

tion the work of tar-sealing be Metled with, commencing at the Opua Flat (Main South Road). GENERAL. With regard to the erection of warning and direction road signs in the county, a letter was received from the South Taranaki Automobile Association thanking the council for its action in deciding to erect the signs. The letter, stated that as the Counties’ Association and the controlling body of the Automobile Association were conferring with the view of adopting standard warning and direction signs, some little delay would be involved in providing the signs. * The Public Works Department forwarded authority for the expenditure of a free grant of £56 for the Waiana river ford (Wiremu Road). An application for a rise in wa°es rel- - from J. M. De Costro., employed in attending to the council’s horse teams, was not granted.-—Discussing the matter, councillors expressed the opinion that the jieains should be dispensed with, but in view of the early commencement of work on the main roads, it was deemed inadvisable to make any alteration at present.