EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LII, Issue LVII, 14 April 1910, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Council was held on Friday. Present — Crs Dudley (Chairman), Maxwell, Campbell, Farquhar, Macßeynolds, Young, Willcox, Harvey and Hurst. MINUTES. Cr Farquhar asked for an explanation from Cr Maxwell; recorded on the minutes, with reference to a culvert at Awatiuia, "That the Council will vote £10, providing the settlers interested hnd another £10." Cr Maxwell stated, as far as his memory served him, that it was a matter of choosing between voting the money for the gravel or the culvert, as there was not sufficient money for both works. Mr Farquhar said the work was one for the Council only, and it did not interest him personally one bit. It affected the storeman and blacksmith, and some time ago Mr Howitt wrote to the Council about it. Mr Silby had also written to the Council with reference to the same culvert, and lie had promised to see what could be done. OEO HOAD. The Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works notified, That by direction of the Minister for Public Works Mr Murray, road engineer, has been, appointed commissioner to enquire into the question of control and maintenar.ee of Oeo road as between Waimate , West County and Egmont County. The Chairman, Cr Campbell, and | the Clerk were appointed to attend the commission of enquiry aaid give evidence. (Maxwell — Willcox.) COMPLAINT. Mr A. J. Knight wrote complaining that the contractors using the gravel reserve failed to shut the gate, and his cattle were let out. He was quite willing to pay a fair rent for the use of the reserve. — The foreman to notify the contractors that the gate must be closed. READJUSTMENT OF LOANS. From Waimate West County, forwarding petition signed by other Taranaki local bodies agreeing to the proposal to readjust special loans, and pointing out the advantages to be gained by having the rates collected by the one clerk and notified on the one rate card, in preference to the twofold system. The members said they could see some advantages to be gained, but they were outweighed by disadvantages. The principal objection raised was that if there was failure through technicality or otherwise to collect the rate by the one particular body, the other councils would suffer. The matter was left as at the previous meeting. The Council did not sigai the petition. GOVERNMENT GRANTS. The Eltham County Council wrote, with reference to the new condition of Government grants throwing on the j local bodies cost of engineering, that , at its last meeting a resolution was passed, "That the view of all co.unty councils in the Taranaki province be obtained, and that if then deemed desirable, that concerted action be taken by those interested with the object of endeavoring to arraonge for each grant . being made to bear the expenses incidental to its expenditure." The Clerk to notify the Eltham Council that this Council is entirely in favor of the suggestion, but that the matter should be discussed at the forthcoming Counties' Conference. workers; compensation act. The President of the Counties' Association wrote bringing under the no- j tice of the Council the suggestion that ' it might be in the interests of all local ! bodies affiliated to the Association to ' Form themselves into an association or 3orporation in accordance with the provisions of the Workers' Compensation A.ct, 1908, instead of insuring with private companies. The Cnairman and other members ihought they would be taking on a big )rder. Cr Maxwell was of opinion it was a subject worth discussing. There were sufficient local bodies to create a very strong association with ample security ;o take the risk. Cr Farquhar said the trend of opinion was working in many businesses on the same lines as proposed by the Association's circular. The matter was left to be discussed at the Counties' Conference, and the information asked for as ,to premiums paid by the Council to be forwarded. ATJROA ROAD. From Eltham County Council, forwarding cheque for £57 8s 4d, the Council's contribution to Auroa Road. RESIGNATION. From George Dewer, foreman, forwarding his resignation, giving one month's notice, and asking that an overseer be appointed over him. Resignation accepted, he to work in the meantime (if willing) as surfaceman. It wag, decided to appoint Mr Harrison as temporary foreman, and that applications be called for the position, to close a week before next meeting. — (Young — Macßeynolds.) Crs Dudley, Macßeynolds and Campbell were appointed a committee of inquiry and report as to qualifications. ALLOCATION. Crs Farquhar, Campbell and Hurst were appointed a committee to meet and allocate the £500 overdraft due to the Oeo riding and which the Council bad previously agreed upon as an equitable adjustment on road accounts. TENDERS. Tenders were reported from committee as follows: — Contract 147, Horn road, supply and delivery of gravel: N. hmess 3s 6d, E. Whitcombe 3s 3d, G. Keeley (accepted) 2s 9d. PAINTING. Mr Whittington, painter of the bridges, wrote stating he would likesome of the councillors to inspect his ivork. Progress was slow, but the naiiire of the work made it so. Councillors were agreed he was doing *ood work, and left it in the hands of >he Chairman to put on another hand ;o that the work would be expedited )efore the wet season. ROAD ROLLER. Cr Willcox brought up the question )f a. roller for road work. He knew ih© finances would not stand it just yet, nit believed it would be a saving in cost >f road-making. ( The Chairman and Cr Maxwell wero )f the same opinion. The Clerk to write and obtain infornation. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Oeo Riding (Southern). Foreman Dewar reported: — During the month we have blinded ;he metal on Patiki road, and nave lone ordinary work in connection with ;his and other contracts. We have unshed about 60 chains of « ater-tables niHoni road, Mr A. McKeown ha~mg riridly provided plough and team. Tim- , >er having arrived for the Ouri bridge, | Main South road, we have repaired the

decking. The 30-inch concrete pip( foi Main South road are made. I Contracts — E. Whitcoinbo has .on ' pitted No. 136, and expects to hay finished Nos. 135 and 145 on the vlat of this meeting. He has also made goo progress with No. 144. N. C. Innes o: poets to have completed No. 137 befor April 9. Vickery and Hickey liave v formed mo that they intend to begi ' work on Nos. 134 and 138 this presan week. I recommend that a final paj ment be made to E. Whitcombo on Cor tract 139. 1 recommend that water-tablo oi Nopera road be ploughed and cleared a a cost of about £8 per mile, the roai being about ivro miles in length, also recommend that 24 feet of 30-incJ concrete piping be laid in place of i rotten and dangerous timber culvo;t oi Oeo road (central) to cost about £8 also that a collapsed 12-inch culvert o] Main South road at Oeo. be roplace< with concrete pipes of same diameter. In the event of it being decided tc expend an overdraft in this riding, j would suggest that consideration b< given to the clearing of drains ant •water-tables on the Watmo and Patilc loads and the acquiring of additiona stone for maintenance of Patiki road. Oeo Riding (Northern). H. Munro reported: — Wo have boon employed during the past month in spreading gravel anc shingle and doing other work in connection with contracts in progress. G. Kehely has completed Contract No. 133' delivery of gravel on Kina road, during the month. The gravel delivered on this contract is of first-class quality, being procured from a pit newly open?d on the county's gravel reserve. This portion of the road should now be fairly right for the winter, but the portion south of present contract will cut up very badly if we have much wet weather. This contractor is at present proceeding with his contract for delivery of gravel of the Watino road. _ We hove been very fortunate in having no delay or trouble with contracts at this end during the past summer, As soon as contracts are finished up. surface and maintenance works will be put in hand. I would like permission from the Council to put on a plough team for a couple^ of days to plough out water-tables on tho Eltham road, and also an extra man for about- a week to assist in throwing out same. Requests granted.— Macßeynolds— Hurst. > '