EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 5

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

Co!itv m r>nthly -imeetinS of the Egmont ; s: To S iS pma"' w- c- G™«. 2- 1- ' CORRESPONDENCE. Pr«Sn coi^ ln"c to the Council on the League executive. *,«» •?' Re,turne<i Soldiers' Association wrote asking f Or assistance in caning out a new policy for settling soldiers on the land._C r Tosland said the majority of people who had land thin I 6 Vi Ut Uy P, Ut aboUt £1° mor* than would be ordinarily asked when 2* Proactive purchaser was a re* tmned soldier He did not suppose the Council could be turned into a land HfcTif ai"? + aU they COul* was ta n*w • lett J er 1 Ile on the tabie.^Cr riS^l Ml* the- trouble was that a lelurned soldier was not, as a rule theTbfe that the Jetter ]ie °*- The Taranaki County Council Forwarded all extract from the N Z Gazette jesting control of the Punifeo road in the Werekino Road Boad, and apportioning the cost of maintenance SpSß^l* ™l pomte<l out by ih* T?na iv i i SUt Q% \ hen th« Werekinc* fc ?a nd ' hf d ieen mer Sed ia the Jaranaki County Council. The affree- "«*> was still in force, and thelSanaki County Council wished to receive i + P 1' 7 hlch ' ro^ly, amounttol £ fnf o Oae Am C a tTe? lttee ™S Set UP " +wr+?' IS lwk€? 1 ' M-P-' ™>te stating that the- Council would have noticed that a change of policy was proposed n the upkeep of roads in the Dominion, and stating that he was watching the movement carefully on behalf of the Egmont electorate, and would like I x su PPlled with certain particulars about the working of the Egmont County a§ per schedule enclosed —The chairman said that most of th e things the Government took m hand it seemed to make a muddle of, but if the Government could take over the main roads and maintain them it would be ' taKmg a great load off their minds _ ' On the motion the chairman, the clerk was instructed to forward the information desired. The Minister for' Public Worts acknowledged the Council's communication advancing the claims of the Kahui road for consideration on the estimates. The Council's representations would be given careful attention during preparation of the supplementary estimates.—A telegram of later date £200 (£ for £ subsidy) had been granted for the road.—-Cr O'Brien urged that the Council vote £200 for expenditure on the road. After a good deal of discussion it was decided that the contractor for the delivery of 300 va-rds of boulders on the r oad be notified that he must proceed with the work in terms of the contract, and the clerfe was instructed to communicate with -. the Minister so that any doubt" in regard to the subsidy would be removed The Wiremu Koad Committee, whichr met at the County office on Thursday and. was convened for the purpose of opening and considering tenders for the proposed work on the Wiremu (Jhaia to Arawhata) }*■$$$, reported that a tender had beeir Reived from P. Bergefor £909 10s._It was proposed by Cr O'Brien that, in the opinion of the committee, the y tender was satisfactory, the price being fair and reasonable, and the Department be recommended to accept tht* 4and._Tnis was seconded by Cr Toslahd and carried. > Cr O'Brien proposed that the county engineer suggest to the Resident Engineer the advisability of the erection of the piers lor the Heimana bridge as far as he may/deem advisable, such. to be of a permanent character, as the erection of these piers would save the. blocking of the river by debris when the road was being made.—This was seconded hy Cr Ferguson a nd carried. It having been pointed out that the Wiremu Road Committee was not legally appointed, and therefore had •-, no standing, the question was raised of whether the Council could adopt the report.—Cr O'Brien moved that the chairman, Crs Ferguson, Watson, Chapman and the mover be the Wiremu Road Committee for the next three years.—The motion was carried, and the report of the committee was then adopted. Cr O'Brien moved the clerk ascertain whole of the yearly rates from all lands abutting on the •Wiremu-Okahu-Car- ! ricgton road from its commencement ' at the Opunake-Stratford-Oeo road junction to the Buniho road, land to be included on both sides of the road and *as far as the Forest Reserve.-^Tiujr was seconded by Cr Watson and carried. ■ ; DEPUTATION. A deputation representing the ratepayers on the Carrington and Newall roads waited on the Council and asked what its intentions were with, regard to these roads. It was stated that the condition of Carrington road was scandalous. The Toad had been laid: down five years ago at a cost of £900, including a Government subsidy of £400. It was then au excellent road, and in five months latterly such damage had been done by timber lorriea that it would take £1000 to restore the road. , Cr Green said it'was a crying sham© that the damage should have been permitted. Asked by Cr O'Brien why the matter had not previously been reported to the Council, a member of the deputation said this was the duty of the engineer. The engineer said the Council had been well aware of the position. The road had not been constructed for neavy traffic. Some of the settler* had promised to put a certain portion of the road in repair, but had done absolutely nothing. - Cr O'Brien (to the engineer): Why dont you enforce the Tjy-laws? The engineer: The by-laws donV come into force until the 20th. Cr O'Brien: The old by-laws would meet this case. Cr Green said they would oither nave to make a levy on the timber carted over the road or obtain a subsidy towards the upkeep of the road. r*_ ™ *nP n9eT > who was supported by Cr Wright, pointed out that he had been unable to obtain men for the work. " ««■ Mr Fraser Jones said tEe Council was blameable in the first instance for allowing the road to get into its present condition. *\ Or O'Brien": Mr CBairman. the best thing you can do is to plead guifcy. Ample power was given under, the old road. If the by-laws were produced he would prove this. y «^ucea I i. oad; whlch he said had been Hf i 1^ 1-! ?l terea by heavy traffic^ He had had the greatest difficulty in

getting his milk out, and had had to scrape what metal was left and fill up holes. The Council should stop this heavy traffic, and he 'wished that the whole Council could see the road. Cr Tosland moved that a, committee consisting of a representative from each riding visit the road and meet the settlers. Mr Harding: The first man you must meet is the man with the motor lorry, and remember it is a deed not a word we want from you. In reply to a suggestion that the engineer be sent up, Mr Harding said: "Tt is not the engineer we want, but about 1000 cubic yards of metal." Cr Tosland said he would be in favour of prosecuting the mill owner responsible for the damage to the road and to limiting the load carried by lorries to three tons. After the deputation withdrew Cr Green safd he did not think they could stop the lorry from running, and he would favour charging a certain amount for each 100 feet of timber conveyed by lorry over the road. To repair half of the damage they wo\il<J have to charge 2s per 100 feet. The Clerk said the Council muld not, prevent the carriage of any load, but could sue for special damages if -the man causing "damage to the road would not enter into a covenant. It was pointed out by Cr Wright thut the motor lorry Had run during ■a. prohibited period. Cr Green: But you gave the man a *special permit to run. He would move that Mr ChristofEel be asked tor a royalty of 2s per 100 feet on all timber carted froni 'the commencement, the charge to "be retrospective. Mr Christoffel waited on the Council later, and said he was prepared to have the road repaired. Cr O'Brien: Suppose we refuse to allow you to use the road Mr Christoffel: The mill will have to be closed down, and that would menu a pretty big thing. Cr 'Tosland.- What was the arrangement between you and the engineer and chairman? Cr Wrightj The arrangement was that Mr Christoffel was to make good the damage. Mr Christoffel concurred in this. He pointed out, however, ..that the road was just as bad where the lorries had not gone over.it. fie admitted ■that the lorries had done damage. Cr O'Brien: Are you prepared to , -put the road in good order? j Mr Chvistoffel: Certainly we are. ' Cr Tosland: Would you be prepared also to pay a subsidy in the shape of a royalty so that a man coujd be kept continuously for repairs? Mr Christoffel said they were prepared to come to aiiy reasonable agreement. They would pay for any damage dene by the lorries, but there was a certain amount of firewood carted also. In reply to a-further question by Cr O'Brien", Mr Ch'ristoffel said they were prepared to repair the road during the Christmas holidays. The lorry was 5 ; t tons, and it carried 1800 feet of timber, most of which was unseasoned. The load, including the lorry, would be about 8 tons. Mr. Tosland thought it would be •more satisfactory if the settlers did the work a-nd Mr. Christofel the paying. Mr. Christofel said they were prepared to put one man and dray on right away, and do the rest of the work during the Christinas holidays. They ■wanted a good road themselves and were prepared to do the work to the satisfaction of the engineer. Cr. Green moved .that Mr. Christofel put SUsP?Au on right away, properly re-paiY^sßS-'road during the Christmas fiolidays.. and enter into an arrangement s£o keep the road in Tepair after that. This was seconded by the chairman. Cr. Tosland moved as an amendment that, the work be dee by the Council «*nd -Ji&at Mr. Christofel pay the cost. The ""aJnendment had no seconder and. the motion was carried. Cr. O'Brien' intimated that there would be a conference of the Railway League and the member for the district (Mr., 0. Hawken) on the 22nd insfc., and suggested that the members of the Council attend.—lt was agreea that councillors be present at the conference. ~ ~ Mr. Woolford waited on the Council in regard to the Young road. He asked that "about eight chains be metalled. He was prepared to do any ploughing necessary for the formation himself. — "ft was decided to have the work done . as soon as possible, the expenditure to be limited to £50. • The Opunake Athenaeum applied for a renewal of the Council's grant to the free reading room. —A sum of £2 2s j was granted. Messrs J. D. Keogh and Mr. P. Shale wrote complaining of the action of the ranger, who had notified then that in: future cows would not be allowed to . gkize on the Wotorda road.—The chair■/nau said they could not comply with •such a request. Kaitapapa Rangitoawa wrote asking thsft the Taurua road be made passable from the Main South road to Jila section. He was prepared to assist in the formation work.—The engineer to rejjpOTt. - Mr. C. F. McGregor's tender of lid Bach for dog collars was accepted. The dog ergistratkm fees were fixed ■at- 2s 6d for sheep and cattle dogs and 10b for all other dogs. It was decided to obtain 50 copies of ahe new by-laws. The travelling allowances for members •were fixed as for last year., Cr. O'Brien moved that for committee work no expenses above luncheon arid gaiage fees or horse feed be ■charged, this not apply if councillors •had to travel outside the county.— Caried. The clerk reported that they had aljnost reached their limit at the bank and the rates uncollected totalled £12,000. ' It was resolved that a notice be inserted in press that to all rates unpaid by January 6 10 per cent, would be added. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows:— ■lOco Riding (Northern). —A fair ianiount of has been 'lor.c tx> the Watiaio road 3 Oeo road (north), Stratford Road, Weka street, and 'he Eitham road has been patched right through the riding. The watev-iaMts in Weka street have been attended to and the new metal on the Oeo road has been reblinded to keep the stone m position. There is no bottom or foundation to this road, and it should have about twenty ysrrds of metal to the ;chain to keep it in order. Early in the month a large wooden culvert on the iEltham road, just west of the Oeo road, collapsed and let in the road on one as far as the wheel track. The culvert was cleared of timber and dehris, and the road fenced off and^light«d t.ntil the following Sunday, when traffic was stopped and a new line .of loft, diameter concrete pipes was pat across the road a few feet away from the old culvert. Some blinding and 'water-tabling has been done to the Pa"tiki road, and counter sinking carried out on the "Kiri road ready for metalling. On completion of contract 346 o"t the ton end of the Watino road, the" junction with the Eitham road was wid-"ehe-cl with pit metal from an adjoining section. Particulars of this contract, which were not given last month, are as follows; 102 yds . crushed, of which 96 were laid down on 10 chains of road and six dumped for maintenance, cost per yard for labour, teams, fuel, water^

etc., 9s OJd; total cost per chain, including contractor's price, £8 18s 9|d. This high cost is caused by having three wet days on such a short contract, also having to pay extra to get men to work. The cost for contract 352 a, for 120 cubic yards of crushed metal rolled in on the Oeo road north of Elthani road, was £6 11s 10|d per chain, and 6-s 9fd per cubic yard for scarifying, rolling, fuel, labour, horse hire, etc Oeo Hiding (Southern). —The Main South ioad water-tables between Puketapji road and- Allen's creek have beta cleaned out and some little watertabimg has been done on the Paliki road, north of Skeet road. The new formation at the wings of the Patiki road and Skegt road junction have been filled in witK good dry material, liepairs have been done to the decking of tile Ouri bridge. The contractor has got out all the stone required for his contracts on the Main South road at Oeo, the Nopera and Skeet roads. The crushing plant will be sent out to commence work at Oeo to-morrow. This plant would have gone out vesteiuu..s but the Inspector of Machinery is.making his annual inspection at' all Council's plant to-day. Paddock stone is being put out on the Watino road by adjoining settlers there. , Oput Ei«inrr (Soutnern).—The uneven portion of the Eltham road, between the Mangahume school and Leahy's hill, has been scarified,-formed up and rerolled. Patching has been done to the Upper WaLteika road and the Ihaiaroad. Gorse has been cut imd grubbed on the section at the Waiaua river, leased from the Harbour Board. The men in this riding were engaged for a third of the month assisting the foreman in the Oeo Northern. and Opua Northern ridings, as it "Vas impossible to get sufficient casual lab-' our. The costs of contract 384, on the fciltham road, near the Taungatara bridge, omitted last month on account of date of meeting being altered, are as follows: Total cost per chain, including contractor's price for 272 cubit , yards, crushed metal and 36 yards screenings, £6 4s 2^d; cost per chain for scarifying, forming up, spreading, team and manual labour, fuel, etc., 4s llJ,d. Opua Riding; (INorthern) —Patching, and water-tabling have been done to the Maio. South road, also patching to the Narnu and upper Arawhata roads. About the middle of the month th« Fowler engine, with one "Austin" scarifier, along with the Garrett rO-Uer, commenced work on the Main South road at the Heimama bridge, from whence a length of 70 chains northwards was scarified, formed .up arid rolled in again without new metal, at ,i cost of £1 2s lid per chain. The cost is rather higher than usual, but the stone turned up with the scarifier was so large that it had practically ail to be knapped by hand before rolling in. Further repairs will probably have to be done to the Meimama bridge in the immediate future. The timber at the breastwork of the abutments is rotting and will need to be shored up. Opunake Riding.—Pipes have been made in the shed on wet days and shingle has been delivered to the two • yards for the same purpose. The Wai- - mate West county engineer has kindly lent us a tar-sprayer, which will be used on Main street as soon as the contractor gets out the top dressing. The Stratford county engineer made the same offer, but it will be cheaper from Manaia. General. —As this is the first meeting of the new Council, I should like the members to take into serious consideration the provision of some means of raising sufficient money for the purpose of obtaining labour-saving plant". We are behind all other counties in Taranaki in this respect. There are numerous places on the coast where tens of thousands yards of beach stone is available for road making, if we had only the i means of transporting it quickly and

cheaply to where it is acquired Over two years ago I submitted an estimate showing that by the us e of a lifting plant on the beach large metal bins and motor lorries, it was possible to deliver, crushed metal five miles from where it was crushed at less than half , the average cost we were paying oon^ « tractors to deliver the same material j one mile. A very valuable addition to j the plant would be a jack-hammer drill -1^ ,COUld bo Wol*ed in winter time with steam from the Garrett roller J nfnivtYll^* \°• ?°? a potation for a motor trailer which is required with the crushing plant now at Puniho, to carry alpng the timbers required for setting up the plant and the screen A contract for formation of the Wiremu road nas been provisionally accepted and T have arranged with the 'district engineer to go into the matter on Saturmelt neK ' GarlieSt day We i**l* The chairman said that the question of obtaimne additional plant would have to De considered later. A finance committeei consisting of €rs. Green, Toseds. Ihe chairman and Crs Wilson