Egmont County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume XXV, Issue 948, 12 February 1907, Page 2

Egmont County Council.

.Friday, February 8. The monthly meeting was held at Opunake. Present: Ora M. Fleming (chairman), E. Maxwell, W. C. Dudley, R. Warner, A. Coffin, M. J. Brennan, J. Burgess, and J. Conaglen. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and outward correspondence read and approved. CORRESPONDENCE. From Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, forwarding a listof persons who ar6 in receipt of charitable aid. From the Government Department, stating that all communications to Ministers must be stamped. From Valuation Department, re alteration on roll. —The clerk had attended to it. From Chairman, sanctioning the transfer of contract from A. Crawford to Keheley Bros,—Action confirmed. From Waimate Road Board, re conditions of hire of grader. OUBI BRIDGE. A letter was read from the Department of Roads, stating that the Minister has approved of the spending of the balance of the graut (£2l 14s 4d) for purposes of protecting approaches. Resolved, That tenders be called for making and metalling approaches to Ouri bridge. (Fleming-Brennan.) foremen's reports. oeo riding. H. Munro reported : Elthani road': We have expended £l4 2s on maintenance and surfaee work, and had 122 yards of stone broken ready foir winter maintenance. 1 have not had so much trouble to procure stonebreakers as I anticipated. The Punehu bridge on this road requires repainting. The cheapest method would be to give the upper structure two coats of hematite and oil, and well tac the deck and understructure. A better job would be made by using red lead and red oxide, but the cost would be considerably greater. Main South Road : G. Viokery is making good progress with contract 66, delivery of shingle. There are three bridges which require repaint-ing—-Geo, Ouri, and Punehu. The two former could be treated the same as suggested for Punehu (Eltham road); the Punehu (Main South road), as it is only a low truss, could be coated all over with tar. It would not look so well as paint, but would be considerably cheaper. Waimate Grader : I have approached the Board on the matter, and received statement of terms, but have not been able to deal with it on account of not being able to procure a team at present, or a man to work the machine,, the Board having no man to send out with it. I will have more time to attend to it after the concrete work at the Ouri bridge is comnTeted. Oeo Lower Road : G. Vickery has completed contract 59, 15 chains formation and delivery of 326 yards _of gravel. This contractor is pushing along with his coutraots in a very energetic manner this season.

Oeo Upper Road : We have spent £l3 10s in formation and repairs, doing the work by day labour. Contract 72, delivery of boulder stone, has been transferred from A. Crawford to Keheley Bros., who have plenty of strength on, and will push it through in a short time if weather permits. Skeet Road : The concrete work at Ouri bridge is completed as far as can be done until the removal of the old bridge- The supervision of this work iu connection with my usual work in the riding has necessitated me doing a lot of overtime. EAHOTU, NOBTHEBN. M. McHannighan reported that he had been repairing the road between Okahu river and Rahotu. There had been spread 170 yards of broken metal in front of Mr Bleakley's section, and- blinded with pit gravel. Ten chaius of side track have been made at the same place. The earth for making the side track was taken from a narrow cutting, and widened and improved the road way. All last year's brokko metal between Oaonui and Rahotu is used. The carting of 1000 yards between Oaonui and Rahotu is finished. W. Humphries has started on his Puniho to Rahotu contract. I waot W, Humphries to stack the boalder stone so that it can be measured, as it is wanted for the stonebreakers,

Recommend W. Humphries a progress payment of 75 per cent on 300 yards of boulders delivered. Wairongomai bridge, north of Mr O'Rorke's, requires new joists and decking. I propose to make it four feet wider when I am repairing it. Painting bridges : Twenty - four bridges require attention. Would suggest that the Okahu bridge be painted ; the timber on the others ia not sound enough for painting. It would be better for most of them to get two good coats of tar, which will not cost so much, and will answer the purpose. The south end of the Oaonui bridge is in a bad state, and requires immediate attention. KAHOTU SOUTHEBN. T. Humphries reported that he had been repairing the Eltham road. A. Crawford has started contract 70. Have arranged with J. Harrison to continue the side track another half mile ; would recommend a set of 12inch pipes to be put in now that the side track is made, as it is dangerous. Opuoake riding: A Crawford has completed the delivery of 804 yards of boulder stone. A small amount of surface work has also been done. Main South Road : W. Humphries has commenced contract 68. I have levelled some of the places where the material for the road is to be deposited. \ ,

Sfconebrsakers seem scarce at pre Bent.

Recommend a progress payment to A. Crawford of 75 per cert on 304 yards of boulder stone ; also final payment to J. Harrison on contract 64. Thirteen bridges require painting (estimates supplied). PAINTING BRIDGES. : Resolved, That the recommeuda tions of the foremen re painting bridges be given effect to, and that tbey be instructed to get the work done. (Fleming— Brenpan). engineers' report. E. 0. Robinson, engineer, reported : Waiaua bridge renewal: The concrete in connection with this work not having set sufficiently, the filling at the northern end will be put iu about nest week. _ Waifceika bridge : The concrete piers and wings are nearly completed. Ouri bridge (Skeet road): Nearly ail the concrete work has been put in, and this portion of the contract will be completed in a few days. The contractors understand that they must keep the existing bridges open and safe for traffic. In regard to the present Waiteika bridge, I pointed out some temporary strengthing which should be executed, and which if carried out will render the structure safe for the completion of the contract. The contractor has agreed to do the strengthening straight away.

The most unsatisfactory position io regard to the delay in delivery of the steelwork still continues. (Letters were enclosed stating that Andersons, Ltd., were doing all they could to get the material, but on account of the briskness of the trade at Home, it was difficult to get orders executed). Drawings for the new Ouri and Oeo bridges on Eltbam road are completed and ready to forward. Oaonui bridge : I visited the locality of this bridge and made a careful inspection of the alternative sights. As a result, I recommend the deviating of the road, and the building of the new bridge at the lower end of the long straight in the stream, above the present road, in preference to making an open cat across the latter and deviating the stream. The former proposals would be devoid of all risk, and would place both road and bridge in an absolutely safe position permanently, while the total cost would not exceed that of the latter scheme. The only difficulty is in regard to the taking of the land for the deviation. though this could in any case be effected »nder the Public Works Act. Should your Council be agreeable to the suggested deviation, I would recommend that the bridge be built in the one contract, and the roadwork be done separately, as in such case a saving would certainly be effected. In view of the trouble and delay regarding the steelwork for the bridge Contracts already let, I have designed the Oeo and Ouri bridges of simple rolled steel sections, such as are nearly always procurable in the colony, and consequently if the tendering will allow of the Council renewing the Oaonui bridge in reinforced concrete, a repetition of the present annoyance should not occur.

Cr .Brennan Baid they might as well agree to the deviation, whatever kind of bridge is put up. Resolved, That the deviation be assented to, provided the nec-esary land can be obtaiued. (BrennanMaxwell). LAYARD STREET. Cr Dudley (on behalf of the Town Board) asked the Council to assist in improving the culvert at the corner of Layard street. The pipes want putting right in order to carry the water away. He suggested that the foremen of the Council and Board do the work. Resolved, That the reauest be complied with. OVERTIME. The question of overtime for the Oeo foreman was deferred until the extra work is completed. WAIRONGOMAI BRIDGE. Resolved. That the foreman be authorised to get the timber as recommended. (Fleming—Burgess). TENDERS. There were three tenders (Keheley Bros., J. Krieger and G. Vickery) for boulders for Oeo riding, but as ihey were considered too higb, it was decided not to accept any. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Cr. Burgess brought up the subject of noxious weeds, stating that there were plots of ragwort and blackberry all along the road, and thought it was time something was done to check the growth of it. Resolved, That the attention of the Noxious Weeds Inspeotor be drawn to the weeds in the district, especially ragwort' and blackberry. A RETURN OF MATERIAL. Resolved, That a return be prepared for next meeting, showing the quantity and cost of boulders, shingle, and metal (also pit metal where ascertainable) delivered in the Rahotu riding; also the quantity and cost of boulders, shingle, and metal (also pit metal wbere ascertainable) delivered in the Rahotu riding ; also the quantity and oost of stone broken in the Rahotu riding during 1906. (Maxwell— Conaglen). OVERDUE RATES. Resolved, That 10 per cent be charged on all rates not paid by February 26. after which the clerk be empowered to sue. • ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: Pay-sheet for month, £IBO 10s 9d; Taranaki Hospital Board, £l4 6s lOd ; Hawera ditto, £ll 6s 3d ; G. Vickery, contracts 59, 65, 66, £75 7s 2d ; j. Krieger, 60, £U 2s 7d ; W. Humphries, 62. £36 12s; J. Harrison, 64, £lO 10s; A. Crawford, 71, £29 lis ; Councillors' travelling expenses, £2 10.-i; Bank of New Zealand, £lO lis ; Government Valuation Department, £ll 10s ; A. D. Fielder, £9 ; Opunake Times, £7

12s; M. M. B. Gibbons, 10s 5d ; Cain and Co., 15s; W. McCaul, £1 6s 6d ; Publio Trustee, £1 Is; A. Shaw. £8 15s 8d ; T. J. Mildenhall, £l4 7s 7d; Opunake Sawmilling Company, £ll 10s 4d ; bridge loan account, £174 19s.