Piako County Council.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVIII, Issue 14882, 16 October 1912, Page 2

Piako County Council.

Monthly peeling.

The usual month!} meeting of Couuty Council was held at the Council Chambers yesterday, Crs, C. Manuel fChairman), W. P, Ckepraell, W. Lockyer, W. Milliken, and W. Maisey being present. The minutes of the September meeting were read and confirmed. A telegram was 'received from Cr. J.jjß. Thomas, stating his ininaoility to attend the meeting on account of the death of his mother, CORRESPONDENCE. From Public Works Department relative to a dangerous bridge on Thompson’s track, and recommending that the expenditure of about £4 for an open ford in place of culvert, which was likely to get choked in flood time.

Resolved that the engineer be in structed to carry out this work

From Railway Department granting permission, under the usual conditions, to stack metal at Tatua. Received

The Chairman stated he had interviewed the Inspector of Permanent ways relative to the stacking of metal at Walton, and the latter thought this could be arranged. Resolved that the Engineer interview the Railway Inspector on the ma ter. From District Engineer’s office, Auckland, asking for £1 toward the cost of having trees removed from a road at Motumaoho.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Maisey, it was resolved that the amount be forwarded.

From Kirikiriroa Road Board asking the co-operation of the Council in its efforts to obtain a Government subsidy for the opening up of the road running parallel with the raiF way line between Morriusville and Hamilton.

Proposed by the Chairman that the Council write to the Hon. W. H. Herries stating the road would be beneficial to settlers. Seconded by Cr. Milliken-aud carried.'

From the Te Archa Borough Council suggesting a Conference of the County Council and Borough Council iu the matter of proposed by-laws regulating the width of vehicle tyres. The Chairmau explained a meeting of the Council’s had been arranged for that afternoon. From C. Young, Waiorongomai, requesting attention to the drain opposite her property.

Left to the member for the' Riding and the Engineer. From the Auckland Engine Drivers’ Uniou giving notice of its application to include the Piako County Council iu its award, The Clerk stated he had replied to the effect that the Council had no engine drivers at present.

From Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce asking whether the Chairman and two Councillors would act with other delegates, to consider the willows question.

Resolved that the Chairman and Crs. Millikeu and Maisey represent the Council at the meeting. From Treasury claiming a further amount of £2 is 5d for interest on loan. Resolved that the amount be paid. From J. Hill, Tramway Foreman, stating that be had attendee! to the repairs of the pack tiack at Waiorongotuaj, and forwarding accounts, totalling is to be passed for payment. Resolved that the Foremau obtain the timber he requires, and the report was adopted. From W. E. Barnard, on behalf of ,S. McKibben. relative to the latter not being allowed to ’proceed with a contract, and stating that unless allowed to do so, he would claim damages. Resolved that as metal would be procurable in about a fortnight, the Clerk reply regretting that ihe work had beeu stopped 0.1 accouut of lack of metal, w-hich would now be available. General. The matter of the school road drain was left to Cr. Lockyer and the engineer. Resolved that the Morrinsville Cemetery be handed over to the Morrinsville Town Board by Agreement, the Council to hold the titleAccounts amounting to £l6j ns 3d were passed for payment. An amendment by Cr. Chepmell that only loan money accounts and those: for wages and salaries be passed on account of the overdraft being up to the limit lapsed for want of a seconder.

Proposed by Cr* Cheptnell aud and seconded by the Chairman that the Clerk press for payment of rates forthwith.

Mr P, Baine attended and said that the Quarrying Company would have metal ready iu about a fortnight. At present there was an order from the County for 2,000 yds and he would like to know what would be required during the next six months.

Resolved that the Clerk supply Mr Bailie with an estimate of the quantity that will be required. The Chairman said that owing to the recent Supreme Court casehe had been unable to proceed to Wellington to urge the matter of grants. He had, however, written to Ministers, aud had received a reply from the HOll. W. H. Herries to the effect that he would do his best in the matter. Tenders. Tne following tenders were dealt with :

No. 7— Earthworks ou the Walton Waharoa Road at Walton: Piako Contracting Company 7s, H. A- Stanley, £BB 3s. Cr.

Lockyer was of the opinion thsd the work could be done cheapen in the summer.

Proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cr. Milliken that fresh.

tenders be called for this wor.

Carried.

No: B—Road8 —Road Formation at.di tion at bridge on Tahuroa Ro:

R. Stanley 4s ; E. Rice, 17s 6d. Accepted. No. 9—Cutting drain oh Roache’s Road at Murrays—Piako Contracting Company £33, E. Rice 10s. Accepted. Engineer’s Report,

Report for the period September —October :

Standard Bridges—l have been asked to report on a letter received from the Wairoa County Council re asking the Public Works Department to compile drawings of standard bridges of spans from ten to 100 feet.

I can hardly see that these drawings would prove as valuable as the Wairoa Couuty Council appear

to imagine. F.It is jteeessapy,-ou of the conditions found in different localities/' such as traffic, nature of soil, depth, and velocity of streams, etc., that eachjdesign must be iuspected separately ; so that even if we’possessed these standard drawings, the working drawing and specification in each case would still have to be inspected by : the Department. \ Eartport Road—There has been a considerable athount of Time spent on this road during the last few mouths by the surfacemen. There is an avenue of tall >rees along the east side of the road, which, on account of their keeping off the sun and winds are to. be blamed for its rather bad condition. Provision has been made under the Waitoa Loan for the road to be sanded. The owners of properties fronting this road, however, appear to be anxious that the metal be substituted. To metal the entire length, miles, and construct drain and culverts that are obviously necessary for drainage, will require an expenditure of approximately £1,5003 Houghton and Road at Shaftsburj- The road that Messrs Houghton wish to have formed is, I find, dedicated. They already have a road fronting their property, their outlet being the Main Road. The road asked to be formed runs through their property from' the Shaftsbury Road, parallel to the main road, and distaut threequaiters of a mile therefrom. The ground is low lying, and, unless it be formed in a proper manner, it will be quite hopeless to use it during the winter months. The cost of forming the road, including the construction of three bridges and two culverts would be approximately £ l2o: Messrs Houghton Bros, ask that the creeks, be bridged temporarily with light timber the cost of which would be rcugbly £\o. lam of opinion, however, that this work might well be held over until money is mere plentiful. Extra Surfaceman for Walton — Mr W. Mauniou has been appointed, surfaceman for the western side of the Walton Riding. - ... —V-

Drain at Sheat’s, Te Aroha West, I This drain has beeu inspected and arrangements made for the drain to be cleaned providing the settlers affected would pay half cost. All have not consented to this and I [recommend that the job be held over until autumn. ‘

Scotchman’s Valley Road. —Repairs to this road will be carried out immediately by the newly appointed surfaceman. /

Clothier and Road near Morrinsville —An inspection of the site of the proposed road has ,been made, aud I estimate the cost of forming and metalling the length asksd for, 26 chains, to be approximately £74- . T ~. Vh :1 ’Waicoa Drains —I have, m company with the engineer to the Waitoa Drainage Board, made an 'inspection, on the ground, of the Waitoa drains. It will be necessary, before anything definite can be arrived at, to go 'through the" plans aud contract documents in connection w: f h the works that have been carried out, This I will do iu the near future. ’ )\

Hogan’s Drain. —The . heavier part of this work has been ebrnpleted. It has been necessary, however, to abandon the work for the time being on account of the large quantity of water encountered.

Main Drain. —A start has been made with the deepening of this drain. •*

Drain at Burke’s —This drain will be put through afftoon as the gang, at present employed on the main drain, are available.

Exising Contracts. Progress has been slow owing to unsettled weather. Works should be finished as follows Diagonal Road iu the course of the next few days, and Waghorne’s Road, Te Kawana Road, Waiorongomai-Maungakawa Road at Kereone, aud Wairama Road, within one month. New Contracts. —Contract documents have been prepared tke following works : —lmproved, uents mi Walton —Waharoa Road, road formation on Tahuroa Road, new drains ou Roache’s Road and carting gravel to Shaftesbury Road.

Resolved that the metalling of Eastport Road stand over, liu the meantime, until particularsof grants were forthcoming. Decided that Messrs Houghton’s application be held over for a mouth, The report was adopted,