TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 193, 4 September 1900, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

The County Council met on Wednesday. Present; Messrs. Okey (ohairman), Honocks, Price, McDonald, Adlam, Phillips, ;McCullum, Tate, and Lepper.

It was deeided that steps be taken to get control of the gravel pits vested in the Council.

The Moa Foreman asked permission l to remove an overhanging stump and to widen the road near the creamery at Egmont Village by 6 feet. A letter was also received from Mr. G. Foster on the same subject,—Authority was given for the work to be doue. An extra 50 yards of metal was sanctioned for the road from Inglewood to the Bristol Road, boulders to be placed on first. The question of taking off two bluffs at the zig-zag was deIferred.

The Inglewood Town Board forwarded £36 5s 6d, its share of the culvert at St. Joseph's creek. The Board notified its willingness to pay half cost of a drain on the east side of the Mountain Road, as far as the Primitive Methodist Chapel. Mr. Horrocks reported on the drain required on the Mountain Road, Inglewood, and it was agreed that the Council will do the work if tha Town Board will pay half the cost. It was decided to apply to the Government for the promised grant of £2OO for the Junction Rsad East.

The Omata Foreman reported that a new culvert was required at the O ikura School road junction.—Authority was given for 36 feet of 9in. pipes for the purpose. He also reported the loss of the toll-gate. The- Chairman informed the Council that a new gate had been ordered.

The Parihaka Foreman reported that a culvert across the main road had fallen in, and required replacing with large stone.—The work was sanctioned. T. Barr notified that owing to the way he had been treated by the Parihaka Foreman he had been obliged to quit the service of the Counoil. He asked for some consideration by way of a return of accident insurance premiums paid by him while in the Council's employ.—Several members of the Council expressed their opinion that the men under the foreman should be treated by him with proper consideration.—On the motion of Mr. Adhm, it was decided thao a copy of the letter be sent to the foreman with a request that he furnish an explanation. The Chairman moved that the agreement as drawn up between the Council and the Sash and Door Company relative to carting timber to the Tariki mill be signed.

Mr. Tate seconded the motion. Mr. Horrocks said that it was understood that the basis of the arrangement was to be 3d per 100 feet, and not that it was to be actually 3d. The Chairman pointed out that the Council had already decided that 3d could be accepted,

Mr. Horrocks contended that the terms of the agreement would not work out satisfactorily, either to the Company or the Council. He said the road required at least six inches of metal, as there was no road at all at the place where the carting was to be done. He was in favour of putting the road in order before the Company used it, and he thought the better way would be to ask the Company to spend £270 at once on the road and then he free of all liability for repairs. According to the agreement the Company's contribution was limited to £125 for ono mi lion feet of timber, but the Council would have to spend £540.

Mr. McCullum inquired as to the views of the ratepayers. He understood that those having timber to sell were in favour of the agreement, while those who had not, were against it.

Mr. Horrocks said that the ratepayers objected to anything on the road that would prevent its beiog used for getting to milk the factories.

Mr. Price considered the Council should carry out the proposals agreed

Mr. McDonald said the settlers had no objectioa, and he thought the proposed agreement should be carried out. Mr. Tate pointed out that the Council were duly protected and that it would be against the interests of the Company to out the road up Mr. Price suggestel a limit to the time over which the agreemeit should extend. The Chairman said that all circumstances considered it would be wise not to confine the time to a year. He also pointed out that the proposed arrangement was becoming a general one with the mills in the district.

After some further discussion, the motion was carried,

A complaint was received from P. Johnstone as to the Moa Foreman's ajtion. A copy of the letter was directed to be sent to the Foreman with a request for an explanation. Mr. Wright, Raliotu, not fied that Messrs. Beadly, Howell, Langman, W. L. Phillips, and Wright, had been appointed Trustees of the Rahotu Reserves. With regard to the Cemetery, the Minister of Lands had suggested that if people were dissatisfied with the present site they should join and purchase land for a new site.- The [Trustees were approved.

Mr. Taunton waited on the Council and said that he would be glad if tho members would personally inspect the frontage to his property at Fitzroy, which was required for widening the road. He further stated that taking off the 26 feet of his frontage would have the effect of throwing his boundary back to tho deepest part of the gully there. The Council had had his valuer's report, which they had laughed at, but he could not see what there was to laugh at in it. He admitted that 26 feet did not s"und much, but when the Council visited the property they would be better able to judge of the importance tho strip was to his land.

Tho Chairman: Do y u adhere to your valuation ? Mr. Taunton: No; I cannot, person,ally say what it should be, as 1 ain not competent to value the land myso'f, but I did what was right under the circumstances and employed a competent valuer.

The Chairman : Are you prop -red to take less than tho .£SOO you askod. Mr. Taunton : Yes; I should be propared to negotiate on a basis of X 250, [but I would point out that by losing

this strip the property is spoilt for cutting up.

The Chairman: No doubt some mem-' bers of the Council will inspect the property as requested.

Mr, Taunton thanked the Council and withdrew.

Subsequently a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Lepper, Tate, Price, Phillips, and the Chairman, were appointed to view the property and report. The Lepperton Anglican Church Vestry asked for a new culvert at the entrance to the church property, The Chairman suggested that the same course should be taken as in the case of the Bell Block Church, and a few loads of metal given. This was agreed to. Consent was given to the transfer of a slaughter license from R, Price to Mr. McGee, on section 60, Huia and Waiwakaiho.

Messrs. Halford and Buxton applied for a temporary slaughter license for a month on sections 144-8, Smart Road, until they could comply with the Act in advertising.—The Council was unable to accede to the request, but a license will be granted when all conditions are fulfilled.

Hawkers licenses were granted to Anthony Kerooz and Easer Singh,

A letter was read from E.- J.Boskins, of Waitara, drawing attention to the bad state of the road at the entrance to Strange-street; also as to repairs to the drinkiog place at Big Jim's Hill. —The matter was left in Mr. Tate's hands.

An application was received from G. S. White for permission to use the top soil in front of his sectionjat Te Henui, belonging to the Council; also to use J the old fence for his boundary for the time being.—The request was complied with.

On the question of complying with a demand from the Telegraph Department for £8 subsidy for the telephone wire to Lepperton, Mr. Lepper pointed out that the wire was now being used for Sentry Hill as well as Lepperton, and he considered some reduction should be made.—A deputation, consisting of the Chairman and Messrs. Lepper and Tate, was appointed to wait on the Department to urge a reduction being made in the subsidy. Messrs. Okey and Hollo reported that as requested they had inspected the stone-crusher to see if it could be adapted for use in connection with an elevating machine as designed by thoni They reported that it could be so used if a suitable fixing were applied so as to give the machine a firm base. The Chairman suggested postponing the matter until the crusher was in a [ fixed position. Mr. Horrocks advocated that before any action was taken a committee should inspect one of Yatfs' stoDe crushers at work. He thought it would be a retrogade step to patoh up the old plant. An elevator fitted to the old plant might prove very costly. Ee considered that an eight horse power Aveling and Porter traction engine and road roller should bo orderod at once, and moved in that direction. Mr. McCullum seconded the motion. Mr. McDonald pointed out tint fot country roads a traction engine without the roller would serve the purpose. Mr. Tate said he was satisfied that a road roller would be a great benefit, but he poin'ed out the irconveniences and expenses of a convertible engine and roller. He strongly advocated that a traction engine should be acquired independent of the roller, but ho suggested a scarifier should bo attache I, as it could pick up in nn hour a quantity of road that would take two men a week to accomplish. Mr. Price agreed with Mr. Tate. Hu urged that the present crushing plant should be used till it was worn out. Mr. Adlam also urged that a traction engine apart from a roller should be obtained. Mr. Lepper said that one engine was useless, as a separate engine was required for each riding. Mr. McCullum advocated a traction engino alone, as ho considered that the wide wheels of the engino would suffice. After 'numerous suggestions as to the wording of the motion, it was decided that an Aveling - and Porter eight horse power compound traction engine be procured, also a scarifier, provided tho cost of the latter does not exceed £75. The question of repairs to a drinking place at Okato was left in Mr. MeOul lum's hands. The Bridge Carpenter reported the quantity of timber roquiroi for repairs to the various bridges —An order was given for the timber to bo pro ured. Oa the motion of Mr. lion-oaks, it was dei'ided that the various Hidings be ere lite 1 with their rcsjectivo allocations. Accounts amounting to £550 5s 7d were passed, The Council rose.