CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 206, 6 October 1900, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

[BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER], I The ordinary monthly meeting of the! Clifton County Council was held at Waitaraon Friday. Present : Messrs Piggott (Chairman), Webb, Elliot, Hicks, Murley, Oliver, and-Foreman. A letter was read from G. Bint as to thirds on the Pukemihoe Road, and the clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Bint that no thirds had accrued previous to the loan, and that these accruing since went towards paying interest on the loan.

The Chairman was authorised to arrange for overdraft up to. the legal limit.

Messrs, Hadley and Co. submitted catalogues for stone crushers,

The Treasury notified that approval had been given to the Council's application for a further loan of .£SOO for additional metalling to the Junction Road,

The Chairman reported the result of his interview with the Commissioner of Crown Lands relative to the payment by the Government of the subsidy for metalling the Junction Road, in respect of which the Council claimed £7Ol Is 4d, but the Government would only pay £560 17s by way of progress payment, as they disputed the amount of metal put on, . A general discussion ensued as to the best way of overcoming the difficulty, and eventually Mr. Oliver moved that the engineer be instructed to sign the progress payment certificate without prejudice to the Council's claim for the balance, ,£l4O 4s 4d. Mr. Webb seconded the motion.

Messrs. Mackay and Orbell, Engineers to the County, explained that the Council were entitled to the whole amount,

The motion was carried. Mr. Foreman moved that the Chairman write the Commissioner, protesting against the retention of the XI4O 4s 4d retained in hand by tho Lands Department.—The motion was seconded by Mr, Oliver, and carried, The Engineer's monthly report was read. They stated that a trial line had been run for the deviation of a part of the Mangamaboe Road, and found it practicable to make the deviation at a considerable saving in cost. They hopfd to be able to call for tenders for the first portion of the formation of the road by the next meeting.

A discussion took place as to the width of the road, as to which tbe Engineer asked for instructions. Mr. Murley proposed that with the exception of the filling the roid be 14 feet, but on the advice of the Engineer he agreed to substitute 15 feetMotion carried. The Council then resolved-itself into i special meeting, when the special order re Mangamaiho Road, was adopted. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Oliver, it was decided to call for tenders for 13 chains of gravelling, in continuation of the present metalling on the Main North Road. The Clerk was instructed to write to the members for the distiict requesting them to ascertain whether the Government would grant a subsidy for metal- | ling the road between Mimi and Uruti. The engineers were instructed to report on the state of the Junction Road between Tarata and Purangi at the next meeting. Tenders for carting in tbe Ngatimaru riding were opened, and tbut of J. Johnson accepted. The tender of M. Rogers of 35s per chain for draining at Okote Road was declined.

Accounts amounting to £IBB 8s 4d were passed. Shortly after the Board had concluded their busipess a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Levi Sarten, R. Cunningham, and J. Foreman, waited on the Council to urge tbat something ba done to put the Bertrand Hill in order. Mr. Sarten explained what could be .done, and offered to be responsible for the interest on the sum required. The resolution previously passed by the Council, to the effect that it had no funds for the purpose, was read to the deputation. Mr. Foreman pointed out that the trouble arose by the road being taken over the brow of the hill instead of round it. The question of deviation had been considered and favourably reported on by the Engineer—the cost being about ,£IOO but nothing was done owing to the lack of funds. In the wet weather the roid was almost impassable, but it was an important road and much used. He thought the Council should do as much as it could.

Mr. Sarten said that whenever anything was asked for the road, it was always thit the deviation would be made, but it never came. j The matter stood over for consideraion till the next meeting of the Council, CLIFTON DOMAIN BOARO. The Council resolved itself into the Clifton Domain Board. 1 A letter from the Lands Department was read, notifying that at a recent public meeting at Urenui seven persons had been nominated as a Domain Board in respect of section 12, block 3, Waitara S.D., and inquiring if the Council desired to be relieved of their appointment as a Domain Board; also request-, iug information as to the time and place of meeting of the proposed Board.

On the motion of Mr. Foreman, seconded by Mr. Elliot, it was resolved that the Board be re ieved of the control of the domain, and that the domain .be vested in persons nominated ; also that the meetings of the trustees be held in Urenui at such dates as the Board may decide.