CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 139, 6 July 1901, Page 2

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clifton County Council met at Waitira on Fridaay. Present: Messrs. Piggott (Chairman), Foreman, 01 ver, Murley, Webb, Elliott and Hicks. The Postal D 'partment submitted a sjj,tfemont showing a lews of 16s 81 on th« Tikoraogi telephone. The Lmd Board wrot') approving of poposad expenditure cf thirds amounting to .£577' 5s 4d. Tr.e Chief Engineer of Roads wrotconcumng in the necessity of repairs ti the Mimi-Mokau R ad from the main North road to Uruti township, and stating he would do his be<t to a sist in metalling the same. Mr. B. N. Nicholls, on behalf of the Reception Committee, fo.-warded a copy of an address whi'.-h it was pro- ' posed to present to Ir'eu'enant.-Culonel D.ivi s on his arrival at Inglewoad, heartily welcoming him on his return and congregating l-'im on well-earned p-omotion. I The Chairman was authorised to s ; gn the addre.-s, and the Committee I were to be aekedto wire when Colonel i 1) .vies arrived. I Mr Symes, M.H.R., wrote acknow-leging-receipt of le ter, re Mimi-Mo-kau Road, fiad stating ho wouLl use I his influence to get the request of the : Chief Engineer given effect to. It was decided to call for tenders for timber from Aitken's bridge. A lsngthy petition was read from ! ol von settlers urging the necessity for proper road communica'ion be'.wesu i Mi mi and Puktarahe, pointing out that the land in that pait of the district | contained some of the mosi highly j mted 1 nds in the country, and urging 'that a"? for the last 30 .years tneir ; l.tu!, \v\,\A\ was valued, at £lO petace, ha I b - i> paying rat : s, and they hbd no y • ; i t\>rm.d read to Dhtii- property ; (.M.it the.duucil shuuld in a spirit of justic. 1 , make a giant of £3OO, the balafci required (about £350) being alvi c d by iheui fiea of iutere t, ui.d rep.jd by tle Oouucil in annual instalments. A very 1 ng letter from Mr Southy Baker tn the same subject was also read. The Engineer reported tint the contractor had nearly completed the first co'itraci on the O:araoa Rod, and was m kin/ go d progress wi h the second contra, t. Thu bi idge coutrad s were leing pushed ou. Levels on the Okoke Road were being taktn. With' efirume t) the 10 d to Pukearuhe, th y hd inspect d the Wai-iii Hilt with Mr-. 0 ivei' and fi-und the lowrr pirt of the pteitm trek could ba alterod to jjive a grjdtu.f 1 in 8| down t> the be ch, while a small cutting tould be made on the top of the hill 10 «ive a gradd of 1 in 10, at a cost of about £25. The Chairman corsidlred tha Pukearuha petit'oners bad maj}e out a very gi-od case, and it resed with the Council as to whit should t-e dona. Mr. Murhy inquired if the duts prcpot tien < f rat es was spent on toe road. Mr. Oliver taid he had annually bi bug tit forward estimates of what h considered should be spent on that pan'of the dis'rict, but ibe amounts asket for had been reduced. He con si 'trad the byj roads had not robced the Pukearuhe settlers of moiiiy which to have heeu spent on their road.

The Chairman pointed out that such a contention w*s nos made by Mr. liaker. Mr. Olive" s id with legard ti that part of the diet ict beii g better represented on the CouticiJ, he had always advocated that ccuise, and tad ottered tie i-ettlers his bupp r •. The Cubituau taid it was a question as to whether the SotUtra had or had .iot tLeir ra'es speut en their road. Toeir lat:d was valued at ,£lO per acre, ijid tor the hst 30 jears had b;en piyiiig rates. Mr. Oliver pointed out that the Mokui Riding was £490 in dtbi. Mr. Webb stated that the rates collec ed were only sufficiant to kaep the rjhds in repair, and was nothing ■ eft Lr constructive works. The Chairman advocated the matter being settled. 1 Mr. Oliver suggested the Wai-iti Hill should be dealt with th'S year,, tut us he was charged by the Sattltrs with beirg prejudiced he did noi feel inclined u> submit a motion. He pointed out that Mr. Baker and another large tiolder had their land in the maket, and Leuodersioodic'was intended to cut it up into smaller sections, ai.J if this were done there would D 6 a new clasi of settlers, who would require more roads. Mr- Foreman did not consider it was possible for the Council to do the work on the lines suggestad by the petitioners. It the settlers would find £4OO tree of interest and accept instalments by £SO a yt ar for repayments, the work might be don?, but he was not at all suie that that the C-uucil could legally act in tbat way. A 'deputation consisting of Messrs Suuthey, BaW, Bel), and MacMahou waited un the Council lelative to the abeve matter. Mr Baker he had embodied his views iu the letter before the Cjuncil, He then read the lettir for the information of the otner memof ttie deputation, and in so doing commented on pertious. Mr. Baker said the settlers considered Mr. Oliver did not represent their interests fairly. No oue could question that ho ro id was required. The Uhaii'aiun: It is a matter of financing, j Mr. Foreman: We feit th it tinkering witu the present track would 'no. give the acconiwodatiou required. The OouQcil could noi usa iis pow'e.s of overdraft for tho sole beaefij A one part of the district. Mr, Baker: I am noi asking for £I3OO, but only £3OO. Tue Council must look after tha Couuty as a whole. Mr. Foreman: That is the point. It is this duty that prevents us from expanding a large, sum iu any one pkce. Mr. Baker contended that there was no part of the cjun'.y which required expenditure in the same urgent way ,is the raad he was iiitareatsd iu, Tiie jtrue priueiple of cxpjudibure was that which recognised the most urgoot, (Works as having the first claim. ( Mr. Oiwoi' said he considered that tha CuunC'l siiouid tiis; hjlp tho'.e whj helpel iiicrnsc)lve3. Press .d bj Mr, S Baker ha said the io.'.ds having mo>t traffic bhould be first put iu ordu\ iir. Baker produuod tt loter from tha Cro.vn Lands Departm-nt lecognisiiig that she road iu question was a main road. : Mr. 1! Jeer, in t j Mr. Foromac, said that as far as uo could learn, expeii'iitui'd ou tin road had bseu nil. Mr. Foreanu advocitod dropping that lino of discussion arid eadeavouring to s e wlut was beat to be doue. Mr, Baker said if the Council would find [£3oo he would undertake to find the balance. All they wanted was a passable road. He was willing that the balance advanced should be repaid at the rate of £IOO a year, which if

an emergency aroso in the County] might bi reduced to (siy) £75. Wi-hi regard to the deviation, he was pre- j paied to lave the question of the, best route in the hands of the Council. » Mr. MacMahon pointed out that it \ was quite impossible for tho settlers to j tio in for dairying un il the roid w»s[ fi'imid. After sime further desultory dis-uu-sion, Mr P.r.-man moved tha 1 ; the 0( uncil tak- to form the deviation 'ii the main R iad to Pukearuhe, on the settlers advancing £450 free of intei est, to be repaid ry ainml instalments of no', 1-ss that. £75. The motion was seconded by Mr Webb, aud carried. •Mr Baker thanlcd the Council, and the deputation withdrew. Mr. Fr<-e:h waited on the Count il relative to .accident Insurance of employees, It was decided to (ffect a pulicy of ir.sur.tnce with the Ov-eau Arci lent I' surance Company. It was decided to cill for fresh tenders for metlliog the, Junction R>al, to be subm tted to tha Council at its Dec-mow me. ting. The Engineers were instrue'ed t'j have th-< work dor e on the Toro Read It was decided to call for te iders For forming a mile and saven'y-stx chains i of the okoke Roid. | The Couucil then considered thej provi.-iir.s of the L-cl Governmin". Bill, anl the Chairman was deputed to I at'end th* forthcoming Coof'Teooe, armed with tho critic'sms of the Coutici l . Accounts wero passed and the Council adj urii'd.