CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 318, 6 July 1912, Page 6

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Clifton County Council was held at Waitara yes- ! tonlay, when there were present Messrs.! S. Elliott (chairman), R. T. Hicks, C. j O'Sullivan, A. M. Rower, S. J. Kennington and 11. Sander. KAKA ROAD. ] Mr. D. Paul (Waitara) wrote re his Kaka road contract, that prior to last meeting he had sent wen up to clear the slips, but at the request of the settlers, who stated that they had petitioned the Council not to remove the slips, he had taken the men off. Six settlors on the Kaka road also asked that a siding should be made and the cutting filled in. Mr. W. Jones waited on the Council in support of the petition, and it was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the engineer. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsett) reported that the main portion of the Wai-iti deviation had been surveyed, and plans were in course of preparation. Slips had also been cleared. The TJruti stream bridge would probably be finished next week, as would also the formation contract on the Mataro road. Work to the amount of the Government grant had been laid out on the Matau-Manga-oapa road, and plans would be submitted to the Government Engineer for approval. Levels had been taken for reinforced concrete bridges at Burr's and Lambert's, and plans and estimates were submitted therewith. Silk's and Webb's bridges should also be taken in hand simultaneously at an early date. After conferring with the Crown Lands Ranger, thirds amounting to £BO2 15s lod had i been applied for. The resident road engineer suggested that the Pita road work should be held over until a more i' suitable period. The suggestion was worthy of consideration. He also sought authority to call for contracts for the , following works at the next meeting: j Piko road (deferred), Wai-iti deviation j fencing, Matau-Manga-oapa road forma- ' tion, Burr's culvert, Lambert's bridge, and also the deviation survey on the '. Pukearuhe road.—Adopted. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Kuhtz (Mokau riding) reported that the roads in his riding were very bad. There had been a lot of slips. —The foreman is to be instructed to fascine about ten chains of the MimiMokau road between the 34 and 35 mile pegs. Foreman Telfar (Urenui) reported that the Main road was in a very bad state. 'Some of the holes were getting dangerous. He also reported several J owners of wandering stock. The owners of wandering stock will be prosecuted. The foreman was also authorised to take the necessary steps to repair the road, either with shingle from the beach or gravel pit. Foreman G. A. Smith (Tarata) had been engaged at water-tabling and general surface work on various roads. As ) the continual rain had been the cause of j a lot of extra work, he had hired a horse iand dray for banking fillings on the Junction and Otaraoa roads. Various pipes are to be proceured. MOUNT MESSENGER. 1 Cr. O'Sullivan moved: That in view j of the very heavy traction, the sharp gradients, the many sharp points and the length of the Mount Messenger saddle, which is difficult to negotiate in Winter time, this Council respectfully petitions the Government to have a trial J survey and estimate made for a deviation, commencing at the junction of the Mangatuna road, and sidling up by easy gradients to an altitude suitable for tunnelling; that the hill be pierced and a suitable connection made with the existing road on the north side.—This was seconded by Cr. Bower and carried. The resolution will be forwarded to the Minister of Public Works. ( BACK BLOCKS ASSOCIATION.

The clerk of the Waitomo County' Council (Mr. P. Mora), in a circular letter stated that the Waitomo County Council had passed a resolution suggesting that all local bodies in. the King Country should Ire asked to co-operate and foyni a Back Blocks Local Bodies Association. Such an association would strengthen the hands of the various local bodies in dealing with matters of interest to the King Country generally,< < such as hospital and charitable aid, road \ grants, subsidies, etc. They wanted to I be able to command representation, when j the opportunity arose, and not have to take a back seat as was the case of J representation on the Local Government -. Conference held recently. The letter stated that there were many matters which concerned the King Country local bodies that did not concern local bodies, in other parts of the Dominion; consequently, when they were brought before the annual counties' conference, they did not appeal to other representatives, and were never discussed. The Waitomo Council were unanimous tlvat the time was opportune for the formation of such an association, and if tlie Couicil favored it a meeting could ue convened at a. central place with a view to forming an association. It was resolved that the Council was, thoroughly in accord with the proposal. THE MOKAU RIVER. Mr. C. W. Govett waited on the Council in reference to transfer of a portion of the Mokau estate from Herman Lewis to another. He pointed out that the transfer could not go through unless the Council certified that there was proper road access. The Public Works Amendment Act, 1911, provided that where the land abutted on a navigable river it should be treated as a road, but before this could be done.it was necessary that the local authority should declare that it was a navigable river. "Messrs. Wilson and Grey advised the. Council favorably on the matter, and' it was resolved that the Clifton County Council is satisfied that reasonable access by means of the Mokau river is afforded to the land re- ; ferred to, and resolves that Section 11(5: of the Public Works Act shall not apply .> to the said land. . THE BRIDGE LOAN. ; The State Guaranteed Advances Office . wrote regretting that the Council's application for a loan of £GOOO for the renewal of bridges would have to be declined, in accordance with a resolution passed giving preference to local' bodies to which loans had not already been granted, the limit to be £SOOO, anil the rate 3% per cent. It was pointed out by the Council that up to the present they had only borrowed up to £2OOO, and that all 'the £COOO would not be \ required for years. It was, therefore, decided to write and ask the Advances Office to reconsider the matter of the bridge loan, and ask how much the Department was prepared to grant. HEAVY TRAFFIC. Mr. McKenzie (Uruti), who waited on the Council referred to the damage done by heavy traffic, through traction engines carting iron rails for renewing telegraph posts, and also bridge timber. The metal had been completely destroyed in places, not only on the main road but also on the Uruti road. He knew that it was impossible for settlers to do all their carting in the summer, but it should be possible to stop euch traffic as instanced above. He understood that some counties had formulated by-laws dealing with such traffic. Members of the Council pointed out ' that the old Council had drawn up bylaws to deal with the matter, which,

through some technicality, could not 1)8 enforced; and the new Council'had taken no further steps in the matter. GENERAL. Ten settlers on the Piko road asked the Council to raise a loan for the purpose of metalling the Piko road. The engineer is to visit the locality and prepare an estimate for the proposed loan. On behalf of the Okau settlers, Mr. H. Knight asked that the £44 Os 3d credited to the Mangatoro road should he expended on improving the track.—Left in the engineer's hands. The Postal Department notified that the second year's working of the Rerckapa telephone office showed a deficiency of £7 7s Cd. As the Department was bearing half the deficiency, it would be necessary for the Council to forward £3 13s 9d. The Treasury notified payment to the Council's account of £75 on account of the dray road at Otararoa, and £266 14s 3d for the burnt papa on the MimiMokau road. The Department of Internal Affairs notified receipt of proposed alteration of ■boundaries between the Stratford and Clifton Counties, which would receive due consideration. C. Turner, surfaceman at Okau, resigned his owing to illness of, his wife.—The resignation was and D. G. Rowe was appointed to the vacancy. Mr. J. Sarten's offer of 15s for an old pine tree on the Ohanga road was accepted. | Mr. C. Penn, Stratford County clerk, notified that a sum of £2 10s was duo for thirds to the Manga-oapa road, which he would forward as soon as available Messrs. E. P. Walsh, J. Walsh and W. Lovell, settlers at Tongaporutu, asked the Council to expend £25 on the Hutiwai road, as they would be supplying the butter factory this season, and the road was dangerous until it was fenced and two sharp comers removed.—Left in the hands of the engineer. Mr. C. K. Wilson, M.P., wrote, asking to be advised of matters requiring attention during the session of Parliament now opened. F. H. Milte (Matau) asked why the £l5O granted by the Government for the ! removal of points on the Matau-Kiore I road had not been expended. The pres- | ent time was opportune, he considered, , for doing the work as men were avail--1 able. The chairman gave notice to move at next meeting that a general rate of iy a d in the £ be struck for the ensuing year. , This was the rate struck last year. It was resolved to write settlers on the Allen road re removal of gates. It was resolved to renew the accident policy with tke N.Z. Accident Insurance Company. The Taranaki County Council is to be informed that at present the Council has i no use for a metal plough. Accounts amounting to £631 5s 5d were passed for payment.