TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1915, Page 6

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held yesterday. Present: Crs. J Brown (chairman), A. E. Laurence, W. Binnie, C. Andrews, D. McAlTum J. Andrews, A. Morton and J. S. Connett. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr. R. W. Fisher) reported:— Crushing plant: During the month tne plant has been engaged at the following depots:—Bacon factory, 3 days, crushing •247%}'<ls; Chain bridge, 3 y 2 days, 300 yds; Albert road, 4 days, 382 yds'; total amount crushed, 933% yards. 'The plant is now crushing at the Kent road depot. The large roller has been engaged with the plant. The small roller has been working down the coast scarifying and rolling, and the road shows marked improvement. The roller lias only been idle two days through wet weather. I find it necessary to recall the roller, as there are bridges to be crossed on the Korito road, and the large roller is too heavy for this by-road, and will also be required on the Mangorei road when the plant is at Tozer's depot. Moa Riding: The roads in this riding are in very fair order. I require about •20 plank's for renewals on the Mangonui bridge, on the Junction road. The existing decking in places is dangerously defective. The work will cost approximately £lB. I propose commencing regrading the two hills on the Mountain road in Foremen Laurence's anl Mallon's lengths forthwith, as this can be proceded with without any serious inconvenience to traffic.

Mangorei Riding: Roads in this riding are in fair order. The metal at the Albert road depot lias been crashed and put on the road, but requires more rolling than has been possible with the one roller, which has not been able to keep up with the crushing plant. This will, however, be completed when the small roller joins the plant. Waitai'a Riding: The roads generally in this riding are in good order. The Richmond road is cutting up badly, and the foreman has been instructed to give this his attention. Mr. Beckbessinger, "Mayor of Waitara. asks me to report that the Borough Council would like to see the culvert at the foot of Big Jim's Hill, which has been re-laid, extended in order that the present drinking place may be filled in. and he states that if considered necessary the Borough Council will provide a drinking trough at this point. T shall be glad if the Council will discuss the matter, so that the Waitara Borough Council may be informed of the decision.

Omata Biding: The roads are in good order. I have arranged with Mr. Grooby. of Frankley road, to prospect for atone on the hill in his property, and he is agreeable to come to arrangements permitting the Council to open up a pit if it is found suitable for metal. Foreman Eva has been instructed to put in a drive, when I will report 'on the results. Foreman Seamark has put in a further drive in Mr. Mace's property, with disappointing results, and T cannot recommend going further in this matter, as the metal procurable would not justify the expense of stripping arid forming egress road . Okato Riding: The roads are in very good order, and have benefited by the scarifying and rolling. I had wished to have taken the roller on some of the side roads, but as I have had to withdraw the roller, as already stated, this work will have to be deferred for a month or so. The old Timaru bridge on the beach road, which has been closed for traffic for some time, is in my opinion perfectly safe if opened for riders, and it has been pointed out to me that it would be a great boon to those wishing to get to Oakura, and would considerably shorten the distance. I recommend that the barriers should be partially removed, sufficiently wide to allow horsemen only to pass through. The decking has been removed for half its width and could not possibly be used by vehicles. The timber required for the Mangonui bridge was granted. The engineer's action in accepting ,T. Magee's tender for stone at Korito at 4s 3d per yard was endorsed. Authority was given to put in a pipe culvert on the junction of Corbett and Devon roads.

Cr. MeAllum complained tliat a resolution which had been carried bv the Council some time ago to the effect that ratepayers at Omata be called upon to cut hack trees had not been given effect to.—The chairman undertook to see that the matter was attended to. The engineer's recommendation with reference to the Timaru bridge will be given effect to. It was decided to dispose of surplus timber at Kaihihi bridge by auction.

It was decided, after some discussion, that a fence be erected at Big Jim's Hill culvert, and that the necessary work on the Hoani road be left to the chairman and engineer to deal with.

TENDERS. The following tenders were accepted for various contracts for maintenance metal: —Moa riding: Tarata pit 346aj, F. Grylls and Co., 10s 4d per yard; Durham road depot (347), Rowan ani Thomason, 5s 4d; Bacon Factory-depot (348), Rowan and Thomason, ss; Chain bridge, Rowan and Thomason, 5s <4d. It was decided that the work for the Mangonui pit road (343) should be done by day labor, and that fresh tenders be called for Clarke's pit (340). Mangorei Riding: Albert road (360) and Kent road depot (351), Rowan and Thomason, Cs lid and 7s Id per yard respectively; Tozer's depot (353), J. Magee and Oliver, 7s 6d. Fresh tenders to be called for Korito depot (352). Waitara Riding: AVaiwakaiho depot (354), A. Haskell and Co., 4s 3d; Mahoetahi depot (355), A. Haskell and Co., 6s 3d; Smart road depot (358), J. Magee and Oliver. 5s lid; Willing's pit (358)', Rowan and Thomason, 4s 10d; Mutton Track depot (359). Rowan and Thomason, 5s lOd; Montefiore's pit (301), A. Haskell and Co., 7s fid. Fresh tender!" to be called for Pitt's pit (357) and Waiongona pit (360), and it was decided that the work for Railway pit, Sentry ■TI ill (362) be done by the foremen. Omata Riding: For the contracts, boulders Omata riding (303) and Blue Gums (364) no tenders were accepted, and it was decided to call for tenders for delivery as required. Okato Riding: Tapuae depot (365). A. W. Cowling, fls 8d; Koru depot (300), Meredith and drey, 7s 10d; Oakura depot (307), H. Julian, 5s 0d; AVainau depot (308), Meredith and Grey, 6s fid: Timaru depot (369), A. W. Cowling, Ss: Kaihihi depot (371), A. W. Cowling, 5s 9d. No tenders were received for Katikara depot (370) and Stony River depot (372). and it was resolved that fresh tenders be asked for. CORRESPONDENCE. The Treasury notified that subsidy amounting tg £125 had been placed to

the Council's credit at the bank. —Re ceivcd.

A petition signed by four persons called attention to the state of the bridge over the Mangaotuku stream, on the Cowling road, and asked the Council to repair the bridge at its earliest convenience.—Left to the engineer to report on.

Six ratepayers of the Dorset road petitioned the Council for permission to raise a special loan for the purpose of forming and metalling the Dorset road from Smart to Egmont roads. —Engineer to prepare an estimate of cost. A letter was received from Mr. H. Okey, M.P., drawing the Council's attention to a new vote of £SOO for the Carrington road.—Received.

A letter was received from the Public Works Department stating that in regard to the votes provided upon the Public Works Appropriations for road works, etc.. in the Council's district, such votes, as far as they related to new money, would not be available for expenditure until such time as satisfactory arrangements have been made for the raising of the necessary loan for public works purposes, and it has been decided to what extent the funds then available will be sufficient to justify the prosecution of new works.—Received.

Mr. A. Hagenson. Frankley road, offered to purchase or lease a blind road at the rear of his property.—Left to the chairman to deal with.