EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1916, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. 'the monthly meeting of the Eginont County Council was held at Opunake yesterday. Present: Crs. 31. Fleming (chairman), T. Harvey, James Young, M. J. McKeynohls. S. l'orsvth, W. it. Wright, S. Campbell, R. J. McNeill and \Y. C. Dudley. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The various foremen reported as follows: I Oeo Riding (northern division).—The staff had been engaged in general maintenance work on the Eltham, Oeo, Wirenui, Opunake, Stratford and Putiki roads. He had erected the bridge on the Wirenui Road at a cost of labor only, as Mr. Townsend had given the timber. Regarding the entrance of the Awatuna Hall, the chairman of the liall Committee agreed_to pay 108 for the labor and to provide seven 12in. pipes. He had inspected the Kiri bridge. The timber Mr. Clements reported as being put in was correct. The bridge was now in good order, Oeo Riding (southern division).- —The ihands had been engaged filling in and metalling over now concrete bridge on the Skcct Road, They had also repaired Puneliu bridge and erected a fcaje at Puketapu creek. They were now busy with contracts on progress, and he recommended procuring the Waimate County roller, if possible, to roll on the Main .South Road, oast boundary. A line of twelve 12in. pipes were required on the Patiki Road. He suggested that approaches to bridges be laid down with eight inches of tarred metal, at least four feet from bridge. Raliotu (southern') and Opunake Ridings.—The staff had been engaged principally on contract 276, which had been completed. Seven hundred and forty yards of metal and 116 yards of screenings are being delivered at To Namu end, and 4.12 yards of metal and 4S yards of screenings at Oaonui end. Raking, blinding, and water-tabling was in progress on Main South Road, and one small bridge had been attended to. He recommended the calling of tenders for next contract of 1200 yards of crushed boulder stone as authorised for Eltham and Main South Roads. Rahotu Riding (northern).—The hands had been engaged at road work in general, cleaning water-tables wherever they required attention through being choked up with weeds and silt, so that when the weather broke the storm waters would have a free pasage and would not be so liable to scour the metal away. Maintenance work had been carried out wherever any portion of the road showed any signs of breaking up, while they were engaged with crushing contracts that are in progress. All bridges throughout the division had required repairs more or less, and. considering the very dry summer, the roads had stood up very well, and especially in view of the amount of motor traffic that travelled In and fro o n Main South Road. CofTey and Leatherbv hail completed the hauling out of boulder stone on all tljoir contracts. The crushing plant was shifted into the riding on February 20, ami after attending to minor repairs a start was made crushing on February 20. Owing ts the crusher being in a had state sf repair it was impossible for the contractor to get through a gcod average tall v. ° Bridge Foreman,—Owing to'indiffcrent health he had been unable to proceed with the erection of the Vvaiwersuui bridge. He suggested tli:it two bridges or. the Oeo Road, the Dure and Mill stream, should be braced up to increase their strength till the Council could have them removed. The supports had completely rotted through ami the strincers also were in a bad state of diva v. The necessary material for the Mill'stream was in store at the Council's yard. RAILWAY RESERVE. Tn connection with section In. ElthamOpunake railway reserve, Mr. O. 11. Billiard (Commissioner ©f Crown -Lands) notified that the land was held on a year-to-year tenancy, and consequently the tenancy was automatically renewed every year and did not expire till the tenant gave notice that he no longer required it or it was decided to determine the lease. If the lessee desired to relinquish the holding the Council's application could then he considered, but not otherwise, unless for some special purpose in the public interests. It was stated that the lessee, of the land was not using it. but had sub-let it at a considerable advance.—Xo action was taken. NATIVE K ATE 3; The clerk to the AYaimate County Council notified that the Native Reserves Agent had intimated that his Department did not intend to pay anymore rates on Native reserves. ' His Council suggested that a conference of Taranaki local bodies interested should be held to discuss the best means of obtaining these rates. Lengthy correspondence between the County Clerk and Reserves Agent was read over the same matter, the clerk stating that at the last Native pay in Opunake the Reserves Agent had' deducted from Natives for rates £BO IsSrt. Whilst doubtful whether a conference would be effective, the Council agreed to one, and the chairman and county clerk were appointed representatives. fIENERAU -Mr. w. t\ Clements reported that a bridge on the Kiri Road had collapsed, andjic had used material costing £l2 lis In renewing it. He asked that the Council should pay for this as his agreement was only to maintain the metalled portion. The Awatuna Hall Committee protested against the charge of £2 14s for putting pipes at the hall entrance.—To be informed that the chairman of the committee had agreed to this. Mr. H. Catchpoll; drew attention to the state of the Auroa Road, from the Awatuna factory. If the county men, he said, had to cart milk over it they would soon get it done. This son son it had cost him £lO for repairs to dray in addition to £lO for rates. The Resident Roads Engineer (air. TI. IT. Sharp) wrote in connection with the Okaliu (Xgariki Road to Newall Road) grant that on receipt of the Council's claim on the form provided arrangements would be made for the inspection of the work. The Telegraph Department, Wanganui, notified that the foreman linesman at New Plymouth would send a man out to supervise the removal of two telegraph poles at Fleming's corner when the Council's men were removing the bend. The Parihaka P>oad Board notified that that it could not agree to pay half cost of the culvert at the junction of the Namu and Main South Roads, as it was considered such was not necessary. Ten per cent, will be added to all rates remaining unpaid after March 14, On the application of Mr. A. 11. Moore Jt was resolved to make a donatio# of

£1 Is to the funds of the Opunakc library. C. Tate was appointed engine-driver. It was resolved to endeavor to hire another roller, and also to apply to the Waimate County Council for the use of one of their tar boilers. Tlie question of procuring tar was left in the hands of tlie chairman and clerk.