INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1921, Page 3

INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

THE PAST MONTH’S WORK. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Inglewood County Council met yesterday. Present: Crs. A. Corkill (chairman), R. Stuart, J. Hunter, G. Capper, W. Topping, J. Simpson, H. Jones, A. Cowley and J. Hair. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. G. S. Whiteside) reported as follows on the work during the past month: Deviation Bedford Road.—During the month I completed the survey and prepared the plans of the deviation of the road through the Moa Dairy Company’s land and Mr. Stuart’s. The plans have since been returned from the Survey Department, duly approved, and the legalisation can now proceed. 1 understand that this matter has been hanging fire for the last four or five years. I would like direction on the question of closing the original road south of the Ngatoro River. In my opinion it would he better left unstopped, as affording ready access to the shingle deposits in the bed of the Ngatoro River for metalling the road southward. Central Metal Deposit.—The Maketawa River, where crossed by the Mountain Road, appears to be the most suitable location for a' large central stone-crushing and storage ground. The advantages are an almost unlimited supply of good boulder stone, which is certainly bein*/ brought down from Mount Egmont by each fresh in the Maketawa River, and a central position with metal roads leading therefrom. This would warrant a better and more permanent arrangement for setting up the crushing plant. I understand that terms might, be come to for the use of a. small portion of the 16-acre section now possessed by Mr. Thomason. Mountain Road.—434 cubic yards of boulder stone were crushed by the plant at Mangamaw hiti, and was distributed along the road and consolidated by rolling. Dbrlng the month a large wooden culvert, near the old toll gate cared in, and was renewed in concrete. Durham Road.—The plant crushed 94 cubic yards of boulders on tiie western portion of this road. This metal was mostly dumped for . maintenance purposes, and the expense kept down to minimum. On the northern portion . a culvert collapsed and was renewed in conBristol Road.—The 50 yards contract for pit metal was increased to 60 yards and used for metal patching. Another quantity would find a ready use. The contract for hand-napping a quantity of stone near the Makara River is in progress, but the wet weather has retarded the work. Kurapete Ford.—The fordway on the York Road across the Kurapete River has been improved, but it is not possible to make a very good job of it, owing to the steep nature of the bank on the southern side.

Proposed Road Diversion.—As to the proposed diversion of the road, giving more direct access to the Kohete Valley Bead; This

would continue down to the Mangaonui Valley, instead of climbing the hill eastward, and would pass through section 17; owned by Mr. Bathurst. The length would be 12 to 15 chains.’ This location would consist of an easy siding ground with one breast cutting. The distance would be shorter towards Inglewood than by the original route. The construction offers no difficulties, and the cost of the formation and metalling would be about £3OO. The estimate does not provide for the cost of the land, fencing or legalisation.

Walongona Bridge, Bedford Road. —The filling at No. 2 bridge approaches is completed. It would probably be better to wait till tile spring Before metalling them; that would give time for the embankment to consolidate.

Norfolk Road.—Considerable drainage operations have been carried out on the west portion of this road bj- the aid of explosives. Derby Road Bridge.—The bridge leading from the Surrey to the York Road is in much the same state of repair as it was a year ago. I have had a number of new planks put ou each’ side, which makes it look better.

Rataplko Road.—The truck has been employed to fun metal out from the Manganui pit to Rataplko for patching purposes. The rainy season has shown up bow thin the metal is in places.

Zig-zag near Tarata.—Two of the worst bends have been greatly improved by the bluff points being cut back from the roadway. The work Is not quite complete yet, as the wet weather has greatly retarded the work.

East Riding.—The surfaceman has been employed attending to general maintenance of the roads, by freeing culverts, clearing water tables, removing slips, filling holes and cutting back second growth, scrub.

Culverts.—The collapsed wooden culvert on the Bedford Road, south of Lepper, has been renewed with large concrete pipes. A set of concrete pipes have also 4>een placed across the Junction Road, near the Manganui River, and a set of pipes have also been placed across the Ngaru Road.

Heavy T&fflc.—During the month, as instructed by the council, special attention was given by the inspector to enforcing the bylaws, more especially with regard to heavy traffic on the roads, and particularly the weights carried by motor lorries. T<i a layman it would appear that it would not be possible for u motor lorry to carry any load without breaking the by-laws, as its own weight would be as much as allowed on each pair of wheels without the additions of the load. If this were so, it would be unreasonable, and the Court would not uphold the by-laws. Then, again, it would appear that the council’s own lorry, which, together with Its load of metal, weighs nearly 10 tons, is breaking the by-law when used upon the roads.

Plant,—The crusher plant Is now set up at the Ngatoro River, Mountain Road. When It is finished there it is proposed to .send it to the Junction Road, Ngatoro River, and to strengthen up a portion of the Junction Road leading from the Dudley Road. The new crusher was shipped at Lyttelton by tlie s.s. Corinna ou the 26th of last month, and a portion of it lias arrived at Inglewood. It was decided that on the conclusion of the present crushing operations the plant be put in the shed for atmonth. In the course of discussion on this matter the chairman expressed the opinion that work could be more economically carried out when the weather was finer. FINANCIAL POSITION.

The statement of finances showed that expenditure up to .Inly 31 amounted to £3241 IS's JOd, and the amount available for expenditure was £2805 Is 2d. Of the total to date the money had been expended as fol lows: Main roads, £2548 17s id; North Kid Ing, £277 13s 4d; South Hiding, £45 5s 6d East Riding, £-111 6s; West Hiding. £323 J lid. Of tin

mounts available the riding balances were as follows: Main roads, £1631 2s lid: North Hiding, £132 Ils 7d; South Riding, £631 8s 6d ; East Riding. £9B 1:: 5 fnj • West Riding, £3ll 4s sd. , Replying to a question, the' clerk (Mr. S. Neilson) said the amount of rates Outstanding was only between three and four hundred pounds. About £2OO of the current, year’s rates, for which the demands had recently been sent out, had also been paid in. Notification was received from the State Advances Office to the effect that, the Motukawa Road loan of £lOOO had been forwarded to be lodged to the credit of the council; and also that the Walongona-itl loan of £7OO had been rexnitted.

The State Advances Office wrote advising that the loan of £2500 for metalling the Autawa and IMta Roads was entertained prior to Marcii 31 last, and should not, therefore be included in the £5OOO which might ba entertained during the coming year.

With regard to other applications received, the council was notified that the following had been approved: £550 for Tol Tol Boad” £230 for completing Everett’s ’ Road; £3OO for Norfolk West Road: £5OO for Ngatoro-lti bridge—a total of £l5BO. A further application for £2500 for rebuilding the X'gatoro and Mangaorakuu bridges Jiad been held over pending further advice from the council. Jt was slated that if the council was prepared to deter the application or reduce it slightly, an application for a loan of £lOOO for roading in the soldier settlement would be placed before the board.’ It was decided that the following additional loan works ho gone on with: KaimuU, £300; Ratapiko, £900; Mangarakau, £400: Richmond Road, £ 100 (provided the settlers can agree to boundaries). THE £B5OO LOAN. Referring to the council’s application for a loan of £SSOO, for plant and machinery, the Pulilic Trustee wrote .stating that, owing to the financial stringency at present existing the entertainment of new loans was quite out of the question. The matter, however, had been placed on the deferred list for consideration at the first favorable opportunity. A letter was received from Mr. It. Masters, M.P., statlug that at the request of the chairman he had made representations to the Acting Minister of Finance in regard to the policy of the State Advances Office in reducing the advances to local bodies in any <«ne year from £lO,OOO to £5OOO. In repl.' the Minister had stated that the course had been adopted owing to the large demands being made on the funds of the office. It was not possible at the present time to increase the amount, but should the financial position improve the application might be renewed. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Referring to the Electric Power Board scheme, the secretary of the Taranaki Progress League (Mr. VV. Power) wrote, under date July 13, stating that replies to a circular issued by the league in April indicated: (1) That the proposal of an extensive power dis-h-let would receive strong support from the. ratepayers throughout Hawera County and Borough, Waimate West Co’tmt.y, Stratford County and Borough, Inglewood anil Clifton Counties and WrJtara Borough. The committee considered that this area, with the addition of Eltham County and Borough, would form a highly desirable power district, and it was proposed to convene a conference of delegates from these local bodies: (1) To more particularly define the area ; (2) to arrange a means of financing the preliminary expenses; (3) to appoint a committee to promote the matter. The council was asked if they would appoint a delegate and undertake to advance a proportionate share of the preliminary expenses. The chairman and Cr. Stuart were appointed delegates to the meeting. ■ GENERAL. The chairman was appointed delegate to attend the New Zealand Counties’ Association on September 28. A letter was' received from the Agricultural Department stating that if necessary barberry could be declared a noxious weed in the county. The council decided, however, that such a step was not necessary. Attention was directed by Mr. M. Bishop to the unsafe state of the bridge over the Waipuku River, Derby Road. It was decided to reply that the council could not see its way to rebuild the structure at present, but repair work would be carried out. A deputation from Norfolk Road West waited on the council, urging that the draining and formation be commenced at an early date. The chairman replied that the council was waiting to have last year’s grant, which was withdrawn, Reinstated. RESIGNATION OF ENGINEER, The engineer (Mr. G. S. Whiteside) wrote giving three months’ notice of termination of engagement,- and expressed his thanks to the council for the many acts of courtesy and consideration extended to him. —The resignation was accepted, the chairman stating that he would be pleased to give the best references to the retiring engineer. Tte matter of appointing another engineer was left over to a special meeting of the whole council on Saturday.