CLIFTON COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1925, Page 5

CLIFTON COUNTY.

WORK OF PAST MONTH. NO INCREASE IN RATES. MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Clifton County Council met at Waitara yesterday. Present: Councillors R. H. Pigott (chairman), F. AV. Matthews, H. A. Foreman, T. E. Astwood, C. H. Barnitt, G. W. Rogers and J. Wallace. The engineer (Mr, C. F. Dowsett) reported for the past month as follows: Tikorangi Riding.—Every effort was made to complete the Nikorima Road metal, hut conditions were not favourable. All the stone has now been carted to the main depot on the Bertrand Road, the excavation complained of made good, the road filled in and the notice board sent out. The 'lnland North Road metalling has been proceeding satisfactorily. Repairs have also been, effected to the Waihi Road, and various loads have been tipped for future use. Additional planks have been sent out, for the suspension 'bridge, a portion having been used and the balance held in reserve. Further complaints have been made in connection with the silting up in of the creek crossing the Stockman Road, but the council has its remedy under the Land Drainage Act, 1908. The roadman has been incapacitated during the month, and other assistance had to be obtained to carry out his duties. Waihi Riding.—The Main Road has been attended to in the matter of 'blinding and repairs, and when other works at°present in hand are completed, further attention will be centred here. The small balance of authority on the Inland North Road is requested to be transferred to the Waiau Road adjoining thereto, the settlers agreeing to subsidise the amount. The various other roads have received attention in maintenance and repairs, and already quantities of stone have been collected for metalling the hill giving access to the beach at Turangi.

Urenui Riding.—The Avenue Road bridge has received attention in repairs to the deck, and the obstruction in mid-stream threatening the piers will be removed. The fence protecting the Onaero hill has been repaired and strengthened. On the Piko Road a dangerous corner has 'been widened and improved. Various consignments of timber have been sent forward for repairs to the upper bridges. On the Kaka Road a set of 30in. concrete pipe* have been forwarded to renew the culvert between the store and school, when a more defined watercourse will be cut and the road raised to improve the gradient. Tlie Onaero Road between the county cottage and the big hill has had very little attention for a considerable period, and I have arranged that this section 'be put in repair. Further quarrying of a limited nature has 'been proceeding in the gravel pit, and instructions given to again engage power for the grader. I have been advised that the hardwood timber for the Okoke bridge has already been shipped, and is due to arrive this month at New Plymouth. The deviation on the Pukearuhe Road is needing repairs, and I am endeavouring to obtain metal for this purpose. Uruti Riding.—On the new formation on the Uruti Road, considerable obstruction was caused by slips, the removal of which consumed considerable time. An inspection was made of the section, Tangitn tunnel to Matau, and evidences are not wanting to show that the road requires a good deal of 'attention to water-tables, culverts, slips, and at various spots erosion has reduced the road to a hazardous width. I recommend that some local arrangements be made to cope witli unforseen difficulties. The May and Moki Roads are still receiving attention, covered by subsidised expenditure. The horse and dray.has been disposed of as instructed. Referring to the Uruti Road metalling contract, two months have now elapsed, and no further quarrying has proceeded as instructed by the council and promised by the contractor. Reviewing the whole work, the council cannot be accused of severity in the past, and they have been reluctant to take drastic action, but the time has arrived to eilforce the penal clause in the interests of the work. Ngatimaru Riding.—An inspection was made of the Kiore tunnel, which merely revealed the fact that the temporaryroof lining of lin. pine boards had decayed at the northern end, that no immediate danger threatens, and that the removal of the loose boards is all that is required in the meantime. Th? slip between the Waitara and Matau bridges has been removed and the road widened where required, whilst the other roads in this riding have been attended to. Upon completion of repairs to the Waitara low level bridge, the repairs to the Matau and McCoard’s will be taken in hand.

Mokau Riding.—-Further prospecting has been carried out for the purpose of obtaining suitable metal for the Okau Road. These investigations are not yet completed, and I will report more definitely at a later period. The recent notice confirmed the report that tl-« Mangaroa Road from Kotare township to the Kotare stream has been gazetted to the council, giving a further control of three miles 57 chains. The Okau, Papakino, Kiwi, Mangatoro and other roads have received attention in maintenance and repairs. 1 am limiting any council carting to one ton, plus weight of horse waggon, on the Okau Road during the winter months. The appointment of an inspector is overdue. 'Complaints are arriving from various districts as to the damage being caused by- trespassing stock, and this is pronounced where sections remain unfenced.’ It was decided to again request Mr. L. If. Knuckey to lower the creek on the Stockman Road sufficiently- in his property. The report was adopted. ■ OKAU ROAD ESTIMATES. A complaint that the estimated cost of metalling the Okau Road ( £21,0001 was much in excess of the original estimate (£17,600), prepared by the -engineer, was received from Mr. J. B. Barr, secretary of the Okau Settlers’ Association. It was stated that on the settlers accepting the original estimate they arranged for a petition to 'borrow £9OOO, being their share on a £ for £ basis. On the petition being adopted it was stated tile estimate was increased to £21,000 odd, or approximately- £2OOO per mile. The engineer explained that he had not based his estimate on the £9OOO estimate, which was not his in the first place, and lie would supply the figures required by the association.

RATEPAYERS’ COMPLAINTS. A complaint that the Waiau 'Stream in the Tikorangi district was obstructed by- weeds and other growths was received from Messrs Govett, Quilliam and Hutchen, solicitors, acting on behalf of Mr. B. F. Jury, a ratepayer. It was alleged that on account of the blockage of the stream in the lands below- the complainant’s property, the water overflowed Mr. Jury’s property and caused considerable ‘damage.—The matter was left in the hands of Or. Foreman, who will interview the parties concerned and report at the next meeting of the council. Mr. A. R. Alpe, on behalf of other settlers on the Uruti Road, complained of the manner in which the contractor was carrying out the metalling work. —• Tlie council decided to instruct the contractor to commence the work this month and continue until its completion, otherwise the penalty would 'be strictly enforced. REQUESTS GRANTED. ■ Permission to put down a pipe line across the road in the Urenui township was sought by Messrs Croker and McCormick, solicitors, acting on behalf or Mr. Dunbar, storekeeper at Urenui. It was stated that Mr. Dunbar desired to construct a miniature water supplyscheme to provide water lor tlie buildings owned by him at Urenui, and as a means of protection in case of fire. The Post Office authorities had also requested him to supply- a lead of water to the Post Office, mainly- as a protection from fire.—Permission was granted, provided the work w-as carried out on the approval of the engineer. A deputation representing 'settlers on the Ohangai Road waited on the council with the request /that a subsidy of £430 be granted to enable the road to be formed and put down with 0 inches of gravel. —The deputation was informed that provision for the subsidy would be made in the year’s estimates. INSPECTOR TO BE APPOINTED. A report on the desirability of the council appointing an inspector was presented by tlie engineer, and it was decided to appoint the chairman and Cr. Foreman to make further inquiries on the matter with power to act. It was considered that the inspector's duties should include attention to wandering stock, control of traffic, and the collection of dog tax. The Public Works Department at Stratford advised that reports had been received in regard to stock wandering on a section of the Main North Road, between the Pukearuhe Junction and Tongaporutu,. and that they were doing considerable damage by- tramping in the drains. The department requested that the council’s ranger be instructed to visit the district at the earliest opportunity and impound any- stock wandering on the road.

NO INCREASE IN RATES. That the rate of 2Vjd be increased to 24d, was a motion moved by the chairman, and seconded by Cr. Rogers. As an amendment Cr. Astwood moved, and Cr. Matthews seconded, that the rate of Hid remain unchanged. The chairman expressed the opinion that now that the toll-gate was gone the rate should be increased to meet the deficiency which would accrue. Cr. Foreman supported this statement, but he did not consider that the increased rate should 'be imposed upon the ratepayers of the Tikorangi riding, when their riding account was in such a satisfactory position. He moved as a further amendment that the rate be increased as suggested on all the ridings except m the case of the Tikorangi riding, which would remain the same. Cr. Barnitt seconded. It was finally- decided to allow the rates to remain as they- were. GENERAL. With regard to the deviation of the Okau Road, the Public Works Department. Stratford, advised that the road had not yet been legalised, and the Under-Secretary had written asking whether the 'council would undertake to carry- out the legalisation of the road. — The” council decided to inform the department that although no objection was raised to the road being put through, lio responsibility would be taken in' the matter of indemnity. An application was received from the Waitara Borough Council for permission to supply electric current to the following persons residing within the council's district: —W. Cole, D. Jones, J. T. H. Robinson and A. Cole.—lt was decided to refer the application back to tlie Borough Council with the suggestion that the matter be referred to the Taranaki Po.wer Board. Applications for the position ot roadman for the Turangi Road in the Waihi Riding were considered. The engineer was instructed to make inquiries in regard to the applicants’ qualifications, the appointment being left in tlie hands of the chairman and the engineer. Mr. P. Dark approached the council on the matter of deviating a certain portion of the Upper Okoke Road. He considered that tlie road in its present state was practically impassable, and that a deviation about a mile in length was necessary-.—No action was taken, the council suggesting that Mr. Dark should first ascertain whether tlie necessary- funds were available. On tlie motion of Cr. Barnitt it was decided to debit the Urenui Riding with £3OO in connection with the expense of procuring metal from the pit at Uruti, the total cost of the metal being £6OO.