INGLEWOOD COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 15

INGLEWOOD COUNTY

THE MONTH’S OPERATIONS. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. The monthly meeting of the Inglewood County Council was held at Inglewood yesterday. Those present were: Crs. R. Stuart (chairman), A. Cowley, J. F. Young, H. Jones, A. Corkill, J. Hunter. W. N. Willans and R. Grieve. The engineer (Mr. F. S. B. Waite', reported for the month as follows: In the early part of the month two had wash-outs occurred, one on the Mana Road, where several chains of the road slipped away, leaving only eight feet of track. Temporary repairs were carried out, but further widening would be necessary to make the road perfectly safe. Another had occurred on the Motukawa Road, where a tunnel washed out and had to be replaced by 4ft. pipes. The pipes had been on the ground for some time in anticipation. The direct cause of the wash-out was the blocking of two culverts between the Main Road and the wash-out, thus throwing the whole of the surface water for a distance of half a mile directly on to the filling by the tunnel. Owing to the same cause there was a nasty break on the outer edge near the wash-out, which might eventually cause trouble. During the month he had completed the following grant plans and specifications: Hursthouse Road bridges (2), Upland Road bridge (1), new set of plans Mountain Road North construction, Everett Road, Surrey Road, survey of Junction Road East from Bristol Road junction to Inglewood, and plans of first length 40 chains. He had written for prices for electric motors to several firms, but had received quotes from only three firms to date. The previous night he received a report that a culvert had washed out on the Surrey Road (top end), entirely cutting off the settlers’ access. North Riding.—Only absolute necessary work had been done during the month. The culvert at Mr. Bennett’s, on the York Road, blocked, and there was danger of the filling going out. The culvert was opened and was now free, but it would be absolutely necessary to do approximately £5 worth of work to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. South Riding.—The main work was now completed in this riding, the Tariki Road was finished, and from now on only general maintenance work would be necessary. East Riding.—A small break occurred on the Autawa Road, and was repaired. There was also a break away on the Junction Road beyond the Toro Road, to which the maintenance gang attended. West Riding.—Very little had been done in this riding during the month. Main Highways.—Ordinary maintenance work had been gone on with. No new work had been done. The bitumen tang would commence work on the unInished lengths on the Mountain Road South at once, and then would go on io the unfinished lengths on the Junction Road West. In regard to this latter length, it would be necessary to crush 200 cubic yards of metal, as the whole of the available metal was used in re-shouldering the first mile recently. He therefore asked for authority to call tenders. County Main Roads. —All but general maintenance work would be completed tills week. General. —Immediately after the meeting the engineer proposed to complete all outstanding plans and specifications as follow: York Road (partly done); Junction Road; East Kaimata (one mile); Rugby Road bridges specifications and tracing. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. A statement of expenditure was submitted by the clerk as follows, the amount spent being given in parentheses: Main roads ( £2840), balance overdrawn, £585; main highways ( £1663), balance overdrawn, £563; North Riding (£971), balance overdrawn, £171; South Riding ( £1697), balance overdrawn, £397; East Riding ( £210), balance available, £190; West Riding ( £1122), balance available, £7B. Credit amounted to £2267 (main road subsidies £l7OO, to South Riding £567). A vote of thanks was passed to the clerk, Mr. B. Larsen, for his trouble in compiling the statement. The ranger (Mr. G. Barrach) reported that during the month he had found 61 head of stock on the county roads. It would facilitate his work considerably in respect to heavy traffic if the council could see its way to have all firewood stacked on the county roads remove! before May 1 of next year, and to grant no permits during the winter months unless under extraordinary conditions. GENERAL MATTERS. The district engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. T. M. Ball) advised that he had inspected the Junction Road, and that the council was now putting the roads in order, and on completion be would suggest that a final settlement be arrived at. An application was received from J B. Simpson for permission to move his frontage fence about 10 feet on the Dur ham Road on account of the difficulty of fencing along his proper line. It was decided to accede to the request, subject to the approval of the engineer. A letter was received from D. Swanson notifying his willingness to purchase the portion of Ross Road passing through his place as far as the Mangonui River, at a price based on the present unimpnJVed value, providing that the road afterwards be closed. The clerk stated that it was customary for such roads to be leased. In view of the large number of such roads, it was decided to deal with them together, the clerk to draw up a statement accordingly. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to charge rent on the good land on an unimproved value basis at a rate of 6 per cent. The Main Highways Board notified that, a subsidy of £1 for 30s would be paid on the maintenance of highways on ami after September 9, 1926. At the request of A. Wells, of Bedford Road, it was decided to employ a man on the load to put it in order as far as the applicant's gate. The bad state of the Pukemahoe bridge aud track was the subject of a letter from A. G. Stewart. The engineer reported that he was going to attend to the matter. G. Bennett wrote giving • notice that his property at Waitariki was being damaged by water from the road drain, and stating that a claim for damages would be made unless the trouble was remedied. The engineer reported that (he matter had been dealt, with. f The town clerk of Stratford wrote of new proposal for the apportionment

of heavy traffic fees, whereby each set district (borough and county combined) was to be satisfied with its own fees, plus over-running service cars, and base this district apportionment on local mileage. By this the Inglewood County and borough combined district would realise £322, as against £451 at present. The chairman stated that the Local Bodies’ Association had discussed the matter. The other proposal had been for a mileage register fixed to the wheel, which would involve a large amount of clerical work. The opinion was express ed that by the first scheme the faet was overlooked that over-running traffic was heavier in Inglewood than in Stratford and further south owing to the number of heavy lorries passing through en route to the port of New Plymouth Finally, a resolution was passed that is the schemes stood at present the council preferred that on a mileage basis. It was pointed out that the Stratford scheme would be the more favourable if allowance were made for the lorries passing through. A lengthy letter was received from J. B. Simpson with reference to a dispute with his neighbour, M. Crean, over a drain on the Cambridge Road, which, he said, was being trodden down by his neighbour’s cattle. He said that Crean had taken down his fence, thus including the road in his grazing area and allowing his cattle to wander over the ditch. His neighbour, he said, had also chopped down half a double row of pinus. insignia trees he had planted for shelter. The matter was deferred until the next meeting in order to allow the clerk to refer to a resolution of the Moa Road Board, from whom Simpson had a permit.