CLIFTON COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 22

CLIFTON COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ROAD AND MAINTENANCE WORK. ENGINEER’S MONTHLY REPORT. The monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council was held yesterday. Those present were: Crs. H. A. Foreman (chairman), F. Sartell, C. H. Barnitt, H. A. Bower, J. F. Phillips, G. W. Rogers, and R. Mounsey. The engineer (Mr. N. C. Fookes) reported for the month as follows: Tikorangi Riding.—The quarrying on the Otaroa Road is in hand and metal will be put on.the road as soon as there is sufficient quarried to warrant putting on. a team to cart it. During the month the gap in the metalling on the Nikorima Road has been completed, amounting to 12 chains 40 links, and also six chains have been completed on the Ngatimaru Road, at the top end. The grader has been working on the Epiha, Nikorima, Ngatimaru, Cole’s and Waihi Roads. Maintenance metal is being carted out and dumped by E. A. Johnson. I propose to examine the Tikorangi suspension bridge in company with the Taranaki county engineer during the coming month, and will submit a report te the council at the next meeting. It will also be necessary to gravel certain portions of the Main Road at an early date. Waihi Riding.—Since Avery took up his duties as roadman I have had por--41011 s of the Main Road gravelled and loose gravel at the sides graded in. Bridge repairs have been carried out on the Kokopo bridge on the Onaero Road, and as soon as I can get some extra deck planks out to this bridge I will have a permanent job made. General maintenance has also been carried out on the Inland North Road during the mouth, and more time will be devoted to this road during the coming month. The boulder supply at Onaero is still in hand. The grader has graded bad places between the metal on the Turangi Road and is at present working on the top end of the Waiau Road, which is in a very bad state. Ngatimaru Riding.—The repairs on the North Matau bridge have been completed, and W. Dowman is at present occupied repairing McMullian’s bridge and McCoard’s bridge, the latter bridge requiring three new piles and a new cap. The debris in the centre of the river has also been cleared from this bridge. The grader has been used on various roads in the riding during the month to good effect. I conferred with Mr. Ball during the month regarding portion of the road between the two low level bridges on the Matau North Road, which was badly damaged by the recent floods, and he advises the council to try for a free grant on this road on this year’s Estimates. The lining in the Kiore tunnel is in bad condition and will shortly require re-lining in permanent 'material. This is also a matter which requires taking up with the department. Urenui Riding.—The Main Road has received a coating of gravel on bad places during the month, and the remainder has been graded up. The un-det-slip on the Main Road near Waitoitoi is being repaired, and should be completed early this month. I have had Moody's Hill on the Pukearuhe Road sanded with 12in of sandstone, and it is now in good order. The extra running planks for the Mimi bridge have been ordered and will be put in position as soon as they arrive. A small bridge on the Nelson Road has had one pile washed out, and I propose to replace it at an early date.- During the month I laid off 65} chains of the Beach Road preparatory to metalling, and this work will be put in hand as soon as I have authority. Patching has been carried out on the Okoke and Piko Roads during «the month. The plans and specifications for a further mile on the Kaka Road will be prepared during the coming month. I har e inspected the Black bridge on the Piko Road, and would recommend that a steel girder bridge be built at this site instead of a bridge in New Zealand timbers. The repairs on the bridge effected by the Oil Company are • only of a temporary nature, and should only be treated as such.

Uruti Riding.—During the month the large wooden culvert on the Uruti Road has been completed and a slip on the Uruti side of the Tangitu tunnel has been cleared. This road is now in failorder. Maintenance work lias been carried out on the Moki. Uruti, Mangahia and Ngatoto Roads. Two sets of pipes were sent in to the Mangahia Road. 1 consider the Tupoki bridge too far gone to warrant any expenditure on it. I therefore prepared a rough plan and estimate for a new rolled steel joist bridge over this stream, and would recommend that the council and 'settler concerned-should find £5O and that the Public Works be asked to find the bal-

Mokuu Riding.—The White bridge on the Tongaporutu-Maugaroa Road is in very bad condition and requires a new cap. two stringers and new decking. The timber for the Derwent suspension bridge has'been ordered, and the work will be put in hand at an early date. It was found necessary to purchase a 3ft diameter culvert for a bad washout near Bower’s house, and this will be placed as soon as it arrives. It will also be necessary to provide a 3ft Gin culvert on the ' Tongaporutu-Mangaroa Road near Lange’s to replace a split timber culvert through which the water is leaking and undermining the filling. A cut was put through a small point in the Mangatoro stream, thus diverting the force of the water away from the read which was being undermined. I inspected the Mangaongaonga Road, which wants considerable attention. At one point there is a swamp five or six feet higher than the road, and I consider that a deviation should be put in at this place which would also shorten the road four or five chains. In other bad places large side-drains will be necessary on each side of the road. The

portion of the Okau Road from the dairy factory to Calvert’s corner (8} chains) should be metalled in order to do away with bad bog holes which form in wet weather. One set of 18 inch pipes have been sent up to the Mohakatino Road to replace a 12 inch culvert which has washed out. The inspector (Mr. G. F. Rowe) reported that during the month four heavy traffic licenses were issued, fees amounting to £l5 12s, one taxi license ( £2) and six drivers’ licenses £1 10s). Sixteen head of cattle were found wandering on the county roads, one of which was impounded. Fees amounted t. £1 ss. GENERAL. MATTERS. J. H. Rowe, of Ahititi, wrote asking for expenditure on the Mangaongaonga Road to give access to his property. — Left to the engineer to report. Mr. Jas. Hine, arbitrator, informed the council that with reference to the Turangi Road deviation he assessed compensation to Mrs. Rolfe at £2O. The State Advances Superintendent advised that the council would be required to proceed de novo with the Onaero-Mataro loan for £4OO. The same office advised that the council could metal the Tangitu deviation provided the consent of the ratepayers be obtained. The Public Trustee wrote advising the council to make fresh application for the Pukearuhe loan proposal for £lOOO, as payment could not be deferred until September, 1927. The Public Works Department advised that the Waitara Valley Road" had been handed over to the Clifton County for maintenance, and suggested that the county expend the amount available. The following resolution was passed with reference to the Taranaki Oilfields’ operations at Piko: “That in view of the heavy traffic entailed by the Taranaki Oilfields’ operations at Piko, the council proposes to hand over to them complete charge and control of the Okoke and Piko Roads, and this council will pay to the company the sum of £4O per mile per annum, such payment to relieve this council of any further liability whatsoever during the period of the company's operations.” When later the general manager of the company, Mr. Moline, waited upon the council, this proposal was rejected. The matter is to be discussed at the next meeting. The plans for the Turangi Road deviation were approved. The engineer submitted an estimate of £30,580 for bitumen sealing the Main Road and part of the Ngatimaru Road, which was approved bv the council. Mr. R. H. Pigott, on behalf of the Urenui Domain Board, waited upon the council asking that it open up the road to the domain to which the board would contribute £2o.—Left in the hands of the engineer to report.