CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1930, Page 14

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTH’S WORK REVIEWED

ALLEGATIONS BY URUTI FARMERS.

PROTESTS AGAINST ATTITUDE.

At the monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council at Waitara yesterday, Hr. H, A. Foreman presided, others present being Councillors F. Sarten, C. H. Barnitt, H. A. Bower, G. W. Rogers and AV. 11. Watson. , With regard/to the Tangitu Road grant the chairman reported that at a meeting of the settlers, which he attended, they were unanimous in their desire to expend the £l6OO grant on the lower end of the road.

Councillor Barnitt hoped that steps would be taken to secure the loan for next year and moved that the application for the loan be approved. Other members of the council considered that the £l6OO free grant should not interfere with the usual subsidies, and representations are to be made to that end. It was considered that the loan and its subsidy could not be made available for at least two years. Mr. Wilson Johnson applied for permission to use his lorry on the Okau Road during May, but it was decided that permission could not be given. Messrs. Isherwood and Bellam applied for a permit to take metal over the Turangi Road for use in the tarsealing of the Ngatimaru Road. It. was decided to limit permission to the month of May, it being considered that the roads were sufficiently dry to stand this traffic. The firm is to pay royalty to reimburse the council for the damage done to the road.

The inspector reported that four heavy traffic licenses were taken out during the month and five drivers’ licenses were issued. Two lorries and. one motor-car had been found with defective brakes, and the drivers had been prosecuted. Several head of stock had been found' wandering on the roads, and two had been impounded. The amounts collected during the month were: Heavy traffic licenses, £lB 2s. Bd.; drivers’ licenses, £1 55.; billiard room, £2 25.; dog tax, £l6 10; poundage, £1 75.; total, £39 6s. Bd.

APPLICATIONS TO COUNCIL.

Mr. A. E. Holley appealed against the decision of the council not to pay royalty on metal procured from his quarry, The matter was left to the engineer. Mr. R. G. Whitehead reported that between five and six chains of road fencing of Herbert’s estate had been ruined by a fire lighted by the surfacemen.

The engineer suggested that the council should provide the trustees of the estate with the wire for the fence if it was moved to the edge of the metal, and the extra land would compensate tdie owners. It was left to Mr. Barnitt to finalise the matter. It was decided that surfacemen be instructed to refrain from burning fern in the future.

Mr. Mason Chambers’ wrote with regard to access to his Mahakatino property, and the matter was left in the liands of the engineer.

A circular was received from the Whakatane City Council advocating an increase in petrol tax to finance reading costs. ,

Mr. Watson suggested that the council support an increase, provided that the Highways Board provide the whole cost of construction and maintenance of highways, and his motion was carried.

Regarding the action of the Uruti branch of the Farmers’ Union in criticising . the council for alleged unfair treatment regarding the proposed work on the Rerekino Road and the union’s resolution urging that every effort be made to induce the Government to expeditiously use the £5OO already- granted, the clerk was instructed to write to the Uruti branch and the provincial executive explaining the position and protesting against the misrepresentation regarding this road. Mr. Barnitt pointed out that though the £5OO grant was on the estimates t? c council had not yet received the money. The road in question was to a property which he estimated as being worth not more, than £4 per acre. The cost of the road would be approximately £16,000. It was not a business proposition. The maintenance would be enormous and beyond the resources of the council. The chairman considered that the council had treated Mcßean reasonably in keeping the existing track in order, and that: further expenditure than that was not warranted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. N. C. Fookes) reported as follows on the month’s operations:— ' '. ’ '

Tikorangi Riding.—The metalling of Epiha Road from Purdie’s to the main road had. been commenced and 40 chains had been completed. West’s Hill, on the Otar-aoa Road,’ had been blinded with scoria from Knuckey’s pit, also portions of the Tikorangi and Bertrand Roads. The gravelling of the Ngatimaru Road from the Waitara borough ' boundary had been completed as far as Hicks’, and the balance of this work would be completed as soon as the work on the Tikorangi Road had been finished. He also recommended that the Ngatimaru Road from the school corner to the Tikorangi Road junction be coated with gravel in the near future. The supply of mainten-

ance metal in this riding was getting low, and he recommended that . the crusher be set up in Knuckey’s pit as soon as it had completed the Epiha Road crushing and that 300 to 350 yards be crushed.

Waihi Riding—Thirty-seven chains of

formation, culverting and metalling had been completed on the Matoro Road, and the contractors would now concentrate on the scrub cutting, watertabling and maintenance. The balance of the metalled portion of the Mataro Road had been water-tabled and patched, and had all overhanging scrub and fern cut back. Arrangements had been finalised for the metalling of seven chains of the Turangi Road, and this work would be put in hand as soon as the Epiha Road had been finished.

Urenui Riding.—Water-tabling, patching and scrub-cutting had been attended to on the Pukearohe, Okoke, Piko and Kaka Roads. Bridge repairs had been attended to on the first bridge on the Mangamaeho Road. Grading had been carried out on the Beach, Qkoke, Kaipikari and Matapo Roads. All the piles had been driven for the new bridge over the Maiigataua Stream, and the contractors were how awaiting the delivery of the steel girders before any more work could be done. All the

necessary timber for the Mangawhero Stream bridge was on the-site. Uruti Riding. —The grading of the Uruti, Ngatoto and Puke Roads had been completed, and an excellent job had been made, considering the difficult

nature of the country. The six sets of culverts for the .Moki Road saddle had been delivered and were being placed by the roadman as opportunity offered. Two men had been started on the Rerekino, Makino, Moki and May Road tracks for the purpose of clearing scrub, slips and general repairs. ~"- Mokau Riding.—General maintenance work had been attended to on the Mohakatino, Okau, Mangaroa and Kiwi Roads. The erection of the Boar Creek bridge was progressing satisfactorily, and the contractor was now held up pending the delivery of the steel girders. Bridge re-

pairs had been attended to on the Okau, Mangatoro and Mangaonga Roads. The additions and alterations to the Okau and Kotare cottages had been commenced, and should be completed during May. Two miles 12 drains of engineering survey had been completed on the Okau Road, and as soon as plans and specifications had been completed the approval and authority of the Public Works Department would be sought in order to put the formation work in

hand during the winter. This would facilitate the metalling during the summer months. This survey included four deviations whidr considerably shortened the existing road and improved the alignment. Two of these deviations were on

private proper!; but the settler concerned had agreed to accept- the portions of old road in lieu of compensation; the other two were on road and river bank reservos, thus necessitating no further action.

Auckland-Wellington Highway.—The bituminous penetration contract of three miles nine chains of this road had been completed, and the contractors were concentrating on banking, water-tabling and maintenance. The western 40ft, span of the Urenui River bridge had been concreted, and the piers, abutments and wing walls had also been concreted up to the required height, mun. work was making rapid progress,

and the whole structure should be completed within two months. , Gravel patching, grading and scrub-cutting had been attended to on the balance of this road as required. Councillor Rogers and the engineer were deputed to examine the planks from i'.e old Urenui bridge for the purpose of building two small bridges. The council’s solicitor advised that approval had been received from the Loans Board regarding the Okau and Kaipikari Road loans, and the applications had been forwarded to the Public Trustee. , '

The engineer stated that no reply had been received from the Highways Board to the request for a further grant to enable the council to extend the permanent surfacing of the main. road. • Councillor Barnitt expressed the opinion that a great deal of maintenance had been saved by the work already done. He hoped to see two more miles finished by next summer. The engineer stated that the district engineer and Mr. W. _J. Polson, M.P., were anxious to see the work extended, and in all probability the money would be forthcoming. It was decided that as the winter months were approaching much of the casual labour would be dispensed with.