COUNTY OF INGLEWOOD

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 9

COUNTY OF INGLEWOOD

RE-GRADING OF BY-ROADS REORGANISATION OK STAFF. ENGINEER TO SUBMIT REPORT. The monthly meeting of the Inglewood County Council was held on Tuesday morning when the follov/ing were present: Crs. A. Corkill (thairman), R. Stuart, J. Hunter, W. N. Willans, J. Grieve, A. E. Cowley, J-. Stackurski, H. Jones and D. A. Brown. The congratulations, of the council are to be forwarded to the Hon, S. G. Smith on his appointment as a Minister. Ammon Bros., Purangi, wrote drawing attention to the bad state of.Pukemahoe track since the Public Works Department had had men working out there. It was decided to write to the department supporting Ammon Bros. Permission was granted C. C. Stapleton, Kaipi Road, to move his fence closer to the road in order to keep down blackberries. The chairman was appointed the council’s representative at a. meeting of the 'Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association in July when the question of bitumen supplies and allocation of heavy traffic fees will be dealt, with. It was decided to strongly support the Stratford Borough Council’s protest against any interference by outside interests with the Opaku Reserve funds. Mr. H. H. Perrett, Derby Road, wrote stating he was desirous to obtain a satisfactorily graded track from the Norfolk Road. At present he could not even take a sledge over it.—Referred tc the engineer. A deputation of. settlers from Purangi waited on the council in regard to the state of the road. Mr. Webb, on behalf of the deputation, said the road was in a very bad state. It had been in very good order about two years ago but had been neglected. The chairman said lie hoped shortly to have the road-looked after. A number of roads, lie thought, must soon have the grader on theni and scarifying done. It was decided to call for tenders for 50, yards of metal for the Bedford Road, the amount considered necessary to finish the road. A suggestion was made that the county should try and get some of the unemployed put on relief work on some of the roads needing immediate attention. The engineer is to make inquiries from the Highways Board. Notice of motion was given by the chairman “that the council make and levy a general rate of 3 7-10 of a penny in the pound and under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act 1926 make and levy a hospital rate of -Id in the £l. The rates to be levied on rateable value on the basis of the unimproved value. In accordance with his notice the chairman moved “that in accordance with the Act a rebate of 24 per cent, be . made on all rates paid on or before the fourth day of August, 1930, at 4 p.m.—. Carried.

The works committee recommended that the engineer submit a full report to the council at its next meeting upon a complete reorganisation of the county staff; the condition of the plant; the working of the county yards and methods of distribution of material; all roads and bridges in the county; the scale of wages paid by 'the Inglewood county as compared with other Taranaki local bodies.

A letter of appreciation and thanks is to be sent to Mr, Dowsett, late consulting engineer. Or. -Jones urged the widening of Dean’s corner on Junction Road, as well as a sharp corner at the foot of the Kaimata hill. REPORT FRO M KN GIN EE 11. The consulting engineer, Mr. C. F. Dowsett, reported: — An inspection and chainage of that portion of the Junction Road from Tariki Road to the Motukawa Road which includes the Tarata zig-zag and covers a distance of 2 miles 15 chains, proved that the thickness of metal ranges between four and five inches and the width approximates 11 feet. To strengthen and widen this section to the main highways requirements needs af least three inches of additional metal and an additional foot of width. Approximately 10 cubic yards of metal to the chain will be required and to procure, crush, transport, roll and blind that will cost at least 14s per cubic yard, or a total of £1’225 for <■ the 175 chains. Specifications for this purpose have been prepared. For maintenance gravel' at Tarata township authority has been approved 150 cubic yards, a portion of which

has been already quarried and dumped at a convenient depot. The Pukcho filling and gravelling has been practically completed, the contractor in the* meantime retaining his responsibility in the. matter of maintenance.

The quarrying, transport and dumping of portion of the quantity required (Thomason’s gravel supply) proceeded until the weather precluded further progress, The estimated quantity at the depot is about 400 cubic yards. This will probably be sufficient to maintain the road for the winter as it is doubtful if access to the pit will be possible during the months ahead.

The overseer reported: — North Riding.—Richmond Road lias been patched, loose stones raked up. banking up done where necessary and watertables and outlets cleared practically the whole length of the road. Drains on. this road have also been cleaned. Lincoln Road has been attended to, fern and other growth being ent back, patching done where required and culverts cleared. A sharp corner on the road near the York Road has been lowered to give a better view. The spoil was used for banking and widening the road at the intersection of the York Road. Bristol Road has been patched in places, loose stones raked and outlets cleared. Patching has been done from AVaitiii school towards the AJangaone Road. Rough hills on the Rimutauteka Road have been raked and blinded. Patching' lias been done on the Kaimata North Road and culverts cleared. The roadway over the pipe culvert on the unmctalled portion of the Mangaono Road has had atention. a good quantity of soil being used to build up and widen the road.

SOUTH RIDING WORKS. South Riding.—Fern and overhanging growth have been cut back on the Salisbury and Mangaotea Roads and watertables and outlets cleared. Cutting back of fern, patching, watertabling and raking up loose stones have been done ou the Tariki Road and patching and banking on the Ratapiko Road. About four chains of a hill would have to be metalled on the Kupara Road to give access to the settlers concerned during the winter months. This work would cost £2l). Outlets have been widened and watertables deepened on the Makara Road at Budge's end. Small repairs have been done to a bridge on this road al- Bosley’s. Motukawa Road has been patched, watcrtabled and outlets cleared for a considerable part of its length. Fern and overhanging growth have also been cut back. Waterfabling and clearing of outlets have been done on the Rugby Road. Depth of metal has been taken on the Norfolk Road East and except for a few chains on portions of the road, which has a depth of live inches of metal, the average is between three and four inches. Suffolk Road averages are about the same as Norfolk Road. The depth of meta! on the Durham Road East has also been tested, and except for a few chains ou portions of the road it shows an average of nearly five inches. The sides of the bitumen on a hill at the “Avalanche” ou the Tariki Road have been built up and strengthened with pit metal. This was made necessary by horse-drawn vehicles running with one wheel off the bitumen.

Fast Riding.—Outlets and watertable.s have been cleaved on the Ngatoto ami Pukemahoe Roads. Tarata. A set of 12

inch pipes has been put in on the Otaraoa Road leading to Oxenham’s. Fern and scrub have also been cut back.. Sheathing has been put in on the first bridge on the Autawu Road. Fern and scrub are now being cut back ou the road and wateriables ami outlets cleared.

West Riding.—Norfolk Road west has been scarified, graded and rolled at the upper end. Parts of Durham Road west are also graded and rolled. Upland Road north has been patched and loose stones raked. The metalled portion of Kaipi Road has been attended to, patching, banking and watertabling being done. At Dudley Road west (Rowan’s contract) 490 cubic yards of crushing will be finished on Monday, but more metal will be required. The first mile is being laid down with a view to sealing. Bedford Road west will also have to be strengthened. The bridge on the Bedford Road south of Norfolk Road, which was giving trouble, has been temporar-; ily built up with boulders but will need J attention in the near future. I

The ranger reported that he had been over all the roads in the county and found that cattle and horses were again beginning to make their appearance on some roads. Seven horses and three cows were seized and 13s in fees collected. Settlers on the Upland Road north had received notice to clear road frontages. -Altogether 773 dogs had been registered up to date. One case under the motor regulations was pending. Motorists were being asked bo produce, their driving licenses, I