WORK IN EGMONT COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 12

WORK IN EGMONT COUNTY

KAHUI MAIN HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATION ASKED FOR, DAMAGE DONE ON BY-ROADS. The monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council was held yesterday, those present being Messrs. W. C. Green (chairman), S. R. Farquhar, E. A. Collins, G. Gibson, J. S. Tosland, A. J. Lilley, E. G. Holmes, J. Young and T. Willcox. The engineer, Mr. J. G. Mclvor, reported that the old Punehu stream bridge was removed and the remainder of wing walls concreted. On the Main South Road a considerable amount of pit metal banking was done near Rahotu and Pungarehu. Pikitahi Hill was watertabled and the side-track patched. Blinding and patching were done at Punehu. Coldpatching was attended to and traffic lines renewed where necessary. On Eltham Road shoulders and watertables were attended to. A little cold-patching was done and the guard fence at Mangahume repaired. On Skeet Road the macadam portion was patched and shingle dragged over the surface. Banking and watertabling were done on the remainder. In the south riding patching and watertabling were done on Kiri, Oeo and Stratford Roads. Watino Road was patched and the surface dragged. Drains were being cleared on Watino and Waiteika Roads. The fence at Kiri Road pit was repaired. In the Central riding on Kina Road 35 chains were scarified and lightly remetalled. Patching and blinding were done on Ngariki, Wiremu and Rahotu Roads. The grader was working on Turu, Kina, Arawhata and Opua Roads. On Ngariki Roaa a wooden culvert was replaced with 18inch pipes, drains cleaned and the outlet into Mr. Williams’ property piped for a stock ‘crossing. Patching and blinding were done on Kahui Main Road and culverts attended to.

The pit metalling of 26 chains of lower Parihaka Road was completed, 440 yards of pit metal and 75 yards of broken stone being used. Patching was done on Wares and Okahu Roads. The metalling of Wiremu Road between the Punehu River and Oeo Road was nearing • completion Patching work was done on Kaweora Road. SUBSIDY ON RATES. The sum of £1250 19s 3d, subsidy on rates collected, was received from the Treasury. The allotment was £443 15s lOd in the north riding, £375 6s 8d in the central riding, £431 16s 9d in the south ricting. The district engineer of the Public Works Department advised that repairs costing £2 had been carried out to the Rahotu Post Office fence on the boundary adjoining the county’s property and it was requested that the council pay hall.

Complaint was made that the department had undertaken the work without nvtixymg toe council, but it was decided to inspect the work and contribute half the cost if the work warranted it The Taranaki County Council in reply to the council’s memorandum regarding the maintenance of Puniho Road said the matter had been referred to the chairman and riding councillors to confer with a committee of the Egmont County Council at the junction of Puniho and Main Roads on a date to be arranged. The chairman and Crs. Lilley and Willcox were authorised to act for the Egmont County. The Main Highways Council advised that it was possible to favourably consider the declaration of a small mileage of new highways, wd it was proposed to subjnit the roads at present on the waiting list for declaration. It was explained that there were no roads in the Egmont county included in the list or dealt with by the District Highways Council, but the council could put forward an application, at the same time explaining to the board the peculiar circumstances. The chairman said it was desired to have Kahui Road classified as a main road, and the engineer had been instructed to make application accordingly. The council was under the impression that the road was on the waiting list, but apparently the list had not been renewed from year to year and the previous application had lapsed. WATINO ROAD’S CLAIMS. Councillor Tosland supported this proposal and-urged the claims of Watino Road to inclusion. He mentioned the heavy cartage of shingle over the road and said the road surface would not stand up to the traffic of 60 loaded and 60 empty lorries a day. The chairman’s action in making application was endorsed.

The ranger, Mr. W. Weaver, reported having seized 28 head of stock. A long discussion on the damage done to back country by-roads by heavy traffic was followed by a decision to suspend such traffic until October 31 on Wiremu Road and all roads above that road from Kahui Road to Auroa Road.

Speakers referred to the damage done to the roads and said it was their sole desire to protect the roads from being worn out.

The Eltham Borough Council advised of hotel licensing fees collected by local bodies in the Egmont district. These amounted to £604 and the expenses to £65 3s 3d. The share of the latter payable by the council was £4 14s lid.

A notification was .received from the Aotea Native Land Court that 6 acres of Section 36, Block IV., Cape S.D. had been alienated in favour of Mr. Chas. Wells, Warea. Mr. Scott, contractor for the cartage of the Railway Department’s shingle over Watino Road, waited on the council with a proposal offering to cart an additional supply of stone to repair and maintain the road over which he was carting, provided the council crushed the metal. It was decided that the riding members inspect the road and have power to act in the acceptance of the offer. A scheme for the provision of a parking area for 40 or 50 cars at Te Kiri Domain at a cost of about £2O was reported upon by the engineer. Cr. Tosland supported the proposal and said that at times the roadway was almost blocked with cars. Tile chairman said he wished the local hall committee to assist, and both Crs. Tosland and Collins assured him this would be done. The sum of £5 had been offered.

It was agreed to do the work. A letter was received from Mr. S. C. Bankhead declining to accept the £lO offered as royalty on pit metal taken from his property and tendering an account for £25 Is 6d for royalty on 2006 yards at 3.1 a yard. The chairman said the matter was under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. He suggested the matter be referred to the department.