COUNTY OF CLIFTON

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 16 (Supplement)

COUNTY OF CLIFTON

AUTHORITIES FOR WORK

MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADS. MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. Several road metalling works, authority for which had been received, are to be put in hand, it was reported at yesmeeting of the Clifton County Council. There were present Crs. H. A. Foreman (chairman), G. W. Rogers, J. F. Phillips, W. H. Watson, C. H. Barnitt, E. A. Shaw and F. Sarten. Mr. N. C. Fookes, county engineer, reportedl. Jhat in Tikorangi Riding, White’s Hill, on Otaraoa Road, was scarified, remetalled, gravelled, rolled and banked. In the Urenui riding arrangements were completed for the metalling of 40 chains of Kaipikari Road. In Uruti riding it would be necessary to replace the small bridge on Mangahia Road near Lange’s before the metalling was commenced. Materials for the work had been ordered. It had not been possible to improve the Ri Road track but that would have to be postponed until the road was reasonably dry. • The Tongaporutu-Pukearuhe stock track in Mokau riding was inspected, and improvement to some places was urgently required. Two men had been employed, and had made track reasonably safe. Arrangements had been completed for the metalling of Mangapnga Road, and settlers’ contributions had been paid into the county fund. On the Auckland-Wellington main highway the work at the Urenui deviation was proceeding rapidly, the formation from the back of Lee’s house to Rumball’s being completed and the large filling Lee’s being the principal work outside the metalling which now remained. The parking area adjacent to the Urenui saleyards was being metalled and gravelled. NEW PLANT ORDERED. A new road planer had been ordered to be delivered about the middle of October. The present depot and repair shop at Urenui was very inadequate, and as the place was only rented no improvements could be made. He recommended that the council purchase a small piece of land and erect a suitable building for the housing of plant and a repair shop. The inspector, Mr. G. N. Rowe, reported that at the commencement of the second quarter eighteen heavy traffic licenses had been renewed and 23 drivers’ licenses issued. Several of the county roads were well grazed by wandering stock, 40 head-being found Straying. Three horses were impounded at Waitara for straying at night. Fees totalling £9O 12s 2d were collected. To enable an early start to be made with the Mangaonga F.oad metalling Mr. P. Keller, district engineer, asked that the settlers’ contribution of £350 be paid into the county funds. A similar letter was received in regard to the metalling of a portion of the Kaipikari Road, towards which the settlers’ contribution was £5O. The county clerk stated that the £5O had been paid in. Mr. Keller notified that authority had been received enabling a commencement to be made with the formation and metalling of Mangahia Road. Mr. Keller notified that proposals for sealing 10 chains of the Inland North main highway had been approved. In view of the small amount of work involved the board agreed to the work being done by the council’s own staff and equipment. WAITARA RIVER BRIDGE. The Public Works Department forwarded authority for the expenditure of £720 on a £3 for £1 basis on the construction of the Waitara River bridge on Moki Road. The Main Highways Board gave approval of the expenditure of £lOOl 3s 4d fps two coat bituminous sealing of one mile 20 chains of the AucklandWellington highway at the Urenui pa flat on a £3 for £1 basis. Expenditure of £ll5 on a £2 for £1 basis on bitumen sealing of 10 chains of the Inland North Road' was also approved.

The works committee reported that the tender of W. F. Dowman at £537 2s 5d had been accepted for the erection of the Mangapoua Stream bridge. Mr. E. G. Bleakley drew attention to the state of the Avenue Road, Urenui, where there were holes which prevented a car going through. The matter was referred to the engineer. The Unemployment Board notified a refund of £99 14s 5d wages of unemployed relief workers on the Urenui Hill deviation for three and two-third weeks ending August 17. Mr. L. Larsen, Tangitu, offered to lease a road reserve of a quarter-iicre close to his whare. He was granted permission to occupy the reserve.

The engineer submitted estimates of the cost of metalling the road to the Urenui domain and it was resolved to ask the Domain Board if it would be prepared to pay £4O, half the cost of the materials.

Consideration of the question of restoring cuts was deferred till the end of the financial year.