TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11757, 3 September 1901, Page 1

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

"he monthly meeting was held on v .lo day. Present: Messrs Ukey (Ch.iirmaii i, Wareham, Brown, ilopbou, Leppei, Phillips, Gray, Tate, and McDonald. Some discussion ensued on the ques tion of tho- ' i irrear with toll. Air Brown saiu „ . ..iiion was passed to sue all wiio did not pay within 14 dayb, and if resolutions were passed the should be carried out. Tte Clerk said that it was necossary to gat B. Morns' books before the full accouuts could be made up. Mr Gray said intense dibsatisf action existed over the matter, especially among those who had paid toll right thiough. An account owiug by Mr McCullurn was mentioned. Mr Lepper said he understood that Mr McCulluni at the present time was evading toll. Mr Phillips said that he learned at the gate only yesterday that Mr McCullum was not paying. Mr Brown: Then he should be made to pay. Mr Hopson asked how it was that Morris, the late tollkeeper at Omata, did not send in his books. Mr Gray mo\ed, That Morris's sureties be called oa to send in the book, or the Council would call on them to pay the arrears. Carried. The committee's action in accepting tenders for tollgates at Omata and Heimatna was approved. Mr Phillips asked if contractors were still taking stone out of the Waiwakaiho River near the railway line. The Chairman said that contractors were still taking stone, and the matter had been placed in the hands of the Council's solicitor. The question of timber at bridges in Moa, Riding was referred to. It was decided that the Moa foreman meet the manager of the Sash & Door Company 'to measure up the timber ia question. Mr J. Kennedy reported on work done and required. Three culverts needed renewing. Mr McDonald moved that the york be done. It was decided to a&k the Sash & Door Company to ifepair certain damage done by their heavy traffic. Mr Gray asked if the matter of Ennis' application for an extra Is a day as a spreader had been reported on by the foreman. The foreman's report was read, and it was in effect that he was against the increase in wages. The Chairman said he had examined work done by Ennis, and be found that the road was not being picked up before the metal was put on. He told the clerk to wriie to Ennis and tell him to discontinue work for the County. A letter was read from J. En&is upon the subject. He said that on August 23 he was spreading metal between Henui and Mangorel rivers, when the Chairman rode up and accused him of not picking up the road. He replied that he was doing so, but the Chairman disputed the point. In conclusion, Ennis said he always attended to picking up the road before putting fresh metal on it. The Chairman repeated that he examined the work, and found that the road had not been properly picked. Mr Gray said the Chairman's action should be endorsed. He hoped the man would be suspended for all time if he had not done the work properly. In answer to Mr Hopson the Chairman said that when Ennis worked on the Mountain Road some time ago he was paid an extra shilling a day; but Ennis could not expect extra wages, as he wanted, every time he did a bit of spreading. The question of the metal on Moa Biding not being heaped up properly was discussed. Mr Jbepper said there was always dissatisfaction over the Moa Biding, and the easiest way for the Council to remedy the matter was to dispense with the foreman's services. Mr Hopson considered the foreman was a good man. The Chairman said at one time he did not think the foreman was efficient, but he had altered his views lately. Mr Brown said the Moa foreman had too much road to look after. Mr Tate said he had repeatedly pointed out that the work in the Moa Biding was not done satisfactorily, especially in the matter of putting down metal. Mr Brown said the Moa foreman had most of his time occupied in repairing bridges. Mr Tate : How many bridges are there in the Moa Biding? Mr Brown : I should say over 30. He added that he did not approve of Kennedy's road making, but then the man was kept too much at bridge work Finally Mr Gray's motion endorsing the Chairman's action re Ennis*was carried. Mr Holmes, foreman of Waitara Biding, reported on work done and required. No resolutions were passed. Mr Evett, Omata foreman, reported on' works done and required. It- was decided to attend at once to work at the Tapuae bridge. The foreman reported on furze nuisance at Katikara HUI, and near school at Tataraimaka. The,attention of adjoining property holders wiJl be called to the nuisance. Mr MeHannighan, Parihaka foreman, reported on work done and required. Mr Gray asked how it was that so many men were required in the riding. He considered tho hands at the crusher should be reduced. Mr Phillips said the men earned their money. Mr Gray moved, That the foreman be asked to reduce the staff if possible. Carried. Mr J. Caddy, the Government foreman on the Junction Road East contrast, reported that the whole of the money had been spent. As the money could not go over the whole length he had patched up places to stand the winter traffic. Mr Hopson said Mr Caddy had stated he had blinded the road with screenings, whereas he had only done it with sand, etc. It was decided to repair n hole in the road at the zig-zag. Mr Hopson said a petition bearing 69 signatures of settlers in the district affected had been sent to Wellington in support of another grant for the Junction Road East. Mr J. W. Woolridge, living beyond Stony River, asked that certain work should oe done. The foreman will be requested to attend to the work. The Valuer-General wrote acknowledging receipt of letter from Council offering a sum equal to one-fourth of L 149 Is in settlement of claim for revision of the County valuation rolls. The Chairman said Mr Hill, the district valuer, would wait on the Council at 2 o'clock. He understood Mr Hill had power to settle the matter. The Harbour Board Secretary forwarded the following resolution :—: — " Conditionally on the Taranaki County Council taking over the Harbour Boad, the Board will agree to supply the Council with 5000 yard« of waste quarry metal, to be delivered in trucks at the root of the breakwater, the County paying the actual cost of procuring and delivering ; the stone t© be removed at tho rate of 10C0 yards per annum in quantities of not less than 500 yarr"« at a time, details to be drawn up by the Board's solicitor; as an alternative the Council will be allowed to remove the stone by cart if practicable, n which case the Board will give delivery in the quarry and the cost of quarrying only will be charged." The Chairman said the difficulty he could see was in connection with the quarrying. Mr Gray said the Couucil wero "inflicting pain" on the travelling public by not repairing the road, and he considered they should do their duty and do so at once. The Chairman : It is not our road; and we are not compelled to spend money there. Mr Gray : But it will be gazetted your road, and then you will have to maintain it} Mr Tate considered it would be better to offer the Board 2s a yard for all stone required, to be delivered at the root of the breakwater. Mr McDonald stigma-

tised the Board's action throughout as unreasonable, and he would oppose the terms. Mr Phillips moved, That 2s a yard be offered the Board for suitable stone required. Mr Gray moved as an amendment, That the terms of the Harbour Board's offer be accepted. The amendment was finally withdrawn, and the original motion carried.

The Council adjourned, and resumed at 2 o'clock.

The Parihaka foreman's attention will be drawn to ruts in road near Oaonui factory.

Mr S. Hill, Government District Valuer, waited on the Council with raference to the valuation charges. He said the Department would accept LIOO in liquidation of the account. This offer was accepted by the Council. The Post Office advised that £8 subsidy must be paid for the Leppertcn telephone subsidy, and when the accounts for the year were made up and balanced any refund due would be made. Referred back.

Mr T. W. Fisher, Native Reserves Agent, wrote stating that his Department desired information as to gravel takt-u from several reserve pits daring the past" two years, and until this was supplied uo further, removal of gravel would be allowed. It was agreed to supply the desired information.

Mr H. Mayne wrote offering to paint the Inglewood tollgite free of c^st if the Council suppled him with paint. Mr J. W. Marshall Marton, forwarded particulars of a stone crusher, the price which the Rangitikei Council asked being £363. fa

Mr Hopson, pursuant to notice of motion, moved, That the Council take into consideration the appointment of an overseer to take charge of all the works in the County. Mr Gray thought the present system would do if there were two foremen to divide the work in Moa and - Parihaka Ridings. Mr Tate moved as an amendment in effect, That the Council employ an engineer from time to time as occasion demands; and that an extra foreman be appointed for tke Moa and Pairhaka Ridings. Mr Phillips seconded. Mr Brown,jwho seconded Mr Hopson's motion, said that under the present system they had long reports, which simply wasted the time of the Council. He would support the motion to appoint a competent overseer. The discussion droped into a debate on the merits of - the Waitara and ' Omata foremen as compared with the foremen of . the Moa and Parihaka Ridings. Mr Lepper suggested that the Waitara and Omata . foremen should be sent into the Moa and Parihaka Riflings to teach the local foremen to make roads. Mr Hopson poohpoohed the suggestion, saying . the Moa -■ foreman had more work to do than any other. Mr. Phillips said the Waitara Riding roads had little traffic, and the railway saved them. Mr Brown .said he had a good deal of experience as a member of the Moa Road Board, which was the best conducted local body in Taranaki. Mr Tate's amendment was then put and carried, and became the substantive motion. The Chairman then moved as an amendment, That one of the present foreman be appointed to travel throughout the County from time to time, aad report on the work. This provoked a great deal of opposition, and finally the Chairman withdrew it. Mr Tate's motion was then carried. It was decided to call for applications for the t;jtra overseers. The lengths in Moa Riding for the foremen were fixed at from Tarata to Waipuka; and New Plymouth to Inglewood, Junction and' Mountain Roads. Parihaka Riding : Taungatara to Rahotu, including Elitism Road; and Rahotu to New Plymouth 1 .

A sum of LlO was granted for work on Durham Road. Mr Gray brought up the question of Mr Murphy, of Warea Road, paying rates. The clerk said some years since the Council could not recover the rates as the land was held frem the Orown. They had not got any rates from him. Mr Gray said that Mr Murphy had sold out, and was anxious to pay what was just. Finally the clerk was instructed to settle up with Mr Murphy. Correspondence was received relative to a stonecrusher. Mr Tate explained the machines, particulars of which they had before them. Mr Gray advocated the purchase of a machine similai to the one now at work in Parihaka Riding, Finally the Chairman, and Messrs Tate and Brown, were appointed a committee to enquire on crushers and report at next meeting.

Mr Armstrong, dog tax collector, Parihaka Riding, wrote that he had registered 10 dogs at 10s, and 25u at 2s 6d. He forwarded cheque for L 26 10s, being amount due to Council. He stated he found great difficulty in getting the natives to register.

Jtfr T. S. Weston wrote with reference to Mr MacKinder's claim for wages due utfder Mr Clarko's Junction Road contract. He stated that Mr Clarke did tiot acknowledge the claim, as it was for wages due to MacKiuder by a sub-con-tractor, Mr J. Hickton, who throw up his contract prior to July 8. It was decided to let the interested parties fight it out in Court.

J Mr J. Swan wrote asking the Council to stop payment from Mr C. Tapp for taking bouldtrs that the writer had carted out of the river. It was decided to let the parties fight tha>matter out.

Mr Murray, surveyor in the District Roads and Bridges Office, wrote that he had drawn Mr Caddy's attention to the fact that somp stones in the new metalling repair coo tracts on the Junction Road were much above the specified dimensions. Received. MrF. McGuire, M.H.R., wrote with reference to a further grant for the June tion Road, and enclosing the following letter from the Minister ±or Lands: — "I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 12 forwsrJ l.g a communication from the Taranaki County (Jbuncil a- king for a grant of L 1550 for the purpose of improving the Junction Road. In reply, I beg^to state that the application has been noted for consideration in preparing the estimates for the coming year." Mr W. Symes, M.H.R., also wrote saying he would do his utmost to get the grant. Received. .Accounts, L 879 Is Bd, were passed for payment. The Chairman said that the Council should move in the matter of getting proper titles to the immigrant cottages at Okato, Oakura, and one at Bell Block, It was decided to do so. The Council rose at 4 o'clock;,

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