Clifton County Council.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12649, 6 September 1904, Page 8

Clifton County Council.

(From our "Waitara Correspondent.} At tho monthly meeting of the Council there were present : Councillors Webb, Laurent, (V Sullivan, Hurley, Foreman and McKenzic. In the absence of Cr. Piggott, the chair was occupied by Cr. Foreman. The Clerk of the .Stratford County Council forwarded a resolution protesting against recent remarks by the Premier concerning the local body framchise. Mr Kelly, Mokau, wrote protesting against- a claim of £4 3s 9d for rates on his timber mill property at Alokau. Mr T. W. Fisher, ."Reserves Agent, wrote that the matter of deviation i opposite Cole's section, Otaraoa Eoad, was left in his hands to arrange, provided the Council boars the expense. Mr E. Dense, Ohura, wroto asking why he was charged for rates, seeing he has not even a track to Lis land and he had to carry his food on his back for eight miles. Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Veterinarian, advised that the application for a slaughtering license by Alois Klcnner was approved. Mr Thos. Barrowman, Cape Foulwind, asking for payment of the half share of the balance due on' the contract carried out by P. O'Kcofo and himself. Mr G. H. Rawlinson, asked lhat his section be put in Stratford County as his rates will be of no use on the Tawhiti Road. Mr W. H. Foreman asked tho Council to spend money lying to the credit of tho Tui Road, also his rates, in widening the road from its junction with the Okau Road so as to make it practicable for wheeled traffic during the summer months. He undertook to do the earthwork at the current rate of wage and to keep the widened road clear of slips, also the water channels clear for twelve months at his own expense provided ho was appointed ranger in the locality to deal with stray stock. Mr W. T. Jennings, M.H.R., advised the Council that he had brought the matter of extending the metalling on the Junction Road before tho Minister and would look into the matter of control of the Tikorangi bridge. The Minister of Public "Works promised to "give the Junction Road matter his careful attention. The District Road Engineer wrote, stating that the material for the Otaraoa Road bridge would be paid for oa arrival, but only up to tho balance of money available after paying for the tunnel contract in hand. Mr W. T. Short, Commissioner appointed to enquire into qiiestions concerning the maintenance of tho Tikorangi bridge, stating that it is for the Council to formulate evidence in support of its contentions that it should not be liable for maintenance, also asking where the enquiry can most conveniently be held. The Clerk of Taranaki County asked if the Council was suggesting the ! Waitara West Road Board as one of ! tho contributing local bodies to the cost of maintaining the Tikorangi bridge. j Tho New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce advised that iuo proposed de1 putation to Wellington would go on the 21th ulto., provided .support was i received from the country districts. Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that J. Coventry, Toko, was wrongly charged for rates on section 1. block XL, Ohura, the land beingheld under " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands' Settlement Act, 1903." Jt was resolved to protest against enlarged local body franchise. Mr Barrowman will be forwarded the £S 15s due to him. The Engineer was instructed to report on the Tui Road and generally on the application made by Mr W. H. Foreman. Tho Council cannot accede to Mr Rawlinson's request for the alteration of boundaries. Mr Orbell (Orbell and Mackay) stated there wan a balance due on the Otaraoa' Road, and he asked that he be authorised to put the whole road thirough. They worn told by the Government Road Engineer that they would be unable to make the deviation, but they had been very successful so far, and he thought his firm should have the credit of completing the work. The sum of £300, excluding the cost of bridge, would finish the roads. The tunnel was now almost completed, and as regards the bridge the material had arrived in New Plymouth, and after being cleared at the Customs would be sent on to the. site. — Cr. Foreman said he was not in favour of the request being {rranted.— Cr. O'Sullivan thought the Council's Engineer had quite enough ordinary work in tho County to atirn( ] i O> _C r . Webb did not think tho Council should look at, the matter from a sentimental standpoint. The cost would bo '.CIS. and now they had an "Engineer of their own that arioiint should be Raved to the ratepayers.—The Chairman (Mr Pigott), now being in attendance, said the £15 could not lie. paid out of tho Government errant, but would have to come from the ratepayers' fumis. — Tt was mentioned that Mr Orbell was very proud of the Otaraoa Road work, and would bo prepared to xro U through if tho Council could not see its way to pay him. — Tt was resolved, that the Council could not sec if.s way to agree to "MVpsi-r Orbell and Mackny's rortnost. Mr Bnehnnrm. on behalf of the "RaleigH Town Board, waited on the Council regard i ii cr Ilio rlrainaee on to (ho Richmond Road.— A resolution eranting £?• was' reseiiirlocT, and it was rrsolvwUo pny half <V cost of tho flic full amount not to exceed .CO. T!v> f'tiMinnfui Nfnlfl M"i! Mo.^ts: Jupp and Cunningham marie no objections to the deviation proposed

through their properties so as to improve the Upper Waihi Road. The Engineer was instructed to lay off the deviation. URUTJ METAL SHUTE. The condition of the metal shutc was touched on by the Engineer, who placed its value at £25.— 1t was resolved to offer the sum to Messrs Cameron and Brooking for the shute. Referring to the Mimi bridge, the Chairman said iie feared the construction was going to be a great tax on the funds. He was of opinion the settlers who had previously made an offer of £150 towards the work should be approached and asked to repeat the offer.— lt was resolved to write to the proposed contributors.—Cr. O'Sullivan pointed out that the Government grant now reached £340., and there were great hopes of obtaining £150 more. The Chairman said the Engineer agreed it would not be advisable to keep Jontis on permanently as a sur- ! faceman in the Tikorangi Riding, and ho was now engaged breaking metal for future work. The bad state of the Ngatoto Road was referred to by the Engineer, and Councillor "Webb said he was willing to give £3 3s towards the costs of improving it.— Cr. Webb's offer was accepted, and it was decided to carry out the repairs needed. Replying' to Councillor McKenzio, the Clerk stated no money had yet been paid on account of the wheel tax. The Clerk stated that the finances were still in a bad way, the Council having £50 with which to pay £380 worth of accounts. Last month he had some difficulty, but had been lucky in receiving a fair portion of tho rates.— Cr. Foreman said it would be necessary to curtail the expenditure as much as ever they could during the next two months. The Engineer asked for instructions regarding repairs to several of the bridges, and said it was a case of running a great risk of blocking the traffic if attention was not given to the repairs.— lt was resolved, that the Engineer proceed with the Mangainahu bridge repairs. Cr. Murley brought up the state of the Main North Road, and said the Government should be asked to metal the bad portions north of Uruti, and, further that the request should be made for the balance of the £1500 subsidy due on the Mimi-Mokau Road. —The Clerk was instructed to write to the Department and member for the district on the subject. A discussion took place on the allocation 'of tho rate for main and bye roads, the Chairman having pointed out that the Council had yet made no decision as to what may be considered the main roads of the County.— Cr. Webb said the ratepayers of his Riding thought the clear half-penny of rate should be spent on i'.n bye-roads.— Cr. O'Sullivan said he understood the half-penny should come off the total rate.— The Engineer pointed out that if the administration charge was to come out of the penny the expenditure fc r tho main road' would lie quite inadequate. — The Chairman said he did not think the Council could stick strictly to an apportionment on the basis of money obtained for every road being spent thereon. — Cr. Webb said if that w r as not done it would destroy all the purposes of his proposal. — It was decided that main roads should be defined by next meeting. Regarding the Tikorangi bridge tho Chairman said the position was one of considerable difficulty, as tho Government had power to thrust the bridge on thorn, no matter what they ! said or did. it would be quite cxi cepfional if the Commissioner recommended that tho Government maintain tho bridge ; nevertheless the Council should be represented at the enquiry. — Cr. Foreman was appointed to represent the County at the enquiry, and it was resolved to suggest Waitara as the most suitable place for the Commissioners to sit. — The Chairman hardly thought it fair to try to bring the Waitara West Road Board in as a contributing body. He did not think tho law provided Tor Road Boards maintaining a bridge. Cr. O'Sullivan stated that being instructed to go to Wellington on a certain date as one of the deputation he completed his mission, and though none of the other members went down he saw the Minister of Public Works, and represented to him the need of particular works in tho district. Fie mentioned the Junction, Otaraoa, Mold, and Uruti roads, and pointed out that the Government tihould properly form the road between Uruti and Mount Messenger before handing it over to tho County to maintain. Tho Minister was sympathetic, but could make no promises. Councillor Figott said he was sorry to say lie would have to resign his membership, as owing to business matters interfering' ho found he could not carry on the duties. Regret was expressed at Cr. Pigott's determination, and he was asked if he could not see his way to carry on until the next general election.— Or. Pigott replied that he was unable to do so. — A discussion then ensued as to electing a Chairman in Cr. Pigott's stead. —Cr. Webb moved, that the resignation of the Chairman be accepted with great regret, and the Council place on record its appreciation of tho long and valuable services rendered by Mr Piaott during a period extondinrr over eleven years. — Seconded by Cr. Murley, and carried unanimously.—Cr. Webb was proposed by Cv. Foreman, but said he could not noeopt office. He lived a long way from tho Council's placo of meeting. Tie proposed that Cr. Foreman bo appnintod.—Seconded by Cr. Muriey. — After pressure was brnuglif in bear on Cr. Foreman ho agreed to take office until the time for the general election

in ISoVeinber next.— Or. Foreman then took the chair. He thanked the members for the honour they had done him. He felt there was a light position to face, but Hie present state of their finances might lead them to clear their way a little.— lt was pointed out to the new Chairman at this stage that he was ex ofiico a member of °the Waitara Harbour Board.— Cr. Foreman said he had not thought of that, and it would be very awkward for him to be on two Harbour Boards. He should have to resign his membership of the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Accounts were passed for payment.