TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13745, 7 September 1908, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Taranaki County Qrancil met this morning.. Present : —Councillors J. Brown (chairman), R. Stevens, M. Hopson, A. George, Charles Andrews, G. A. Adlam, G. V. Tate, and J. H. Hill. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Jones (Southern Moa Riding) reported that he had got 26 yards! of crushed metal from Mr. J. Tarry to repair Mountain Road, which had broken up badly between Inglewood and the Toll House, with the heavy carting to Waiongona bridge and carting to Foreman Walker, He had been patching Tariki Road during the month. He had got 240 feet of timber from Mr. T. V. Simons to, repair the Mangatea bridge. Mr. J. Neilson had carted 60 yards of metal for the Moa Road Board from Manganui River to Ratapiko and damaged the road considerably. The report was approved. It was decided to charge the Moa Road Board 5 per cent, of the value of the metal w^iich had been carted over the road. , Foreman Bennett (East Moa) reported that Mr. J. Neilson had finished contract No. 121. During the month he had delivered 594 yards of metal from the crusher . Tlife road from Inglewood to Tarata was in tip-top order. Before the crusher crossed the Natore Bridge again he would advise the Council to strengthen the land span by putting another strut under it. The report was adopted. Foreman Walker (Moa Riding) reported that the roads in his district were in fair order. Foreman Holmes (Waitara Riding) reported that 319J yards of metal had been carted on the road during the month. Of this '26sl yads was on Jeffrey's contract on the Devon Line and 54 yards on Richmond Road. There had been no repairs to bridges during the month. The report was adopted. Foreman Holmes was empowered to fence the M angaone culvert bridge. Foreman Huse (Omata Riding) reported that the road was in good order. The gridges were" also in fair order. He had inspected the tunnel at Mr. Watson's, Oakura. AH the pipes required taking out and the tunnel required other alteration. He suggested *that he should be allowed a man and dray for about three days to repair the side track by the Plymouth Road. The report was adopted. Foreman Huse's suggestion as to taking the pipes from the culverts and as to repairing the side track by the Pljrmoijth* Road were approved. He was jilso instructed to put in extra pipes at a* culvert on the Belt Road, near the school, in order to drain the storm water. Foreman Brosnan (Omata South} reported that he had spent the greater portion of the month in carting out maintenance metal on the Pnniho end of the riding, where the road was very thin.- in places. Between Okato and Oakura Dairy Factory the roads were in very fair order. He had pnt up a protection fence around the mouth of the clay tunnel leading to Wood's property as the old one was rotten and dangerous. He had fenced another dangerous gully near Sefton's property. He had begun to effect repairs to the Oakura culvert, but had been unable to proceed, being unable to get cement. The engine driver reported that during the month the crusher had worked 15 days, crushing 1030 yards of stone in that time. i ■ ,; ' ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer, Mr J. Skinner, reported as follows :r-"I have to report the completion of the Mangamawhete Bridge contract and passing of final payment ta contractor. The Waiongona Bridge, Junction Road, is well on towards completion, all material being on the ground and the ironwork being in place. Considerable difficulty was met with in getting foundations. The river bed, which, consists of large stones, was found to rest on a bed of clay. This had to be passed through, and a false bottom placed on a fairly hard grit, at a depth of seven feet below the river bed. On the east bank I took advantage of a conglomerate bank and had foundation put on that, thus saving the necessity of going to the greater depth, though at the cost of widening the span. I estimate the saving at over £35, consisting of expensive foundations as shown on west side, and extra wing walls. These I estimate at £70, whereas the addition to bridge takes six- yards extra concrete, which, with additional steel, will cost about £35. The tyridge has also a greater waterway, wJiich is very important, reducing the scour at the foxmdatioiis. The alteration in width was made entirely in the interests of the local bodies affected by the contract/ The report was adopted. OAKURA NATIVE PA. The Clerk to the Oakura Road Board wrote stating that the Natives at the Oakura pa had complained that they had now no outlet from the pa to the main road, in consequence of the Oakura Hill deviation, and had asked the Board to approach the County Council in order to have their grievance remedied. The matter was also referred to by the Engineer in his report. Ho asked' that instruct ions should be given toliav© the road loading to the pa fixed up, as at present it was practically Hosed. The- matter was left in Councillor Adlam's hands. JUNCTION ROAD DEVIATION. The question of the rebuilding of the Henui Bridge on the Junction Road and the deviation of the road again came up for discussion. Councillor Tate did not think it was right for the Council to undertake such a large liability when it had only two months' more tenure of office and then throw such a responsibility on a new Council) especially as the Council's funds were so low. He moved that &\\q i.work should be deferred until the finances should warrant it. Councillor George seconded the motion. Other Councillors expressed similar views. The Tapuae, which was undertaken by the former Council and the responsibility of which fell on the present Council, was cited as an example. The Chairman pointed out that the deviation of the road would entail a very long waste of time through lega) machinery, such as taking certain land under the Public Works Act. If the matter was left over much time Would be wasted. The deviation would probably cost £500 more, but the deviation would be 25 chains shorter than the present road. This would cause a large saving in expenditure for maintenance. It was pointed out by several speakers that the majority of the settlers in the district favoured the deviation. Councillor Stevens moved as an amendment that the, deviation should J>r, proceeded with and the necessary land (on Mr G. Cliff's property) acquired under the Public Works Act.

The amendment was put and carried on the casting vote of the chairman. The ayes were: — The Chairman, Councillors Stevens, Hopson, and Hill ; and the noes — Councillors George, Andrews, Adlain and Tate.