CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14331, 8 October 1910, Page 4

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

AIONTHLY MEETINGS Tho monthly meeting of the Clifton County Council took place at Waitara yesterday, tho following members, being present:—Councillors 'Foreman (chairman),.!ulian, APKenzio, C. O’Sullivan, Alusker, Kcunington, and Sander. . ' ENGINEER’S REPORT., Tho engineer, Air. C. F. Dowsett, reported: “In presenting my final report as a permanent officer, I consider it my duty to bring under the council’s notice various works which, in my opinion, should receive attention during thd coming summer. Wadii Riding.—The gravelled portion of tho Alain North Road at Onaero .should bo metalled with-broken stone, as ■ it requires constant patching and is getting thin in places, Tikorangi Riding.—D. Paul has carted out about 60 yards and ered three chains on tho Onaero Itbnd. Ho also has about another 50 yards broken ready for removal. Paul’s other stone contract should he proceeded with, as the weather permits. Ngatimaru Hiding.—Tho decking to the Taramoukou Bridge should receive attention, also the Waitara boundary bridge should be. inspected. One or two members were reported on last voar as not being quite sound, and a further inspection should decide their future life. Tho Alangamoehau Bridge, on tho Autawa Road,.'should also receive repairs. The bridge between tho 31 and 32 mile pegs on tho Junction Road, reported upon two years ago, should be rebuilt. The bridge below Air. Webb’s house shduld bo replaced by a concrete pipe culvert ns before reported.; upon. The repairs and painting to the Waitara Bridge at Pnrangi were authorised last year to bo carried out during a period concurrent with the erection of tho North Matau Bridge, and this should bo done. A large collapsed culvert on the Ngntoto Bead should bo carefully taken to pieces and re-erected on a solid foundation adjacent to the present, site. The available “thirds” could assist jn this work. On the Mangaopa Road the bridge should either'to repaired or a tuincl put through. , I inspected the site, but should prefer o little preliminary work being dono before giving a final decision; to drive a tunnel and find it requires lining is expensive, On the reverse curve on the South Alatail’ Road a deviation should he made, or the curve should be matalled. ■'■■■■.. Uremii Riding. General repairs should be effected to the , Moeraugi Hoad tinder the hill. Sufficient gravel is stripped at Onaero for this purpose. The AJuugapoua Bridge should receive small repairs ami he painted. The Alatnpo Hoad will require to receive regular attention, consequent on tho heavv timber-carting winch will fake place in tho m nr future. The contract at the upper end is nearing completion. The metalling contract on the Dkoko. Hoad should bo completed asisoon ns weather permits, amt the two bridges should be erected on the Piko Hoad as soon ns the contractors get tho timber on the ground. Repairs to the Black Bridge are now being carried out. Mokau Hiding.—Aiy inspection of the Domnin Hoard’s section at Pul;earnin' was made, whi n it was found that gorso was shewing as indicated on' sketch plan. .1 am informed, however, that one portion is being cleared.by eontract, and another by day labour. Repairs amounting 'to about £3O are required for the Uruti Bridge, also repairs to the Tupoki Bridge, estimated to cost £ls. Tho largo culvert on the Alangahia Hoad should bo replaced by a small bridge as previously suggested. Tho flood openings from Uruti to the county boundary should be inspected, when if may bo found that repairs may be necessary. Also on tho coast road north of the tunnel, the small bridges will have to receive attention if the council decide to keep this route open. There are various other matters which the council will find claim their attention in, the near future, but I have enumerated some of those which 1 consider i should receive earlier attention. in conclusion, 1 beg to lake the opportunity of thanking the chairman and councillors individually and collectively .for their kind consideration and appreciation of my services during, the GJ years I have been in their employ : also the county clerk for many acts of kindness and support, and tlie riding foromen for their continued'loyalty.' AIANCAMAEIIO ROAD. Messrs. F. Barker and H. L. Wilson asked tho council to take steps, if it had the power, to havo felled a strip of bush along tho Alangamaeho Road on section 5, block 1, ns at present this bush hindered the road drying up. It had been in a bad state all winter, and was still bsd.—lt was decided to ask tho Public Trustee to take action in the matter. TUKEARL’HE LOAN. - The State Guaranteed Advances Office telegraphed that the special rate proposed on tho PuUonruho Hoad loan would he sufficient f0r.£505 only, which sum had been finally approved.—Slops wore taken to “lift” tho money,’'.;, ; AN EXPLANATION. Mr. G. 1 T. Murray, resident road engineer, wrote that tho exchange of, 19 acres closed for XI acres taken on‘the deviation at subsection 3, block 10, Waitara (Otaraoa Hoad) was considered inequitable, and asking for an.explanation.—The. Chairman road a copy.of his letter to "Air,: Murray,: explaining that this exchange was made upon ;tho recommendation of a eommittee of members of the council, and to meet- tho, demands' of , tho occupiers, concerned, who were lessees under the Public-Trust Office. ’The'exchange'was in -reality part compensation to the lessees: for land taken from them, and tho .inconvenience caused by the division of-their/ property. " •' THE .BACK BLOCKS. Air. 0. J. Hawkeu, representing tho settlers in the upper end of ..the. county, near Whangamomona, waited ontho council with reference to tlio expenditure of* their- “thirds.” The .settlers thought they - were entitled “to E-omo “say” in the, expenditure, but at present they had no idea how they were spoilt, or if at all. At present, ho beIjcved, the council handed over the thirds to the ’Government engineer .for expenditure.—lt was decided to place the question before Air. G. T. Murray and furnish the settlers with information. ROADMAN'S'COTTAGE. .. Tho Now Plymouth office of the Department of Lands and Survey wrote that section 35, Village of Tarnta, which was to be reserved as a site for a surfaceman’s residence. ’ was at presentleased, but the council could obtain poa-

session in August, 1911.—The council snout over halt an hour in discussing tao suitability or otherwise of the section and the advisability of purchasing a site offered by Councillor Sander for £l6. Kventually the chairman was asked to visit and report. MISCELLANEOUS. Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of : Hospitals, wrote asking the / council if it was prepared to hand over to the Hospital Hoard-its powers in regard to sanitation and inspection under the existing legislation to guard public health.—The council saw no reason why it should retain these powers, and the chairman was appointed to' attend tho conference. Councillor O’Sullivan brought up complaints made by settlers concerning the state of the road under, the control of Mr. Davis in tho Pukcaruho neighbourhood.—Nothing was done m the matter. Mr.'George idiot applied for the use of section H)l, a county reserve on tho .Ngapapa Hoad, Urontii. Councillor Julian will report. Thd council'was. unable .to lease the Urcuui pound paddock to Mr. A. G. Crawford as requested by him, the chairman explaining that the paddock was Mr. Jlahomhe’s, that ho grazed it, mid allowed the council free use of it for, tho pound. : . Mr. James llatteiibury was appointed to net for the council in the arbitration upon Mr. A'. Corlrill’s claim for royalties. . Tho council decided to support a poti- ' tion from the settlers for tho opening up ol the Piko and Mataro Hoads to tho Junction Hoad, and to request the Minister for Public "Works to give the petition his favourable consideration. Mr, A. 0. Crawford asked the council to put a man on for a couple of days to fill several hail holes at the end of the metal ou Mount Messenger.—Tho foreman’s attention will bo directed to the matter. Messrs. H. M. Oxonhnm and J. Coleshv asked the council to widen the Mangnhia track leading to their properties at Grill i, so as to make it fit for vehicle traffic. As the counoil was short of funds they wore prepared to assist in the work anil wait for payment if necessary.—The riding members will report, at next mooting. Mr. S. Lowt- asked the council to bridge n small creek to give access to their holding. In wet weather tho water hacked up, nml they were unable to get out The chairman was authorised to see the resident road engineer on tho matter. It. was decided .to 1 construct a culvert at the Okau school site, at the request of .tho Taranaki Education Hoard. ,