TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16759, 8 June 1920, Page 6

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki County Council was jield on Monday, Councillor J. S. Council presiding. There were also present; Councillors J. Wooldridge, C. Andrews, S. Vickers, A. Morton, and J. Andrews. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Tho engineer, Mr. R. D. Chime, reported : / Mangorei Riding.—'Tho foremen in this riding had boon kept fully employed repairing damage to loads caused by car traffic during tho wet*weather. The main roads required constant attention as fresh pot holes .seemed to form every wet day. An application had been made to got some work done on the old: Korito, Road, at creamery, to .give better access to a settler who had taken up a farm. This man had offered to give tho use of his horses and his own labour free, so he suggested that Foreman Keast be given instructions to put in three or four days at tlio work.

At present it was not possible to procure wire mesh, so the protection work on the down stream side of the bridge at Lepper-Cnrrington Road would have to be held up until this mesh could be delivered. He had -arranged with Air. Southcombe to save all suitable shingle at Lower Mangorei, and he had agreed to (lump this near the factory at a charge of os per cubic yard. He was also prepared to submit a price to deliver 500 cubic yards of boulders at the crusher site on Albert Road. A start had been made to improve the filling on Hospital Road (Mangorei), but very little progress had been made on account of tho weather. Foreman Spencer had met with an accident and would be oft for some days in consequence. AVaitara. Riding.—Te Aroi Road metalling was now completed up to Air. Surrey’s gate. A total of 725 cubic yards having been spread. Owing to the wet nature of the ground, it would not bo possible to do any more this winter.

Tlio total amount of metal dumped by the motor lorries during the month was 00-1 cubic yards, of tins 660 yards had gone through the crusher, the balance 244 cubic yards being baud broken stone from the railway pit. This total had been distributed as follows;

Te Arei Road metalling 42S yards, Te Aroi Road repairs 6-4 yards, Devon Road repairs 52 yards, Tare Road repairs 8 yards, Wortley Road 23 yards, IManutahi Road 52 jnrds, Richmond Road 84 .Yards, Corbett- Road 8 yards, Mountain Road 24 yards, Kelly Road 4-1 yards, AATiitara Road 4 yard's, Mountain Road re-coating 108 yards. The work of ire-coating Mountain Road would now- be gone on with continuously. This new metal was being spread to a width of 12 feet and so far it- had averaged 14 cubic yards to the chain.

So far it had not been possible to work tho pit properly owing to lack of efficient labour, and four or five extra men could lie employed to advantage the drains of lower stream crossing, Egmont Road had been cor.fplctcd and the new culvert should be placed in position before the end of the week. Those pipes were being laid on the original sand-stone bottom of the old pur-in culvert. Tho Public AVorks Department’s plans of groynes at AVaiwakaiho weir had been submitted to the borough engineer and after his approval had been obtained this work could be gone on with, provided a supply of wire mesh can be obtained.

During the 'first fortnight of the month the teams were employed hauling stone at the crusher depot and altogether some 800 cubic yards were dumped. The main roads in this riding would heed a great deal of attention if there was much more continuous wet weather. The side roads were all in very fair order.

Omata Fading.— As instructed he had gone into the matter regarding a new cross road through Mr. Baker’s property from the junction of Hurworth and Frankley Roads across to the Barrett Road, and reported ds follows:—The proposed line follows fairly easy country, and the total distance of G2 chains should be. formed and metalled for approximately £1517. Another matter brought under his notice by Mr. Baker was the unnamed cross road between the Frankley and Hurford Roads. This road was at present unformed, and was used mostly as a stock trade, and tlio settlers were desirous that an application be made for. a grant to open it for wheeled traffic. Mr. J. Walsh had asked that a hill on a short road leading to his property off the. Jjarrott Road, should bo re-graded, finis frill was about six chains long on a grade of 1 in 6, and lie had suggested to nim that if ho gave his labour free the council may bo prepared to assist him by allowing Foreman Eva to put in a few days on the road. Owing to ram it had not been jmssible to haul any stone for Hurford Road. Seamark had hand-broken about 20 yards of stone to keep him going with maintenance metal N tor this road which wiis getting very weak in places. Okato Riding.—The work of metalling Ivomene Road is now practically completed as regards Mr. A. W. Cowling’s contract. This work had been greatly delayed by the bad weather and also by accidents to the crusher and shortage of labour. The council’s team went to Okato to haul stone about a fortnight ago, and to date had Tiauled approximately 300 cubic yards. When tho road was too heavy for hauling Foreman Jury put a screen hi the river and obtained about SO cubic yards of good shingle suitable for tarred road. work. The cost of this had worked out at under os per cubic yard dumped whorb is could bo picked up by motor lorries. At present there was a very largo quantity of shingle in the river, and.if this could bo screened and dumped at the above price it would considerably lesson the cost of tarred roads in this riding. There was also a fair quantity of shingle obtainable at Oakura. Tho small roller had now scarified the main road from P uni ho to Pitone Road, and this portion of tho road was now in excellent condition. To date'no satisfactory arrangements regarding a supply of cement for repairs to concrete bridges had been made. However, everything is in readiness to make a start as soon as cement was available. Plant and General.—The largo roller had been engaged during tho past week scarifying and rolling Mountain Road, and would bo employed at this work until completion. Early in tho month the small roller was fitted with now gears, and considerable trouble was experienced whilo these were “working in.” The wet weather had also prevented full use being made of tin's roller. At present it was working on the Main Road near Pitone Road. IT The Komene Road was solid enough this roller would ho used _ to level the surface of tho new metalling. The tar works had

been closed down for the winter and men employed there were now working at Sentry Hill Quarry. It was resolved to raise 10 per cent, additional on the Komene Road loan of £7OO.

Two settlers will be requested to remove obstructions from the Mangnone stream running through their properties- A similar request will bo sent to the Railway Department in respect to tho same stream. Mr. T. V. Simons wrote asking for permission to temporarily close an unused portion of tho upper Croydon Road near Horn.—Referred to tho chairman.

Mr. O. Baker wrote drawing attention to tho fact that shingle was being taken from tho vicinity and even under tho Lcppor-Carrington Road Bridge and said that if it was continued it might cause damage to tho structure.— The engineer will look into tho matter. Messrs. R. J. Bell and AV. J. Moffit wrote asking tho council to take the necessary steps to raise a joint loan with the Egmont County Council for tho purpose of forming grading and metalling about 35 chains of lower Punilio Road.—Tho necessary steps will bo taken to raise tho loan as requested.

Mr. J. J. Lolly, Kaimiro, wrote asking tho county to effect some necessary improvements to the road giving access to his property. Tile matter was referred to tho chairman and engineer. Airs. A. E. Aisii wrote asking that the grading of the upper Timaru Road and renewing of culvert receive the prompt attention of the council.-—lt transpired that the work had already been authorised, and tho engineer was instructed to see that thc„work was put in hand at tho earliest opportunity. The engineer was instructed to prepare estimates of quantities of tar, etc., likely in- bo required for next season. Mr. F. T. Crowe, secretary of the Leppert on-Sentry Hill Memorial Committee wrote asking permission to gravel a path loading from tho'Manutahi Road to the district memorial.— Granted.

Ratepayers interested petitioned the Council to raise a loan for metalling 80 chains of the Kelly Road, and expressed their willingness to form themselves into a separate rating district. —The engineer was instructed to prepare the necessary plans and estimates.

The Public AATn-ks Department had agreed to make a grant of £IOO towards cost of repairs at tho AVaiwakailio v.-oir provided the balance of the estimated cost (£6O) was found by the borough and county councils in 'equal proportion. Deputations waited on the council in respect to proposed works on the Hurford Road.

Tho Public AVorks Department forwarded quotations for the supply of metal from the Egmont quarry ranging from 19s 6d per yard on an output of 15,000'cubic yards per annum to 8s per 60,000 yards.—lt was "decided to inform tho department that the price quoted Is considerably in excess of that now being paid for supplies. The Stratford Borough Council asked for support of a resolution asking the Government to declare Saturday a universal half-holiday.—Agreed to. Tire Hawora Borough Council asked for support of a resolution requesting ilic Government to take immediate steps to remove tho duty ou children’s footwear,—The council decided to endorse the resolution. Tho Pahiat.ua Comity Council asked the council to support a resolution drawing the attention of the Prime Minister to the unsatisfactory wording of (ho Housing Act, in that it did not make provision for the purchase of land to erect dwellings or of buildings already erected, and that he be-asked to have tho Act amended in this direction.—Agreed to. It was decided to erect notice boards in the vicinity of schools warning motorists to drive with great care.