COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 92, 18 April 1912, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlw? usual monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was Judd this morning. There were present: Crs W. Hathaway (chairman), W. lingers, E. Walter, E. Marfell, Smith, J. Christoffel, J. Thomson, Anderson and Young. The chairman reported that their overdraft this year was ,£3597 11s 2d as against £5580 18s 9d for March 31 last year. This meant that they were in a position £1989 7s 7cl better than last year. The opinion was expressed by members that this was a very satisfactory position. Engineer’s Report. The engineer reported ns follows; Work in hand: The two Government grant contracts on Manga and Mangaoapa Roads are approaching completion, and will he out of hand very shortly. The Makuri drainage contract is proceeding slowly owing to the very unsuitable season experienced. The contractor for the Maugaehu Hoad is engaged in stripping his shellrock pit, but the latter is not burning out nearly as well as expected. 'The Waipuku Bridge renewal is also well on towards completion. As instructed, I have inspected Sangster’s Hill on Ohura Road and estimate that the cost of regrading and, generally improving it would he about £(510, made up as follows: Land compensation 65 Fencing ... ... ... ... 15 New formation, 8 chains at £5 ... 40 Lowering and regrading portions of hill ... ... ' 250 Lifting and relaying 24 chains of metal, and new metal required 240 Total £6lO * This work would have the cffeci of materially shortening the hill, of casing a reverse turn near bottom on east side, and of practically cutting out the present hill altogether or west side. It is the most import an i and necessary improvement work on the whole road, and should he taken in hand as soon as funds will permit. During the month I have been collecting information for the annual estimate, and hope to he able to submit same at next meeting. Some doubt seems to exist as to , whether or not any holidays are allowed at Easter, and some of the paysheets show that they have been tak- , en. I would like the Council to give a definite ruling on what holidays artallowed throughout the year, in order that no misunderstandings of this na tore may occur in future. With regard to holidays it was decided that four days at Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Monday be allowed. , Cr Thomson moved that the engineer bo asked to supply a comparative estimate of the cost of maintenance of the roads of each riding and that tire foreman of each riding make statements with regard to the work done by each man, times, place; work done, etc. An amendment that the first part of the motion be deleted was finally carried. Foremen’s Reports. North Hiding (East). —The roads ! generally are in fair order. Repairs have been made during the month to Ratapiko, Makara, Beacon,sfield, 1 Croydon West and M. to M., Ackland, and Salisbury, and general maintenance work carried out. North Hiding (West). —Most of the roads are in fair order at present. Barclay Road: Have been unable to get a team yet to do the metalling, but expect one soon and will then put the work in hand at once. Mon month Road; The filling on this road is finished and the lower portion of the road lias been raked in again, Cardiff Road: The bridge near Pembroke Road has been repaired, and other necessary work carried out. Hunt Road: An old culvert has been replaced with ten 18-inch concrete pipes. Radnor Road : Repairs have been made to this road. Complaints have been made about sledging, and I have warned the parties concerned not to offend again. General repairs have been carried out on the following roads: Mountain, Upper Pembroke, Denbigh, Derby, York and Rutland. South Riding.—All the roads are in good order. I have been busy most of the month hanking up metal. I propose to start remetalling portions next mouth. East Riding (Toko).—All the' roads with the exception ol Toko Road arc in fair order. The Toko Road is in a very rough state and is badly iu need of remotalling. Maintenance metal is also very scarce. r l he work authorised on Toko Road lias been started, a sufficient quantity of metal is stripped in the pit, and the necessary earthwork on the road is nearing completion. I hope to start metalling on Monday next. East Riding (Douglas).—On the Douglas Hoad we have put in thirteen 18-inch uipes, redcckcd a large wooden culvert, and put eleven -planks in the first bridge. The remainder of the time lias been spent in raking loose stones near Douglas, and shifting small slips near Strathmore. A few days have also been put in on the Taihorc Road. East Hiding (Hniroa). —Mohakau Road.— Drain cleaning has been carried out mi this road, hut it will take two weeks longer to finish it. I think it would he advisable for the Council to Inform the following settlers, H-uz-/,iff, Jonas and Stockley to (dear the Mohakau stream of logs and blockages, as ,t flows over the road every ■ time their is heavy rain. Akarnii Road.—l have a man cleaning out tiie drains at upper end. Eagle has cleaned out his drains, hut Gardener and Kidd have not made a start yet. It would he as well to ( notify them re doing the work, as

road will wash cut this winter. Other roads are in good order. West Riding.-—Crushing work is now finished on Upper Waingongoro Hoad. The work authorised on tills road has Hen completed and the metal applied for delivered to the creamery. The work of rernetaUiug portions of Opurnike Read No. L is now in progress. About ten yards of metal are required on Hastie- Road. Maugaehu Ruling.—All the roads are in lair order. General repairs have been carried out on them during the- nonth, and the metalling of the unmetalled portion at Puuiwhakau bridge completed. With icgard + o the Mohnkaii Road it was decided to notify the settlers with regard to the logs as mentioned in the report. A similar resolution was passed will, regard to the Akama Road.

A deputation, headed by Mr Mills, waited on the Ooundil with regard to the Denbigh Road, alleged to tic in •such 'a state that when winter comes on the settlors would not he able To get their goods out. The road was, the settlegs stated, worn out, and they offered to rate themselves an extra Id in the £ provided the Council subsidised this amount £1 for .£ 1. The settlers had moreover put ’2ooyds of metals in readiness at the side of the road, tone as much as 50yds. v.

The Chairnilan stated that the deputation had not exaggerated their case. The road was ( “a {disgrace .to the Council.” Councillors Walter asked what was ta blame for this state s of (affairs. The chairman was practically blaming the foreman in admitting that the road had been neglected. T 1 ic .Councillor expressed surprise at the condition of the road, in; view of the money that had been spent on it.

One of the deputation stated that he had seen “muck” put on the road, but .not metal. They expressed their willingness to put out every year some twenty yards of .metal each. Councillor Christoffel said that, seeing the road wa's in such a had state, it' could not he put in order unless the settlers were prepared to go in for a special loan,. < The deputation stated that the mar jority were against- this proposal. Cr. Marfell proposed that the riding members and the engineer confer witn the seitldrs. Cr. Walter seconded, but. this motion -was Withdrawn in flavour ,of .one proposed by Cr. Smith, that Hue separate Irate agreed to .by the settlers .and the subsidy asked for be spent to the best advantage in making the road passable.

Mr Jennings waited on the Council with Uni drain on the- Donglvf,; 1 Road uealr his flarm. It -was iska't- • ed .that certain work required .had been carried' out, apd the engineer said this answered the purpose. It was decided to give notice to Messrs 'Smith and Watson to clear out a water-course from the Malawi ilbad to the Makuri stream. Tllie (chairman of the Eltham County ! Council, Air T. Quin, and Crs. Phillips, and the County engineer, , waited on the. Council .with regard to a dispute 'between the two Councils concerning certain, damage alleged to be | done to Finnerty 'Road. Mr Quiln, in summing up their case, istated that a claim had been made by the ratio: -d Clou illy Council against the Elt'hajm Council for assumed damage caused to the Finnerty Road ,by Mr Tunes, a. contractor, the claim amounting to £32. 'The road was a 'boundary one, and .controlled by the Sltratfiord Council. , The Engineer gave it as his opinion that the claim jjvas ,a reasonable one, and no patching .could put the 1 road in ordefr. v . After a long discussion, lasting nearly an hour, the matter was left ‘ in 'the hands of 'the two. engineers to dome to ,a decision, .with .power to call in Mr Climic .as ‘referee. Correspondence. The Department of Agriculture wrote, with regard to the jOouneil’s letter, drawing attention 'to the need of more drastic measures 'being taken in tlie County for checking tho .spread of .noxious ,weeds, .and stating that the makteir will he brought under tho .notice of the responsible .officers of the Department, in rider that adequate steps might ( be taken.—Received. The Council’s . solicitor, Mr W. G. Malone wrote with reference to the Upper Pembroke Road, stating that as far as he could ascertain it was a ■(Kii.iniy .road, find not .a good road. He also understood it was situate along the hank of a .river ami wae therefore of opinion Hurt .it could not he 'stopped except hy ,a. special enactment of the legislature. It was decided to hold the matter .over for a moil flh. Dr. Chesson, acting-district hcUlth •officer, wrote expressing the opinion that the .should issue a jroqnsition to the owner of a. store ami dwelling to have them pulled down, and also to have all rubbish cleared away .from the section. He inclosed comic in. nation , certificate.— Nothing was .moved Mi the matter. , A letter was received from the clerk of tho Waipawa County Council .selling forth! .the m'anner in wlvilch ‘that Council was ’cai/rying .out its telephone .schemes. It was decided to thank the Waipawa. Council for the information. Mr IV. .As Hewitt 'wrote, that he was willing to find £1 for £1 to complete metalling of .the ,Esk Road. Jt was decided to put the work jin hand. Messrs E. Marfell, C. Bayly, and E. J. Lnecria wrote with reference to the. metalling mf the Toko Road east, ami undertook tio find subsidy of £1 for £1 up to ,£l2O towards the .cost of the proposed work. „ A number of .settlers at Rowan 'asked the Council to form .tine portion ,of i the Rowan Road (from the end of the i metal to the section occupied by Mr

The work is ’to ,be. done provided the settlors do the stumping required, and provide a horse a.ud .plough.

The chairman alas authorised to. sign' the agreement with the Clifton Comity Council in reference to alteration of the boundaries between , Uhc two counties near Matau.

A motion was put, .and married, to take steps to raise a loan of £2lO for the -purpose of extending the metalling by 29J eltmims (from the Borough (boundary or Regan Street west. - i