STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 16 July 1914, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Stratford County Council met yesterday, when there were present. Crs. W. Hathaway (chairman), W. H. Were, E. Walter, J. Young, W. lingers, J. Thomson, J. CTiristoffel, it. Anderson and .1. Smith. EXG IXEER’S REPOET'. Mr E. C. Robinson, the late engineer, reported :— Cleaning and tarring contract,, Stanley Road bridge: This has been completed satisfactorily. Shellrock supply contract, Stanley Road: This contract is approaching completion. Crushing operations, Skinner Road; As instructed 1 arranged for a supply of trucks and put tins noil', iu hand. It would ho an advantage to obtain more trucks for tiic purpose of railing metal to Huiroa, but on application J. found it impossible to procure them. General; The various instructions from last meeting have been carried out, and are referred to in the foremen’s reports. Douglas foremah : This man has been laid up foi ‘ somo little time, having contracted illness whilst on Council work. Following the usual custom I have included on his voucher the full time for the mouth. In conclusion 1 desire to thank the Council for the courtesy extended to me during the ten years I have been its Engineer and for the cordial relations which by their existence have promoted in no small degree any measure of success achieved in the various works carried out during the period in question.

FOREMEN’S REPORTS. North Riding (west): Repairs have been carried out on the following roads: Mountain, blunt. Cardiff, Barclay, Denmark Terrace, Denbigh, Radnor, upper and lower Pembroke and Monmouth. Metal: The Cardiff and upper end of Radnor Roads are short of stone. Twenty to thirty yards are required for each. It could be obtained at a low cost. Radnor Rond: I have arranged with Messrs Reeshy and Co. to break down half the road complained of. This has been done, and i will attend to the balance as soon as possible. Waipahu bridge; The oM trusses have been removed to the position directed at a cost of 30s mr haulage. Hunt Road gravel: I have not yet found out who removed '.he giavel from the road.—l was off work for a week, having a man in my place, v. bom [ will pay as arranged with the chair-

man. North Riding (oast): All our time during the month has been spent in patching Stanley east, Kahoun, Terrace and Boaeonslield Roads. o have already used on Stanley Road (which is very weak)whalevcr maintenance metal there was and sixty ■ artlof shell rock, and find that tin* 100 yards granted will he barely sufficient I'm- it alone, leaving none for iht Acklanr Road, which is also in a had state. Midhirst cemetery creek: Mr Gray has deepened his creek a little hut 'not sufficient to give the waun a good fall South Riding: The roads generally are in fair order with the exception of a small portion ol: the upper Skinner Road, which is badly cut np owing to the heavy traffic from the crusher to the station. About oO to 80yds are required to repair same and snffiiceiit metal for the purpose should be left at the completion of the crushing. About nineteen chains have been re-metalled ■ml forty chains scarified and rolled on Climie Road, Ip chains trimmed up on Mountain Road, and 11 chains remetalled on upper Cheal Road. East Riding (Toko): During the past (month water-tabling and general maintenance work has been carried out on the following roads; AYawil’i, Toko. Reacou.Siield, Maiigaebn and Huinga Ronds. Toko Road is in a bad state and there is no maintenance metal to carry on repair work. Reaconsheld Road is still cutting up badly and there is no maintenance metal here. T i, a vo had, some stone carted up from crusher to effect urgent repairs. The bridge on Mangaehn Road Ims boon cleaned of silt and approach fence repaired. The work of stone-ci nshing at Skinner Road is in hand, about 780 c.v. being crushed in about eight eight days’ work. Owing to being busy elsewhere 1 have not yet_ had time to put the work of obtaining metal from Huinga pit in hand, but

will do so as soon as possible; As instructed, 1 proceeded to Mangaehu to remove trees, but found nothing across the, road. The trees that are dangerous ai'e standing in Mr h i\o;,y's property, i have to report that jr]r I’aulger is sledging on W a\\ii i 'toad. He lias continued to do so after my warmup,. Cast Riding (Douglas): All the roads are in fair order. Patching has been done on (Vluira, Ohura-.Mangae-!:n. Mangaotnku and Douglas Roads. I regret to say that i have not been a hie to work Cor the last three weeks, hut expect to start again in a few day. Past Riding (Hniroa): The work «d dumping metal arriving at Hu iron is proceeding. Repairs have been made to Makuri Road west. Six concrete pipes hav'e been cartm! to a point ulnae a renewal is required and the necessary posts obtained tor tile erection of a guard fence. Water-tabling and banking (60 chains) lias been carried out on A'laknri Road east and a culvert renewal (seven pipes) i ; about to be made. On Autawa Road Mr Armstrong lias so far been nimble to undertake the work authorised, bn* hopes to make a start soon. On aceoum 01 difficulty of obtaining grazing ( bad lo abandon the proposal to use the County horse and secured local teams, which are giving satisfaction. West Riding; Waingongoro Road has broken up badly owing to wood carting in wet weather and all the uiaintoviiuiQe metal is used up. The

totara culvert authorised lias been put in. The filling on Opuuake Hoad No. 1 has been fenced. Ten 9-inch pipes were used in culvert on .Ronald Roan. Repairs have been made to Opuuake 1, 2 and 3, Cardiff, Waingongoro and Climie Roads, and Manaia north and south roads. Mr Cresswell, ol South Riding, is herding a mob ol cows on Finnerty and Ronald Roads to the damage of both. i'. Hancock left during the month owing to low wages. It will be hai'd to get such a competent man at the price. Manga-elm Hiding: General maintenance has been carried out on Man* gaotuku, Mangaobn and Mangaohu south Hoads. The roads generally are in fair order for the time of year. The Punhvhakau foreman starts work on the 13th inst.

Decisions. Twenty nr thirty yards of metrd to bo procured for Cardiff Road and cpper end of Radnor Ron 1. Engined 1 to reserve .sufficient metal at tin; Skinner Road Crushing site to put in repair the piece of Skinner Road now being carted over. Metal to be procured from Hninga Hoad ior r !oko Road as authorised. Kngineov to be instructed to keep Reaconsiield Road passable until the spring. RANGER’S REPORT. The ranger reported: On the 17th nit. 1 was at Gordon Road, Tncutawa. and Puniwhakau, and found 13 weaners, throe horses and five cows straying. On the 19th I was at Strathmore, Douglas and Toko Road, but there mu nothing at large. On the 21st 1 found three horses on Radnor Road. On the 24th I was at Salisbury and Croyirm Roads, but there was nothing straying. On the 23th I went to Climie and Finnerty Roads, but both roads were clear of stock. On the 30th I found one steer on Hunt Road. On the Ist inst. I impounded six weaneis on Bird Road and on the sth four bullocks from the Robson Road. On the 12th I was at Flint, Monmouth and Pembroke Roads and found three horses and three wcaners at large.

THE ROAD ACCOUNTS. CV. Walter moved that in future no credits on road accounts bo expended, unless provided for in the general estimates and covered by general rates, Ho said the Council should seriously consider its system of road accounts. Some of the older members were faithfully attached tofthe system and held that it would be the salvation of the Council; but the condition of the finances showed that it had not been so. The system would never .be the salvation of the Council so long as it was carried on as at present. As the law stood at present the Council could not recover the debits on roads, and therefore they should be careful of the credits and bo certain that they did not turn into .debits. The only way to ensure strong finance was to place more reliance on the estimates and loss reliance on the road account system. _ If the credits were paid out in addition to the estimates they would be in trouble every year. There should be a system wbib would enable them always to keep within their means. It was far from pleasurable to sit at the Couni cl table and bo continually confronted with the financial difficulty, (f Ins motion was carried a ratepayer who desired expenditure out of a road credit would have to wait for a year unless the expenditure was allowed lor i u,the estimates and covered‘by general rates. There were roads with credits of £2OO, but no stops wore taken to get the money to pay out these amounts.

Cr. Anderson seconded. Or. ChristofTel agreed with Cr. Walter that the expenditure should not exceed the estimate. The chairman drew attention to the fact that the Council had recently Imilt houses and bought land and plant quite outside the estimates, which had tended to swell the overdraft. One remedy was to instruct the Engineer that the expenditure on a road should not exceed that road’s credit. He believed that for the past two years the expenditure was over the estimates. There should always he a margin of fifteen or twenty per cent, for breakages of culverts and similar things which could not be foreseen when the estimates were framed. If an old wooden culvert caved in there was no question but that it must be repaired at once.

Cr. Walter said his intention was to work the estimates and he road accounts together. The Council was going to the bad every year, and ho thought the road accounts wore largely to blame. Cr. Walter agreed to add the words “except in the case of unforeseen contingencies” to the end of his motion, which was then carried, Idle only “noes” being Cr,s. Thomson and Smith. It was then moved by Cr. Thomson and carried unanimously that before the estimates are framed the Engineer and the Hiding members confer as to the work required on each road. GENERAL.

The ralos struck at the June meeting were cnniinned. it was decided to call on Messrs Hayly and Bredow and Simpson Pros., to clear out their portions ot the Maknri drain before January Ist next. It was decided that Mr Paulger be warned against sledging on Wawiri Road, and notified that a prosecution null follow unless the practice is ceased. The Engineer was instructed to inspect the Cardiff Road bridge and report to next meeting; also the Stanley Road, Makino Road and To Popo (Mountain Road) bridges. The secretary of the Midhirst Cemetery Trustees (Mr R. J. Hogg) drew attention the bad condition of the

outlet to t!u' creek leading from the cemetery grounds, and asked tnat the work be put in liaiul early.— {Received. Messrs Smith of i\lidhirst wailed on the Council in reference to the [condition of Kelly Street.—lt was decided that tin; Engineer inspect the road and give an estimate of the cost, the settlers thereafter to make arrangements for a- loan. R. Savage wrote that as Stanley Hoad was short of funds he had no objection to rates on his property on Maktiri Hoad being transferred to Stanley Road for the time being.—lt was agreed that £4O be transferred front the Makuri Hoad credit to too Stanley Road. Alex Tod, Kiore, wrote drawing attention to the condition of Heao Road. Owing to slips and washouts the road was in a very bad state, and several trees which were lying across the track rendered it very dangerous to travelling stock. He understood that £IOO was available for expenditure on the road.— I ucj iiiries are to be made regarding the Government grants for the road. Airs Savage, Stanley Road, wrote objecting to being warned about using a sledge on the road. She counter-charged the person who had laid the complaint with himself using a sledge on the Making Road and also grazing stock on the road.- It was decided not to take any action at present.

F. A. Recshy, Radnor Road, wrote that he and Moratti Bros, had done their half of the work on the had part of the road. When the Council did its share there would he forty chains picked up and broken. If it was blinded and rolled it would make a good permanent road. Mr H. Taylor would give, first-class blinding free of charge.—-It was decided that blinding and 'foiling could not bo done at present, but might be undertaken when funds- permitted. Mr J. R. Corrigan waited on the Council, and made a claim for the price of a horse which was killed through falling into a metal pit on Maknri Road.—Mr Corrigan is to ‘forward a formal claim, and when it is received the County "solicitor is to be asked to consider the matter.—Mr Boyd, a settlor close to the pit in question, said .it was in a very dangerous state, and lie asked that somefencing. he done to make the place safe. Owing to a mistake in opening the pit the Land Board had put ii]) n fence which was, however, in the wrong place. If any of his cows got hurt in the pit he would hold the Council responsible. P. Jacobs wrote that he had finished his shell rock contract on Wawiri and Ahnroa Roads in May, since when some of the heaps had been wholly used and others had been partly pulled down. This would account for the Engineer thinking the metal had been faultily stacked.—After discussion it was decided that the contract be paid lor.—Cr. Thomson had his voce against the motion registered, holding that not to proceed with Mr .Robinson’s objection contained ii? his J ime report was to cast a slight on Mr Robinson.—The East Riding members held that the matter was a small one, that much of the metal had been used for absolutely necessary patching, and that it would be impossible now to deal with Mr Robinson’s complaint. > Cr. Smith reported that be had interviewed seven of the nine ratepayers on Hastie Road, and they all favored the striking of a separate rate for the metalling of the baa cutting, regarding w-iicli a petition was forwarded to last meeting. On his motion it was decided to strike the rate as desired.—He then moved that pound for pound up to £lO 10s bo granted from the special fund. The road was pretty well worn out.—Cr. Anderson, in seconding, said the special fund was in credit to the extent of about £Boo.—Cr. Thomson protested against the proposed grant. Ho moved as an amendment that the original intention of'the fund bo adbored to—that the fund be available only for extraordinary expenditure.The Chairman seconded pro forma.— Cr. Smith said the grant was a very j small one, and it was the only favor the Riding had ever asked for out of the special fund.-—The amendment was lost, and the motion carried, Cr. Thomson being the only “no.”