STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 93, 22 April 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

.MONTHLY M EKTJNtI. 1 Yesterday’s meeting was attended 1)v tin* chairman (Mr \V. Hathaway), and Ci's. L. Baskin. H. B. Worthington, E. Walter, W. H. Were, J. Smith, T. R. Anderson, J. Christoffcl, and T. Coleman. , ENGINEER’S REPORT. During the month I have visited every district in the County, and find that many of the roads are in good order, while others are worn to a .finish, I am afraid if we get a spell of wet weather, many of them will be 'hard to keep in repair. It is my, initention during the month to make a jtonr of inspection over all the roads in the County, with a view of ascertaining the estimates for the incoming year. If the members of this Council will go over their respective Ridings with me it will acquaint them with the work for the incoming year. I understand the work of cleaning the drains on Simson’s property is proceeding. Bayly’s culverts on the Mountain Road are being attended to. Re culvert on the Salisbury and Cross Roads, I cannot see any necessity for the alteration of this culvert. Manga Road— The tunnel on this road has been attended to. Makuri Road The culvert referred to by Mr Darrall requires lowering about 18 inches.

Taihoro Road—lnstructions have boon given to have this road attended to. Tanrakawa Road—This road has been [attended to, and is in good repair. | Derby Road—l have inspected three ■bridges and several culverts, and find [ them all in a more or less rotten condition. Hninga Tunnel Road—Government grant of £SO has been expended, metalling about 15 chains, the actual cost of tlic work being £77. phis the cost of rolling. Toko Road Contract—-. 1. Nielson has completed this work, the original contract of 1072 cubic yards of metal and 128 cubic yards of screenings cost £520 13s Id. The extended contract at a slightly increased cost worked- out at I 1101 cubic yards of metal and 130 I cubic yards of screenings, costing I £560 J 7s, plus tiie cost of spreading, rolling, etc., in each case, the road i now is in first-class order. Autawa Hoad Government Grant of £loo— work is now in hand by day labour, specifications having been approved by the Resident Engineer. T>. J. Kchcly’s contract on the Opnnake ami Rowan Roads is progressing favourably, for this work I have bad to hire the Borough roller. -T. Nielson will start his Palmer Road contract this week. H. Gray lias completed the York Road, boulder stone contract of 500 cubic yards, also the Cardiff Bridge boulder contract of 250 cubic yards. 1 would recommend the purchase of about 150 cubic yards of stone and factory foundations at Ngaife at a cost of 3s 6d per cubic yard. 1 would also recommend Mr Friday’s offer of £2 for the removal of four trees off the Mangaehn road be accepted. Stanley Rond east —With the chairman, I inspected this long stretch of road, and find that inadequate provision has been made for the upkeep of this road for the winter, and would recommend that the suggestion made by the ratepayers concerned be given effect to, that about £SO worth of metal be procured and paid for nut of next season’s rates, money available when asked for. The Bridge gang are engaged on the Te Popo Bridge, having removed the old one to the side to enable the work to proceed unchecked by traffic. Other contracts are proceeding favourably throughout the County. , Purchase of a horse for the West Riding—A grey mare, four years old, lias been purchased from Mr’ J. Stewart for £3B 10s, including collar and cover. The mare stood a week’s trial, and is giving every satisfaction. Re Road Roller—l would urge upon the Council the necessity of purchasing another road roller, the one we have is proving altogether inadequate to keep abreast with our ever increasing mileage of roads. It is also too heavy for many of our back block roads, a lighter one one would do much hotter work in the winter time. If the Council decide upon the purchase of another, it I is w ( olI time the order was executed. Foreman Robinson (West Riding) has tendered bis resignation, after 101. years faithful services. Tenders returnable to-day, have been called for Waihapa Road Contracts Nos. 910 and 911, also Kelly Street Midhirst. Resolved on the motion of Crs Walter and Worthington, that Mr Uarral’s request re drain at Huiroa, bo granted. On the motion of Cr Coleman, seconded by Cr Wore, it was resolved that the matter of the Derby Hoad Bridge repairs lie bold over for consideration next month. The Chairman moved that the resolution passed at Inst meeting in regard to culvert on the Mountain Road opposite Mr Bayly’s, he rescinded, and that the Engineer’s recommendation that the road bo widened instead of fenced, be carried—Seconder] by Or Anderson, and carried. Resolved on the motion of Crs Coleman and Anderson, that the Engineer be empowered to buy the broken metal of the foundations of Ngaire factory. Resolved on the motion of Crs Bas- j kin and Coleman, that the Engineer ! procure sufficient metal as recommended, Fpper Pembroke, Flint, and Radnor Roads to carry over the win-

Unsolved that Hit) t-uliii- yards of metal be found fur Stanley Road as recommended. On the motion of (Vs Coleman and Hathaway, that the Engineer inspect and report re entrance to .Mr Sharpe’s at the corner of Brooks Road. It was resolved on the motion of Ci's Worthington and (Valter, that the track on Popuanui Road he iuad« as recommended. CORRESPONDENCE. (V. M. Bayly wrote seeking permission from the Council to remove five or six loads of clay from the roadside in front of his place.—lt was decided on the motion of Crs Walter and Anderson that Mr Bayly’s application jbe referred to the Engineer. The District Manager of the Public Trust Office wrote protesting against a 10 per cent, being imposed in the estate of E. J. Hall, deceased, as no intimation was received till early this month.—Resolved on the motion of

Crs Walter and Worthington, that the Council cannot remit the fine.

T, Cuthhert, Pembroke Road, wrote asking permission to clear weeds off the road on his frontage, as he found that it‘was useless trying to clear Ids property when the roads were infested.—Moved by the Chairman, seconded by Cr Coleman, that the Council lias much pleasure in granting him permission.

R. Wells, Stratford, wrote concerning fencing which he wished to erect on the Douglas Read to keep cattle from straying.—Resolved that the matter bo left in the hands of the Engineer

A. Wisnewski, Climie Road, wrote asking permission to take 50 yards of earth from some banks for levelling purposes.— Resolved on the motion of Crs Anderson and Coleman, that it be left to the Engineer with power to act.

The District Manager of Railways wrote with regard to a wooden box culvert on Climie Road which needs repairing, as it allows water to flowon to the railway.—On the motion of Crs Anderson and Baskin it was resolved that the matter be left to the Engineer and Cr Coleman. H. Bredin, Isabella Porter and W. L. Porter wrote, requesting the Council to hand over their rates to the Moa Road Board to be expended on the Maungatea Road, that being their outlet, and also asking the Council to define a special rating area for a special loan for metalling portion of Maungatea Read.—Resolved on the motion of Crs Anderson and Christoffel, that the Chairman and Engineer report on the road at next meeting.

The Minister of Finance (Hon. Jas. Allen), forwarded circular re Poor of Great Britain, Ireland and Belgium. Received.

His Worship the Mayor of New Plymouth wrote regarding Poor of Great Britain, Ireland and Belgium, suggesting that the present organisation in Taranaki should continue to send , their collections to the Undersecretary, of Internal Affairs at Wellington.—The Council endorsed the suggestion in the letter, ... THE TOKO SCHOOL, Messrs Gernhoefer and Chaney waited upon the Council asking for the use of a piece of ground "next the school, which had been cut off by the railway some 12 years ago. Mr Gernhnofor, as spokesman, said they wanted the land for all time if possible. At the present time it 'was no use to anyone. They wanted to set the hall rolling in the matter, and approach the Education Board. Cr Were said the section was only a dead-end. C r Baskin moved that the Council has no objection to the Toko School occupying the section during the pleasure of the Council. Cr Watler moved that a lease he granted at a peppercorn rental, ray. one shilling, per year, at the Council’s pleasure. Mr Gernhoefer said it was i lie intention of the committee to improve! the section wherever possible, by the planting of trees, etc., and they would like to have something definite in tin matter. The amendment was seconded by Cr Christoffel and carried. The deputation then thanked the Council and withdrew.

| BRE DOW’S FARM. j Mr R. Brcduw, Douglas, stated that he intended opening up a road on ;his property to give access to half a (dozen sections lor a dairy farm. The road would not be metalled. H' 1 'wished to know it the Council could take over the road when it was tormj ed. 1 Cr Walter said he could see m> objection to the Council taking over the road. After discussion, v it was resolved on the motion of the Chairman, secbonded by Cr Christoffel, that the i ngineer inspect the old road and the .new, ami report at next meeting. J FENCES ON ROADLfN fc3. f Mr .1, Godkin, Puniwhaka.i, waned on the Council in reference to the condition of the Puniwhakau Road owing to fences encroaching on the .rondlino, which was oi places dai»'gerously narrow. I The Chairman moved that too mat- ' tor be placed in the hands of the Engineer to inspect and rep wt. | Cr Christoffel considered fences should be removed from dm road on j their proper line, and Cr Smith supiported. j Cr Walter said that in many cases the road benefitted by having t>be fence upon it, but some people v.eio using no discretion. Cr Worthington said die •Double was the privilege was being abused. The motion was then put ;i"d carried. THE STRAKER WAGGON. The Chairman stated that despite all enquiries, no reply had been received from the Invercargill firm of Johnson and Co. about the Council’s Stroker steam waggon. At the request of councillors, the Chairman gave the history of die waggon. He said it had been purchased in Christchurch 6 years ago for about £BOO. When the Council sold itj-the buyer said it took him eight hours to travel 16 miles, it was then repaired under Government supervision and minor faults attended (•>, and the transaction fell through niply because it was not endorsed bytwo members of the Council. The Council’c solicitor advised them not to go to Court, as it would only be spending more money, in support of which he quoted similar cases with other councils. The Council, in consequence, would not endorse the contract. The Council had to pay Manning and Co., and there was freight amounting to £2O, as well as losing the buyer’s deposit of £SO. Last year Johnson’s firm came into it, and they asked the Council to submit terms. These were considered too high, and the Council asked to reduce them by about £25, but from that day until now, said the Chairman ; nothing had been heard, or could they hear, of it. Suggestions were made that the Engineer should communicate with a, respectable firm of solicitors or some other party, in Invercargill, and eventually it was agreed that the Engineer should wire urgent at once to Johnson’s asking for information concerning the Straker.

At a later stage, the following telegram was received in reply : “Unable to find purchaser for Straker at present.” Members considered the answer satisfactory in so far as the Council now knew where the Straker was. THE MOUNTAIN ROAD. The Minister for Public Works (Hon. W. Fraser) wrote with regard to toll gate on the Mountain Hoad, and said that the Government was averse to authorising any additional toll gates being erected except as a last resource, and where no other reasonable means of raising money for the upkeep of the road could be devised. If the Council still desired to erect the toll, the Government proposed that before any final decision is come to, the whole matter should be referred to a Commission which would take evidence with a view to ascertaining whether or not funds could not be obtained for the upkeep of the road by an opportionment of the cost in the manner provider! by section 109 of the Public Works Act. 1908. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, wrote in reference to the Hon. Mr Fraser’s letter re toll on Mountain Hoad, and intimating that the Governor had appointed a commissioner. Ihe chairman said he would never support having any special work done on the main road for the benefit of touring motorists from the whole of the North Island, The settlers should not be asked to pay half their rates for the upkeep of the road. When they had hud the road with tar macadam, put the bridges in order, etc., they could do away with the toll gate again. They could not, in justice, ask any adjoining local body to contribute.

It was resolved on the motion of ( rs Worthington and Baskin that a committee consisting of CVs Anderson, ( hristoffel, Walter and tlio Chairman ho appointed to deal witii tho question of commission re toll. The committee will meet at eleven a.rn. on Saturday next. /Cortinned on page R.\