STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 70, 22 July 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. , The Stratford County Council held its monthly meeting yesterday. There were present Crs Hathaway (chairman), J. Christoffel, J. Smith, T. Anderson, \V. H. Were, E. Walter, L. Baskin, T. Coleman, and H. B. ; Worthington.

I Before proceeding with the usual business, the Chairman made reference to the damage caused by the recent heavy rains. The damage already is estimated at nearly £3OOO. One washout was about two chains long, 80ft wide, and about 30 to 35 feet deep on this side of Puniwhakau. On Douglas Road north, a bridge had been swept away. On the Mangaehu Road, Mr Perry was isolated, but had offered to pay his rates (£320) in advance if the work was put in hand before November. As the Mangaehu Hiding was mostly Government lease, the Government should be ask-, cd to contribute. He suggested that a deputation should be sent to ask assistance from the. Government. Mr. Hine had promised to make all necessary arrangements for the deputation to meet the Minister for Public

Works. The deputation could also bring the question of the metal depot at Midhirst before the manager of Railways with a view to getting access over a metalled road.

. Cr Smith was of qpinion that the damage done was a 'calamity to the ratepayers. The Council should protest against a re-valuation, and the Government should 'assist, as the Council’s funds would not permit the work to be done.

Cr Worthington pointed out that in the Mangaehu Rnad some 8000 acres of Crown land had been opened, and therefore the Government should assist. Culverts and tunnels were of no use, and often bridges should be put in. The County was rated as high as was possible, land Government assistance was necessary.

The Engineer gave a full report of the damage as far as he had seen, and pointed out that channels and culverts were useless. Open bridges should he erected. The funds in hand would scarcely pub the roads in working order, let alone putting them into their normal -state. The damage alone in the Mangaehu Riding was; about £3OOO.

Cr Walter moved that the Chairman and Cr Worthington proceed to Wellington and put the question to the Government, the deputation to have a free hand to take the Engineer if they required him. Cr Smith seconded, and the motion was carried.

Cr Baskin moved and Cr Coleman seconded, that the deputation also wait on the Manager of Railways with a view to obtaining suitable access to the metal depot at Midhirst near the Manganui River.—Carried. -71 . GENERAL. Re the County horse grazing at Manaia Road. The Chairman moved and Cr Smith seconded, that Cr Anderson he empowered to arrange accommodation for the mare.—Carried.

Straying Stork.—The Chairman moved and Cr Were seconded, that the Ranger he requested not to impound stock straying on roads where the fences of properties had been swept away by the. storm. Dog Tax.—Cr Baskin moved that the Ranger be appointed tax collector at a commission of Gd per sheep or cattle dog and 2s 6d per sporting dog on all taxes he registered.

RATES. SOUTH RIDING OBJECTS TO INCREASE. Cr Christoffel said that the South (Riding had a smaller overdraft than other ridings, and could carry out ‘all its work without the increased rate. The money could not bo spent, and consequently the South Riding’s contribution was paying interest on other riding’s overdraft. If the money was spent before March 31, 1916, the ratepayers would not object, but as it could not be spent before that time, he objected to the increase, and moved that the rate should remain at If. Cr Smith seconded pro forma, but regretted that the South Riding should seek to avoid the extra farthing which was urgently required in the County. In such a time as the present, the County should rally together and ridings well off should

support the weaker ones. The South

Riding had little expense, as the iailwav took all heavy traffic.

Cr Walter was of opinion that the South Riding was well treated in. the matter of subsidy of which their share amounted to 5s in the £. As far as he could judge from the Engineer’s estimate, the South Riding would need all the money for themselves and more. The Chairman pointed out that the estimates provided for an expenditure of £2319, and adding the present debt of the Riding it would bring their amount up to £3252 7s 2d, whiJi would eat up all their revenue with tne extra rate and more.

Cr CnriKtoffel pointed out that the North Riding were erecting permanent works out of revenue. This was bad management. ■ If the South Riding got behind this year then he would agree,to the increased rate next year. The motion was put and lost on division, the only ayes being Crs. Christoffel and Coleman. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The County Engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdoll) reported that the bad weather had greatly hampered the work .hiring the month. Several ot the roads have been greatly damaged and nany were dangerous. There was ft dmrtage of broken metal and arrangements would have to be made for sup ,lying the metai. deficiency. 277 yards >f metal had been crushed tor the ,’atea bridge at Cardiff, while sod yards had been crushed for roadworks it had been impossible' to metal the Roto and Ronald Roads. A satisfactory agreement had/been drawn up with Mrs Weybournc ■to enable the Council to establish a metal depot at Midhirst. There had been many slips n the County, but he had not been able to go Enough the (aunty properly to give a detailed report. The oridge gang had finished the Te Popo bridge and were now working on the Patea bridge. CORRESPONDENCE. The Taranaki Education Board wrote asking the Council s consent-to accept ;he board as tenant of an unused road near the Toko School.—Kesolveo jo accede to the request. Anderson’s, Limited, wrote stating Jiat the new roller had been ordered >n May 12,' and would be delivered within the specified time. The Valuer-General wrote pointing mt that the Council had a free-hand ,o decide whether the reduction in rates be held over until 1915-1916 on sections in which an error had crept .nto the valuation roll.—Resolved that Lne rates paid in excess through the rror not be refunded, as the Council nad no power to do eo. J. Ryan, Puniwhakau, wrote offering fo rent the roadman’s cottage near Puniwhakau at 12s per month, also offering to fence and improve the place.—Resolved that Cr. Worthington oe given power to act in the matter. '1 ho Midhirst Lodge of Oddfellows wrote requesting the Council to metal i portion of Whitcombe Street, Midnirst.—Resolved to inform the Lodge that the Council would consider the (iiestion when funds were in hand to lo the work.

The Mayor of Wellington wrote outlining a scheme for the pooling of che funds of the Wellington Military bistrict.-^—Resolved that the Council recommend to the Patriotic Committee chat Cr. Coleman he elected a member to represent the Council and to lavour a national scheme. The Manawatu County Council wrote tsking what steps the Council had taken regarding the proposal that County Councils should contribute towards the Belgian Fund.—Resolved that the Council inform the Manawatu Council that while the Council is in sympathy with the movement it regrets that it is handicapped for funds to enable a contribution.

Mr Wm, Perry wrote offering to pay his rates in advance if the Council would expedite the clearing of the Mangaehu Road so as to let him get his wool out when the season arrived. —Resolved to accept the offer and put the work in hand as soon as possible. In connection with this, the Council decided to advertise inciting all ratepayers who could do so to pay their rates in advance and so materially assist the Council. It was also decided to recommend other local bodies to ask the Government to amend the Rating Act so that a discount of 2-i----per cent, he granted on all rates paid within 30 days after the confirmation of the rates struck.

Mr G. A. Marchant wrote asking the Council to make the road at the back of his property, the Makara Road, suitable for traffic. He offered to lend a horse and plough to expedite the work.—Resolved to inform Mr Marchant that the Council’s funds would not permit any but very necessary works to be done, and that they could not consider the work until the properties on that road were fenced.

COMPANY’S LICENSE FOR EXTENSION OF LIGHT.

A letter Tfan, received from .On der-Secrptwry for Public Workfi asking the Council to' communicate tbefr decision re granting the license to the Kleetrieal Supply Company. • The Chairman (Mt Hathaway) reuparkwl, tbai . h. th Might a license for ■I i years was no use to the Company. They' would not extend their lines unless they had longer license. He (suggested that the Council should hear iMr S. M. Porriit, a director of the Company, and see what the Company required. Mr Porritt pointed out that the Company had a contract with the Borough to supply..aaargy iu th® though for 21 year*. y®hro were up i» i\ had. mot -tH fyjto? up Ujpeither mala a now contract,with the Borough or the Bur-

ougli can. under clause y of the Em-

powering Act, take the plaut over at valuation. But the Company’s goodwill was worth .something, and if the Borough did lake over the Company would suffer a loss on the goodwill. The Company had approached the Borough several times with a view to making arrangements, but they had been turned down in every case.

Cr. Were spoke on the matter, and after going into the position fully, moved that the chairman and Cr. Worthington endeavour to moot the On-der-Seeretary for Public Works and ask him to grant the Stratford Electrical Supply Company a license to enable it to meet the growing demands of the County for electric current.— Seconded and carried.