STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 93, 20 August 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the meeting of the"* Stratford County Council 0.1 \\ ,u ic day tnere were p.escul : LTs, W . Hathaway (chairman i. T. Baskin, H. B. AVorthiugton, E. Walter, W. H. Were, T. Coleman, J. Cbristolicl, A. Anderson, and J. Smith. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdell), in his report, stated that he had inspected the intersections of the Croydon and Mountain Roads, in the North Riding, and estimated the cost of removing the bank at £'B. Ihe old timber from the Te Ropo bridge had been sold by public auction. The surfacemen had been engaged on maintenance work and clearing slips, the crusher had been engaged in the South Riding during the greater part of the month, and had crushed 212 cubic yards on the Mountain Road, 131 at the Ngairc factory, 17(1 on the Upper Cheal, 231 on the Sole, including 20 cubic yards bought from Mr Burkett, and 198 on the CTimic Road, The crusher is now on the Warwick Road, after which it will crush the metal on the Bird and Robson Roads. The roller works on the same road as the crusher. E. Wilson has completed the Waihapa formation, and a good job has been made of it. The fencing and surveying is in hand. Boor progress has been made with the Gordon Road contract (shell rock), in the East Riding. The surface gang were engaged during the month with general maintenance work and clearing slips. In the Douglas Riding most of the month had been taken up attending to slips on the various roads. The washout at 'Strathmore had been made good, 2ft Uin pipes being put in. There is still *a lot of work to be done to put the road in good order again. The Huiroa Riding suffered considerably by slips, 'it will take a long time and considerable expense to restore Douglas north and other roads to their previous condition. The Waitara river ridge towers require immediate attention, erosion having taken place under the east tower. The Maugaehu Riding suffered more heavily than any other part of the County; besides many slips there are several large washouts. It will be impossible to bridge them all this year, owing to the cost, as well as the shortness of time. It will therejfore be necessary to erect temporary 'bridges. The West Riding suffered j very little by the excessive rains, having only light slips, and the subsidence 'of the Opuuake Road near the Hastings Road. The surfacemen are engaged on general maintenance and , water-tabling. In company with Mr Murray, Resident Engineer, the districts mose affected by the slips were ' visited. The railway engineer, Mr 'Koch, paid a visit to ihe metal depot at Midhirst. Regarding the crossing 'and gates, a reply may bo expected J from the Department at an early date. | The bridge gang is progressing favour'ably with the Patea bridge. The reIceut wet weather considerably hinder.ed the work. The report was adopted.

Cr. Smith moved uud Cr. Coleman seconded, “That for the purpose of defraying the cost of repairing and improving the Denbigh Hoad, the Stratford County Council hereby makes and levies a separate rate of one penny in the £ upon the rateable valuation of all rateable property of the Denbigh Hoad Separate Hating District; such rate to be for the year ending March 31, and tis be payable in one sum on the 15th day of September, 1915, at the County Office, Stratford.”—Carried. CORRESPONDENCE. From F. H. Heesby, Radnor Road, asking that the drain be cleared out in front of his section.—lt was decided to attend to the matter as soon as funds permit. From the Public Works Department, stating that balance of authority of £IOB 10s issued to the Council for Puniwhakau had been cancelled.—lt was decided to instruct the Engineer to interview Mr Robinson and see if the money could be spent in the interest of the district it was allocated for.

From C. A. Man-hunt, stating that he was in receipt of the Council’s letter, informing him that the Council had no funds for the work he asked on the Makuri Road, as the road was unfenced. He said the reason advanced by the Council as to the laud being unfenced was hardly correct, and the

road was entitled to the outlay.—He-

* ceived

i From the Prime Minister, stating that in the event of any amendments , to the Rating Act being submitted to Parliament this matter will receive carefill consideration.

From T. C. Nicholls. stating that tin* carting on the Makuri Road was at tin* present, time necessarily heavy, hut in a very low weeks it would he reduced to a minimum.—Received. J. Savage wrote thanking the Council tor its appreciation of his services during the recent floods. From Alfred L. Perry, stating that during the recent floods the bridge across the stream leading to his property was washed away, and asking the Council to give him some light assistance. He suggested that the Council supply him with six piles, about 20ft long, and also the us» of ________

the pile driver. It was decided that | the Council cuukl not see its »ay tu [give any assistance. From J. 13. Kichards, hun. secretary of tae otratford Patriotic Committee, 1 t,t..ting Hut the annual meeting of the Lumm.use -eug held ou Saturday iu 1.. c lu\v;i x-aii, and asking the Council to send representath c*. —-toeti. ed. I'ioin 11. A. Wuusch, asking permis,..o,! to ic.-nne the embankment in lio.il ul hio sccuons at Midhirst at his o.vn expense.— Grunted. liie Chairman, reporting on tiis recent visit to Wellington "ith Cr. Worthington, said that among other matters, Mr Short was interviewed re--1 garding the agreement between the • Stratford County Council and the 'Stratford Electrical Supply Company, 'and he said that the Council had dis- ' posed of its heritage to the Company 'for three miles from the Post Oilice I for all times; the agreement to lapse ’if the Borough took charge. ELECTRIC LIGHT COM PAN V.

The agreement that exists between the Council and the Stratford Electric Supply Company was discussed at some length, and it was decided, on the motion of Cr. Walter and seconded by Cr, Coleman, “That the Electric Light Co. be thanked for its willingness to remove anay doubts as contracted in its agreement with the Council. Mr Robert Masters, chairman of the Stratford Company, wa'itcd on the Council and explained there was a wrong impression as to the terms of the concession. He produced a letter from Mr Short, Under-Secretary for Public Works, informing them that the term of the concession granted by the Council was to be co-terminus with the Borough agreement and not in perpetuity. The Company was prepared to enter into an agreement with the Council making the term of the concession another years, making 21 years since the Company began business.

The Chairman said Mr Short told the deputation that the Council had parted with their rights for all time and not for 21 years. Mr Masters said he wanted to make it dear that the Compauay had no desire to take advantage of any illegality that may occur iu the old agreement. If necessary the Company would bo willing to modify the agreement accordingly. Cr. Walters said that if the Council agreed the agreement was not right, now was the time to make it right. Mr Masters said he was quite prepared to go ou with the present agreement.

The Chairman: 1 suppose the Company will pay half the cost of a fresh agreement Y Mr Masters: “Why should we.” The old agreement suits the Company, It is the Council’s own advantage to have a fresh agreement, ion can bet the Company was not allowed to draw' up the agreement for the Council.” Mr Masters said all that ho wanted was to make it perfectly dear to the Council and his Company did not want to take any advantage of any technicality that might exist. Cr. Worthington: You can’t expect the Company to pay for the fresh agreement. Cr. Smith moved, and Cr. Worthington seconded: “That the Council and Company draw up a fresh agreement.” —Carried.

On Cr. Anderson’s motion it was decided that the Chairman and Cr. Smith be appointed a committee to confer with the Council’s solicitor on the matter. GENERAL. It was reported that a telephone had been installed in the Engineer’s house. It was decided that the Engineer be instructed to draw up specifications for ironmongery for the Council’s requirements.

Cr. Raskin drew attention to the dangerous bank in front of Mr Peterson’s place on Beaconsfield Road. The speaker said that cattle had been injured at this spot, and he wished to see the matter attended to.—lt was decided to instruct the foreman to attend to the matter.

Accounts amounting to £-109-1 os t!d were pasYsed for payment.