STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 11, 16 December 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual meeting of the Stratford County Council was held yesterday, when Or. Hathaway presided, and there were present: Crs. W. H. Were, L. Baskin, Walter, Coleman, J. Christoffel, Anderson and J. Smith. Cr. Worthington was granted leave of absence. The Engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdell) reported as follows:—North Hiding. —Kelly Street had been metalled. The rolling of this road and York Road would have to stand over till the arrival of the new roller- Two of the surfacemen have been borrowed to assist in the West Hiding with the crushing. South Hiding.—General

surface work and clay blinding wasproceeding satisfactorily. East Hiding.—General surface work was proceeding well in this riding. At Huiroa the slips had been practically cleared away. Baker's bridge had been dismantled and stacked under cover of the trees. Hoad improvements and surface work were proceeding well. As authorised, he was preparing estimates for the Strathmore Saddle tunnel and metalling, and he hoped to have them ready for next meeting. West Hiding.—The Palmer Hoad contract was proceeding apace, 'and with good weather should be finished by Christmas. A start had been made with the reducing of the Opunake-Cardiff hill by the river. Maugaehu Riding.—The bridge over IMcLachlan's wash-out was erected, though not open for traffic yet. The approaches would be completed ro enable traffic to cross by Christmas. Other road work' was progressing very well. General—There being only' one crushing plant availablo in the district it would mean that the crushing would drag late into the autumn. It was for the Council to consider the wisdom of purchasing another for nest year. Owing to the above mentioned reason and shortage of labor he was allowing the men to work nine /""Ms a day.—Adopted. The ranger (Saf Charles Milner) reported having visited the various roads in the Cou»tv during the month.—Adopted. A circular letter was received from the Mount Herbert County Council enclosing the following resolutions passed at, a recent meeting of the Council:—(!). That this Council views

with regret' that the present gigantic European struggle will continue for a considerable time to come, and are, therefore, oi opinion that the many Patriotic Funds should be liberally supported. (2). That under the present system of voluntary contribution large sums have already been subscribed, but, unfortunately, many who are well able to contribute have done but little or nothing in this direction. (3). That this Council is of opinion that all local bodies should be empowered to strike a "Patriotic Fund Kate." (4). That such a course would reach those who have not yet realised their duty in this great Empire** struggle, and urge them to iurther endeavours.—Received. W. Gardner, town dors, Petone Borough Council, wrote forwarding a resolution ro soldiers' pensions, and asked the Council to endorse same.— lleceived. W to Short,' Assistant Under becretary Puohc Works Department, Wellington, wrote ,statiu;g that m regard to votes for construction of roads and bridges, he had been directed bv4he Minister of Public Works to iniorm the Council that as toe loan just raised will probably have to bufficdi to provide for pub,.c works while the war lasts, and as war conditions have now necessitated a considerable reduction in the rate of expenditure on pertain public roads, a number of officers and men, hitherto engaged on such works, will not be required, and as other employment must be found for them the Government proposes to employ them on road works as far as ■ may bo necessarv and funds are available. Under these circumstances, the Minister much regrets he will be unable to uvaii himself of the assistance ot local bodies in carrying out ioaa works to the same extont as hitherto, lnis being so, the Minister does not propose to otter votes for roads and bridges to local bodies for expenditure this year to the same extent as has been done in the past, and local bodies are therefore requested not to proceed with the preparation of plans, etc in anticipation that they will receive authority to expend such monas it is only in cases where the money has been definitely offered to them and the plans have been approved that the work is to be i ! o»e by such local bodies. Where money has been provided on a subsidy basis of, say, £1 for £l, it is proposed except in the case of large bridges, that the work should still be done by the local authorities, as hitherto and [where definite promises have been 'given for assistance in the matter of metalling roads, such work will, so 'far as possible, be entrusted to the 'local authorities; but the greater pro--1 portion of the road work in the country will be constructed by the Department. This decision will not affect moneys already granted to local bodies where plans and specifications ot ( the work have been approved by the Department and the grants Have actually been made; and, moreover, in any sp. ecia l case where there may b ° some substantial reason why the work should be done by the local authority and not the Department, the Minister will in any such case bo prepared to 'consider an application by a local authority that such work should be enItruated to it, bub in ev.ery eucb, oase,

full and definite reasons must bo adduced by any such local authority in making application to the Minister to bo allowed to expend the vote—Received. A letter was received from the State Advances Office stating that at a recent meeting of the Board, the Council was granted a loan of £l5O for the building of two forro-concrete bridges on the Denbigh Road.—Received. Tho Chairman of the Raglan County Council wrote forwarding the following 'resolution passed at a recent meeting and asked the- Council to pass a similar motion: That tin services of all single men eligible for roilijtary service, employed by the Council, be dispensed with at out month's notice, unless such men can produce a certificate from tbe hearesi military medical recruit examining officer that they had offered their services and had been rejected, and that. no single men eligible for military service be employed during the continuance of the war.—Received. Cr. Smith said the Government ought to take the lead in the matter and dismiss till single eligible men in the civil service. The Engueer stated that tho Council was employing no single men who had not enlisted.

The Eltham County Council wrote stating that at the last meeting oi the Council a resolution was passed calling tbe attention of the Stratford County Council to the bad condition of Finnerty Road, ana" in fairness to the Eltham Council's ratepayers that action should be taken against the contractors who damaged the roads.—lt was decided to inform the Eltham County Council that the contractors were carting for the Lowgarth Dairy Company, and it had nc power to act. A letter was received from the Auckland Railway League asking for subscription to the League, and informing the Council it was necessary •to keep up agitation for construction of railways in the North Island and to co-operate with New Plymouth, Stratford and West Coast people to have the Stratford connection with the main trunk line constructed as speedily as possible between Stratford and Okahukura.—Received. W. M. Fraser, County Engineer'., Whangarei, wrote as inflows:—Re Government grant expenditure.—No doubt your Council has received the circular, dated November 20, advising the Council of the intention of the Public Works Department to undertake the expenditure of grants instead of entrusting same to County Councils. Possibly it is the thin end of the wedge to enable the Public Works Department to take full control of such expenditure in the future, and 1 think that it is the duty of every County Council to vigorously oppose the introduction of the system. Enclosed with a letter was the answer sent to the Department, in which it was stated that the Whangarei, County Council expressed very strong objection to the proposal to expend Government grants in that County in the manner as sot out in the circular.—Received. E. VV. West, wrote tendering his resignation as bridge foreman.—Ac-

oepted with regret. M. Moir wrote stating that the ladies of. Huiroa, were holding a bazaar in February, and have several articles they wish to raffle. The secretary asked tor permission to raffle the urticles.—lt was stated that the Council had no power to grant permission to conduct raffles. It was decided that the matter be referred to the chairman of the Patriotic Committee. H. J. Jones wrote 1 on behalf of the workmen following the .crushing plant, tendering thoir thanks and appreciation for the conveniences arranged in the sleeping and cooking departments of the whare.—Received. The Chairman said that the Council's Straker waggon, which at present was at Invercargill, should be converted into a motor waggon. The chairman said the engineer would be visiting Invercargill next month, and lie would inspect the waggon. When they commenced tar-sealing it would he necessary to convey tar tanks from place to place and the waggon could be used for the work. Cr. Christoffel said when they commenced the tar-sealiug of the Mountain Road, the waggon could do more, work in a day than a team of horses juould do hi a week. Cr. Smith said he did not believe in experimental work,' and further, they could not finance a now lorry. It was finally decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Engineer with power to act. In discussing the Engineer's report regarding the purchasing ol a new itsreihing {tent, the ahaiquaa Baki the Couuuh had paiu i. cousiuoictole amount to the Stratford Borough Council during the past season for crushing, and it would be a good proposition to purchase another one for the County. The Engineer stated that it was practically impossible to get a secondhand plant in New Zealand. The Chairman stated that it was impossible for one plant to keep up with the work. It appeared to him that very few contractors had crushing plants these days. The Engineer said the Engineer of the Eltham County found that river shingle cruslied small made the best dressing. Cr. Coleman moved that the Engineer be instructed to make inquiries regarding the purchasing of a crushing plant and to report to the next meeting.—Seconded by Cr. Were and carried. Cr. Anderson said good work was being done in tho West Riding. He

had to compliment the Engineer for getting more work done by less men than had been the case previously, rio approved of the Engineer's system. The Engineer was .instructed to report on tbe slips in Mangaehu riding. ORURU ROAD. Mr Bredow waited uu the Council iii reference to unming and grading three-quarters of a mile of Oruru Road. Mi- Bredow said he would advance tho money if the Council's finances were such that they could not 'put the Work in hand at present. I It was decided on tho motion of Cr. Were: That the work of forming 'and grading Oruru Road be put in 'hand if Mr. Bredow was prepared to 'lend the money for 12 months, tenders to be called and to close at next meeting. AiANGAEHU ROAD. I Two settlers on the Hangaotea I Road (Mr G. H. Urediu and Mrs 1. Porter) waited on the Council in re-

gard to the state of the road. Mr Coleman, of Messrs Ilutherfurd, Maealister and Coleman, who spoke on behalf of the deputation, said part of the road was in the Taranaki County and part in the Stratford-County, and nothing had been done to the road since the survey pegs were put in thirty years ago. The Taranaki County Council had decided to metal so much and the JMoa Road Board had decided to metal the road to the Board's boundary. Mr Coleman asked the Council to metal 18 chains, and if this was done, the settlers } would raise a loan to complete the work of 46 chains. The Chairman said the matter had been discussed two months ago, and .he Moa Road Board had been informed that the Council would do all it could for the settlers. On the Chairman's motion, seconded by Cr. Waltor, it was decided: That this Council is prepared to put the £SO, credited to the Mangaehu tload account, on nest year's estimates to give access to the proper- , ties of Mr Brediu and Mrs Porter, providing tho Road Board wait till June, also to vote £25 in ; twelve aonths' time if it would Kelp the metalling of the road. Cr. Walter, in seconding the motion, said the Council had no money tor the work at present. In the past money had been voted, and the Council had got into a bad financial position.

YORK ROAD COMPLAINT. Ct. Buskin said he had received a complaint from Mr A. Volzke to the effect that when the crusher left the York Road a portion of his fence had been pulled down and his cows had got out on to the road. He considered that the Council's employees should have repaired the fence. Cr. Baskin also .stated that there was a irM hole in front of Mr Harkness' store. The Engineer was instructed to inquire into the destruction of the fence. SHELL ROCK FOR ROADS. Cr. Were moved: That the Engineer he authorised to call tenders for 000 yards' of shell rock for the Ahuroa Road East, and 500 yards of shell rock for Waiwiri Road.—Seconded by Cr. Walter and carried. NORTH CARDIFF ROAD. Cr. Baskin referred to the bad state of the North Cardiff Road. The work had been authorised at last Council meeting, but it had not been attended to. Ho said the road was very bad near the factory and it was awful to carry milk on. The Engineer stated that the men in the West Riding were busy and would attend to the work as soon as convenient.

The Chairman said he would rather walk, over the road than ride over it. O. Walter moved and it was decided: That the Engineer be authorised to have the work. proceeded with as soon as he could arrange for the labor. UNPAID BATES. It was decided that all rates unpaid on February 7, 1916, would be sued for" and 10 per cent added. AT THE MIDHIRST FACTORY. Cr Baskin said there were some big holes in front of the Midhirst Factory, and he considered if {Tie pipes were extended tbe place could be property arained. —The matter was' referred to the Works Committ©. THE SEASON'S GREETINGS. ' Cr. Smith extended compliments of the season to the members of the Council, Council employees and the members of tbe Press. Cr. Smith's remarks were endorsed by the Chairman. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £14.57 19s (id were' passed for payment.