STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 85, 16 March 1916, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held yesterday, when there were present; Cr. W. Hathaway (chairman), and Crs. T. E. Coleman, J. Chris toff el, T. R. Anderson, J. Smith, W. H. Were, E. Wal’ter, 11. B. Worthington, and L. Baskin. CORRESPONDENCE. A circular letter was received from the Levels County Council stating I that at a conference held of the Soutn Canterbury local bodies, the following resolution was carried; “That this conference is of opinion that a limit of speed for motor cars and motor cycles should be fixed throughout South Canterbury ; that the drivers of motor cars and motor cycles should be licensed; that application be made to the Government by the Levels County Council for the necessary authority to pass such a by-law; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all County Councils, Road and Town Boards throughout the Dominion.” The loiter stated that it would like the Councils opinion on the matter.—The Council endorsed the resolution.

J. Savage, Tutmawa, wrote asking whether, as he could not get any men, .and there were N only two of them, and as he had the chance, could he re-let one of the contracts at the contract price?—Received. The clerk of the Ohura County Council wrote stating that his Council had a Duncan road grader for sale.—On the chairman’s motion it was decided to reply that the Council was not in need of one at present.

Govett and Quilliam, , New Plymouth, wrote re Waihapa Hoad deviation: The plan of the part with which we are dealing, part lot 2 of sub-divi-sion 2, Pnkengahu Block, has been prepared by Mr K. C. Robinson, and we are holding same for the purpose; of checking and depositing. Attach-j ed to the plan is a note by Mr Robinson that it is subject to checking and ( approval of Waihapa Road deviation; survey plans, which should have been forwarded to the Survey Office by the Council. The plans have not been lodged, and we shall be pleased if the Council will let ns know the position' as regards same.—Referred'. to the Education Department. , J, A. Stanford,. Huiroa, wrote as follows :—Owing to ille cost of oats and chaff, and repairs, and shoeing.,! , I cannot supply horse, dray and ’Harness for less than 7s 6’d .pW djem v and the County Council to make good any ,breakages or losses besides fair wear and tear.,. Since I Have hired to flic Council they have h'rokfe a shaft, also the tip rod, for which I sent in any account, but I never got anything, which Iconsider was very unfair, and aow one of the tugs is lost, which will ■ost 2s or 3s to replace.—On Cr. WalL c r ’s motion, seconded bv Cr Baskin, it was decided that 7s 6d he paid from now on, and not to recognise the other

claim. ‘ ~ The secretary of the Egmont Rational Park Board wrote drawing (the, attention of the Council to the had slate of the Manaia Hoad 1 from between Opunake Road and "the radius line, and asking that, if possible, srime improvements be made.—Reft over to be attended to next season. Percy J. Sherwood, Pnnlvldiakan, vrpte: WitV reference to the rent of ■ottage at Puniwhakau, which is at oresent'Os per week, I think tt is too rreat. as 1 do not intende to start >3 dere yet a while, and the post office s only a frost.—lt was decided that lie Council could not se<> its way to ■educe the rent, but will pay grazing or Council’s horse when in paddock there.

F. W. Rowley, Secretary of Labor, Wellington, wrote informing the Conn'd that Thursday had been gazetted lie statutory half-holiday in the Connil’s district.—Received. T. Harry Penn, secretary of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aiii Toard wrote stating that the following ■esolution had been passed at the Board’s meeting: That the householders of the hospital district he respecively requested by advertisement to ise such precautions to combat the epidemic of infantile paralysis ■s cleaning and disinfecting all drains, •amoving all rubbish, cleaning milk tands, and any other places likely to he a source of danger.—lt was decided that the Council will give the Board >ll possible assistance. It was decided o draw the attention of the Health Department to the nuisance created by n'g yards close to the roads, with a iew to improving existing conditions, ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdell), ported us follows:

North Hiding.—The Pembroke Road ontract is now completed, taking 1190$- cubic yards of metal. Owing to die soft nature of the formation, it was impossible to roll it as solid as I would like to have done. The light roller is now on the York Road. Kelly Jtrcet has also been roiled. Ahe gang have finished the two midges on the Denbigh Road and have nade a good job of the work. 1 hey ■re . now engaged extending Bayly S utvert on the Mountain road, after which they will do Cambria Street .advert, and from there will go to the ■Stanley Road bridge. Regan Street loan contract is now under weigh, and riven fine weather it should be finished ibout the end of next week. Grading has been done on the Stanley Road between Messrs F. Mackay’s and E. Pitt’s property.

South Riding.—The gang have been uigaged during the month regrading he hill at Ngaere. The work has been tmv owing to the shortness of labor md the stony formation. However, •vlien remetalled it will be a considerable improvement. The contractors

are proceeding well with their contracts in this riding, all being well advanced, i intend sending the crushing plant, with the light roller, to complete the work that was left ever from last year, along with this year’s work, about the middle, of (this week. East Hieing.—The metaling of the

Ahuroa Road is now completed. The crashing plant is finishing the Skinner Road between tbe Kahouri bridge and the Ohura Road. A start has been made with the opening of the pit for shollrock on the Wiuwera Road for the Waiwora and Ahuroa Roads. Stanciish Road.—A start, has been made with the boulders for this road. Douglas Riding.—The work in this riding is progressing satisfactorily, clay blinding, watcrtabimg, and concrete culverts have been attended to. Foreman Rogers has been off work for a few days owing to illness. Hniroa Riding.—This riding is looking very well indeed. Douglas Road North is now in good order again. The Heao Road is considerably damaged by slips being carried out of existence in places. 1 estimate the cost of putting it back to its original at £dd.

West Riding.—With the exception of a few worn out roads, this riding looks very well. I hope to get the clashing plant in tills riding as soon as possible to procure metal for the worst of the roads. 1 have let a contract to H. Gray for IUO yards of metal to do the hill by Mr Marchant’s on the Cardiff Road. The team being in the locality,, 1 thought it cheaper than’calling for tenders for the small amount of metal required. Mangaelm Riding.—This Riding :s now in fair,order up as far as Mr Godkin’s. Mr J. Savage has taken the contracts at the estimated prices for the slip work. 1 would like to confer with the Council in committee regard-.

ing several small matters in this rid

mg. General.—Several Councillors and myself availed ourselves of the opportunity, of visiting the Wairnate County Council, and with Mr McPhillips their charman, spent a very pi oil table day. The order for a portable stone crusher has been given to Messrs Collett and Co., of Dannevirke, to'lie delivered in eight weeks. I would recommend the Council to give instructions for the purchase of a tar-boiling plant and a tar sprayer. Quotations from Mr J. Hopkirk will be placed before you. Estimates of approximate cost of Strathmore tunnel is prepared, and will lie laid on the stable. I have purchased 1000 gallons of Restar and intend giving an application., to tbe wooden bridges where necessary. Tenders have been called for 800 yards of boulders at Midhirst;’also’ 200 yards, for Opnnake and Poto’ Roads, returnable to-day. * ' . ’ , FmiEMl^liEPOßfs'™ ■ ■ Hi •;*? ■ r ■. North Riding (West).—Foreman Brown reported that the rqads in this riding are in fair order, loosemetal, owing to the dry weather, being tbe only, drawback. Most, }of the time has been spent with Chard ans Hartigan’s contract, which will he finished to-day. A team had to he procured on account of the contractor to do the blinding, also a man to load the carts.’ South Riding.—Fortman Parker reported that all the roads in this riding are in fair order. Most of the 1 month lias been taken up in regrading the Mountain Road, which should he completed in a few days ready for the crusher to remetal'.it. ‘ *l' : ‘ Fast Riding-r-Foreinan Richards reported that during the past month they laid been busy with the gravelling on the Ahuroa Road West, which, work' is now completed. The boulder stone obtained from the pit has been crushed. The western end of this road has been.refaced for a distance of 8 chains and 8 cubic yards had been dumped for maintenance. The crusher has been reset at Skinner Road, and the metalling of this is well in hand. A truck load of concrete pipes had arrived and had been carted to the pipe depot. J. Neilson has made a start with his boulder contract for the Standish Road. Douglas Riding.—Foreman .Rogers reported that the roads generally are in fair order. Pipes had been put in on the main road near Douglas, and also on the Gordon Road. General work lias been done on the same road. Huiroa Riding.—Foreman Atkins recoined that drain cleaning on the Mohakau Road has been completed, also necessary surface w.,rk on the same road, which, is now in fair order.

(.-.'mi si 1 1 era bie surfacing' lias boon clone co the Douglas Hoao .North, and Die uiling is aijout completed. Pipes .or tne iuuupo Hoad would be curtea during the coming week. .Necessary work had been earned (jut on the following mads: Hcuglas Soudi } Makuri East and West and Akama Hoad. Two trucks of pipes had arrived and had 'been carefully stacked near the rail- , way station. He hoped to continue iiis present duties pntil September meeting. North Hiding (East). —Foreman Iso-' valeski reported that early in the month he had completed the carting of 'boulders on the Stanley Hoad. ■One hundred yards had been got from the Manganui river, through -Mr Hasten’s property, for the Croydon Hoad j West, then back to the Stanley Hoad East and crushed the metal there, ;leaving 30 yards to repair the Ackland Hoad and ten yards to repair the damage done- by carting to Mr Gibbs’, track, the remainder being sent to the .bridge. Owing to the carting they were obliged to water-table the Ackland Hoad throughout. We have also commenced the patching. The grader had licen used to form and grade the

road from Mr Mackay’s to Mr Pitt’s gate, Mr L. Marchant kindly giving the services of Ids man, iiorses and plough gratis. A day had been spent rounding up the Makara Road East. | West Riding.—Foreman Plows reported that the filling at Malone’s had been completed. The Upper Manama Road had been surfaced throughout, but it needed refacirig badly. A | portion of the Opunake Road No. 3 had boon tabled and blinded, while the Rowan Road was also receiving at|tention. Two badly blocked culverts (bud .been attended to on the Finnerty Road, and patching done to the bad places, while willows that obstructed the view had been lopped at the dangerous, bend on this road. Surf act work had been attended to on the Lower Hastings Road; also a set of pipes put in near Mr Coates’ property. Mr Coates supplied ' the pipes. The road is now in good order. Surface work is at present in hand on the Opunake Road No. 2. He had inspected the tunnel near the Mahoe factory, .and same had been cleaned out. The second bridge past the Rowan factory is rotten and required renewing, or a considerable amount of repairs to it.

THE KAIAPOT ROAD. Mr W. Walker, a resident of Kaijipoi Road, waited'on the Conncil iti rfeKill'd to his road. Theyiiad a : very ■good bridge; but there was* a six’foot filling that should lie attended to. It was'impossible to cross the bridge in wet weather. He ■ paid £25 towhrds the cost of the bridge. During the dry weather- the road was alright, but In the wet weather he had to place his

milk’ ‘in two tdHiM for Safety.’' : One clay in the wet weather' his horse went down in the mud. If nothing was done to his toad the Council need not call on him for rates!’ Cr. ’ Baskin said Mr Walker was a very energetic man, for years ago he had carried scrub to fill in the holes in the road. Foreman Kovaleski had asked' bihv to Spread some metal f but Air Walker, owing to illness, was behind with his work. In’ consequence some remarks were passed by Councillors. 1 ! He had known that Mr ker, when taking his milk to the' factory, # hacl to unyoke his horse, as the cart was practically submerged. He asked, as lie bad given £25, was it fair to have such a road.

A Councillor said that it was only because Mr Walker would not spread some metal. Mr Walker said there was no metal to spread. Cr. Walter said he believed that when Mr Walker took over his farm it was practically inaccessahle. A bridge had been erected, and it benefitted only Mr Walker and another settler. Metal had been offered to Mi- Walker, hut he had said .he would not spread it, and in eonsenuence he had to go to a lot of trouble and inconvenience.

Cr. Baskin said thaj six months, ago a resolution had been passed by the Council authorising that the approaches to the bridge he metalled. The Chairman said he.,had been abused before coming to the. meeting, hut if a petition was signed by the majority of the North Riding ratepayers he would walk out of the Council. Turning to Mr Walker, he said they had an engineer, probably one of the best in Taranaki, and both he and Cr. Baskin were blessed with impulsive tempers. If he thought that he could do just what he liked with the Engineer, the Engineer would put in his resignation. The Engineer was under the control of the Council and not under him. Air Walker said if the road was put in fair order so as they could travel up and down it ( ho would be prepared to pay £25. The Chairman asked Air Walker if he thought the work should he done nit of revenue. Afr Walker said he paid about £lO bi rates. He thought that it would bo fair for tbe Council to ask bim to

contribute to the up-keep of tbo road. Tlie Engineer said £SO bad been placed o)i tbo estimates this year for i the * Work. £25 was given by Mr 'Walker and £25 by the Council. £SO would not put (be road in first-class order. TTo said that it was unfair for a Councillor to say that metal could be carted to the road by drays returning from carting timber. To say that be could have sent metal was untrue. He said they would be terribly behind in a month’s time when the weather broke, and Iris answer would be: He could not get labor. The cost of repairing the road would be from £IOO to £l5O. The Chairman asked Mr Walker whether be would subsidise the money spent on the road £ for £• Mr Walker .said be would do anything to get a good rmad. The Chairman said the Council was not in a position to spent £l5O on the I road ’ S

i Air Walker said bo would pay £1 for every £1 spent by the Council. Cr. Smith moved that a sum not to exceed £75, including subsidy be spent on work on the Kaiapoi Road. Seconded by the Chairman and carried. f ‘ ,1 ; TAR SEALED ROADS.

The Chairman reported on the visit to Alrtnaia. They had inspected a tarsealed road wllit'h had been bayed down since Mr Lopdell had been in the employ of the Stratford County, and >t did not look td6‘ good to him: A length of road put down under the supervision of Air Lopdell was as good to-day as the day it was put down. He had been told that that section had only cost l os per chain for repairs. The road had been down- 3.V years, and was in excellent order. At the presept time they were tar-saling a road which had I been metalled three years ago. The! Stratford County Engineer had laid, down the first tar road in the Waiinate i County, and everybody there were j

p l °ased with the roads. In his opinion the sooner the Stratford Countv laid down its main roads like those in the Waimate County they would save money. Cr. Christoffel said a vote of thanks should he passed to the members of the Waimate County for the excellent way they showed the visitors around. | By tar-sealing the roads were kept hi good order. The Stratford County Council took out thousands of yards of stone each year, hut it was only ground up and blown or washed away. B • tar-sealing the stone was kept in- 1 tact. If the Council had tarred their i roads years ago the Council would I have been in a better financial posi-1 fcion than it was to-day. Cr. Coleman endorsed the previous I speakers’ remarks.

Cr. AVere said the sooner the main | roads in the Stratford County wore! made in the same way the better it I would be for the Council.

Cr, Walter said alter listening to j the speakers ho was sure the Council j was wasting time and money trying t<> j keep up the main roads. He would j like to see a scheme devised by the j north and south riding members .to j raise a loan to tar seal the Mountain Road. The money from the toll-gate would nay the interest on the loan. | It would he doing a great service to I the ratepayers to have tar-sealed ( roads. They should make sure that! they could hold the toll-gate before, going too far into the matter. Cr. Christoffel said that stock audi motor ears did not damage the tarsealed roads. The stock absolutely cut up metalled roads. Cr. Smith said that they should

pause and consider what they were doing. The tar-sealing work was practically only in its experimental stage. They had nine miles of road to tar, and it was estimated to cost about £9OOO. * # Cr. Christoffel said that the work, was not in its experimental stage. A road in the Eltham County had been down 14 years. Cr. Anderson said the tar-sealed roads would well pay for the building. The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and members of the Waimate County Council for the kindness shown and the information given to the visiting members of the Stratford County Council.—Seconded by Cr. Smith and carried. Cr. Christoffel suggested that the Council should procure a few hundred gallons of tar and tar-seal the eight chains of new road at Ngaere. Cr. Anderson moved: “That the new piece of road (9 chains) at Ngaere, he tar-sealed.”—-Seconded by Cr. Christo-) ffel and carried. GENERAL. % Mr G. A, Merchant waited on the Council and asked that, when the Council was crushing boulders on the Cardiff Road, about -10 yards he crushed for him.—lt was decided to aeceed tp the request. Cr. Anderson said there were two bridges on the Rowan Road that required ■ attention. !

A Vote of thanks was passed to Mr L. Marchant for kindly giving the services of his horses, plough and r an employee for grading road in the northeast riding. It was decided that Cr. Walter and the Engineer, interview the settlers on the Heao Road and see if they would render any assistance to repairing the road. 'IE'

" On the Chairman’s motion, it whs decided that Cr. Raskin and the Engineer inspect a culvert near Cr. Raskin’s property with power to act.

Cr. Were said he would like the engineer to he authorised to put. in hand the work of painting the Mangaehu bridge No. 1, near Mr Eryday’s, also the metalling of approaches.—Carried. Tlie Engineer reported on the condition of, Victoria Road. One point put forward by the deputation was that the road was too high. To lower .the road would he too expensive a matter. If it was lowered it would he below the level of the railway. There was about 100 yards of broken metal on tire road which could he spread. Cr. Walter said, . referring to the metal which had been placed on the Almroa Road, that it was not of the host. He said lie was afraid the cost of keeping it in repair would he fairly great. The metal, in Ids opinion, would break up and wear with the traffic.

The Engineer stated that the metal was the best that could he procured. TAR BOILER AND SPRAYER. On the motion of Cr. Christoffel, seconded by Cr. Anderson, it was resolved that the Engineer he authorised to procure a tar boiler and sprayer complete from J. Hopkirk, Hawera, in terms of the correspondence read. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted as follows : No. 948, Midhirst, 800 yards boulders, H. Gray, Midhirst; No. 944, Opunake

and Poto Roads, 200yds. boulders, H. Gray, Midhirst. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2O-39 0s 8d were passed for payment on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Raskin.