STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 99, 23 November 1916, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING. At the meeting of the Council there were present—Crs. W. Hathaway (chairman), W. H. Were, E. Walter, H. B. Worthington, L. Baskin, f. C. Coleman, .J. Christoffell, T. R. Anderson, and J. Smith. The Chairman presented his annual report as follows During the past twelve months much work has keen done throughout the County not withstanding the advent of the war, which has considerably added to the cost of work both ,in materials and labour. In company with the respective Riding members I have visited nearly every in the County, and with few exertions find they are guardually imfroving although the traffic is ever increasing. Bridges.—The bridge gang have erected in ferro-concrete one 85 feet bridge on the Stanley Road, one 35 feet span on the Cardiff Road, and one 24 feet span on the Cheal Road, and two 15 feet spans on the Denbigh Road, also one 30 feet pile and girder bridge on the Mangaehu Road, and repairs, painting, etc., to several wooden and steel bridges. Metal.—About 16385 cubic yards of boulders have been crushed and used as follows North Riding, 3,311 cubic yards. South Riding, 2,807 .mine ' yards. East Riding, 6,03< cubic yards. AVest Riding 3980 cubic yards. Mangaehu Riding 250 cubic yards of shell-rock. The whole of the vear has been spent reinstating roads, and clearing slips caused by the storms of July, 1915.

The lowest price paid for stone was 23 and the highest price 12s per cubic yard. ( About 18 chains of tar Illaca(lain was laid on the Mountain Road at Ngaere Nearly all the wooden (‘ulverts on the metalled roads have been replaced with co11(-rate pipes‘ which should he :1 considerable saving in the future.

Plant.—We have purchased one 10ton Aveling and Porter road rollei, and Collett and Son stone crusher, one Burrell traction engine, tar boiler and sprayer, also sundry othei minor plant. i The advent of the toll gate at Waipukn has proved a source of revenue to the Mountain Hoad, the income for the year being over £I4OO. j Hates.— The whole of last year’s collectable rates have been collected, i In conclusion I wish to thank councillors, officers, and staff for the assistance extended to me during the past year. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The report of the Engineer (Mr W. J. Lopdell) was read as follows : | North Riding.—The Collett stone crusher was engaged on the Salisbury Road remetalling, and this road will be completed this week. The light roller was engaged on this and the Denbigh roads. The railway yard has been rolled. Lister Bros, have agreed to find half the cost of metalling the Queen’s Circus. The recent heavy flood has considerably damaged the metal depot and bridge site at the Manganui.

South Riding.-—’l‘he Collctt stone crusher has completed about 220 cubic yards on the Upper Finncrty Road and 224. cubic yards on the Upper Skinner Road. The flood has broken two piles on the Finnert;'.i Road bridge over the VVaingongoro river which will require attention ‘during the summer. I hope to have a portion of the Mountain Road scariified and rolled at an early date as it ‘very rough at present. | East Riding.-—” Wet weather has hindered the progress of the Toko Road contract, but given fine weather should cut it out this week. The road to the pit will then require attention. Mr E. Wilson has completed his shell-rock quarrying on the Waiwiri Road, it would be advisable to get out about 100 cubic yards from Mr Bain’s old pit over the Saddle to save long cal'ting. Messrs Ferguson and Speck have almost completed itheir Gordon Road contract. | West Riding.—'l‘he recent heavy flood has caused considerable heavy damage to this Riding, especially the ,(lpllllal{e Road. The filling at Mr Hooper’s being washed out, and another place near the \Vaingongoro l):'i(lg;e partly carried away owing to an old submerged wooden culvert whi<_-h started to carry water during, the heavy rain, also ‘several other side slips. The Acme stone crusher is being held up while this work Is‘ :I‘-e<-eiving attention. Stone has been crushed on the Waingongoro and ,(,‘limie roads. '

i Huiron Hiding.—The contractors have finished the Heao track and am now engaged on a few .extras caused by recent rain. The roads throughout are in fair order. I Mangaehu Hiding—This Riding has again suffered through slips. The bridge known as McLachlan’s bridge has collapsed and will require concrete piers and two landing spans to make permanently safe. General. —Tenders have been called for several jobs returnable to-day. The committee appointed have purchased .a new car which is giving every satisfaction, and have received n satisfactory price for the old one. Mr 1). Brosnan has tendered Ins resignation as surfaceman at Pumwhakau. 1 THE OLD AND THE NEW. 1 A little breeze occurred when the matter of the Engineer’s new car came up for discussion at the Stratiord

(fount_',' Council meeting yes,tel'dds. It will he i'oillenli_:cl'cJ {hut ‘.lic';'3.';‘.3x'-: mun, Crs Anderson and J. (*hl'ist.oii'oll \\'(\{'v appointed a k'UlullliLi.c(* 10 <.-mi with the mat_.tel' of tho E1i;;i1:-.wi",=. mi" and with power to RCI. This immunittee had zicted as elllpower(=d, and a :~:.llit»ahle car had been purclmsed. ('r'Smith said he tliought the (.‘oln--niitteo should have I‘epol'tAed the mat-7 I.ol‘ to the Council iirst. i

Tho Clmirman mentioned that .4.‘l{>"l w:l.~s 0l)l.flll‘.(‘.Ll from the instlrnnco of the var. and the (‘mmcil hzul to llmnlc the lCllgi.llm\r for in.‘:1ll'lll;{ il. 'l‘ll<~ 011 l car would pyocluoo £135), so that to-wnx-ds tlle now our £‘2§Z£) would he 11--<-eivcd. The car pul'cllas<xl was an linglisln our (the “Perl‘_v”), made in llirminglmm, 21ml wllm'ous the old mu‘ \voul<l,ol‘.l_\' (lo lfl miles to the g2'.'.1011. this 11o\\' mu‘ -.'.'m.l'ul (lo 30 miles to Ul3 gallon. This <.-:11-, <-ost in Wellington, £-111.5.

It having been slig'g<~st«><.l tl1at.()1" Cll2'istoff(>ll was illtel‘GSt(.’(l in the pin‘chaso of the car, Cl‘ Amlorson said} he would like an oxphmathm. Ci‘ Baskin 0l1ql1lI‘G(l who was thol agent for the Car, and was iuformodi that Mr W. Cln'istofl'ell, son of Cl" Clwistoffell, manager for the Taranakil Motors Co (_Eltham) was the agent." l The Eiigiiieoi‘ had been a.utllol'isev.l hy the Cllairman to pI11‘(‘ll1lS0 a car up to a certain figure, and Mr Christoffell, who was an expert, and whose) advice was obtained, was in W'elling;ton when the pui'(-11-use was 1112146. Ml‘ Lopclell was in ('Vol‘_V way satisfietl with the plU'(flluSL’. Later on in the meeting. Cr VValt<~l' said there l1?.(l. heen :1 lot of talk ixboiit the car, and he would like it made. pal'ti(:ularl_v clear why the Committee was set up. For one reason, two memhél's on the committee had cars, and the Chairman was appointed out of courtesy. Cr Smith liar] stated that the Coniicfi éould very well (lo without a mi‘ as they had do‘ho so for _v<=m-3, but all engineers had cars. He contemlcd that a man by using a motor could do tliroo times as much as on horseback. Cr Walter said the COllll~ oil was pa_vin,q; tho l‘higill(=(‘l' loss than otllor Coiincils. 'l'ho ('ommittoo lim‘. not, p€’l'll.'l_l_)S, (lone all what ‘n’as< wisho(l_ but he was ospz‘oiall_v plea.vo(‘. that the car was of British m:muf:u-.-~ turo. Some reference had been nimlo that the Engineer would not ride. in a “Ford.”

‘Cr Smith said Cl‘ Anderson had 111e11tio11cd a “Ford” when first t:ll]k--ing of buying: :1 car, and that appeared to be also the wish of Cr Walter. There had been too 11111011 talk in the street, and he did not like Cl‘ Chris-toffc-ll being mixed up in the :Ifl‘ail'. Cr Christifl’ell oxplninod that ho. (2:11-1-ied out his own lmsiiiess as he thought he could. i ' ii “ Cl‘ Baskin: There is a lot of talk.

The Engineer, at the request of the} Council, explained why he I)l'el'el'red§ :1 certain cm‘ for the heavy Journeys,‘ and he considered the Council had got‘ the heat car for the money.

Cr \V:\lter, after ]loaring UlO oxphmation, said he was satisfied wnth it. _ . ' ' On the motion of Cr \Vn]ter, .~2oc<‘mdéd'by‘C'r 'Were, it was’ rosolvod, that the action of the Cunlmiltee in the ])lH‘('h.'lSo of Um Engillcel"s (-:11’ be confirmed. '

Crs Baskin and "Smith voted against the motion. .

On the motion of Cr. Worthington, seconded by Cr. Walter, it was resolved that a loan of £7OO lie applied for under the bridge rate for the reconstruction of McLachian's bridge which had collapsed. CORRESPONDENCE. From J. W. Hinton asking for the .removal of gates at public crossing at tlie end of Victoria Street, Stratford, as he wished to use the crossing, and it was not convenient to have to open three gates (two railway and one private). He added the gates had no right to be there as the road crosses the line.—Referred to South Riding members and Engineer to report. From T. Harry Penn, secretary to the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, informing the Council of resignation of Mr Edgar Hine and for the Council to recommend a suitable person as successor.—Cr. Smith proposed, and Cr. Were seconded, that Mr W. Rogers be recommended in the interests of the North Riding. Agreed to. From W. J. Tristram, Eltham County Council, relative to alteration of boundaries, and suggesting a date for the respective Councils to meet. —Resolved that this matter be referred to the South Ritling members with power to act.

From A. J. Chainey, hon. secretary Toko School Committee, asking if County Engineer would be allowed to supervise work of tar sealing part of the playground.—Resolved that the Engineer be authorised to act as suggested.

; From G. Sahgster applying; for culvert and crossing to be put in at his residence, Beaconsiield Road.—Granted, the work to be done at Mr Sangster's expense. From John Rea (Douglas) complaining of tlie disgraceful state of the main drain through the station yards at Douglas township. He had approached the Railway Department, who agreed to clear their portion provided the Council did theirs so as to prevent water lying on his property.—Received. E. J. Watson (Douglas) to the samo effect and stating he had cleaned out the drain but could not deepen it until the water is down.—Resolved to allow Mr Watson a month to clear the drain. %

From D. Brosnan, surfaceman (Pnniwhakau) tendered his resignation to take effect on the 22nd. December. —Resignation- was accepted and th,©,Riding member and Enginer were empowered to call tor applications, TENDERS. The following tenders for the supply of material wore accepted: — Denbigh Road, 500yds boulders (J. Xeiisen). Finnerty Road 1000yds. metal (T. Bennett). Mountain Road 1200yds. boulders (E. A. Chard). Pembroke Road 200yds boulders (E. A. Chard). Radnor Road 300yds boulders (J. Neilsen). Lower Bird Road, 500yds boulders (H. R. Son-is). Opunake Road, 100yds boulders (F. W. Green). Huiroa Road, 500yds .boulders (W. [L. Stocks). GENERAL. Mr Moore, .Surrey Road, waited on the Council and'* asked that any money standing to tlie credit of Surrey Road, be used towards the maintenance of the road.—Resolved that the Engineer report on the work required. On the motion of Cr. Were, seconded by Cr. Walter, it was resolved that the Huinga Road be put- in order. Resolved on the motion of Cr. Baskin, seconded by Cr. Christoffell, that the tenders of Messrs Wilson for dog collars be accepted. Cr. Baskin suggested that someone should be appointed to inspect the Council's property at the Midhirst Hall, the Council having received notice that a new "Wizard" light had been installed there. Cr. Walter proposed, and Cr. Were seconded, that Cr. Baskin inspect the property and report. Cr. Baskin did not appear to appreciate the appointment made. The hall being the property of the Council, any alteration- in the lighting affected the insurance, hence the discussion. The Engineer was authorised to insure the Council's motor car for £3OO ■ v - •-■'■'.-■''' r or more. The Engineer. reported that gorse growing on the County road leading to Waitara river had been cleared but it was little use clearing it on the Council's reserve without the adjoining property owners being compelled to clear theirs.-Resolved to draw the attention of Noxious Weeds Inspector to the matter. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1,874 6s 2d were passed for payment.