STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 330, 23 January 1909, Page 6

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

J'he ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council took place on 'Wednesday. Present: Crs. C-. A. Marehant(ehair), .f. Thomson, J. ChristolicJ, j 1). .Maxwell, E. Marfcll, S. 11. Porritt, and W. H'athaway The whole time of the meeting prior to the luncheon adjournment was occupied by the consideration in committee of the purchase of the Strakcr waggon. During the course of the discussion, Mr. Heath, of Messrs Nermann Heath and Co., was invited in to explain certain matters in connection ■with the motor waggon. On resuming the committee's report, which was as follows, was adopted, Or. Thomson dissenting.—"That upon Messrs Norman Heath and Company giving a written guarantee, to be' approved by the .Council's solicitor, that the whole of tho Strakcr waggon is new with the exception of its trial ruu, permitting an expert examination of the internal working parts for the purpose of ascertaining their condition; and upon their undertaking to clean and lit it up properly and to provide nil proper accessories, and to send up within one week from date an expert driver to instruct the Council's driver at an inclusive charge of £5 per week, the Council take over the waggon and pay for it upon the fulfilment of the. foregoing conditions.'' , ' The engineer's report was read, as follows:—The North .Mountain Road | metalling contract had been completed, but the metal was allowed to set in unevenly, and he required the contractor to get it into shape and attend to a few other matters before the maintenance time is considered up. The crushing plant completed its work about Christmas, aand was then moved to Cardiff depot, where it had crushed out most of the metal required. Mnngaehu bridge, Tunnel road had been completed in a very satisfactory manner. Mangaehu bridge (Tututawa) contract had been hampered a little lately owing to broken Kveatlier, but should the latter keep line the contractor ought to have it out of hand when bis extension of time is up. Since our last meeting the price of teams had been reduced from 30s to 27s (id per day. In connection with the application received for work on tlie Manga road, it referred to the old original Manga road ( a blind road of about a mile in length on south side of Manga stream and giving access to sections on its south side.) On August 20t'h, 1007, £33 (Is of land fund was obtained for the purpose of making s track up this road reserve, but so far nothing had been spent. Toko bridge, Toko road, could be strengthened sufficiently to allow of general traffic by understrutting at a cost of about £4. With reference to the Manga road it i was decided on motion of Cr Maxwell, seconded by Cr Marfell, that the sum mentioned in the report be expended under the supervision of the engineer to give access ■to Mr. Ure's property. Repairs to tho Toko bridge, were also authorised.

It was resolved that Messrs. Sampson and Lindsay lie called upon to clean out timber from a. creek on Wiudgrovc road.

■ Mr. Zimmerman waited upon the Council with reference to the. proposed .Salisbury-Onyden road deviation, and it was arranged that the engineer should meet the .settlers on the ground.

Mr J. Crofskey complained tlint Derby road ami' Surrey road were cutting up badly, and asked that the foreman be instructed to patch them. The letter further stated that the Moa- Bond Hoard received "thirds" and part of the rates to keep tin- top portion of the Survey road in repair, hut had spent nothing on the road for the hist i% years; and asked that the Council would get from the Moa Road Board any money owing to the top portion of the iSnrrey road and spend it thereon. It was explained that the Moa Road ■Hoard hud handed the money to the ■Wangaimi Road Board for expenditure, ■As the latter Hoard had been, merged, into the county, it was decided that the 'Moa Road Board he invited to hand over to the Council any money it has available for the. Surrey road, west of Derby rond. ' 'The foreman was authorised to expend £~> on repairs to Derby road, ns suggested. ■ It was resolved to call the attention (if tbo proper authority to the growth of furze on the, side of the Wailara River at Tiinipo road, with a request that it be eradicated. The Council went into committee to consider tenders and on resuming reported that Kerisk's tender had been accepted for the supply and delivery of shellrock on Ackland road; Chard's

Card ff !0t , bOUI ? eM for n ' etalli "R the '• J "s ael ! u " d "'B foromun bo autho i»ed to put on a reliable man to pros- ' L for ,*l'wk within reasonable (lisadapted L " leWllukau ' Tl,e was C tT mi M™>wr of Railways wioto stating that as any further improvement* to the drainage of Douglas would only beneHt the Department' to » very small extent, the Minister «,< not prepared to contribute pound lor pound towards any scheme that iiiwln 'lift undertaken. The present s, h.™e proposed by the Council appeared to he only 11 partial one ending in private swampy hind where tile watercourse was not well d.Jino.l, but if n larger scheme were undertaken the iMiuist-r would be prepared to contribute £SO townrds the cost thereof, but it mint be dearly understood that the Railway Department would undertake no liability in connection with the matter.The chairman said the solution of this matter was a Drainage Hoard, but the settlers declined to form one.—The I loiter was referred to the Kast Hiding \ alley to consider the matter. The Council derided to co-operate with the Whangamomona Count,Council in inviting Sir .). (.'. Ward an'l •the Hon. A. W. Uoj;,- to visit the district during the recess. The chairman brought up the matter of damage alleged to have been done by pigs to the Taihore road. The foreman will be asked to ascertain, if there are good grounds for the complaint, and if so to notify the ranger concerning the matter. It was resolved' that a cheque en forwarded to the National Hank to extinguish the Mnngiinui Houd Hoi:ls overdraft.-Abridged from the Stratford Post.