STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 47, 20 March 1909, Page 6

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

-MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above took place on Wednesday, when there were present:—Crs. G. A. Marc'lninl (chair), D. Maxwell, .1. ft. Hine, .1. Christoll'el, E. -Marfell, S. M. I'orritt, D. L. A, Aslbury, J, Thomson and D. Hatlntway. The chairman reported that Messrs Chard's tender for Kahouri Road metalling had been accepted by Cr Porritt and himself, and it w'as resolved (Christoil'cl—l'orritt) that S. Robertson's deposit in connection with his original lender for this work be refunded.

The chairman mentioned that on the occasion of the visit of the lion. A. W. Hogg to the district certain matters had been brought under the Minister's notice, vij<, the Egmoiit railway, the settling ot certain lands beyond Pimewhiikaii, the putting on the estimates of a sum for metalling tlic Punewhakaii road, model by-laws, and the increased costs to local bodies caused by a recent alteration in the procedure necessary for raising loans fiy consent.

Cr Hine handed in a letter received by him in his capacity as member for the district from the .Minister of railways concerning Douglas drainage matters. The letter was merely a repetition of the Col) oiler previously made by the Government.

The chairman said thai when the Minister for Head and fridges had inspected the ground in company with Cr Dine and himself, the impression left on the speaker's mind had been that the Minister considered that the Council was entitled to a more liberal grant in connection with the matter.

(,'r Maxwell, while in.sympathy with any endeavour, to obtain a grant lo improve matters in this connection, felt it was only lair to say that t.ie trouble existed before the railway reached the spot. In reply to questions on the subject the engineer stated thai formerly four outlets hail existed for the water, but later on the Railway Department had erected a stopbank and concentrated the water into one channel, which was not Mill'icicnt. This had the etl'cet of Hooding the Douglas road, and also endangering 11m Main road. When making the railway the .Department had not made one con tin nous drain, hut had in places utilised the old drain, which was not sull'icicntly large, and must therefore! detrimentally all'ect the road.

The engineer's report was read, and it was resolved that if the riding members reported that Mr Vickcrs had no objection the lilling and culvert on Croydon road be carried out at once as suggested. A tunnel on Fiiinerty road was also authorised to be replaced by a pipe culvert, the Kltluun County Council to he

notified of the Council's action. On the motion of Cr Marfell, seconded by Cr Hine, it was resolved that the foreman be authorised to spend i'oU, the amount of the authority mentioned in the engineer's report, on the Kaupahua road. The ranger, A. A. Cutiibcrlson, waited On the Council with reference to a complaint which he understood hud been made by Mr Edwards concerning- the impounding of some cattle, but the Council decided that in the absence 01 any comphiinL from .Mr Edwards there was no use going further wilh the matter.

On the motion of Cr .Maxwell and Marfell it was resolved to make representations to the Government, tllroiign the member for the district, concerning the urgent necessity of further metalling on the Tahore road, and asking that .Clou be placed on the Estimates for this purpose on a £ for !'. basis. It was resolved (Hine—Marfell) that the engineer be authorised to widen a ■piece of road on the Mangaotuku saddle at a cost not exceeding .CIS.

The Council went into committee to consider tenders, and on resuming reported that W. Hayward's tender had been accepted for work: on tne lieaeoniield and A'liiiroa road. Cr -Maxwell said that the Maiigaehu bridge was a credit to the county engineer who had designed it, and to the contractor who had carried out the work, lie moved that a plate giving the mimes of the designer, the contractor for the erection, and the County Chairman at the time, be affixed to tne bridge. The motion was seconded oy Cr Hine, but on being put was lost, Crs Hine, .Maxwell and Marchant alone voting in the affirmative.

.Messrs Priest and Gardner waited on the Council as a deputation from Mangatea Road. They thought that their rates should be handed over to the Moa Road Board, as it was practically impossible to get an outlet in this direction from their sections. After furnishing some exp' lon the deputation fell in with a '•hi from tile chairman that til ' County Council si.oiiiu c >s and hand them over to Board, not unconditional! . le definite purpose

of being spi.. lie Mangatca road. The deputation tin. withdrew. it was decided to hand oyer to the .Moa lioad Hoard for expenditure on the roads specified, that portion of the general rate allocated to bye-roads received from the following sections : Sections !) and 10, Block X, Huiroa (Ciirolus), section 25, Rlock Xl], (Slandisn) and section 211 (Smith). A further resolution was carried to the effect that the foregoing will only be operative by resolution of the Council from year to year. It was also decided to retain the rates from Messrs Forbes and Alexander's sections.

The engineer was instructed to inspect find (urnish a concerning two water courses on Maknra road, west of Hatapiko road. Authority was given to the engineer to expend up to ,Ul2 in effecting improvements on .Makaia mad, east; and lie was further instructed to report on the cost of forming a road from the present bridle track on .Makaia road to Mr Forbes' woolshed.

'file report of the North Riding foreman, Mr D. Brown, was read, and lie was authorised to liave drains cleaned out and a culvert put in on Flint road as suggested therein. It was resolved (Hatha way—Porritt) that the foreman's attention be drawn to scouring taking place on Rutland road : and also (Porritt--llatluiwny) that ' Foreman Brown he paid full wages during his fortnight's holiday. Mr A. .1. Arms' (North Riding East foreman) report was read, and he was empowered to do the rounding up and cleaning out of water tables on Makarti and Hiitiipikii roads as suggested, it was also decided to advertise that anyone taking earth from the County roads without leave, was liable to prosecution ; and the engineer was instructed to inspect a spot on Salisbury road, near Mr F. Kovaleski's, with power to act. The South Ivist Hiding and West Hiding foreman's reports were read; as was also the Maiigaehu Riding foreman's, Hie latter being authorised to obtain the necessary pipes for replacing a culvert on the Mnngiiociiku load.

(In the motion of Crs Maxwell anil Marchant, it was resolved that any moneys accrued to credit of the Popuanui and Kaitaicke roads be immediately spent in improving these roads. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under :

From Tate llros., Rowan, asking that some repairs be done on the OpunakeStratford road.—Foreman to report.

From the Oddfellows Premier Picnic Committee, asking for the Council's cooperation in connection with a picnic on :llst illst.—Received.

From Mr .1. N. llignett, Inspector of Stock, asking to lie notified of any part of the roads under the Council's jurisdiction which might have escaped attention in tlic matter of noxious weeds.

From the Valuation Department, asking to be notified of the person who would act on behalf of the Council as if*member of the Assessment Court. Cr llatluiwny moved that the chairman act in this capacity.—Carried. From Mrs 11. Euders, handing over charge of the Midhirst Public Hall Midhirst cemetery trustees to be furnished with a copy of this letter. From the Stratford Borough Council asking if the Council's crusher would be

available to crush Ulllb yards of stone at an early date.—Referred to the chairman

and engineer to reply to. From Simpson Bros., Tututawa, asking for some compensation for damage done by traffic through their property during the time that the Maiigaehu river was niibridged.—Cr Maxwell supported the claim, as the applicants had been put to serious inconvenience for eight or nine months, during which time the entire traffic of the district had gone through their property. They had been very obliging and good nnturcd, and it was felt by settlers through the district that the applicants were entitled to some compensation. —The Council then 'went into committee to consider the matter, and on resuming reported that it had been decided to vote lT(I to Messrs Simpson Bros, as compensation for inconvenience suffered.

From W. A. Simpson, calling attention to the unsafe condition of the decking on the Tututawa bridge.— Now being attended to.

From the Valuation Department, enclosing rolls for South and West Ridings containing 'the new proposed valuations thereon.- Polls to be examined by the riding members concerned.

It was decided to allow Cr Maxwell litis per meeting as a travelling alluwa nee.

It was resolved that on his accopihg the position and furnishing the required security. A. ('iith'ber.lson be appointed to colled the dog-tax unpaid after March illst at a remuneration of half the amount collected.

It was decided to adopt the engineer's recommendation that 4'/.d per yard should In- the price charged to the various roads for crushed metal.

'A •resolution was passed providing that the cost of the Slraker waggon should be debited to the Plant Sinking Fund Account.--Post.