STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 87, 21 July 1910, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held in the Council Chambers yesterday. . There were present: Crs. G. A. Marchant (in the chair), Thomson, Astbury, Christoffel, Maxwell, Marfell, Porritt, and Hathaway. CONDOLENCE. An apology was received for the absence of Cr. Walter. The following resolution was unanimously carried:— "That this Council place on record its expression of condolence with Cr. Walter in the loss of his wife, and that the Council adjourn as a mark of sympathy." STANLEY ROAD. On resuming, Cr. Porritt renorted that he and Cr. Hatha wav l<->! met the Stanley road settlers in connection with the metalling of the Stanley road. Eight settlers were present, and the following resolution was unanimously carried:—•; That this meeting is in favor of the Stratford Countv Council striking a separate rate of Id in the £ on the old Stanley, Cross and Croydon . loan area, with the addition of sections '2O and .12 of subjection 25, block 14, provided the Council will this Tear subsidise it £ for £ from the special fund, with a view of metalling about GO chains on the Stanley road from the school northwards.

After lunch Mr. Vosper waited on the Council and objected to heint' included in this special loan, as he paid the Beaconsfield road special rate. He only used about five chains of the Stanley road whereas settlers on the Shinier road used several chains of the ficaconsfield road. He owned a corner section, and he thought the one special rate should be divided between the two roads instead of having to pay two rates. It was pointed out that the position on these roads was so serious that unless the settlers pulled together and raised a .special rate the road would be impassable. Mr. Vosper offered to contribute halt one year's special rate, namely, £2 10s, provided his section was not included in the special rating area. Cr. Porritt moved the resolution carried at the Stanley road meeting re separate rate. Cr. Hathaway seconded. Cr. Astbury moved as an amendment that the whole of section 25 be included. No seconder. The motion was carried. Cr. Porritt then moved, in accordance with notice of motion, "That the Stanley, Cross, and Crovdon roads separate rate be subsidised £1 for £1 ffom the North Riding special fund.- Seconded by Cr. Hathaway and carried. REBATE. Mr. Harmell waited on the Council in reference to a charge of £3 7s made by the Council for cleaning out a dram on his property, which he considered excessive. After listening very carefully to Mr. Harmell's lengthy explanation, it was resolved to make an allowance of £ 1 on account of the benefit to the road. DENMARK TERRACE. Mr. Keightlev asked for a subsidy of £"2 to £1 for'improving a cutting and fillinw on Denmark terrace, Midhirst Resolved, that the Council spend £lj provided the residents do certain work. MANGAEHU ROAD. Messrs. Watchorn and McMillan, settlers of Puniwhakau, interviewed the Council in connection with metalling the gap of about two miles on the Mangaehu road between Puniwhakau and Tutujtawa. They suggested that the Council should ask the Government to subsidise the present balance of the £9OOO loan, namely, £450, due to this road, pound for pound. This would give £9OO, sufficient to metal a good portion of the gap. It was estimated that it would cost about £I4OO to complete the metal. It was further suggested that a separate rate be struck to raise another £3OO on which a further subsidy could be . asked.

The chairman stated that in apportioning the expenditure of this £!MMIO loan the Council contemplated lifting an additional ten per cent., or £3OO. Tliev could have done so under the old Act. ibut lie was not sure if it could be done now. In anv case, it could not he applied for until the original loan was expended. If this extra ~£!)00 was not obtainable it would reduce the amount available on this portion to £l5O. The matter was held over for the deputation to place before the settlers the question of a separate rate and suggest an area over which it was proposed to be struck. The chairman did not hold out much hope of a special grant being obtained in addition to a subsidy.

Gr. Maxwell moved that the Council apply for £1 for £1 subsidy on the un-| expended balance of the Mangaehu and, Puniwhakau loan. This was seconded by Cr. Marfell and carried. This reso-' lution will be forwarded to Mr. Hine, M.P. MONMOUTH ROAD WEST SPECIAL RATE. Fourteen settlers of the Monmouth Road West petitioned the Council, objecting to any further or special rate being levied for repairing this road. Mr. Mcßride and three other settlers also interviewed the Council in support of the petition, statins that the road was not in such bad repair a 9 reported, and the rate was unnecessary, besides the rates wore oppressive. His eighty acres were rated up to 5s per acre. New metal had been put down without blinding. The chairman said the road had been neglected before the Countv Council took it 'over. The Council had a statutory obligation cast on them to keep all roads in repair. It was pointed out that tlie road had been subsidised to the extent of £lO4 out of the special fund, and onethird of the road had been remetalled. The Council had intended continuing tliis policv. Cr! Porritt said if the settlers on that road could manage without a special rate he was in favor of it, as it would also save the Council subsidising from the special fund, and thus leave more for other roads. The deputation said that instead ot having that portion remetalled tliei would have preferred the monev spent in maintenance metal over the whole road The chairman pointed out that this was a. pennv-wisp-and-pound-foolisli pro ceed'nig. and the deputation .withdrew. The CnuiK-i! considered the matter, 'im dcr-i led that Ihe engineer report on His road :i( next meet im;. It was nl.so ve--olved I ha I the order n special rate on the road be not proceed ed will) at present. KXCIXKKU'S UK PORT. The report of Ihe engineer (Mr. C. V, Robinson) recommended. inter alia, tlwl a. small bridire on the Almroa road now in an condition should be replace! bv a. .'SO-inch pipe culvert, and that I In Council oiler the followim; terms tr> tin sedlers in' eresj cd in connect ion wil l) lilling on tbe Makuri road (ITuiakama) "That if I lie settlers cut a drain fron ] Malcuri stream straight, through tin Iswamp to a point at le-i<t live eliani i above (he filling, the Council will male a cross drain on (he upper side of th tilling parallel to it and provide throujrl

the filling one waterway of adequate size for main drain." The engineer also forwarded a detailed report of his inspection of the locality.

The report was adopted, and it was resolved that the Ahuroa road bridge be replaced with the 30-inch culvert as suggested. A copy of the engineer's recommendation is to be forwarded to the settlers concerned. FOREMEN'S REPORTS.

Business arising out of foremen's reports was dealt with as follows: — North Riding. Tenders are to be. called for 1000 yards of boulders for renewal of Stanley, Cross, and Crovdon road?, returnable at next meeting. The engineer was authorised to get teams and obtain boulders from the Manganui river when he considers the weather favorable. South Riding.—The foreman is to be allowed assistance of a man on the Mountain and Wingrove roads. Engineer is to have power to purchase 20 yards of boulders on Victoria road from MV. Montgomery at 2s Cd per yard on Cheal road. A culvert on the Cheal road is to be renewed with pipes. East Riding.—A bridge on the Ahuroa road is to be redecked. Twenty-five chains of drain on the Makaha road are to be cleaned out. The engineer is to furnish an estimate for forming and metalling Ahuroa road from Stan dish road towards Beaconsfield road, and also on the cost of clearing drains on Standish road. West Riding—The engineer is to interview Mr. Ringer re removal of trees oil' Otninake road, also re placing soil in the Council's watertables. FOREMEN'S WAGES. Mr. Savasre. foreman for the Mangaehu Ridina. applied for an increase of pay from Ss fid to fls per diem, as the distances he had to ride made the upkeep of n horse very expensive. Cr. Thomson moved that the Council could not, see its way clear to grant this application. This was seconded bv Cr. Hathaway. Cr. Mar--1 fell was of opinion that in the exceptional circumstances this application I should be panted. Cr. Astbury did not believe in differentiating. He was of opinion that foremen were worth 9s per I day. Their casual hands got Bs, and 6d per day was not sufficient for the extra responsibility involved. Cr. Maxwell was of the same opinion. The motion on being put was lost. Cr. Astbury then gave notice to move at next meeting that the wages of county foremen foe increased to 9s per day. RANGER'S REPORT. The raneer reported that during the month, he "had had a lot of complaints not only about wandering stock, but also about 'pigs trespassing and damaging roads. He had secured the following animals for wandering on the roads:—Six bullocks, 12 cows, 11 horses. -His assistant had also secured 9 horses and 5 cows. The report was adopted, and it was resolved that one person warned on previous occasions be prosecuted. Permission was granted the ranger to emplov an assistant next month. Three persons complained of nuisance caused bv wandering cattle in the Tututawa district.—Referred to the ranger. WAIPUKU BRIDGE. Mr. W. S. Short. Assistant Under-, Secretary of the Public Works Department, notified that Mr. G. T. Murray had been appointed a commissioner to hold an enquiry into the question of control of the Waipuku bridge. He forwarded a copy of the letter received from the Taranaki County Council in connection with the same matter. No notice had yet been received as to date of holding the enquiry. CROSS ROAD. Several settlers on the Cross road asked the Council to raise a loan of £75 for the purpose of metalling and forming 12% chains on Cross road from the present metal as far as Mr. Friday's gate. The engineer is to inspect the road and find out if £75 is sufficient. Cr. Porritt also gave notice to move at next meeting that steps be taken to raise la loan (amount unstated) as requested.

NOTICES OF MOTION,

Cr. Hathaway moved, in accordance with notice of motion, that £ for £ up to £25 be voted from the North Hilling special fund towards the cost of the Salisbury road culvert. Seconded by Cr. Porritt and carried. Cr. Walter's motion that £175 lie voted from the East Riding special fund to replace the bridge at the junction of the Waiwiri and Makuri roads by a tunnel and filling was held over until Cr. Walters was present. Cr. Christoffel gave notice to move at next meeting that a special rate of %<• in the £ be levied over the sections fronting the Ohura road in the East and Mangaehu Ridings. Cr. Porritt gave notice to move that tW York road be subsidised £1 for £1 from the special fund up to the amount of the special rate. RATES. The resolution passed at last meeting striking rates for the ensuing year on the East, Mangaehu, and North Ridings of 2d in the £ were confirmed. Cr. Astbury moved that the general rate for the South Riding' be increased i/jd in the £. Seconded by Cr. Maxwell and carried. Cr. Porritt moved that the general rate for 1910-1011- for the West Riding be increased Vjd in the £. Seconded by Cr. Thompson and carried. (SPECIAL ORDERS. Special orders were confirmed raising n loan of £4OO in connection with the Denbigh road, and also striking separate rates over the York. Radnor, CardiflWaiongongoro roads special rating areas. Special orders were also made for raising a loan of £250 for Norris' bridge and £GOO for the Makuri bridge, Toko road. I GENERAL. The Council went into committee, and on resuming reported that it was decided to instruct":!]] foremen that they must take their instructions from the engineer. The Council endorsed the recommendation of the Bruce County Council re having the Rating Act amended so as to make it compulsory that every transfer of property he notified to the local authority. . The Moa Road P.oard agreed to contnlinte £7 10s towards the cost of renewI ina the bridge on the Surrey road west ! of Derhv road. . . .Tunics Nairn was granted peimisMon to erect a simt.l wire to protect feii^e ; 0 „ i; oll ,id road. Xsniro. t at r !"\Tni' The Superintendent of Electuc Lin.s . wrote acknowledging receipt of bond in connection with the Puniwhakan to Tan-r.-ikawa telephone extension, and staling Ihiit. instructions would be given to proved with the work. The Cardiff Co-operative Dnnv t omliiinv asked the Council to make a pro- ■' viso in all contracts for the supply ot || stone from Waiongougoro river to I lie .LlVccf that no stone shall be removed ■I from that part of the river 111 which the, I'cmnnanv's water intake is situated, or :iin such'proximity as will interfere with i'(lie -imply bv lowering the bed of the . v ; vo r o'- otherwise.—The engineer is to . report or, file :>r -> would be neces-''siu-y to protect the company's waterVup'plv awl also the Council's interests, l The proprietor of the Taranaki Daily

News applied for a share of the Council's advertising. —Application granted. The engineer is to report as to whether settlers on the Upper Pembroke road are arranging about their fencing, and to notify them that the Council intends removing all gates and obstructions off the road immediately.

The engineer is to arrange re closing portion «f Fenwick st 'jet, Waipuku, as a matter apart from 1 i ordinary duties. The Council passed i resolution that the intere?' on the overdraft should be reduced to o per cent. Accounts were passed as follows: £1053 10s 6d (general) and £ 2666 Is 3d (to the Treasury for interest).