STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 150, 21 December 1911, Page 4

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

m MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Resident Reporter.) At the regular monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council to-day there were present: Councillors W. Hathaway (chairman), (J. Rogers, J. Young, Walters, E. Marfell, J, Smith, Anderson, J. CliristofM and Jas. Thomson. TENDERS.. Tenders were accepted as under:—For lease of Waipuku gravel reserve, J. Kovaleski; renewal of Waipuku bridge, Mountain road, P. M. Grayling; straightening and cleaning Makuri stream, Needham Bros. ' LABOR-SAVING MACHINERY. Cr. Christoffel moved that the Council take steps to purchase, a steam road roller and scarifier, and that the engineer obtain quotations and particulars for next meeting. He said that this county was .getting behind in the race, although a few years ago the Stratford County roads were the best in Taranaki. He believed a machine would soon pay for itself. Cr. Smith seconded, saying that other councils were profiting by the introduction of labor-saving machinery, but Stratford was still depending on the 'pick and shovel. In answer to the chairman, the engineer said a scarifier would break up. metalled roads at about a tenth of the cost of the old system. GENERAL BUSINESS. ' Cr. Rogers reported regarding Mr. Viekers', claim for royalty on gravel taken from the stream bounding his.property at Midhirst. The contractors, it appeared, paid royalty to two propertyowners whose farms 1 they traversed. They didn't cross Viekers' land, but worked up the bed of the stream. —Crs. Smith and Walters saidi the freehold ct the bed of the stream was the property of the adjoining owners to the middle of the stream, and they were entitled to royalty.—Cr. Thomson differed.—The matter was loft to the chairman to consult with the solicitor.

The East riding members were granted another month in which to report on the Wawiri road.

On Cr. Young's recommendation, the matter of a small piece of metalling on tho Taihoe road wa9 held over.

Upon the reading of the engineer's report, some discussion took place with regard to the control of the Finnerty road and the enforcement of the maintenance clause against a contractor who had damaged the road. —It was decided to instruct the county solicitor to take proceedings. At the request of a deputation of settlers, it was decided to metal a portion of the Brooks road in the West rigin. A deputation asked the Council to metal portion of the Cardiff-Waingon-goro road, explaining that the opening of the n«w creamery by the Midhirst Dairy Company made the work imperative. The settlers were prepared to give £2O towards the cost of the work. There

was one cutting which was so bad that even cows were unable to negotiate it recentlv. It was pointed out that a good deal of stock traffic from the Plains to the Waitara freezing works used this road. —Cr. Smith moved that a grant be mado from the West riding special fund for the work.-—A long discussion ensued, in which the charge was made that this road had been spoon-fed.—An amendment by Crs. Marfell and Chrisboffel was earned, voting £ for £ subsidy out of the special fund up to £35 raised by tho settlers. Cr. Young moved that the Government be asked to make a straight-out grant of £IOO6 instead of the £ for £ subsidy up to that amount for expenditure in metalling the Mangaehu road, and that the chairman and officials write to the Government explaining the reasons for the request.—Carried. The dog-tax 'was fixed at 2s 6d for working dogs and 10s 6d for sporting dogs. Mr. A. Cuthbertson, the ranger, was appointed dog-tax collector. Draining on Radnor road was authorised, as asked by Mr. ICeesby. The chairman gave notice to move that Kent Terrace, Midhirst, be made a maini road. At present it is £7l odd in debt, and the annual revenue is only £3 odd.

i[r. F. H. Mills, of Matau, asked for some improvement of the Matau-Kiore road, which was impassable for wheel traffic.—As an adjustment of boundaries is being arranged with the Clifton County Council, consideration was held over. On Cr. Thomson's motion, it was decided that Mr. Brake's letter asiking for improvement of Swansea road be referred to the Borough Council. He expressed the opinion that if Mr. Brake's dam were lowered and the steam cleared out a big improvement would be effected. Mr. A. Fenwick wrote protesting against the action of the Council in terminating his lease of the Waipuku gravel reserve without six months' notice. —The chairman had replied that Mr. Fenwick had the right to apply' for a renewal of his lease, —Mr. Fenwick further wrote asking for compensation for improvements!.—Consideration deferred. Mr. L. Baskin, of Midhirst, complained that the Midhirst ranger was not carrying out his duties impartially, inasmuch as he had neglected to impound a, number of 'horses wandering on the road in full view of himself and the county ranger. The letter was too libellous to touch.—No action taken. Mr. Medes offered to give the Council forty or fifty yards of boulders alongside the Denbigh road if the Councir would have them broken and placed oil the upper portion of the road'.—Offer accepted with thanks. An instruction was given to the engineer to visit the Mangatoki stream with a view of obtaining supplies of stone for the Hastings Toad. The Council's permanent road employees. are to be given four days' holidays, two days at Christmas and two days at New Year, with a provision that any employee may take the four days in either week if desired. Mr. W. G. Malone wrote: Please convey to your Council my thanks for reappointment as county solicitor. Owing to my particular connection with the county from its creation, I value the appointment very highly. Mr. G. A. Marchanit, the former chairman, wrote expressing gratitude for the Council's appreciation of his past and public services, and his thanks for the very pleasant treatment he had always received from his colleagues and the Council's officers, upon whom so much depended. The engineer was instructed to report on the feasibility of making a deviation of the Opunake road, just eastward of the Hastings road, to avoid a steep pinch. It was decided to expend £lO on theflat portion of the Taihore road, provided the settlers find £lO. Tenders will be invited for 500 yards of metal for the Ohura road.