STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 81, 22 August 1912, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held yesterday at Stratford. Present: Crs. W. ITathawav (chairman), J. Thomson, J. Smith, Anderson, ChristofTcl, Walter, Rogers, Marfell, Young. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Manganui bridge, North Mountain road.—The deck of this structure is in a very unsound state, 'having broken through recently in one place. 1 recommend that it be re-decked throughout. About 3000 sup, feet of timber would be required, and the cost of the work would be about £45 to £SO.

Waihapa road.—As instructed, he had inspected the unformed portion of this road from Robson road to Wingrove road, and estimated that the cost of forming it would lie about £550, and of metalling it a further £IOSO. A deviation from the present surveyed line of road would have the effect of both shortening the distance and cheapening the cost of formation.

Opunake road, No. lll.—There are about 10'/, chains of this road unmetalled at its extreme western end. I think the work of metalling same could be carried out with advantage, and the cost, inclusive of re-formation, would be about £55.

Mangarhu riding.—During the month fillings on I'uniwhakau and Mangaehu roads have been planted with willows, and these roads generally repaired. Repairs are in fair order for this time of the year, and the unmetallcd ones are drying fast.

Re-metalling operations.— Attached are communications from Messrs. Anderson's, Ltd., which go to show that our roller will not arrive for some considerable time yet. This being the case, it becomes out of the question to hold up re-metalling, and a start with the latter would be made very shortly. As the stone is obtained for Ahuroa road re-metalling, I recommend that this work be proceeded with next month. Crushing operations have for some time past been in progress at Sentry Hill for supply of metal to various parts in Taranaki and are shortly ceasing} 1 here is. however, a chance .'of obtaining a certain quantity in the meantime up to 300 cubic yards. I would very much like the council to give this metal a trial, as besides being durable it possesses to a considerable extent excellent binding properties! that are totally lacking in our stone. The price is not unreasonable (7s per cubic yard in truck), and it may prove to be a first-class binding material when mixed with other stone used for roadmaking.

Straker waggon.—This was shipped last month to a southern buyer. Puniwhakau stream bridge.—This has been proceeding slowly, owing to great difficulty in obtaining the timber. The latter has now all been cut, and the ironwork will be ready at the end of the month. Mangaehu road.—(liven a little more dry weather the metalling contract can be recommenced. ' It was decided to re-deck the Mangantii bridge. North Mountain road. No action was taken regarding the formation and metalling of Waihapa road. Plan and estimate will bo submitted to the settlers. Metalling on Opunake road (Xo. 3) was authorised. ! Oh lira road re-metalling will be proceeded with next month. The engineer was authorised to procure metal from Sentry Ilill to properly blind the Ohura/ road re-metalling (rail age estimated to cost Is fld per yard). TREK PLANTING. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture asked the council's opinion on the proposal to exempt plantations from rates, with a view of encouraging tree-planting throughout the Dominion. Mr. Pope pointed out that native bush, of native trees planted for shelter or ornamental purposes on areas not' ex« ceeding 2.") acres were exempt'from rates. 1 plantations of exotic trees without limitation of area are assessed as improvements under the Valuation of Land Act, up to the cost of planting, and were exempt from ruling in districts where rating on the unimproved value was in force. There remained those districts where rating was on the capital value, and it had been suggested that an Act should lie passed amending the Rat'.ii!: Act. I'.KiS, by excepting from the definition of all "rateable property" tree planting which is effected oil freehold land by the expenditure of capital or labor contributed bv the owner or occupier. to the value of such planting estimated at the time of the valuation.—Endorsed.

RATKS ON' XATIVE LAXD. ! Mr. I'-. ('. Horner. clerk of tin; Pa lea | County Council, wrote: "This council, I as well as most otlicr counties, lias been very uiucli hampered, especially j recently, by the inability to collect I native rates, and has lately urged upon I its 11.1'. the necessity for a more sal is-' factory mode than at present exists for j compelling payment of these rates, pre- j ferably through the Public Trustee or I the Government. As this is a matter seriously affecting revenues at the present time, and it being found ilnpractic- j able under the present law to compel j payment without a round-about course j likely to end in failure, I am to urge I upon your council to bring the matter , again prominently before your member,! with a view to united and'strong action' ! being taken at once to remedy the evil." i —Received. " j HOUSINTr THK WORK MAX. (r. Anderson strongly recommended ! the council to acquire a site near the | junction of the Opunake and Manaia j roads and erect a cottage for the sur- ' faceman. The owner would sell for £-10 ! an acre. ITe considered the council j would save money by housing its work- | men decently.—Cr. Smith concurred.— j Steps will be taken to secure three J acres on the corner of Manaia and ' Opunake roads. Instructions were given to the engineer to make tile necessary surveys. * j PTPK-MAKIXC WORKS. Mr. TF. !•;. Yaughan. clerk to (lie Clifton County Council, wrote approving of the suggested co-operative movement among local bodies for the manufacture of concrete drain pipes, and pointing out (lie suitability of Waitara as the place of manufacture owing to the abundance , of suitable shingle and the convenience for shipping. The engineer reported generally on (he question, ft would be necessary to a<> very fully info the question of sites. : He had had Waitara and the Mount Kgmont quarries under consideration, nnd he had received an intimation that if thi! line front Waipuku was reason- i ably pushed on to the permanent quarry they should be able to get ■ crushed metal from there in nine or ten months. He recommended circularising ! all the local bodies in Taranaki with a ' view of linding which bodies favored the scheme, and their estimated requirements. There was room for only oneJ concern of the kind. " | The matter was left in the hands of the chairman and engineer, members being of opinion that the local bodies ' should lose no time in starting pipemaking works of their own. OKXERAL. The chairman reported regarding the proposed telephone line to the East Kgmont Mountain House via Pembroke road. The settlers did not want to have anything to do with it. Tie had handed all the papers to the Mayor, to see if the

Borough Council would take action.— No action taken. : Mr. i'ctcr Hancock forwarded his reI signation as foreman in the Iluiroa riding, owing to ill-health. Cr. Walter, in moving that the resignation be accepted with regret, said he was such a good man that the member had really nothing to worry about. All the settlers were satisfied with him, and were sorry he was going. Cr. Mill-fell, in seconding, said Mr. Hancock was an exceptionally good man, who did a thing as soon- as he saw it was needed. Crs. Smith and Thomson also eulogised Mr. Hancock's work, extending over many years' service with the council, and the motion was carried, the wish being expressed that Mr. Hancock would speedily he restored to health. A claim will be made on the owner of a horse for £1 for removing and burying the animal, which had died in the road drain on the Douglas road. Mr. N. C. Christensen applied for permission to sledge a few loads of wood from the Kopuatama cemetery to his house, about ten chains.—Agreed to. Mr. P. P. O'Connor applied for the position of foreman in the Iluiroa riding. —Position to he advertised.

Mr. W. M. Bayley called the council's attention to the state of the Monmouth road east giving access to his section. Part of it was unformed, and the metalled part needed attention. Pine trees needed lopping in order to let the sun on to the road.

Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P.. wrote that the Department proposed to close the Taurakiuva telephone office, on account of tliers being no one to take charge of it. Mrs. Ilastie having resigned. Action, however. w;is being delayed so that he (Mr. Hine) could communicate with the council, in the hope that Mr. Young, the riding representative, could suggest some suitable person—The Government to he asked to defer action for one month.

Dr. Chesson, district health officer, ordered certain dilapidated outbuildings at Toko to be pulled down, as they were in an insanitary condition, and dangerous to public health.

The Whangamomona County Council wrote that it was prepared to contribute, on a valuation basis, towards the cost of sending the delegate to the recent conference of local bodies in Wellington. The Kiwitea County Council asked the council's support of its request to the Government for the reduction of bureau connections on private telephone lines. —Received.