STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 271, 16 April 1914, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held yesterday, there being present: Crs. Hatha way .(chairman), Thomas, Christoffel, Smith, Young, Were, Walter and Anderson. An apology was made for the absence of Or. Rogers. TRUCKS FOR METAL. Tlie chairman reported that the Minister had made it plain that no trucks would be available till after March, but if the Council liked to pay full fare the Department might meet the Council. It was for the Council to consider what was to be done. He was of opinion that the only plan was to rail the metal in the winter, but this would' involve an extra Is per yard for handling, equal to an additional cost of £SO. He also reported the result of the conference of counties' representatives (already reported). NOXIOUS WEEDS. The chairman stated that he had been interviewed by Mr. Deem on the question of noxious weeds, and it appeared that the owner of property on which noxious weeds were present was not obliged to clear them away, but only to grub a portion. He suggested that a resolution from county councils in the direction of more drastic provisions would possibly have some effect. TOKO. In reply to Cr. Were, the engineer said the Toko road was in places in bad order, but he could hardly see how anything could be done this winter. Cr. Smith contended that it was a ease of urgency, and suggested getting out boulders by day woTk. He moved that the matter be left in the hands of the two riding members and the engineer, the amount to be expended being limited to £SO. Cr. Thomas pointed out that the account was already £6O in k debt. The motion was carried. The engineer was instructed to provide some new planking for the Puniwhakau bridge. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. E. C. Robinson) reported that the plans for the Ahuroa bridge were in hand and would be completed shortly; that the Stanley road bridge was commencing to corrode, and should be cleaned and tarred or painted at once. The metal for the Croydon road was purchased at 8s per cubic yard, the amount available being 30% yards. The South Riding boulder .contract was nearly completed. 1 He had again been over the Makuri road west, and had instructed the foreman 'to do what was necessary. The tenders for the Toko road boulders were declined, owing to being, too high. The renewal of the Wingrove road bridge was about completed, but the road had still to be raised, metal straightened and approaches fenced. Crushing operations in the West Riding had 'been completed, and the plant brought to Stratford to be used on the Skinner road, the roller being sent to Finnerty road. The small bridge on the Olmra road, hear Wawiri road corner, also the one nearer Toko, required renewing very shortly. Both had been temporarily strutted to take the roller, but this could not be depended on for any length of time. Labor—According to instructions, the labor had been reduced to the narrowest limits. In the North Riding there were now the West foreman and two men and the East foreman and two men; in the South Riding, the foreman and two men; in the East Riding, the Toko foreman and one man; the Douglas foreman and one man: the Huiroa foreman and .me man: in the West Riding the foreman and throe men; and in the llangachu Riding the foreman and two men. The foremen reported oiv the work done during the past month. SUPERVISION. Cr. Walter referred to the resignation of the engineer, and asked what system was to be adopted. lie did not think the Council dared to go on as at present. The chairman said he did not know what the Council intended to do. The ones obstacle in the way of adopting the proposal as to supervision was the crushing; work, and this required the supervision of an overseer. One overseer for tile whole county would have too much to do. Cr. Thompson did not know why the discussion look place. The Council had come to a decision, and the members who had resigned should abide by it. Cr. Walter said if a foreman were appointed for the East Riding it would still be necessary for two other permanent men to be appointed. He asked (hat the question of the appointment of a foreman be held over until the Council decided what policy it would adopt as to supervision. Cr. Smith said he supported Crs. Were and Waller on principle. The engineer must see- that, his position was an untenable one under the. circumstances, lie considered that the applications for a foreman should be. held over. Cr. Christoll'el contended that the engineer should have full powi r to discharge any men whom ho considered were mil. doing their duty, and the Council bad upheld the. engineer, but tlial'ollicer had resigned and sonic alteration was necessary. He advocated unanimity on (he part of councillors. Cr. Smith moved that the whole question of supervision lie held over till next meet in;.'.--Cr. Anderson seconded the .motion. Cr. Thompson urged that the resolution carried last month should be adhered to. Cr. I'liristolVel considered 'that, the resignal inn of the engineer had altered the position of matters. He supported the motion. The motion was carried, Cr. Tliinnpison voting against it. The chairman pointed out; that.the three foremen had received notice to dispense with their services, and that notice would expire on Saturday. The question was, would thev continue for a month ? , The engineer thought, it was possible they would do s'o if asked. Cr. Walter moved that the permanent men be asked to keep their position for I her motion.—Cr. Were seconded the motion. The engineer said it was (be only coins,, to adopt in view of tlie work ilia'l had to be done. The motion was carried. THE EIN'AXCES. The chairman, in drawing attention to the !inanccs, said there was about C linn) available for the next seven months' needs. It was impossible, he maintained, to keep the permanent bands on all the winter. Cr. Walter said the position was just as bad in MOD.

Thu chairman pointed »ut that the monthly expenditure for wages, etc., amounted "to £427, and that did not include material for bridges, culverts and pipes. That left only £373 to come and go on, and the hardest part of the year was to come. TOLL-GATES. Or. Walter moved—"That this Council respectfully asks the Premier if he. will bring down legislation next session to tax motor vehicles and distribute the amount collected to local bodies for the benefit of the main roads of the Dominion, and thereby avoid tlie institution of toll-gates."—the motion was carried. It was decided that in the event of a reply being unsatisfactory a. special meeting of the Council be called to consider the question of toll-gates. GENERAL. F. E. B. Lovelock wrote asking that, in view of an appeal as to the rates on his Waipuku property, the Council would allow the rates to srand over until the case was decided.--It was decided to sue for the rates if not paid in H days. The District Health Officer wrote relative to a nuisance in the Douglas township arising from drainage defects at a boardingkouse and residence there, and pointing out that it should be attended to forthwith and the owners notified to abate the nuisance on their properties, and to clean out the watercourse.—The owners are to be called upon to comply with the Healtii Officer's requirements. f The Under-Secretary of Public Works wrote re an unauthorised balance of £SO on the vote for the Huinga settlement road. —Left to the East Riding members and the engineer to enquire into. A similar letter was read from the Under-Secretary relative to a balance of £M)O for Heao.—Referred to the engineer. Messrs Marohant and Maekay waited on the Council relative to grants for the Stanley road and bridge, suggesting a special rate being levied for putting the road in order. —The chairman stated that, with regard to the bridge, if the settlers helped themselves the Council would help them. As to the road, the Council would do the best they could for the settlers. Mrs. C. Hodgkinson protested against being called upon to pay for the expense of drainage work on her property, iher rates' and the account for drainage amounting to £54. She was willing to pay half. —The Council's solicitor, Mr. W. G. Malone was requested to advtee. on the Council's position with respect to watercourses. The town clerk of New Plymouth wrote asking for information relative to stone sold by the Public Works Department to the County Council from the Skinner road quarry, and the priee, as his Council was claiming compensation from the Department in consequence of the taking over of the quarry —lt was decided to slupply the information. The tender of W. Ti. Davis for re-deck-ing the Te Puni bridge was accepted. Outstanding rates are tn be sued for. Authority was given for renovating the Stanley road bridge. Or. Walter moved that application bo made for a loan for rebuilding in concrete the bridges near the Waiwiri road and Toko school.—The motion was seconded by Cr. Were and carried.

Or. Young moved that application 'be made for a loan for rebuilding the Tutuiiiwn road bridge—Curried. In connection with the reduction of labor, the chairman said that even greater reductions must be made. Ife gave statistics showing the amount of expenditure involved in remetalling and upkeep of the IS7 miles of metalled roads in the county, pointing out that it would mean a rate of 4'/id in the £ and how to do it on 2'/ s d was a problem for councillors to solve. There were also the nnmetalled roads to consider. The moral was that the Council would hiive to adopt some different system than at present. The matter required very serious consideration. Settlers wlto have blocked watertables so as to damage roads are to be given notice to remove obstructions.