STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 18 June 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY 31EETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held yesterday. Present: Ore. Hatha way (chairman), ChristolFel, Anderson, J. .Smith, Walter, Were, Young Rogers, and Thomson.

TOLL GATES. The chairman reported fciat he and Or Cliristoil'el interviewed the Minister relative to the tolls (already reported). He considered the chance of the county getting anything from taxation wtis remote. If tolls were erected die considered that the county would get assistance from tire borough in obtaining a larger subsidy in some shape, as there would be a ilrue and cry against the tolls diverting lousiness to other towns. If the Council i'ad it's due in the past it would be in r sound financial condition to-day. The chairman also reported that the meeting at Kahouri was all in favor of toll's, ibut the meeting at Toko road was against tolls, on the ground l that the tax would fall on the small man. At Toko the meeting was fairly divided, the decision arrived at being to defer the matter till the new Council was elected. At Ngaere the meeting favored a toil gate at Waipuku (already reported). Cr Were a: id the. ratepayers in his riding had decided they would rather pay more rates than have a toll.

Or Walker said he had recommended that part of the revenue from the toll should go towards concreting part of thf: East ro.vd for motor traffic.

A vote of £2 for the expenses! of the deputation to the Minister at Opunakc was passed.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The County Engineer, Mr E. C. Robinson, reported:—

Annual Estimates. —The estimates subletted 'had Uen made out in detail, and were bawd on what 'he considered were the actual necessary requirements, no extraordinary expenditure being included nor any new roading nor works to be done out of loan monev.

Cardiff Koad Bridge—The . structure was found to be in a very unbound condition, requiring early renewal, which, in reinforced concrete, would cost fSJiO, and in hardwood about £.'SoO.

Metal.—The General Manager of Railways stated that as soon as the cargo of the largo vessel at New Plymouth had been dealt with, trucks would bo available for the carriage of metal to Skinner road. Keaconsfiekl Road:—This had been temporarily repaired, but was very badly cutting up, and required constant attention.

Iluinga Settlement.—Specifications for work 'on th">e roads had been sent to the Public Works Department for the expenditure of the £~>o available. Puni Creek Bridge—The redecking and renewal of joists had been completed. ftiakine liridge, Stanley Koad—The scraping, cleaning and tarring contract was nearly completed. With proper safeguarding and periodical maintenance the structure should be good for at least 20 to 25 years, but any further neglect would very seriously endanger its stability. iShellrock Contract. Stanley Road The contractor .had been notified that the material "must be delivered forthwith.

Carting Fnewoorl.—The South Hiding foreman "reported broaches of the ilieavy tiaflic by-laws, re carting firewood on Lower Finnerty and Wingrove roads.

Instructions on the matter were asked for.

Sledge traffic was being carried out on the Makuri south road, and action to immediately stop same was recommended.

Oilbore traffic, Makuri Road.—The County Solicitor .had been furnished with full particulars to enable ihhn to reply to the Consolidated Oilfields Co In connection with the Cardiff bridge, the chairman expressed the opinion that the County should have no more bridges erected in wood.r-It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, to postpone the matter for a month.

to Skinner road, the chairman said that it was the only way to deal with' the matter, ami he deemed it advisable to get the trucks as soon as possible]—Mr Were moved that the engineer be instructed to get the metal crushed as soon as possible, and obtain the trucks at the earliest possible opportunity, also to arrange for haulage to Huiroa, and metalling to Beaconsfield road where he thinks best.

, Some discussion took place relative j to the MfeikLio bridge, and the matter was deferred till the next meeting. As to the shellrock contract, the action of the engineer was confirmed. With reference to breaches of bylaws in carting firewood, Cr Thomson was instructed that a prosecution should be instituted, as warnings had been I given.

Or Ohristoffel enquired who was to be prosecuted, as there had been more than one person engaged in this traffic. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of Cr Thomson, seconded by Or Smith, that the matter of prosecuting the offender he left in the (hands, of the engineer, after conferring wits the foreman.

FOREMAN'S REPORT. I The reports from tfhe County fore- | man were Tead and considered. I It was decided to request the North Riding foreman to find out who cut up the Hunt road by carting gravel, and if the necessary repairs are not executed, then the offender is to be prosecuted. 'Mr G. M-umby is to be notified to dear away the branches in front of his property. Authority was given to clear the road drain in front of Mrs Mills' property. The foreman is to be asked to report on the amount of cost for repairing the Derby road. Notice is to be given to the settlers concerned in the blockage of tlhe Madhirst Cemetery creek that if it isi not cleared within 14 days the Council will do the work at their expense. On the motion of Cr Were, it was decided that 25 yards of metal be got out for the Toko-east road. j

It was decided that the Douglas road surfaceman be employed in the Toko East Riding temporarily. On the motion of tue cnairman, it was decided to empower the engineer to dispose of the ironwork now lying near the Waipuku bridge.

OVERDRAFT The chairman said it w-ould be necessary to interview the bank with reference to'a No. 2 account. The Council was not yet up to the limit of its overdraft, or there would be no funds to operate on. 'I Here was no option but to take this course.

The necessary resolution \va>i passed, giving the rec t uired authority to operate on the No. 2 account.

A DEPUTATION. Mr lliesuy waited on the Council asking that the rough parte on the Kadnor road aniglit be put in order so as to be available for trallie. The present state 3i tlie road was worse tnan ever, and neee.->jlated extra haulage. Tlie chairman pointed out tnut tlie .North Hiding was in deiot to £3342. It was the same cry all over the county. Mr Kiesby said the settlers were prepared to assist in the work, w-uch only involved a li'j.ytii. of ten chains. The boulder* were already on tlie road ani only reqiiirad breaking. 'Hie chairman said die would willingly agree to tlie work being done if tlie linances permitted. Cr .Rogers moved that the work be done, provided the settlors helped with labor equal to that of the Council's men.—'Parried,

iIANuiiKS KliPOliT

The ranger, .vir A. Ctitlibertson, reported having impounded il noises, IS cows, lo weancrs, 2 yearlings, U calve-;, a mob of ihcUers and o hellers. CilE-MiiiAL.

A ciicular letter Horn tue .uinislei ol Hallways Has lead iciaiiivu to w;u'n-

..ig boaruvs at level crossings, and ;t:-li-nijj it tlie council would maintain smile .1 aie Department provided tue board*, -x'.ie iintLier vnia ueierred till the nc.\t ..ng ol the council to enable the engineer lo ii.pou on tile mi.i.ver 01 bi'ai'd:! required. .Ur Allied Coleman, district agent for tlie Ueean Accident, insurance Company, vi rote asking tlie Council to translcr ..s iusu.'.UKc policy li'oiu tlie Coverni.. lit oilice lo his olfice.— Ine applicai... .i was refused.

ochali of Uie ratepayers who some tiiju ujjo petitioned wn.: council fur a loan Ironi uno coveninicnt to metal the continuation of Kegan street, -Mr ivirkv.ood wrote askwig we Council to make a lurthcr application lor tlie required money, all tnie owners being Milling to pay a special late ior the loan. —It \vy.i decided to .re-appiy for tin; loan. The secretary 01 the -Vlidhiist Town lial! Hoard wrote, notifying the election to tne loard ol jir lUrfurd in place of .Mr W'uiisch, who had left, the deilrici; also that .Mr lluse had been elected a member of the board.— Approved. A petition was received front seven settlers on tiie Jtiulie road ucsirotii of having a. special rate struck on all flic land minting the load for the purpose ol improving same, and especially for metalling the cutting near the south end of tile road.—Keicired to Cr Smith.

The settles on tiie Poto road petitioned the Council to do some rc-metal-iuig on tho road next summer, there being 5 £SO to I lie credit of that road 'To be attended to.

The Distrut Engineer of ltailways wrote, Mtatiag that the Department would, at the Council's expense, provide the foot crossing, wicket gate, and cages which the Council requested should be provided on the liird road. He pointed out that where a road hiad been wholly closed by the construction ; i railway, it was"■under the Act ol 1308 held to'be legally closed.—o\o action taken.

An application from one of the Council's employees, who ihad been laid u'i for eight days owing to getting wet while at work, for payment of wages was granted.

BATES. .North Ri-ling.rjTho chairman moved Chut providing the Council agrees to the eivL-tion of a toll gate the rate in l:;e North lliuing be increased by om; farthing, making it 2%d. The motion was -etomled by Cr Rogers, and carried.

Sonth Ridhg.—Cr Thompson moved, that the rate 'be increased a farthing, making it l%d. Or Christoffel seconded tJie motion, which was carried. East Riuing.—Cr Walter moved that the rate be 2%ri. The motion was seconded by Cr Were and ..carried. This rate is also an increase of a farthing. West Riding—The rate was raised to 2'/ 2 d, beiii" a farthing increase. Mangaehu.— I This rate was raised to 3'!, bein<j a farthing increase.