STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 95, 17 September 1914, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was 'held yesterduy. Present: Crs. Hat'haway (chairman) J. Thomson, Christoiiel, " Anderson, J. Smith, Walters, Rogers, Were and Young. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. W. J. Lopdell, county engineer, reported gu>od progress on the various works, and the unnietalled roads were now in fair order. Mr J. I'lew's application for a fewyards of eartli to be removed so as to give an approach to his house was reasonable, and the earth could be utilised to fill in a hollcw. About 100 yards of Afcuroa raid east was in a very bad condition, 'being corduroyed with wood, •which should be removed, and the cut ting widened by four feet and metalled. The cost was about £35. Authority had been 'received from the Public Works Department far the expenditure of £IOO, and £oU for tlhe Heao aJul Autawa tracks, and the htcessary work: were in hand. The engineer recommended that an eighth of an auc of carrots be planted in each riding for winfor feed for the council's horses. The work at the Kaihcke raid bridge would be put in hand as soon as convenient. He considered the time had arrived for a horse and dray to be provided for the Mangachu riding. The £4O on the estimates for hire of horse and dray would buy a suitablo plant, which, would be greatly needed in the immediate future. An order had been given for a portable Acme crusher with 20ft elevators detached, at a cost slightly in advance of the price previously quoted. An offer of eight and a half tons of indented steel bars had been received' from; Mr. Clare, of IWaitara, at a v<ry reasonable price, and re recommended the purchase. Several tons of iron rails had been purchased at a very satisfactory price 'for bridge work. It was now tiirae to call for tenders for many of the contracts. A new consent was beißg obtained to raise a loan for metalling Kelly .street. Midhirst. A small bridge on the Opunake road was in a bad way, and required rebuilding in at an estimated cost cf £4O. A recommendation was made that the council should pass a resolution urging the Government to rtmove the duty on Eng'iish-mude stone crushere as the duty had been taken j off road rollers.

Resolutions were pissed: That tbo earth at Mr. Plow's Im removed; tliat the repairs en the Ajiuroa road ibe deferred to enable the engineer to ascertain if the settlers were willing to raise a loan; that the rceommt-ntliiUon as to planting carrots be adopted; that the purchase of a horse ami dray for the Mangaehu riding be left to the engineer and Cr. Young, also theJ question of oxelmnge of harness; that tin; purchase of trie steel bars 'Offered to the engineer be authorised; that tenders be called for metalling Aukuri road, South ridinp maintenance metal, material for two reinforced concrete bridges at Toko, and work on Beaconsfield road; tliat the rebuilding of the 'bridge over the A'huroa on the Stanley read be commenced "when plan? are approved; that the bridge on Opunake road ]iast the Manaia road, be rebuilt in concrete, li. was decided 1 to ask the Government to abolish the duty on crushing plants and other maintenance machinery not manufactured in the colony. A copy of the resolution is to <be *jent to the member for the district, with a request for his support.

RANGER'S RETORT. Tlie council's ranger, Mr. A. A. Cuthiiertson, reported having impounded curing the month •>."> bullocks, 11 lior.si.is 21 cows and 47 weaners.- Received. LOAN'S. The State Advances Office wrote consenting to entertain appii<ations for the following Kails:— £jOU i 0 renew two dilapidated bridges at Toko; £OOO to renew the Tututawa road bridge in hardwood; £ilO to metal the continuation of Regan street west; the rate to be J'/ 3 per cent, for 3ti'/i years. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The reports of the riding foremen detailed the various worfci executed during the past meiith.—The foremen are to lie inloiuied that Uicy are not to supply any metal or material nor to engage ttaniu or men without authority.

It was resolved thnt the motor car committee endeavor to arrange witli Mr. Newton Ring for tlie use ol a cur until the council's car arrive;. Air. Knox waited on the council with a rcipict for 4IJ \ards «>l mvlal to be placed on the Ackl.ind road, statin;; mat it wns the Croy(]o:i road settlers who di<l tile most damage to tile Ac!;land road.—The chairman said there was only Fr. Knox and his soa. on the i- ad, which was £3O ii; debt, but Hie Croydon roail ('which was grass-grown I whs in credit, . Forty jards ot metal ha<l already been put- on tilie road. —Or. Anderson moved that the (Tovdon raid and Aekhind read be iMciideU in one. account.—(Jr. Thomson udvualcd giving (he li'.ydun road settlers "a show'' .l>y allowing tiiini the oppurluiiitv of contributing fit) to tlie. Ackland mad, a merger being the alternative.—The motion was carried, and "li-i engineer authored to put the 4n yards ot metal or. the Ackland road. '

Tin; Resident Engineer of Public Work s utolu in<|iurinsr if the council I'ud any immediate intentkii of uti'lifinj: tlu- £IOO subsidy for inctallin- the l'miiwhakau road.—To i> • infoviin.'d"tli.it tin- money will be applied for later mi. Col. W.C. Malon'e wrote thanking t!ie <■imiic.ll for its very kind resolution parsed in relation to himself.—Received. The council's solicit r wrote forwarding a che<|ue for £i"> i u f„U settlement. ol 'the council's claim against tin- Consolidated OillicM, of Taranaki. Ltd.. in. respect of damage to Makun .road. Mr. S'. 11. .lames ask-; (hat (lie e.c(•nieil thirds on section ;.il>, block VII. Omoir.i iKaihcke load I ;,!ni those on sectien o be expended on a .pa:-k track.

so that irrass seed, clc, could be pack. Ed in after (he burn.- If was decided to comply with the rc<|!ust and us,' the (liirds on the track a, far as Ihe amount permitted, pto'.aicd the J.aud J'ourd approves. (iK.VEUAL The engineer was instructed to have a dead bia ? t on the Ooydon road buried or iburncd, and a claim for expens.-i will be made on Mr. Ri-hoji. of T.uala. The cii'/incci- was iu-:iacted t. Use the levels on tin; Croydon road, Willi a \iew to ri'jrrurtinjr. 'Dip. Mini.-tcr is to he congratulated upon trauiiii'.' a clause in (In- new Counties Hill, whereby it! is propo-cd to tfivc I (Jovcriinie/it. subsidy of .is in the f on all rales received, a provision for which the cotiiicij litis contended for many \ ears. The oiler of Ct. Anderson to take from the council at cm 4 price the c,wo telephones obtained for the West riding was accepted. Accounts amounting to £7GO 8s 9d were gassed for payment.

SPECIAL MEETING. At a special meeting of the council hidd yesterday a special order was parsed authorising a loam for metalling Regan stTeet west extension, Stratford; aho for a loan for bridge ; at Toko, and a confirming resolution was passed for ;i special rate of Id in the £, levied on the Hastie road separate irating district.