STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1914, Page 8

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the ] Stratford County Council was held yes- j terday, there being present: Cra. Hatha- ! way (chairman), Rogers, Walter, Thomson, Christoffel, Anderson, Smith and Young.. An extension of time was granted fo the committee set up to deal with the matter of procuring a dray, and arranging as to a horse and harness for the Mangaehu riding. I'RIVATjr TELEPHONE WIRES. It was decided to grant a permit to the Wingrove road settlors and to Messrs Anderson on the Palmer road to cross the roads with telephone wires, provided the Government regulations are observed and that tho work is done to the satisfaction of the county engineer. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The county engineer, Mr. W. J. Lopdell, reported:— Good progress had been made with the i genera! maintenance and water-tabling. A small concrete bridge had been erect- • cd on the Opunake road. The shingle for the two bridges at Toko had been " delivered at the site, and he awaited ■ instruction?, as to starting the work. A 1 start had been made carting shingle for the Te Popo bridge at Midhirst. Ho had bought 0 tons 15 cwt. of steel at a satisfactory price, also several tons »f railway ra!ls.

Contracts.—He had called for tenders for contracts in the west district, and recommended calling for tenders for about 1000 cubic yards of crushed metal on the Toko road west; a similar amount of boulder stone on the Manganui crusher site at Midhirst, also 100 cubic yards of shell rock on tho Ohura-Mangaehu road.

Croydon read.—He had seen Mr. Zimmerman, who had agreed to ascertain the feeling of the ratepayers re a loan to have three hills regraded and metalled at a cost of about £475. Ahuroa road.—He understood that Mr. Tiper bad obtained the consent of the ratepayers to have tbe west end of this road regraded and metalled. Kelly street. Midhirst.—Consent bad been obtained for a loan to form and metal this street.

A start had been made with the metalling of the Makuri road, where the roller was now at work. A quantity of shell-rock had been quarried for repairing damage to this road caused by cartinz coal to (be oil well.

Motor-car—The car had come to hand. It surpassed the highest expectations, and was giving perfect satisfaoction. He expressed his thanks to Mr. Newton King's stall - for the use of cars during the interim.

The engineer was authorised to proceed with the construction of the two bridges near Toko (as mentioned in his report) by day work as soon as thn money is available. He was also authorised to cart out ■ shingle for the Tc Popo bridge at Midhirtt.

It was decided that tenders bo called for 1000 yards of metal for the Toko road west. 1000 yds of boulders at Man«anui crusher site, and lOOvds of a/Tell rock for the Ohura-Mangachu road, the chairman and East riding members bein.!? authorised to deal with same. The reports of the various riding foremen were received. Authority was given for the necessary repairs to the Ackland road. The engineer's action in patting in pipes to replace a culvert on the Man<*awliero road was approved. ° Tub engineer was instructed to replace three dilapidated culverts on tlm Puniwhakau road by drain pipes; also to inspect and report upon the Huntroad. TENDERS. The Council fent into committee to consider tenders. On resuming, the following were accepted: nn^ ta !7 C Ii ntrac ' t SS9 ' Bawonsfield road (1000 yds), Green and Chard; 890, Hastings road (12o0yds), A. Julian; 891, Patmer road (000 yds), Neilsou and Gray; hJJ, Western boundary (1000 yds), Kc'gh-Boulders-801!, .Mountain, Sole, Climv' -■heal and Cornwall roads ■ ¥ r ! " ll, '; > '- and Chamberlain; SM, lj„wn' l>nd, hobson and Waipapa roads. 500,1. i.rimmrr and Chamberlain; ]()j WiuStrove Koad (iiOOyds). Mill; S 9o,' Warwick road (200 yd*). .Jrecn and Chard>>)i. Opunake road (iJOvils), A Ji-lhn--808 Cardiir road corner"(Myds) Green and C'liard; ICiipmii crusher sit?- U;t\ i'd*), V. H. Taylor. »"-^>»

Mr. df. Okey M.P.. wrot| , ( , x ■ lu.s sympathy with the desir,. ■ ■„,- ih * l mined that stone-crushing anil roadnukmg plant should !,,. imported fro of 'Oi'ly. Tlie Pivmier K ;(.ti! statin'. <!■-.< he was submitting tile rcti-ie-t to |i« Alin : s>r of Ononis.--UeceWcd. Ta« .Moupt Herbert County' Council Wot,, -advoMtirg tha Covermncnt being m-g.il to impose a war tax to meet tho large addUmnl expenditure i„ ,i, s. pa/diing thu expeditionary forces iteeeived.

Th„ Commissioner of C.rmvn Lunds wrote, stating that the holder :,,[ seethn RS, block 7, Oinona, wished his tnirds expuuled on the Kaihc.ke road, if only lo torm ,i pack track.- It was decided to call tenders for ;iho work as ,-iaoii as it was known how much money was m'vvlaililc.

Mr. A. M. Iloddie. of Mangamin-i, wrote calling attention to the state of the Anderson rusi.l. and asking that it mieht be widened in one or two places and the culverts attended to. He had' made a similar request to the Elf.ha.rn County tlouneiil. whidh had .acceded thereto, —H wr..s decided ,that th,. engiiicei' inspect and report. The Clifton county cn,:.ii m !Pr wrote offering an AiiV.iu roa.l' grader for i'-R-Xot required.

The county solieH'or. Mr. AY. (!. Malone. v,Toi 0 s'tltin;; lie had re<(iies'lcd the t'onimissiorer of Crown Lands to issue a. title to ,]wrt .section .1, block 1:1, Hui-r-oa. (.M.id!iir.,t e;\m:<!eny) 'to the council, if; being now vested in .tjio ■ lianganui lload Board.—.Received. IUKXICItAf.. Th ( . ebairinan brought up the question of jurniiy |',<n, on the roadside, and it was decided to instruct ithe cngineor 'to inform .tin; council's employees Unit it they Jijjhled a f1,.,. ou ;tlu ; mi)k :,| ( . they would, lie responsible, and not tiki council. A formal resolution was passed couiimring an. order authorising a loan of ££><> for Regan slr.ie.f wei-t.' suid it was decided lio take steps to raise the loan. Ttlio Ir.llancc-siieci as audited was laid on the talile, A tag was a'ttaclhed relative to bridge rate money being improperly put to the general account. The chairman remarked that probably £SO a year would be .saved in interest if such money could be put in the genera'l fund. Authority was given to the engineer to repair the T'pper Pembroke road near the Mountain Kescrve, at a cost not exceeding £-2, It was resolved that steps be taksn to raise a loan o_f £l2O for Kclty- atrest;,

Midhirst, and for racing £1350 for Walpapa road. The following apportionment of rateß was made: —North riding, Id for main road and l%d for by-roads. South riding: >/ 2 d and l'/id; West riding, l',id each. East riding: l%d each. Mangaehu riding, l'/od each. The clerk was instructed to re-apply for a Government grant of £3O for the lluinga road. On Ulo nwl-ion 01 Cr. Young] it was decided that when tho money is forthcoming for the Tututawa bridge 'hhe work be put in hand .

It was decided to sell the council's crusher to the beat advantage, the. question of fixing the price being left to the chairman and the engineer. Considerable discussion took place on the question of tho proper sum to be paid for royalty for stone, it being considered 'that tho price asked by some owners (as much as lOd) was excessive. It was decided to obtain the opinion of Mr. -Martin,, counsel to the Municiwil Association, the matter being left to the chairman, the clerk and the engineer.

' Accounts amounting to £9OO were passed for payment.