STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 191, 21 January 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING ' The ordinary meeting of the Stratford County Council was held at Strat- [ ford on Wednesday, when there were "present:—Cra. W. Hathaway Basken, Worthington, J. Walter, W. HWere, J. Smith, Anderson, J. Uiri.-it-offel and F. Coleman. ENGINEER'S REPORT-

Mr W. J. Lopdell (County Engineer), reported that work had proceeded favorably considering the break caused by the holidays. Green and Card had finished the BeaJconsfield road contract, delivering 1020 cubic yards. A filling had been straightened near Mr Sangster's. A start had been made with the crushing in the West County A filling near Mr Hoopers' had been raised 6ft. and the road considerably straightened. The Finnerty road bridge over the Waiongongoro river, a boundary river, required redecking throughout. This would cost £6B. He, however, recommended putting a good coat of restar and shingle on the old deck, which, with a. light annual, top-dressing, would last a 9 long as the bridge. This would only cost about £l2. He also recommended this application for all the new concret bridges. With the chairman, he had interviewed settlers on the Cross road and the majority emphatically objected to any big work being done, that would raise their rates. With Cr. Coleman, he hart inspected the drain on the Skinner road, and had interviewed the owners of properties who had promised to clear out their portions of the drains. The road at this point required raising two feet. The Public Works engineer had approved of plans for a 35ft. span bridge over the Patea river on the Cardiff road in reinforced concrete.. The bridge gang had completed the Waiwiri bridge, Toko, and had the Manawaiwiri bridge foundations in. He strongly recommended the establishment of an up-to-date bridge gang, with a blacksmith, which he was confident would mean a considerable saving to the County. There was enough work to keep a gang going steadily for the next two year:;. The new Acme stone crusher had arrived and the elevators would arrive this week. He recommended that tenders be called for 250 yards of metal at the Cardiff bridge and for the Stanley road bridge, York road, Salisbury road and Mangaehu No. Is. The engineer stated that the Elthim County engineer was agreeable to restar preparation being used on the Finnerty road boundary bridge. The engineer was authorised to carry out his recommendations.

Councillors were in favor of a good bridge gang being got together. It wis considered that the Council could save money on their bridges by building by day labor, as the one plant could be utilised. On the motion of Crs Anderson and Smith, it was resolved that the engineer secure a bridge gang. It was resolved to obtain necessaiy stone for the Cardiff and Stanley roid bridges. The engineer was also authorised to have the work and Mangaehu No. 1 (Government grant) and the filling raised as' recommended. ! The report was adopted.

THE MIDHIRST FACTORY BRIDGE. Mr Baskin referred to the necessity for widening the Tc Popo bridge at the Midhirst factory. This was in a very busy locality, and at times, it was dangerous for foot passengers to cross it. The engineer stated that it would be possible to widen the bridge about eight feet, so as to bring it out to the full I width of the piers. This would increase? it for about 12ft. to 16ft. at a cost of about £4O. The engineer was authorised to have the work done. Cr. Basin also suggested that, a notice should be put up at the hill near by asking to slow down. Members expressed the opinion, however, that these were not effective, and no action was taken.

MIDHIRST RAILWAY CROSSING. The District Railways Engineer notified that liis inspector had informed him that there was no rough metal on tile local crossings, complained of at the Bcaconsfield road and Kent Terrace. Cr. Baskin stated that after the matter had appeared in the press, the railway man had broken the rough stone. The chairman said it was not so much the size of the metal that he complained of, but the grade. The slope could be considerably improved. An accident was liable to happentat that crossing at any time, through a trap capsizing. A Councillor: An accident has already happened.

MAKURI STREAM. Mr W. J. Lopdcll (County Engineer), reported that he had taken the levels of the stream as far as the canal work, a distance of three miles, or two miles in a straight. It showed a fall of about > two-thirds of an inch to the chain, not j sufficient to carry off the flood water. It could be assisted by putting in throe, cuts of about three chains, which would cut off thirty chains of the creek and give over two feet fall. There was a lot of growth and timber in the stream, which would be costly to clear out properly, but the three cuts could be put in and the worst of the timber removed at a cost of about £3O. Another £3O would also be required to deepen and widen fifteen chains at the top end, which had become blocked.

The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer to attend to as suggested at a cost not to exceed £6O. In reply to the Council's application for loans of £7OO for constructing a portion of the Ahuroa road west, and £SOO for regrading and metalling a portion of the Croydon road, the State Advances Department replied that as a loan of & 1000 had recently been entertained by the Advances Board, and the present limit of loans to local authorities was £2OOO, they regretted that both applications could not be submitted for consideration, as the limit would be exceeded. They, therefore, asked the Council to state which loan was to be reduced.

FINANCIAL. The chairman warned members that it would be necessary to go slow in the matter of any expenditure outside that already on the estimates. The rates, he said, had been struck as low as possible, so as just to cover the estimated expenditure, and yet the Council had alreadv 'expended £9OB that was not allowed for on the estimates. The principal items were: Motor-car, £375; crusher, £200; Beaconsfield road, £250; Ackland road, £35; and Pembroke road, £B3. A special order was passed in connection with the Waihapa road loan of £1530, of which, however, the Advances Department had notified that only £9lO was available at present. It was resolved that Cr. Christoffel should wait on the settlers on the road, and ascertain if they were satisfied with the expenditure of the curtailed amount until the balance was available. A special order was passed in connection with the Ahuroa road loan of £7OO, and it was resolved to apply for the £7OO for the Ahuroa road west. YORK ROAD. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Smith and Earp, settlers on the York road, waited on the Council in connection with the state of the road. The

chairman stated that some time ago a ■ special works rate of 3d.. had been struck on the road for a year or two, and Mr. Smith was of opinion that it should have been levied until the road was in order. The alteration in the Act, however, did not allow of a special rate being struck unless by petition from a majority of tile settlers. The chairman pointed out that the cartage of the machinery to the Government crusher site had damaged the road. Mr. Smith was of opinion that the Council could still have struck the special rate, as the settlers had agreed to it before the new Act came into force. The intention then was to strike the] rete until the road was re-metalled. He pointed out that the metal on the lower pi' rt, put down three or four years ago, waited renewing, and he suggested that t' • special rate should Btill be struck f< the upper portion of the road, and f- £IOO Government grant, with the t; -i accruing to the road, co'.'M be i '-. Ed for metalling the lower j rtion. . lie chairman held that there is no po.ver to strike the rate wit it a petition.

Mr. Smith said that he did not think it possible to get a petition signed by the majority now. "As you know," he added, "settlers are sometimes inclined to be rather selfish when they have got their own part metalled." He would prefer to pay the special rate, but if this was not possible he asked the Council to spend the £IOO, and as much more as they could spare. 1 The chairman said thft they had not yet got the £IOO in hand yet. With this year's rates there would be £l3O to expend. Mr. Smith considered that the Public Works Department, who used the road considerably, should allow them to take delivery of the metal at the mountain crusher at a price. This would save considerable haulage, and it would all be down hill. The chairman said that no road had helped itself more tnan the York road, and, on his mot'on, it was resolved that the £IOO granted by the Government anl £SO on the estimates be expended on the road, abo\e the Derby road. LICENSING POLL. 'Mr. W. J, Reeve, returning officer for Stratford electorate, notified that the election of the Licensing Committee would be held on the 2nd March., He suggested that the number of pollingbooths could be reduced from 47 to probably 20 or Left in the handß of "the clerk. THE RANGER. The ranger (A. Cuthbertson) reported that he had visited various roads throughout the County during the month, and had found 11 horses, 26 bul- j locks, 130 calves, 4 cows, and 5 pigs on the roads ' Applications were received for the. position of ranger. Alternative applications were received for the South and 1 West Ridings, and for the North, East, and Mangaehu Ridings, and for the. whole County. Fifteen applications in all were received. | The chairman raised the financial aspect. He felt that if the roads were well ranged, after the first month or two the receipts would fall off to practically niL Councillors were of opinion that there would be a saving in connection 'with damage to roa,ds and water-tables. In fact, half the surfacemen's time would be saved. After considerable discussion Mr. C. Milne was appointed ranger over the whole County, at a salary of £l6O per annum. Crs. Coleman, Walter, and the chairman voted against the proposal on the score of finance.

GENERAL. Cr. Walter congratulated the engineer on the Beaconsfield road. This had been blinded with screenings, and was a particularly good job, he considered. He • thought that clay blinding should be thrown on the roads, to prevent the • metal from being scooped out by motor traffic. The engineer admitted that clay blinding, though a poor substitute, was, useful for motor traffic. i

The County solicitor wrote that the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, had written, informing him that the head office had been in communication with the Midhirst Cemetery trustees, who, it appeared, did not desire the property to be handed over to the County Council.—Left in the hands of the chairman. | Mr. E. Marfell wrote, asking that the grade at the top of Bayly's Hill, on the Toko road, should be reduced. On behalf of the settlers interested he offered to guarantee not less than £2O, or more than £25, towards the cost.— Left in the hands of the engineer to proceed with the work when the road was being re-metalled.

The secretary of the New Zealand Counties' Association notified that the president of the Counties' Association did not consider it necessary to get an opinion of the question of royalties on stone and gravel, as section 111 of the Public Works Act governed the matter, and provided, of course, for each case being treated on its merits.—No action taken. Mr. C. S. Kelly wrote, acknowledging his appreciation of the Council's resolu.-1 tion passed last meeting in connection with his departure to join the Expeditionary Force. —Received.

On the motion of Cr. Walter, it was | resolved that the time worked by the | roller be charged to a road only on such I days as it was actually working. The j mover pointed out that it was not fair to any road that had to pay for the[ roller in the wet season. I The Inspector of Noxious Weeds notified the Council to clear ragwort from the Council's property at Puniwhakau, —The foreman is to be instructed to! keep the reserves clear of noxious) weeds.

W. A. Lehmann, surfaceman, asked the Council to build another room to the hut at Puniwhakau. —Referred to Cr. Worthington and the engineer, to report at next meeting. The engineer was authorised to coat the Waingongoro bridge, on the Opunake road, with restar.

The matter of deviation on the Opunake road was held over till next meeting. The engineer was instructed to attend to the Taurakawa road. The engineer is to report on the. cost of putting Wliitcombe street, Midliirst, in order. 1 Accounts amounting to £4164 13s 4d were passed for payment.