STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 268, 22 April 1915, Page 8

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting % of the ■ Stratford Council was held at Stratford yesterday, when there were present: Councillors W. Hatha way (chairman), T. Coleman, J. Christoll'el, T. R. Anderson, J. Smith, W. H. Were E. Walter, 11. Worthington, and L. Bas- , kin. TAPUNI ROAD. Tiie chairman said the resolution of the council that a clause be inserted in the deeds of Mr. Young's property on Tapuni Road giving the council power, in the event of the sale of the properly, to make a deviation, had never been earned out. The matter had been lost sight of. It was decided that Mr. Young be asked to submit his deeds to have the : Clause inserted. * DEPUTATIONS. Messrs. Gernhoefer and Chainey waltMl on the council from tiie Toko School, requesting tli.it the school be given the use of a portion of the old Waiwiri Koad which adjoined the school proper»y. Councillor Walter moved that tho council grant the Toko School Committee or the Education Board a lease of tho ground at the council's pleasure &l a pepper-corn rent of Is per year,— : l'lie motion was carried. Mr. Bredow waited on the council, requesting that the council take over a road which he intended forming at Douglas. The proposed road was a branch from the old main road, which ivas left open to give access to several lections there. In answer to the chairman, he said there was only one bridge on the proposed road. The chairman moved that the cngiueer inspect and report on this matter, and the technical aspect be examined, and the matter gone into at the next meeting.—The motion was carried. Mr. Godkin next waited on the council in reference to the bad condition of the Puniwhaka Road. The settlers were encroaching on the road,.and it ivas making the road dangerously narrow. ' Councillor Worthington said there was also numerous gaps in the fences dangerous to stock. The chairman moved that t lie matter be olaced in the hands of the cneincer - .„ «>. The motion was carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The engineer reported that during the past month he had visited nearly every district in the county , and found that, while many of the roads were in good order, othors were worked to a finish. If a spell of wet weather was experienced many.of them would be hard to keep in repair. He intended making another tour of inspection next-month to ascertain the necessary work for the coming year. Several culverts had been attended to, while others still required attention. Work on the Taihore Road Would be commenced. The Xaurakawa Road was now in good order. Culverts and three bridges on the •.Derby JRoad were in a more or less rotten cdhdition. The Government grant, of £SO had been spent on the Huinga Tunnel Road. The Toko Road contract had been completed, and the road was now in first -class order. The H'ork to be done with the Autawa Road Povernment grant was in hand. The Opunake and Rowan Road contracts H'tre progressing favorably, and that on the Palmer Road would be started this week. The Cardiff bridge and York Road contracts had been completed. The purchase of about one hundred and fifty yards of st-ne and factory foundations at Ngaere had been settled. Mr. Friday's offer to remove four trees on the Mangachu Road was recommended for acceptance. Inadequate provision had been made for the upkeep of Stanley Road East during the winter, and it was recommended that the suggestion of the ratepayers Concerned, that £SO be spent on metal, to be paid out of next season's rates, b'! given effect to. The work on Te Popo bridge was, 'proceeding. The engineer urged upon the council the necessity of purchasing another road roltfer) the present roller proving altogether inadequate to do the work on the eocnty's ever-increasing mileage of roads.' It was also too heavy for the work on many of the backblock roads. He recommended that a lighter one be

purchased, and that the order be fcxecuted at once. -Foreman Robinson of the West Riding had tendered his resignation. It was decided that the resolution passed at the last meeting in connection with the placing of a culvert and fences on the Mountain Road opposite Mr. M. Bayly's property bo rescinded. The engineer said the bridges on the Derby Road were very rotten and only held up by the combination of timbers. The chairman said this clause of the report should be held over for further consideration. He did not know how they would finance the work.

It was decided to hold it over for a tnonth.

The chairman moved, that if Mr. Sharrock does not proceed with the contract on the Stanley Road Jiast the council carry out the work at his expense.

Councillor Christofl'el seconded, and it was carried.

It was also decided that the ratepayers' suggestion be carried out.

The chairman said that the ordering of a new roller was rather a big order. After some discussion, Councillor Christpffel moved that the council make allowance in the estimates for a tentoii roller, and the matter be left ia the hands of the chairman and engineer.

The chairman pointed out that as the propesed roller was a light one Mangaehu should contribute towards the cost.

Councillor Worthington said he had no objection. Councillor Coleman seconded the motion, which was then carried. MIDIJIRST CEMETERY. After consultation with the county solicitor, the council, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Councillor Coleman, decided that the Minister of Internal Affairs he communicated with so that steps may be taken to have the council gazetted delegate to appoint or remove trustees in connection with the new portion of the Midhirst Cwnetery Reserve, and that the existing trustees be approached with a view to ascertaining whether they would be willing to act in administering such new portion. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted as follow:—No. 010, Waiapa Road (forming 5S chains), E. Wilson; No. 911, Waiapa Road (continuation, 14 chains), E. Wilson; No. 912, Kelly Street, Midhirst (forming and metalling HI I /;, chains) t J. Ncilson. GENERAL. The Government's circular regarding the relief of the Belgians and the poor of Great Britain, together with that of the Mayor of New 'Plymouth, as to

I the contributions and the methods of dealing with them, was read. The council endorsed opinion expressed by the Mayor of 'l>J«w, Plymouth. A requisition wus received from Isabel Porter, W. Brcdin and W. L. Porter, of the Maungatea Hoad, requesting tna» any rate that had accrued be handed over to the Moa Road Board, to be expended on the Maungatea or Swamp Road. The same .settlers applied to the county to define a certain area for a special loan for metalling the Maungatea Road, and to put the amount on the estimates for the coming year.—The chairman and engineer were appointed to report next month. A complaint from the District Manager of Railways regarding a faulty culvert on the Climie Road was referred to the engineer. M>\ R. G. Hamerton applied for the refund of what he considered an over- | charge by the ranger on the driving fees in connection with some straying cattle—lt was agreed that the ranger did not exceed his duty. Mr. E. Wells wrote, requesting per- ( mission to erect a fence on the boun- , dary of his property and the Douglas : Road, between that road and the Wai- . tara River.—lt was decided that the . request he granted, providing that the ! arsa bo kept free of gorse. . Mr. T. Cuthbcrt, of the Pembroke ( Road, requested permission to clear , noxious weeds from the road on His . frontage.—The council expressed much pleasure in granting the permission. Accounts amounting to £IB9O Is lid [ were passed for payment.