STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford. Yesterday. The monthly meetin;; nf the County Council was held on Wednesday. Present: Cr. W. Hathaway (chairman), Crs. Were, Walters, Worthington, Baskin, Coleman, Christofi'el, Smith, Anderson. A deputation of contractors who have waited on the Council and objected to the resolution passed at last meeting authorising tlie ranger to impound all horses grazing on county roads. The deputation said it was impossible to get private grazing anywhere in the county, and it seemed hard that their horses should be impounded, seeing that they were doing county work. One of the deputation said his liorses were impounded, with the result that the whole plant had been held up. They were quite prepared to pay for the paddocks if they could get them. / The chairman said complaints had oecft received from settlers as to the damage done by horses, but, on the other hand, if the contractors had to bring their horses home every night it meant the Council would have to pay more for theii contracts. The councillors all admitted that the contractors were placed in a serious position, but the Council had no power ! to allow them to use the roads, but instructions would be given the ranger not to interfere with contractors' horses. TOLL GATES. The chairman reported that the Eltham County Council had suggested a conference of Taranaki County Councils to consider the reduction of a uniform charge for tolls throughout Taranaki. He thought a conference would be of benefit. At the present time each county had its own charges, and if some uniformity could be arranged it might do away with the feeling existing towards toll gates. It was impossible to make tar-sealed roads out of revenue, and those who used the roads should help to pay for them. Cr. C'hritoffel did not think that the toll charges should be reduced. Cr. Anderson said that the charge for a 2-seater car, which was used mostly for eommcreia' purposes was Is 6d, while a 5-seatcr that was essentially a farmers' car, had to pay 2s (id. The farmer was objecting to being penalised. Cr. Were thought ty conference would do good. A person paying one charge should be able to pass through other toll gates throughout Taranaki on that day. Cr. Christofi'el advocated single journeys should be charged instead of return charges. The present system was unfair. It was decided that providing a conference is held that Crs. Hathaway and Christofi'el be a committee to represent the Council. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Minister of Railways, stat '' ing that the Council's offer to erect a warning signals at railway crossings 1 would be referred to the officers of the s department.—Received. From H. 11. Sharp informing the Council that he would inspect the deviation • over the Kaitieki Road.—Received. From the District Engineer of Railt, ways regarding drains at Douglas sta- ! tion, informing the Council that until ! the lesee of part of the railway re- I > serve at Douglas clears out the ditch i through the land leased by her, nothing . } could be done that would enable the ' wi>ter tn f "'t away.—Received, j From F. H. Taylor, Midhirst, asking • for an increase in wages, or to make i t some .allowance for extra time taken in . looking after the Council's horses.—Re j ferred to foreman of North Riding for explanation. From Mrs. E. Ellis, Bird Road, Stratford, asking permission to remove clay > from a cutting fronting her section. —Re- > ferred to engineer with power to act. I From W. F. McCullough, asking the 1 Council to arrange for a loan to renew '> the bridge leading from East Road to • Section 101. —It was decided to ascertain from the Lands Office if the road " lias been dedicated. ! From Secretary, Ruapuhf School C*mi mittee, drawing attention to nuisance of 1 a boar pig that is allowed to run at f large on the Toko Road to the danger of ■ children attending school.—Referred to 1 County ranger, s > ENGINEER'S REPORT. p The engineer, W. J. Lopdell, reported: North Riding.—The crushing plant lias been engaged at Midhirst most of the month, crushing for the Mountain Road and making patch metal for several byroads. The plant has just finished crush- i ing on Stanley Road. The surfacemen | have allowed their roads to get a little out of hands owing to the assistance they have had to give to the crusher. The bridge gang are still at the Stanley Road bridge but will have same completed before next meeting. South Riding.—The work in this riding has been of the usual surface nature, water tabling and Banking up. The tar boiler is now on the section at the Climie Road ready for erection. East Riding.—The small roller has been most of the month in this riding and has done a lot of useful work, it - is now engaged on Victoria Street. The Douglas and Iluiroa Riding have been confined to patching and general surface work, there being a scarcity of labor in the latter riding. West Riding.—This riding has been well watertabled, but many of the light 1 roads are breaking up bady for want of E metal. The crushing plant is on its t way to the Finnerty Road. Several other roads will be attended to while the plant is in the district. ® Mangaehu Riding.—This riding is still y up against the usual slip clearing and surface work, but is gradually recovering itself, scarcity of labor being the chief trouble. The report was adopted. BATES. The chairman moved, according to notice of motion, that the general rate over the whole county be increased by }d in the £. He thought that at a e time like this, when the country was so prosperous, they should increase the rate. Later on, when the war was . over, the country might not be so good, and they might have to reduce it. I Cr. Walters said if they wanted to strengthen their financial position now was the time io do it, and seeing the permanent work they were doing he felt sure the ratepayers would support the Council. Cr. Were said the county had purchased new plant, and provision had. to be made to meet this expenditure. Cr. Christoffel said at last meeting he had voted against the increase, but after thinking the matter over he was now prepared to npport it. Cr. Coleman, seeing they had just purchased new plant, and in view of the increase in tlie cost of labor, he felt sure the only way to meet the demands Sag 'by imposing an increase in rates.

„ t C. Wothington said the Mangaehu Hid- 1 ing was in a different position from the others, and he could -not support the motion. ; Cr. Smith and Baskin spoke against the motion, which was carried,' Crs. Smith, Baskin, and Worthington voting | against it. ' j THE ENGINEER. AGATN Cr. Baskin said he was disgusted with the way things were going on in the county. He preferred the usual long string of complaints heard at the council on many previous occasions, winding up by giving notice to move at the next council 'meeting, 'That the engineer's salary be reduced by £50." GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £4425 5s 3d vere passed for payment. Cr. Baskin moved that time sheets should be attached to the employees accounts.—Cr. Smith seconded.—Carried. The action of tlie engineer suidCr. Christofi'el in purchasing n traction enjgine from the Waimate West County was confirmed. I The engineer estimated the cost of the j Barclay Road deviation at £4so—lt ■ was decided to recommend to the deputation that waited on the council at last j meeting the engineer's proposals for 3 their acceptance. | Mr. F. W. 11. Brnlow asked the C-oun- I cil to waive its decision enforcing the | building of bridges in concrete instead of wood on a private road lie is metalling and opening, and which the council had agreed to take over as a public road when completed.—The opinion of the council was that concrete bridges should be erected. Eventually it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of Cr. Worthington and engineer, with power to act. Mr Carrol, of Denbigh Road, waited on the council regard the state of that road. The council promised twelve months ago that the work would be done, and at present he was unable to get his milk out or use the road. The matter will be attended to as soon as the roller and crusher are available. •' The matter of procuring another horse for the South Riding was left to the riding members with power to act.