STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

((From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Yesterday. COUNTY COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Stratiorti: County Council was held to-day. Present: Crs. W. Hathaway (chairman), W. H. Were, E. Walter, L. Baskin, 1. E. Coleman, J. Christolfel, T. B. Anderson, J. Smith, and H. B. Worthington. rXDRRESPONDENCK The Clerk of the Waimate West County Clerk wrote asking the co-operation of the Council to have anomalous railway charges on tar and tar preparations for road-making amended. —This was agreed to. A. W. Mellow, of Rowan Road, wrote asking for repairs to upper Rowan Road. —Received. The Consolidated Oil Fields of Taranaki, Ltd., in reply to the Council's request for payment of damage done to the road at Huiroa through the company carting materials over it, wrote stating that the whole of the money thrown down this well came from Christchureh, and had all been spent in Taranaki. They had to get a loan from the Government, and it was taking every particle of energy to pay wages at the present time.—Received. W. G. Winkelmann, of New Plymouth, applied for the hire of the Council's steam lorry for one month.—Left in the hands of the. engineer, with power to act. Four ratepayers on the Hill Road (j.ist off Warwick Road), wrote asking the Council to form the. road and gravel ,thc footpath.—Referred to Crs. Christoffel and Coleman, with power to act. The District Engineer of Railways inquired if any steps la.l been takon to clean, out the Toko creek near Douglas. —lt was decided to inform the engineer that notice had been served on the own-

J. A. Shrimpton wrote asking th»' Council to metal a small portion of the upper Palmer Road, also whether the Council would let bim have 25 yaids of metal for the entrance to his properly.— It was' decided to put the amount for metalling the road on next year's esti mate. The request for nicwl wr.s referred to the engineer, with power to act. W. F. Clemow wrote protesting against being rated for a special loan to remetal the Brooks Road,"'which lie bad no interest in.—Received. W. Atkins wrote resigning t'l3 position of foreman for the Huiroa Riding.--Accepted with regret, a testimonial to be furnished. John Kovaleski tendered his resignation as foreman of the cast portion of the North Riding.—Accepted with regret, a testimonial to be given. Lister Bros., Midhirst, wrote asking that a portion of the road in front of their store at Midhirst be repaired Referred to the engineer for his report. Mr. S. A. Mann waited on the Council and asked that the dip in the upper Manaia Road should be filled in.—lt was decided to expend £lO on the work. The sub-committee appointed at last meeting reported that the following tenders had been accepted:—Mountain Koad south (800 yards boulders), T. Bennett; Ratapiko Road (150 yards boulders), J. Aldridge; West Croydon Road (200 yards boulders), J. Neilson; Toko Road (1200 yards pit metal), O'Connor and Stock: Raupouha Road (000 yards boulders), G. Robertson; Ahuroa Road (200 yards boulders), F. W. Green; Waiwcra Koad (450 yards sbell roe'i), E. Wilson; Opunake Road No. 2 (4(10 yards boulders)", F. W. Green; West Climie Road (100 yards boulders) F. W. Green; Upper Hastings Road (100 yards boulders), Grimmer & Chamberlain; North Palmer Road (100 yards boulders), F. W. Green; Opunake Road (500 yards loulders), F. W. Green; York Road (200 yards boulders), J. Neilson.—The report was adopted. ; ENGINEER'S REPORT,

The engineer, Mr. Lopdell, reported as follows: — North Riding—The Denbigh Road has been put in fair order having crushed about 700 cubic yards of boulders, refacing about quarter of a mile. Also refaced about 20 chains with pit metal from Mr. Carroll's pit, which works out at 3s (id per cubic yards (royalty free). As soon as the light roller is available, I will have this road rolled. The culvert on this road by Mr. Rutledge's has been lowered. The Collett crusher is now working on the Monmouth Road. The Stanley Road bridge is now completed, the profiling from this bridge has been sold for £2l! 7;3 Od. The Makino steel bridge has been scraped and tarred. The rain by Mr. Kerrick's property Has been made safe. South Riding.—The excavation for the tar-boiler is now completed, the boiler will he built in as soon as the bricks arrive. The roads generally are in good order. A start has been made with the Monmouth Road boulder contract. East Riding.—A start has been made with the cottage verandahs at Toko and Douglas. Stock and O'Connor have commenced the Toko Road East contract. West Riding.—The Acme crusher has tonvpleti'd the crushing on Opunake No. .". and is now on the Manilla Road. J. Neilson is engaged with the Mangatoki stone. Huiroa Riding.—Advantage has been taken of the fine weather and much dray work has been done. Mangaehu Riding.—This riding is being worked short-handed at the present time, a portion of the stable from Puniwhakau has been taken to Tututawa to be re-erected at this end of the riding. General.—The tar-spraycr has arrived and looks to be, a very well finished plant. A trial will be made during the week with same. GENERAL. It was decided that all permanent employees of the Council be granted one half-holiday, on Saturday, per month at the discretion of the engineer. Mr. W. H. Sproull was granted per mission to put up a guard I'eiice on the Mariiii.ru Road. The action of the engineer in selling timber used in the erection of the ferroconcrete bridge at Stanley Road was tc nfirmed. The engineer was instructed to ereev danger notice boards on the bridges on the Derby Road, between the York and Surrey Roads, intimating that the bridges were unsafe for traffic. Mr. D. Brosnan, of Waitara, was appointed foreman of the Puniwhakau Riding. Mr. J. Hatcher was appointed foreman of the east portion of the North Riding. It was decided to invite fresh applications for the position of foreman of the Huiroa Riding. The engineer was instructed to see ihat all empjoyees of the .Cftuttsil wire