STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1916, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

CR. J. HATHAWAY RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN, (From Our Own Correspondent). At the annual meeing of the Stratford County Council on Wednesday the retiring chairman (Cr, J. Hathaway), submitted the following report:— During the past twelve months mucli. work lilis been done throughout the County, notwithstanding the advent of! the war, which has considerably added to the coat of work both in materials and labor. In company with the respective riding members I have visitted nearly every road in the County, and with few exceptions find' they are gradually improving although the traffic is ever increasing. Bridges. The bridge gang have erectJcd in fcrro-concrete one 85-foot bridge; on the Stanley road, one 35-foot spun on the Cardiff road, one 24-foot span on the Clieal road, and two 15-foot spans on the Denbigh road, also one 30-fjot pile and girder bridge on the Mangaehu road, and repairs, painting, etc., to several wooden and steel bridges. Metal.—About 10,385 cubic yards of boulders have been crushed and used as follows: North Riding 3,311 cubic yards, South Riding 2807 cubic yards, East Riding (!037 cubic yards, West Riding 3980 cutic yards. Maujntehu Riding 250 cubic yards of shell rock. The whole of tin* year has been spent reinstating ri-adu, ana cleinnq slip, rawed by the storms of July 1915. The lowest price paid tor stone, was it ,n:id '.i.e highest price 12s per cubic -yard. .About 18 chains cf tar macadam was laid on the Mountain rca„d at Ngaere.' Nearly all th-? wooden culverts on Hie metalled roads have been replaced with concrete pipes which-should be a' considerable saving in the future. Plant. —We have purchased one 10-ton Aveling and Porter road, roller, one Coilett aud'Son stone crusher, one Burrell 'traction engine, tar' boUer and sprayer, also sundry other mine# plant. The advent of t'.-.e toil/gate at Waipuku lias proved a' s-'duree of revenue to the Mountain road, the income for the • year being over, £1400." , Rates.—Tile whole of,last rear's collectable rates have been cpllected. In conclusion I wish to thank "councillors. , officers and staff and prosn -.for the assistance extended to ni& duriflg the past year. ' ' ENGINEER'S .REPORT The county engineer (MyMY. .T. Lopdel! (reported -as: iolWwsi-V North Collctt stpno > crusher ifi cngagcd oil the Salisbury toad 1 rc-mntalling ' This.road will be completed this week. The light roller is engag- • e4 on -this and the Denbigh road. The 1 railway yard has- beon rolled. Lister 1 Bios, (mvo, agreed to find half the cost 1 of metalling the Queen's Circus. The r recent heavy flood has considerably d#m--1 aged tlift metal depot and bridge site at 1 the Manganui. South, Riding.—The Collctt, stjona cmsher has completed about 220 cubic yards on the upper Finncrty road, and" 1 224 cubic yards on the upper Skinner ' road. The . flood, broken,, two piles i on the Finnerty road bridge/.-'oyer the 1 Waingongoro river, which wBV'-jequire i attention during,,the. summer, I hope to have a portion of the Mountain roid 1 scarified and roliod at an early date, as ■ it )s very rough at present. East Riding.—-Wet weather has hindered the progress of the ' Toko road con ; tract, but, given fine-weather, should 1 cut it out this week. The road to the pit will then require attention. Mr. E. Wilson has completed his shell-rock 1 quarrying on the Waiwiri road. It wcuid be advisable, to get out about 100 cubic yards from Mr. Bain's old pit over the Saddle to save long carting. Messrs Ferguson and Speck, have almost completed their Gordon road contract. West Hiding.—The recent heavy flood has caused considerable heavy damage to this riding, especially the Opunake road, the filling at Mr. Hooper's being washed out, and another place near the W'aingongoro bridge partly carried away owing to an old submerged wooden culvert which started to carry water during the heavy rain, also several other side slips. The Acme stone crusher is being help up while this work is receiving attention. Stone has been crushed oir the Waingongoro and Climifc' roads. •: Huiroa Riding—The contractors have finished the H>ao Track, and are now engaged on a few extras caused by recent rain." The roads throughout are in fair order. ■ Mangaclm Riding.—This Biding nfis again suffered through slips. The bridge known as McLachlan's Bridge has collapsed, and will require concrete piers and two landing spans to make permanently safe. ■General. —Tenders.have been called for several jobs, returnable to-day. The committee appointed have purchased a new car which is giving every satisfaction, and have received a aatisfactorv price for the old one. Mr. D. Brosnan has tendered his resignation as surfacepian at Puniwhakau.