STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1917, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETINcf! The ordinary monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held at Stratford yesterday, when there were present: Crs. W. Hathaway (chairman), H. "Worthington, J. Christoffel, J. Smith, T. R. Anderson, W. H. Wer\ E. Walter, ,T. E. Coleman, L. Baskin. ! ENGINEER'S REPORT. fc Mr. W. IT. Lopdell (county engineer) ,I'eported as follows: North Siding.—A start has been made with repairs to the Derby road. The Surrey road will also receive attention while the men are in the district. The. railway bridge gang have completed the supports to the Mangamii bridge. They have also plastered the face of the old pier. 1 do "not anticipate any further trouble to our bridge. The stone is all ready for crushing on tie Ratapiko road. They are also well on with the Stanley load stone. The crushing plant will proceed to the Waipuku tar work this week.

South Riding.—Tho Mountain road between Ngaere anil the Cornwall road had been rc-metalled and tarred a distance of about a mile and a-quartcv. This road will require a tar-sealing coat at a later date. Robson road: The shingle has been delivered for the bridge by the factory, also stringers placed in readiness for the temporary bridge. The stone has been delivered for the Lower Bird road, and will be crushed as soon a« the .plant is available. T. Bennett has made a start with the Finnerty road contract.

East Riding.—Tho Raupahu road lias been rofaeod for a distance of over a mile. The Waiwiri road lias been refaced with shell-rock for a distance of about half a mile. Standish road: Tlie | Collett plant is crashing about 4-00 cubic yards en this road. E, Wilson is well en with his Toko road east contract. We purpose crushing this next while the weather is settled. Good work has been done over the Strathmore Saddle. West-Riding.—The stone has been delivered on the Opanake No. 2, also on (he Upper Palmer and Hasting.? roads. E. Chard has completed his boulder stone contract on the Hastie road. The above stone will 'be crushed as soon as the plant is available. Good work has been done on several of the roads in removing loose stones and clay blinding. The wash-out at the Waingongoro bridging is nearing completion." The old submerged box culvert which caused tho trouble has been removed, p. .Witt has been appointed surfaceman on the Manaia road, and will take up his duties this week. : i-i ■*). Bfg | Huiroa Riding.—This riding is in very' good order again. There are several roads where the ditches require cleaning out. It is the intention of the foreman to proceed with this work during the present month. The metal required for this riding cannot be delivered for some time owing to scarcity of trucks. Mangaehu Riding.—Considerable good work has been done here during the month. Four hundred cubic yards of shell rock has been delivered atMcLachland's bridge site, also about 50 cubic yards up at the Taurakawa road. A start has been made quarrying about SOO cubic yards of shell rock for the Tututawa bridge. The slip clearing on tlio Tututawa-Popuanui road has been let to Mr. J. Ryan.

Genera].—l would recommend calling tenders for about 200 cubic yards of boulders for the Stanley, Cross and Croydon roads, 100 cubic yards of 'boulders on the BrooKs road (South riding) and 1000 cubic yards of shell rock on the Waiwiri road. ' The report was adopted. THE SOUTH RIDING TARRING, In reply to the chairman, Cr. Christoffel stated that the riding members had authorised the tarring and sanding in the South riding. They were prepared to stand the necessary finanee out of their maintenance money until their share of the toll money had accrued to pay for it. They would then do another section oi the road. Cr Walker asked if it were done up to the specifications of the agreement. The chairman pointed out that he had been authorised to ascertain whether the Council could pledge the toll to raise a loan to make the road. The conditions under which they -were granted the toll' were that the revenue should be placed to a separate Taecount for making the road with nine inches of metnl,'"three inches of which should be tarred macadam, and then lav seal the road. Unless this was carried out the councillors would be individually responsible. Cr. Coleman said that the agreement merely said-that the money should be spent in permanent improvements over the whole i>'/ 2 miles of road in the north and south ridings. There was iiotlun" about nine inches of metal, but, even if there were, he thought that it had been put down.

The chairman said that when giving evidence before the Commission the spo° cifications .were mentioned. Cr. Raskin objected to the principle of tho South riding members authorising the engineer to do the work. The North riding members would not do so. The chairman: We will now. The engineer stated that the work was done in accordance with the specifications. Cr. Smith did not consider that the work could be done within the estimate gi'.-cn at the time, viz., £IOOO per mile. Cr. Coleman favored making permanent improvements when 'any repairs wore being done. . The majority of the Council were satisfied that the right thing was being done. A COMPLAINT. Cr. Smith complained of the state of the road, which badly required raking off. He had been "told that the roads in the Stratford county were worse than any :n Tarr.naki, save a few in the Clifton county. Councillors at the table were content to sit and see a policy of drift.

CV. CliristofTel said that if they had borrowed £70,(100 they would have had ;ood roads. [Jc considered that their

roads compared more than favorably with those in the Egniont county. Cr. Walter thoughb that the svstem was wrong. The Council was prepared to pay £1 per chain in maintaining tarred roads, but neglected the macadamised roads in <lry weather. 'Jtfie men should he kept on clay binding the roads instead of being taken oft" for contract work. That was the only complaint he had to raafe of the. administration.

Cr. Smith thought that more work should be let by contract. A good deal was said about the dearth of labor, but so far only single men had gone. Other counties could keep their roads in repair. Personally he thought that it was lack of supervision. The chairman: Other Councils are offering 14s per day for our men. STANLEY ROAD BRIDGE. The Council went into committee over the question of obtaining the subsidy of £250 towards the Stanley road bridge. It was finally decided tliat the chairman, accompanied by the engineer, visitNew Plymouth at show time, and place the matter before Mr. H. J. Okey, MP,, who is looking after the electorate during 'Mr. Hine's absence at the front. TAXING MOTOR TRAFFIC. j The Mackenzie County Council asked the Council's co-operation in favor of a! resolution asking the Government to impose a Customs duty of not less than 10 per cent, ad valorem on motor tyres, the money so collected to be refunded to local bodies for the upkeep of roads on the basis .of capital value, or such manner _as the Government may deem equitable. The circular expressed the opinion that the time had come for a tax on motor vehicles, and that the form of tax proposed would have the advantage of being collected -by the present Customs stall' at no additional expense, whereas a tax on motor vehicles would require an army of inspectors, the cost of which would leave littlo or no net revenue. It would ,be a fair tax, as those using the roads most would have to pay the greatest amount of tax. Similarly'those travelling at excessive speeds and causing great damage to the roads would be penalised, as high speeds reduced the life of the tyres. A tax would lead to the use of British tyres, which, it was claimed, were the best. The Mackenzie County Council considered it unnecessary to enlarge on the question of the damage done to roads by motor traffic.

STRATFORD BOROUGH REQUEST. A deputation from the Stratford Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor (Mr J, W. Boon), Cr Thompson, and the engineer (Mr T. D. Sullivan) waited on the Council and asked for the use of about 30 yards of crushed metal alongside the bridge on the Cardiff Road for the construction of a weir. On the motion of Crs Smith and Coleman, it was resolved to sell the metal at 7/6 per i yard, an amendment by Mr Baskin that tho metal be placed on the road not being seconded METALLING CONTRACTS. Cr Baskin suggested that, when letting contracts, all metal should be measured before being put through the crusher, instead of being measured by dtyy measurement, which gave too much opportunity for leakage. He instanced cases where a dray, supposed to measure two yards, only measured 1J yards. Cr Smith considered that it would pay to stack the boulders, as 11 yards of boulders crushed 12 yards of metal. Cr Anderson: The contractors know that and will tender higher. It was resolved on the motion of Crs Baskin and Were to call for 200 yards of metal on the Stanley Cross and Croydon roads on these conditions.

It was stated that Messrs Maekay and ,Pitt would each advance £lO on next year's rate provided the Stanley Road metalling was extended to that extent. —Agreed to. Other contracts will be called for aa recommended by the engineer. ALLOCATION OF ROAD GRANTS. Tho circular letter from the Waiapu County Council asking that some alteration should be made in the system of allocating grants to roads was read. Cr Walter thought the Council shoula endorse the circular, and on his motion that course was taken. ALTERATION OP BOUNDARIES. The committee appointed to confer ro the alteration of boundaries between Stratford and Eltham counties (Crs .T. ChristoiTel and J. Coleman) reported that it had met the Eltham Countv representatives (Crs Belcher, Granville and Pease) and had agreed to an alteration whereby five sections of a total area of 372 acres 1 roods, valued at £3550. be transferred from Stratford to Eltham. and uew sections of an area' of 375 acres 2 roods 10 poles, valued at £5776. bo transferred from Eltham to Stratford. GOVERNMENT AND WAGES. The Resident Departmental Engineer (Mr H. H. Sharp) notified that tho Mn. ister of Public Works declined to allow Government moneys to be expended at the high rates of wages now being paid by some local authorities. AH plans and specifications submitted must be accompanied by estimates based on wages at 11/- per day. Tim chairman: That's one way to get out of it. They know we can't get the men.—Received. A QUESTION OP ECONOMY. The engineer pointed out that it had cost £350 during the month for team hire. This included carting from the two crushers. If the Council secured a motor

lorry he thought a- saving would be effected, as one motor lorry would keep the crusher going on the Mountain Road Members thought that this, couEl be held over until after the war. "

Cr Smith thought that economies could be effected in the purchase of supplied He noticed that celncnt was being purchased locally, and coal was purchased by the bag. He thought the Council should deal direct with manufacturers.

The chairman pointed out that they would only be referred back to the agent. tf local bodies could combine and purchase direct, a saving might be effected The engineer pointed out that he had no brief for any particular firm. He had on previous occasions obtained quotes from firms direct, but the quotation was the same in each case. They had only obtained coal in bags dy'ing a shortage. Usually it aame by the trnckload from the New Plymouth agents.—The subject then dropped. GENifIP.AL. Tht matter of placing screenings in front of Morrison's blacksmithv at Ngaere was referred to the engineer. The Council at a special meeting passed a special order raising a loan of £470 for forming and metalling the Barclay Road. The various riding foremen's reports Were read and adopted. Cr Baskin moved that a high bank at t* dangerous corner on the Beaconsfield road that was obscuring the view of motor cars should be removed before next meeting. This was seconded by Cr Smith and carried.

It was resolved to put up finger posts at Midhirst Bhowing that Ganilin road is a stock road. Mr E. Marfell asked that the Council should allow its staff, while engaged on the Toko East Road, to metal the road to his house, he offering to pay the cost.—Referred to the engineer let arrange. '

Mr H. Wheeler, Stanley Road, wrote offering to buy some screenings stacked in the road near his place.—Left with tilt engineer with power to act. Mr M. McMahon, a settler at the corner of the Hastings-Opunake Road, asked permission to place a ram at the end of a tunnel close to his property. The Council gave permission but will accept no responsibility. It was resolved to make enquiries re o, street sweeper iu connection with the tarring work. J. S. Holmes wrote that he would be pleased to pay the wages of a man for one week for 'work on the Surrey Road. j —Agreed to.

It was decided to as kthe Mda R6"ad Board if any rate 3 were for expenditure on the Surrey Road. Accounts amounting to £3IBB Is 10 were passed for payment. A NOTICE OF MOTION.

Cr Smith gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he would move that the engineer be given three months' notice to terminate his engagement.

Cr Were asked whether it was necessary to accept the notice of motion. It had been before the Council three time in twelve months and there was no change in the personnel of the Council, He thought the notice could be ruled out. The chairman: That can be done, if necessary, when the motion comes up.