STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY 'MEETING. J 1 The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held yesterday. Present: Crs. W. Hathaway (chairman), T. Coleman, J. Christoffel, T. B. Anderson, J, Smith, W. H. Were, E. Walter, H. a Worthington, and L. Baslcin. s ENGINEER'S REPORT, e The engineer, W. J. Lop'dell, reported v as follows: i North Riding.—Tlie the e Mountain Road at Waipuku has been at 0 a standstill during the month, owing -to r crushing operations in other parts --of s the riding. The work will 'be put in hand as soon/as weather conditions will r permit. Seventy cubic yards of metal j has been crushed to keep the road in order during the winter. i Radnor Road.--J. Neilson's contract worked out at 294 cubic yards, also 170 cubic yards procured by day labor, cover- i ing a distance of about 35 chains. This j road will require special attention for . the next two' years. A deputation of , twelve settlers decided on a special rate , of one penny in the. £, also offering all , stone from their properties free of roy- / alty. Stanley Road.—ls3 cubic yards' of ( boulders has been crushed on this road, " re-faeing the approaches to the bridge, i and distributing patch metal for maintenance along the road. Pembroke Road. —This road is in a very weak condition, and unless material assistance is offered by the settlers, I , cannot see a way to cope with it out of , ordinary revenue. The plant is engaged crushing about ; 100 cubic yards on the. Stanley Cross and Croydon Roads, this metal being re- . quired for winter use. The rest of the , riding is in fairly good condition for , this season of the year. ~ Re road drain by Mr. Kerrisk's pro- , pertyt. I would recommend a 9in. pine t culvert at the hollow half way along the '" drain, ajso the outlet to the lower cul- . vert cleaning out. v ] Mr. 'Uhienbcrg, Waipuku, renuests * the Council to have crushed and deliver- ' ed to him about 40 cubic yards of metal * for a private road, lie to pay all cost. South Riding—The roller has made a start scarifying and rolling portion of the Mountain Road. Weather conditions t have prevented the completion of the p tar sealing at Ngaere, which will, how- I 'over, be completed as early as possible. ] Finnerty Road.—Repairs have betn j made good to damage done by the contract on this rond. An inspection of the i Waingongoro bridge reveals the fact that this bridge is in an unsafe condition, and may go with any big flood, one of the .piles being broken, and the bridge generally in an unsound condition. . ° Robson Road.—The temporary bridge has been erected to copje with the traffic . during the construction of a new ferroconcrete bridge. Wingrove Road Creek.—l would recommend calling upon Mr. Sproull to clean out the creek above the bridge. East Riding.—The main road to Douglas is In a more or less worn-out condition, hence the necessity for a large expenditure on this road next year. West Riding—The Finncrty Road contract has been completed, using 950 cubic yards on the West Riding portion; the rest of the road has been heavily patched. The road, however, is worn out, and will require about 1000 cubic yards on next year's estimates to cope with the condition of same. Mangaohu Riding—The retaining wall at the Taurakawa Road has been completed. . General.—l have, with the respective members, inspected, the metalled roads and many of the clay roads throughout the county, and am again compelled to urge the Council to strike a heavy rate to cope with the necessary work, combined with the increased cost of metal, cement, pipes, labor, etc. The loan is now available for the Barclay Road. Foreman Atkins is shifting on Thursday to Toko. Foreman Richards resigned. Applications have-been called for a foreman for the whole of the North Riding. ,Thc chairman said he had received several complaints regarding the Mountain Roa"d]at Waipuku, through it being very wavy. For his own part he could not see anything wrong with it. He would like councillors to inspect it. Cr. Were: I tfiink We have all been Spvor it, and for my part I could not say there was anything wrong with it. S Cr. Anderson: If people travel over the road at 30 miles per hour they must expect to get.some bumps. Cr. Worthington said that whatever faults there were they could not be attributed to faulty workmanship. The : trouble was caused by the road roller being too heavy. Cr. Anderson said the Eltham Council had had a similar experience with their' roller. ■ Regarding the unsafe condition of the Waingongoro bridge, it was resolved that the engineer confer with the Eltham County engineer and report to the next meeting. Resolved that Mr. Sproull bo called upon to clear out the creek above the bridge on Robson Road. It was resolved to call separate tenders for the 'bridge and formation of road on the Barclay Road. Cr. Smith and the chairman to deal with the ten; ders on Saturday fornighi. GENERAL. 1 The chairman said that during Hie month he had visited tho Monmouth, Denbigh, Pembroke, and Radnor Roads. . As far as he could see, the Denbigh Road required a nen" lock, stock, and barrel, especially .the upper portion. Ho really could not see what the Council was gains to do. At the same time the residents on the road were considerably to blame, as they were carting heavy loads of wood over it. The Monmouth Road was not so bad, but he understood that a petition would be placed before the Council agreeing to an extra penny rate. Regarding the Denbigh Road, it appeared that an extra penny rate would be required to put it in repair. Cr. Smith said he noticed that last year the Pembroke Road had a credit of £317, hut he could not see where the \ money had gone to. i The chairman said the position was Ithat the Council would have to authorise the engineer to get out 300 or 400 yards of stone for repairs, otherwise the settlers would be isolated. Mr. Carroll, Denbigh Road, waited on the Council in regard to a petition to constitute a special rating area, with the object of improving the road.—The clerk was instructed to supply the necessary information. L ' The engineer was instructed to report upon the alleged dangerous state of a cutting in front of the Cardiff school. Tenders are to be called for clearing out the main drain on the Douglas

The engineer was instructed to have repairs effected on the worst portions of t:io Kaiteke Road. The resignation of J. Hatcher of his position as foreman of the North Hiding (Midhlrst) was'reeeived with regret, Mr! Hatcher to receive testimonial. , CORRESPONDENCE. From Minister in charge of Munitions and Supplies, asking the Council to take steps to approximately estimate requirements per'months—Received, county clerk and engineer to attend to request. From Manukau County Council, forwarding copy of resolution passed by that -body, suggesting joint action to compel owners to clear willows, weeds, or other obstructions from creeks. —Approved, the Council agreeing that they should add "all" obstructions. From Waimate West County Council, re inspection of all meat intended forhuman consumption.—-No action taken. From Tiuiaru Borough Council re licenses for drivers of motor cars and cycles.—Received. From Public Works Department, notifying that the Stratford Electric Lighting Act, IS9B, was not now applicable, the Stratford Lighting Company having transferred its interest to the Stratford Borough Council.—Cr. Walter moved that the amended clause bo referred to the Council's solicitor. —Carried. Mrs. E. Green, Toko, re 'payment for shell rock taken from .pit on her property.—The councillors were agreeable to pay fld per yard, .but recognised no other liability. ■From Mr. J. D. Forsyth, Eltham, re royalty on stone'taken from the Patea river opposite his property, and stating that he considered Mr. Thorn was.entitled to the full royalty.—Agreed that Mr. Thom be paid the extra 2d as asked for. J. W. Reed, Denmark Terrace, Midhirst, requested permission to lease three sections adjoining his property from the Council. —The chairman moved, "That the Council has no jurisdiction in the matter of Mr. Brown's property,"— •Seconded by Cr. Baskin and carried. Frtm Stratford 'Borough Council, asking permission to erect' fence along the road from the bridge to connect with Mr. Marchant's fence at the, head of the water supply works.—Granted. ROAD FOREMAN. The Council in committee considered the applications of four men for the position of. road foreman, in the North Riding (Midhirst). It was resolved that Messrs P. Carter and J. Hatcher bo appointed. The number of surfacemen in the Riding was reduced by two men. RATES. It was resolved that the rates for the next yea? lie struck as follows:—North Riding, 3»4d; South..Riding, 2Jd; East Riding, 3'/,d; West Riding »y 4 d Mangaehu Riding, 3%d.