STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. The final meeting of the council as at present constituted was held to-day. Present: Crs. W-. HaUiaway (chairman), I/. Baskin, If. B. Worthington, E. Waller, VV. 11. Were, J. Smith, R. Anderson, J. CluistofVcl and T, 10. (jileman. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman submitted his annual report stating that during the year they had been successful in carrying out a great deal of useful work. ' The roads to-day were in better condition than 12 months back. : o'wihg to shortage of labor a lot of work that otherwise would have been.done by contract had to be carried out by the council stall. The council's bridge staff had erected four concrete bridges, and were engaged in erecting a fifth. Towers of three suspension bridges had been renewed in wood, •'/oncrete retaining walls had been erected on the Pimiwhakau road, near Mr. Court's property. ' The Waipuku toll gate had yielded a revenue of 1 £IOOO during the year. The quantity of metal, procured for the different ridings was as follows: North riding. 4202 e.v.; South "riding, 2324; East riding, 3035;. West-riding 277(1; Mangaehu .riding, 733. Atjuit !l."> chains of tar macadam road had been laid down in the North riding, and about 12 chains in the South riding. The council had .purchased very little plant during the year, and they now possessed a very good plant, but a motor lorry was required. The chairman also drew attention to the results of the conference held at Hawera recently, regarding the question of paying a maximum wage to employees. Cr. Smith endorsed the conference's action. Cr. Anderson said they must treat the men according to the conditions under which they worked, and if not shown much consideration the council might lose.

Cr. Walter considered the ratepayers would realise that the council had done its best. He must say that the chairman had done good work, and fully deserved a word of commendation fo rthe attention he had given to the council's work. The setting up of the toll gate was probably the most important part of the present council's work, and was paving a handy means of revenue. He agreed with Cr. Anderson that they 'should give their men every consideration, otherwise they might find other bodies competing fov their employees and getting them. Hemoved the idopt.ion of the chairman's report, and hoped the new council would have a successful terra of office. The motion was carried. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. "V. .T. Lopdell. county enginee:-, reported as under: North ridinff.—Again T have to re|3rt that very little has been done in the way of general surface work, owing to the scarcity of labor to take the place of surfacemen engaged on crushing operations. Owing to excessive wet weather the track f|r>m the reserve to the Denbigh road cut up badly, which caused a deadlock for a few days, and necessitated the shingling of a portion of this roadway. As you will 'remember, tenders were called for the metalling of this track with shingle, and received at 4s 4d. Councillor Baskiri objected to the price, and fresh tenders were called, this time being 7s per cubic yard. T mention Urn as I am blamed for not having this roadway metalled. I hope to be able to get the Salisbury, Monmouth East, and Kahouri roads metalled from the present crushing site. The Stanley road shellrock will be crushed if possible before the planl leaves the district.

South riding.—General surface work has been carried out on several elay roads. A start has been made with the tar-sealing on the Mountain road at Xgaere. This w'ork will be cofpleted this week. Negotiations are being made with several contractors as to the cheapest method of carrying out the Waihapa road metalling.. lust riding.—The metalling on the Ohnra roaJ is . progressing slowlv. To date a'bout 1.000 c.y. has been railed (o Douglas, the, wet weather hindering the progress considerably. The timbering in the Huinga tunnel is decaying, and one section collapsed during the month, which has since been reinstated. Smith and Morris have most of the shell rock on the Waiwcri road ready for crushing. West riding.-'-A Small bridge on the Opunake No, 2. has been strengthened with two girders and some new decking, to enable the crushing plant to proceed west. The Collett plant has gone but to the Manaia r,oad start, with the Manaia road tnotllins. The boulders are on the site for .the Upper Rowan road, and will be crushed while the plant is in the district.

Mangaehu riding.—This riding is again in very good condition. Attention hits been given during the month to somejof the clay roads. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for the quarrying of about 3. r > c.y. of shell rock for the retaining wall n% J. Oodkin's. Plans have been submitted to the Public Works Department for a three-span bridge over MeLachlan's wash-out, with concrete piers and steel joists. General. —Tenders bave not) been called for this meeting, owing to several contractors being unable to leave their work. I will, however, call for same to be in for next meeting of the council. Several prices and quofafmns have been received for the .motor lorry. Concerning the Wnihapa road metalling, Crs. Walter and Were moved: "That the resolution passed at last meeting instructing the South riding members and engineer to proceed with the metalling be rescinded." —Carried. Cr. Smith moved: "That 300 c.y. boulders be secured- for metalling the Waingongoro road." He mentioned that this might not be sufficient, but woubl carry on for the time being.—Cr. Anderson seconded the motion, which was carried. MAXOAOTEA LOAN. In connection with the loan raised for metalling the Mansaotea road, the total distance was SS chains, and of this 2% chains were in the' Stratford fjounty. The council's portion-of the loan was £2!>f> and the Moa Road Board's £445. The loan was raised at the request of the Moa Road Btrnrd. The engineer said he bad not been consulted on the matter, and thought the council had been penalised to too large an amount, The chair,man said there were several sections in the North riding which required the road tfc enable ratepayers to get to their properties. ( In reply to Ci. Smith, the. chairman said the settlers would be required to pay interest on the loan. MAXIMUM WACIF.S. W. .1. Tristram, secretary to tk« countv (.onforencc. *or:.varded resolutions regardirg rflvment "it wages.- anil agrecInV to JiJs 'per dnv for time worked

The chairman desired the eoimcil to pass the resolution, approving of same, and after some discussion thia course was adopted. LIME PITS. J. F. Pullen, Auckland, on behalf |ot (i client, requested permission to use a. tramway track and rails along the Waiwera road, from two miles past Mr. Milne's farm to Toko, a, total distance (approximately) of three miles. Ue ,(e----■sivwl to start Hie -.Vr!c in (try weather, and trusted to an early leply. Gr. Were said this was to allow the lime pits in the vicinity to link up with the railway. He .mentioned that there was an old tram route thereabouts. He moved: "That permission be granted, pro. vided the county by-laws on the subject are Complied with." Seconded by Cr. Walter and carried. CR. SMITH PROTESTS. Cr. Smith brought up the question of the sale of the county roller, and protested that the price asked by the chair, man was too low, but after some discussion the matter was dropped. CORRESPONDENCE. The Minister of Internal Affairs stated that, the m-otor regulations regarding identification marks was ultra vires, and desiring the. council's opinion concerning amendments.—The council suggested that numbers be fixed at the rear of oars. The Moa Road Board stated that the board was agreeable to allow plant to the council to crush 230 c.y. of meial on Katapiko road when the plant was in that locality.—Received. Roy and Nicholson, New Plymouth, on behalf of Mr. Angus. Fraser, complained of the impassable nature of Mana road, owing to the instruction of two culverts near Mr. S. 'Pitt's farm. They requested that the culverts he repaired, so as to allow access to his property.—Referred to the incoming council. The Lowgarth T)airy Factory was granted permission to lay a line of fi-inch drain pipes beneath the surface of the Finnerty road near the factory premises. C. Mel. Young, Huing'a, drew attention to the dangerous state of the Mangaehii road tunnel, a portion of the timber roof collapsing. Telephone communication had -been interrupted ever since. Children and settlers had t ; o pass through the tunnel, and he requested that they would renew the timbering from end to end.—Cr. Were said the work shotild.be attended to at. once, and moved: "That the enaineer be instructed to effect temporary repairs, and bring down a report' on the tunnel in due course."—Seconded by Cr. Walter and carried. Five residents of Cambria street. Midhirst, requested that the street should be metalled for about eight chains.—Engineer to report to next meeting of council. Accounts totalling £l.llO 3s lfid were passed for payment, and the council rose.