STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Stratford County Council met on Saturday. Present: 'Crs. JJ. Walter (chairman), J. O'Neill, E. Hancock, \V. 11. Were, H. Worthington, L. Baskiu, F. Mackay, and T. R. Anderson. ENGINEER'S REPORT. W. J. Lopdell, county engineer, reported as under: North Riding.—During the month, which has boon broken owing to the Christmas holidays, a fair amount of work has been pushed through. The available teams carted COO yards for the Radnor road. I have let the Denbigh road contract of -200 cubic yards to M. Ahlnclge; this stone is now on the road. On Salisbury road 402 cubic yards of metal has been put between last year's metal and the Beaconslield road. Six and three-quarter chains of Monmouth road cast lias been metalled. The Kali ouri road has been graded and is now in fair order, requiring only maintenance metal to carry it over the year. A start has been made with the tar macadam on the Mountain Toad, between, the York road and the Manganui river; with the advent of the light roller the waves noticeable in the previous year's work are entirely overcome. The contractors are procuring Stone for Pembroke and Barclay roads. About 200 cubic yards of stone has been prepared for Stanley, Cross, and Croydon roads, and the carting of same is in progress South Riding.—l have let the Waihapa road contract to Kehely and Madgwick at a satisfactory price, and a start lia9 been made with the crushing. As the contractors were\unable to procure a crusher, I was compelled to take the Collett crusher from the West riding, on the understanding that it would be returned at the completion of the work. The Straker waggon is carting Shingle for the Cheal and Wingrove roads, which will be tar-sealed at an early date. East Riding.—An inspection has been made of the Huinga tunnel, which reveals the fact that the south end is higher than it is about 00 feet further in, with the result that all the drainage runs back, causing the timber to rot. I would recommend removing all the old timbering, for I cannot see why the roof of the the tunnel should not stand without, seeing it is a good class of papa. If this theory works out it will save a, very considerable expense, as the cost of materials at the present time is prohibitive. I have again inspected Mr. Bredow's road and find lie has completed the extras ordered. There is, however, an old creek bed on the new road, which has been filled in and a 3ft. ditch connected from it to the road drain, which, in the opinion of one of the settlers, is insufficient to earrv the water in flood time, and will back up the road. He objects to the road being taken over unless a stop bank is erected to prevent the flood wates coming out of the creek into the old bed. A ditch along the west side of the old Ohura road has been partly blocked anil grown up with weeds. Mr. A. Needham is prepared to clean out and deepen this ditch at Is per chain. The bridge gang has made ft start on the Makuri road bridge. General surface work is proceeding as well as can tie expected. West Riding—Manaia road north: ISC cubic yards of crushed metal has been u-ed re-facing about 15 chains. Opunake No. 3: About 312 cubic yards has been put on this road and 2GS on upper Rowan road. The plant had to leave this riding before it had finished the crushing to go to tho Waihapa road. There is still h. lot of metal in this riding to lie crushed, imd as manv of the roads will not carry the plant in soft weather it will be necessary to return before the season is too far advanced. The stone for the Ronald and Poto roads is now out, also 100 cubic yards on Opunake No. 1. It will bo necessary to call tenders for about 300 cubic yards for this road near Mr Rawle's property. I have let a contract on Waingongoro road to M. Aldridge for 200 cubic yards at a reasonable price. The Finnerty road contract has been let to Grimmer and Phillips. , Mangaehu Riding.—General surface work is being vigorously carried on I throughout this riding. The contractors are making good progress with tho ttai. tieke road. I have not yet "eeesT'ed the plans for MoLachlan's bridge, formed that it, will be the middle of neT.t week before we get the motor W y . I have procured a driver. I fro'dd recommend calling tenders foj the remainder of our work, returi«i>,| e in about a fortnight or thereat .The fttVion of the engineer in letting the, contract for Denbigh road was coniirp.ied. ' /«i' ne^a . v stated that the tar-sealing [of the Mountain road showed much improvement compared with the previous work. Mr. Needham is to be instructed to clear drain at Is per chain. Cr. Were said he had, with the engineer, inspected the tunnel mentioned, and it was in a bad state, a portion of the timber being rotten and dangerous. They could effect repairs by trussing the tunnel whilst removing the rotten woodwork.—Left to the engineer, McLachlan's bridge, the Public Works Department is to be asked to forward plans. The report was adopted.

MKTAIXTNG CONTRACTS Cr. Hancock Raid they frequently heard that certain contracts cost all sorts of prices.. They let the contracts, and apparently, as far as the council was concerned, that was the end of it. Tlie chairman suggested that Cr. Hancock might move a resolution in this connection, and Cr. Hancock then moved that the engineer be instructed to bring down a report of metaling contracts on completion. Cr. Anderson said this meant a lot of extra clerical work, nnd they could find I out the cost of any work by asking Cr. Hancock said they should have particulars of the cost of all work on the tatiJa The chairman was in sympathy with the motion, hut they should more clearly define what was wanted. Cr. Hancock said he wanted all information, cost of metalling, bridge work, etc. On tlm chairman's suggestion consideration of the motion was held over until next meeting. GENERAL, The council went into committee regarding metalling Waihapa road, during which the chairman and Cr. O'Neill explained what had been done in the matter. On resuming, a motion was carried confirming the action of the chairman in letting a contract. The engineer was instructed to pro-, eeed with work at the Toko railway bridge and Skinner road as soon as possible. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. H. Watt, district health officer, paiated out certain defects ia a bouse

at I'ukengahu, where an outbreak of occurred, and recommended that improvements be effected.—Notice to be 9ent to owners and occupiers. The Recruiting Board, Wellington, forwarded names of balloted men who had •ailed to report. These men were all in the First Division, and the board desired any assistance the council could give in the matter.—Council to give all assistance possible. Pembroke Co-operative Dairy Company thankt-il the" council for their offer to place the crushing plant at the disposal of the company in the matter of building construction at an early date.—Received. The Director of Education notified the council that the matter of the kind of separate high school to be established at Stratford will be further considered at the next meeting of the Council of .Education in February.—Received. Eltham County Council thanked the council for authorising the Eltlinm ranger to impound straying stock on boundary roads under control of the Stratford County Council.—Reeeivod. Stratford Farmers' Co-operative 'Association requested the council to take the necessary steps to have a nuisance arising from the old hall at Toko abated. —The clerk was instructed to notify the proprietor to 'have the matter attended to at once.