STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The Stratford t'our.iv Council met on Saturday. Present: Cr.s. K- Waller (chairman), J- O'Neill, .1. Christoll'el, T. 1!. Anderson',-JC. \\\ Hancock, F. i. Mau-l-ay. L. Uaskin, 11. YV'orthington, and \V. 11. Were-

AN IMPATIENT COUNCILLOR. * Cr. liaskiu complained that two culverts en the cross roads in Midhirst, instructed to be attended to, had not been completedThe engineer reported that he had issued instructions to have the work done, but the riding foreman had evidently attended to other Wurk. The chairman thought it was a case of splitting straws. A motion was passed that the work be completed before next meeting.

MAHOE'-S NEEDS. The chairman said the Mahoe. School Committee desired some finality in connection with their request for a lease of a site close to the school grounds for a horse paddock. The' chairman of the committee and Education Board thought that if they met the. representatives of the council that day and discussed the matter something' might be done. Cr. Anderson said the position was much the same as when last before the council. The ground was leased to the Mangatoki Dairy Company for the water rights, but probably the company would not object to letting a portion to the school. The Mahoe grounds were much too small, and the site applied for, about tw 0 acres, would make a fine horse paddock. He thought they might safely lease it to the Education Board with a right to determine at any time. He moved that the chairman and Cr. Hancock represent the council at a meeting with memoers of the board and committee during the luncheon adjournment And report thereafter. This was seconded by Cr. Christoffel and carried.

At the luncheon adjournment the matter was discussed between Crs. Walter and Jhtncock, Mr. R. Masters (Education Board), Chairman'of School Committee, and Messrs J. Marx and C. Cooper (Mangatoki iDairy Fafc-tory). On resuming the chairman intimated that as a result of the conference the Mangatoki Dairy Company were prepared to surrender their lease, and the councillors recommended that the site he offered to tho Education Board for a term of 21 years at a rental of £3 per annum, the Mangatoki Company to he satisfied with the term? before their lease is aurrendered.—The alteration desired was authorised.

ROYALTY ON. SHINGLE. Mr. Whitham waited on the council with a request for 2d per yard on stone removed from tho river. The chairman said they all recogniesd the position. The council held the money and would see that the contractors paid the royalty. TAR-SEALING AND HORSE TRAFFIC. Thirty-nine residents and ratepayers of Ngaere requested the council to*tar and sand the main road'near the factory. Owing to insufficient sand and too much camber, the road was very slippery, and horses falling down and broken shafts were of daily occurrence. ' The engineer said the road was of restar, and this took some time to settle. The only way to overcome the slipperiness was to roll in some very fine shingle on a very hot day. CORRESPONDENCE. Auckland City Council desired the council to endorse resolution advocating tlie. retention of the Samoan group taken from Germany and now in British hands. —Received. C J. Linn, Te Popo, requested the council not to impose a ten per cent, fine on Iter, £4 Is Bd, as sho had only been a fortnight behind, and understood the month of March was rate month. Her husband was away on active service, and she had been very busy and failed to read the notice clearly—The chairman said if they could possibly strain the point this was the opportunity.—Cr. Hancock asked if they could legally refund the amount, the chairman replying that he was afraid they' could not.— Left t 0 tho cleric to attend to. Moa Road Board, Inglewood, notified that a contract had been let at £Ol5 9s 2d for forming and metalling Mangaotea Road, and trusting the county would be able to pay over their portion of the loan on completion of the contract in the next three weeks.—Received. Sir J. G. Ward, Minister of Finance, wrote asking assistance in raising the £9,500,000 loan now required.—The Minister is to foe informed that councillors would do their best to help the loan along. W. H. Rudkiiiy Tariki, forwarded his resignation on the county staff.—Resignation accepted and testimonial to be forwarded.

Fanny Corbett, Toko, desired the council to lower the culvert on Toko Road to carry off water from the swamp on her property, as it was becoming a nuisance.—Cr. Were moved that notice te sent to Mr. E. Jones to clear culvert. —Carried.

W. Norton, Midhirst, complained of an open drain on Denbigh Road being blocked, and the water was being thrown back on his paddock.—Left to the engineer.

Spence and, Stanford, county solicitors, desired the council to pass the following resolution re Waihapa road deviation: "That the council consents to the taking and closing of tho roads as indicated in the consents of the owners of allotments 1 and 2 parts of sub-division 2, Pukengahu block, endorsed on the Waihapa Road deviation, and the granting of such closed roads in exchange for the roads so taken."—The resolution was duly passed.

HOLIDAYS. The engineer suggested that the council should consider a man a permanent employee at the end of six months, and that holidays be granted at the end of the year. After some discussion it was decided to grant eight days* holiday each year to the permanent hands, statutory holidays.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. W. J. Lopdell, county engineer, reported as follows:

North Riding—During the month tho Acme stone crusher has completed about r,ooc y. for tho Pembroke Road factory, including several small lots for settlers. The Cardiff Road, from the Pembroke to opposite the new factory, Iras been refaced with a light coat. Maintenance metal has been dumped on tho Monmouth -tad Jfcwr P»mb»itt Boaib. n, »^V? A i)t»U

Road, from tlio Barclay Road to the radius line, has been rolled, but owing to the aoft formation a good job could not be made of it' A start has been matte with the crushing on the Stanley Road, Shortage of teams is preventing tho .work from being carried out expeditiously. The Settlers aro doing very good work on the Derby and Surrey Roads. York Road: There is a small 12ft. bridge which is in a state of collapse. I would recommend replacing it with four 4ft. pipes at a cost of £3O. Salisbury Road: The tunnel by Mr. Slick's property has been opened, but still requires a deeper outlet. Two culverts near the Croydon Road have also been attended to. I have not yet received Mr. Kaspßr's sanction to erect a weir on tho Manganui River. South Riding.—The Walliapa loan contract has been completed, using 2002c.y. The flat from the end of the loan contract has been done up, also the rest of the road, using 150 yards of pit metal and 135 yards of crushed bouldora. Robson Road: About 20 chains of this road has been ref»ced, using 118c.y. The plant will complete the Lower Cheal Road tliis weelb when it will proceed to tho Flnnerty Road. A Start wns made with the tar sealing on the Cheal Road, but had to be abandoned for want of labor. I will complete it as early as possible. East Riding.—The borough plant has been hired to crush about SOOc.y. on the Ohura Road. A considerable amount of adversity has prevented good progress being made. It will be necessary to have this road tarred, as there is insufficient screenings to hind It. This, combined with the dry weather, is preventing it being rolled down. Application has been made to the Railway Department for metUl waggons to rail shingle from Midhlrat to Douglas, but none are available before May, which will be too late for the work. 1 will have to artange some other means. General surface work is being carried out at the Douglas end of this riding. Tho drains are beftig cleaned out on the Douglas Valley. Hula: Foreman Masscy has been successful In obatlnlng assistance, and Is doing good work forming up clay roads and water-tabling. He again draws attention to the need of a horse and dray. West Riding.—Foreman Piews and his men have been doing good work during the month, preparatory to getting the crushet next Week, which will be in this riding till compelled to close down for the winter. The Barclay Road loan is now completed, but as the Fatea bridge will not carry tho roller, It will he somo time before the road becomes consolidated with the light traffic on the road. Hastle Road: A very bad hill on this road has been regraded by Messrs Courtney and Hancock (gratia), and a very good job'made of same. Mangaehu Riding.—l have Inspected the Taihore Road, from end to end, and And that it has suifered considerably by slips and washouts. It will cost at least £SO to reinstate the road to the top of the saddle on the north aide, and a washout on tho Punlwhakau side will cost about £3O. The motor lorry has been doing good work carting bridge materials from Douglas to the bridge site. Good progress is being made with tho foundations for (he piers. Ivaitielte ltor.d: The contractors have completed the Public Work 3 and county contracts, and have i entered upon a further contract to complete the seven chains between the finished portions, this piece of work being done by the two departments. General.—On tiie lltli Instant, while carrying a casting out to 'the crusher on the East Road, on the back of his motor bike, R. Hill collided with the Rev. Madlll, who was driving a motor car, both car and bike suffering slightly. Report received. The chairman reported that about 100 yards of crushed metal was supplied to three settlors whilst tire 'crusher was in the North Riding—The action of t&e chairman was confirmed. Regarding the re-grading of the hill on Hastie Road, a vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Courtney and Hancock for their work. GENERAL. Or Hancock drew attention to a bad corner on the Waingongoro 'Road. The money was on the estimates and he would like to see it attended to. Perhaps the settlers might 'be prepared to assist.—Left to the engineer and Cr. Hancock, with power to act. The engineer waa instructed to obtain permission for roadmen to enter private properties to clean watercourses. The Lowgarth Dairy Company requested the coilncil to grant them 40 yards of fine crushed metal for concrete work. —To be informed that the time of the crusher could not be spared. Accounts totalling £3OOO 12a Id were passed for payment.