STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Stratford County Council met this morning. Present: Crs. Walters (chairman), Mackav, Worthington, Were, O'Neill, Christoil'el, Hancock, Anderson and liaskin. The Council took up some time discussing the purchase of a concrete mixing machine, and a motion was carried that a committee, consisting of the. chairman and Crs. Anderson and Chvistoll'el, was set up to make, inquiries, with power to act. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. W. .T. Lopdell, engineer, reported: Wince our last meeting the members of their respective ridings and myself have made a comprehensive inspection of nearly all the roads and bridges in the county. I find a gradual improvement in tiie condition of the roads throughout the county, having now over six; miles of tarred roads, which is a start. Ke bridges, we arc gradually replacing many of the old wooden structures with concrete, having erected 18 concrete bridges, ranging from 12ft to !)oft in length, during the last three years. In bringing down my estimates I would urge the necessity of not reducing the rates, as I predict we will have to pay more for our road and bridge-making materials next year, to say nothing of the cost of labor. North Riding.—The Acme crusher lias completed the crushing on Chard's contract on the lower Pembroke Road, which crashed out 59S cubic yards. This road is now in fair order for the year. Rad-j nor Road. —024 cubic yards of metal has been crushed on this road. This stone was procured by day labor, free of royalty, and worked out at 3s per yard, as against 5s Gd, which was the lowest tender. Denbigh Road.—47G cubic yards of metal was crushed from M. Aldridge's contract, and 1G yards bought from a settler. York Road.—J. Neilson's stone lias been crushed. The returns are not yet to hand. A. Volzki has completed the 4ft. pipe culvert, and removed the large boulder stone from this road. The plant lias gone to the Croydon Road to crush about 200 cubic yards, which will clean up this riding for the year. Stanley Road.—l3s cubic yards of shell rock has been distributed along the road for maintenance, thus clearing up Roberts and Bell's contract for last year. ] have measured the length of road rolled, and find it to be about 45 chains, the roller being engaged about 5 days. Ackland Road.—32 cubic yards of shell rock has been distributed for maintenance. Mountain Road.—The two small box culverts have been removed from in front of the show grounds. I have inspected the pipe culvert in front of the Midhirst factory, and found it to be nearly blocked, with a double grating in front of the pipe. I have authorised the cleaning of the inlet. After this is done, if it fails to carry the water, there is no alternative to putting in larger pipes. Re surface damage to Mrs. Weyborn's property, I have no recommendation to make. Re cemetery culvert at Midhirst, I cannot recommend any alteration. Normanby Street, Midhirst—The plank for <Wie 'footbridge lias been delivered. Esk Road.—The bridge on this road has been repaired, and will stand for some time.

South Riding.—The tar-sealing on the Cheal Road had to be discontinued for want of tar. After the plant had been removed a further one truck came to hand. There is about 70 chains completed. Instructions have been given to the foreman re the culverts on the Cheal and Wingrove Roads. The work of removing the bank on the latter will receive early attention. The No. 2 bridge gang has made a start on the Robson Road bridge. East Riding—A start has been made to metal about 7 chains on the Mangaehu Road with pit metal. Ohura Road.—The tar-sealing at the 4-mile peg is completed. Skinner , Road bridge.—A few more deck planks are required to finish this job. The suspension bridge near Toko has been repaired. West Riding.—Opunake No. 3; Sixteen and a half chains has been refaced with 212 cubic yards, and 84 cubic yards tipped for maintenance. Hastings Road: Stone has been crushed, but returns are not yet to hand. The Collett plant is now on the Ronald Road. I hope to make a start with the Waingongoro Road corner next week. The bridge on the Cardiff Road has been repaired. Mangaehu Riding.—The bridge gang is proceeding well with McLachlan's bridge, the piers being now up to their full height. The Kaitieke Road is completed with the exception of the bridge. General. —H. Toomey has been appointed bridge foreman, and has repaired the Toko suspension, Cardiff and Esk Road bridges, and is now engaged on the Robson Road bridge. Re concrete mixer: [ have a quotation for the only one I could hear of.

The chairman and I mot Mr. Okey, M.P., re county aiding at Midhirst. The report was adopted. Discussing the engineer's report, Cr. Mackay stated that the culverts at the cemetery would make little difference, owing to the swampy nature of the ground.

Cr. Baskin could not agree to this, and said the cemetery was thoroughly drained all round.

The chairman remarked that while the North Hiding members found it difficult to agree as to what they wanted, the council could hardly take action, but suggested that during the next bad weather the two members should visit the locality, and perhaps then mutually agree what was wanted. It was resolved that notices be forwarded to several offenders to have the drains on their property cleared. W. Gray, Toko, requested the council to clear the creek through section 4, block 4, Ngaere S.D., to give outlet for water in Waiwiri stream.—Notice to be sent to property holder. A QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. C!r. Mackay stated that at the last meeting Cr. Baskin had stated that damage had been done to Mrs. Weyborne's property, and thought £5 should be paid by way of compensation. Since last meeting he had been over the property, and defied any man to find traces of a wheel mark. It was not right that a member of a local body should urge a payment of compensation when no damage had been done.

Cr. Baskin (heatedly) said he had only made the statement given him by Mr. Weybournc, that 200 yards of metal had been carted across his property. (Some personalities here took place.) He went on to touch on a drain that had been blocked four times during recent years. Later on Mr Weyborne waited on the council, and stated that metal had been carted across his land, and from the river running along his property. When the contractors went across they told him that the engineer would attend to the matter, but the latter had neglected to do so. He thought the council had no right to cross his property. They had worked two and a half days with two teams. Cr. Mackay: Have you any idea of the quantity of metnl carted away? Cr. Baskin has assured the council that 200 yards were carted away.

Mv. Weyborne: Cr. Baskiu must have misunderstood me. Cr. Mac-kay: Wo admit the contractor was wrong in going on your laud, but cannot limJ out the amount of metal carted.

Mr. Weyborne said lie claimed on royally and trespassing. Cr. Hancock said they should pay up. It was only a small amount—2oa to 255. Cr. Wore stated that if they carted 40 yank it was good work.

A motion was then carried giving Mr. Weyborne £1 for royalty. Mr. Weyborne thought it very unfair that such a small amount should be offered him, and lie thought that the engineer should have approached him before tiie contractors went across the property. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Whangamomona County Council was prepared to pay half the cost of maintenance of the Olmra Road.—Previous resolution to stand.

W. J. Tristram, secretary of the county' conference, forwarded details of the meeting of council representatives hid at Eltham recently. It was resolved to allow the wages paid to surfacemen (13s) to continue as at present.—Received.

F. H. Barnett protested against the charge of 63 for driving 23 calves from Brookes Road, between the Mountain and Brecon Roads to the Stratford pound, and 23s for paddacking.—Received.

N. B. Fryday, Ngaere, complained that a culvert near his property was obstructed by logs and debris that came from adjoining lands, and rolled into the stream. He suggested the use of timber jack, axe, logging chains and horae to, clear the culvert. He also complained of a settler in the Climie Road felling his bush into the Climie Stream, thus endangering the Climie bridge on the Finnerty Road in the near future.—Received.

Cr. Christoffel remarked that the logs there had evidently been there thirty years. WANTED-A TRAMWAY. Wynyard, Skelton and Wilson, Auckland, wrote re suggested tramway, Waiwiri Road, and stated that the engineer, Mr. McDuff, had been over the ground, and forwarded plan showing the portion of the road over which they desired a tramway license. They had lime rights for ten years, with right of renewal for fifteen years, and desired tramway rights for a similar period.

Cr. Anderson asked if the company was prepared to go on with the matter. Cr. Were stated that the suggested line would not run quite into Toko station.

Cr. Anderson was not agreeable to granting rights and blocking others unless they were going on with the work. Cr. Were said they cancelled a previous agreement with another fcompany. The council had requested a plan. Personally he did not think it advisable to bind the council. They had the settlers to consider, and there was only a 14ft. road. Cr. Anderson moved: That the matter be left with the riding members and engineer, to report to future meeting.

GENERAL. j v ! Midhirst Dairy Co. notified council re damage done by storm water that if the council provided all the 9in. pipes required, Messrs. Harkness and Co., store-1 keepers, and the company would find the labor and complete the work required.— Engineer to find the pipes. The chairman stated that he had waited on Mr. H. Okey, M.P., regarding the suggested sidings at Midhirst. If it was possible to have a siding at their metal pit it would effect a saving of 2s Cd per yard, and if they had a siding at the station a saving of Is would be made. Frank Lane, poundkeeper, Stratford, stated that as the council refused to pay him £1 per month salary, he would in future release any stock impounded on county roads without collecting any moneys due to the council, and would not collect any driving or paddocking fees, trecpass rates, etc.—only poundage and sustenance fees. He further added that his wife would not remain at home when anything was impounded from the coun-. ty roads; in fact, as the county was prepared "to take all but to give none," he must refuse to do anything for the council. Ho also added that the Borough Council allowed him 5s per week to look after the pound, and he had not lost anything through borough impoundings: —Received.