STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlio KliMiri.r'l County Council met (.11 Niilurd;ii- l'ri'iitiit: Cr,;. K. Walter (chairman), J. fl'.S'eiil, .1. Cluisloffcl, K. Vi'. Hancock, W. H. Wove, 11. li. Woi'tlilugton, h. Maskln, and F. i, ' " t ' V '' ) ' , EMIINEER'S ItEPOUT. W. .1. Loydell (county engineer) reported: Owing to the continued wot weather during: the last live weeks we have had event difficulty in keeping some of the roads in repair, many of which are short of maintenance meial. North llidint'.—A truck of Din. pipes lias been received at Midhirst as authorised. The slahle, which is now situated In Erin Street, is unsatisfactory owlnt! to there beiue: 110 laud attached to it. The council have about two acres of land en the south side of Kelly Street, whither I would recommend removing the stable and cart shed and erecting a small harness and chaff uhed. The cost of this work would be verv light, our own stuff being available. Denmark Tcrre.cc: A small Oft. bridge on this road is unsafe for heavy traffic, and will require rei pairs before the factory season opens. I would recommend replacing it With f, 4ft. pipes at at a cost of about £3O. A food Rate lias been erected at the right of way leading Into the county reserve at the Mansanui. South Hiding.—The bridge gang is proceeding as well us weather conditions will allow with the Kobson Koad bridge. They are now on to the deck work. Re the Bird Road drains, I would ask that this matter be allowed to stand over for another month till I can meet Mr. McDonald on the ground. East Riding—The weather lias prevented crushing operations on - the Waiwiri Road. About 112 cubic yards have been carted along the Makuri Road for patch metal. Tile foreman will complete the breaking of the big stones on the Mangaehu near the tunnel as soon as he can spare his men from more important work. A slip on the Strathmore saddlo has been fenced till repairs can be effected. Huiroa Riding.—The light roller has been In this riding for a few days and has scarified some of the worst places on the Makuri Road. A small bridge near Mr. Pcrrott's gate collapsed under the weight of the roller, and has since been repaired. The concrete bridge recently erected lias developed a flaw on the under beams owing to the white pine stringers giving under the weight of concrete deck during scUing process. It has affected the appearand of the bridge, but to no extent tho strength, as the bridge is well reinforced, and has had the roller over It repeatedly during the rolling of the approaches. West Riding.—The Opunalce Road lias cut up badly during the last few weeks, especially from the town boundary to Cardiff. It will be necessary to crush the boulders now out for natch metal when the weather permits, as thero is none available at present. Finger posts have been painted and sent out to the Duthie and Palmer Roads. Mangaehu Riding.—The bridge gang have completed McLachlan's bridge. I have taken Mr. Sharp, resident engineer, out to inspect same, which has been passed. The payments will be made as soon as the vouchers have been examined. The cost has been roughly prepared and is on the table. The bridge gang are now on the retaining wall at Taurakawa. The timber for the bridge near Mr. Worthlngton's has been sent in by lorry, but owing to a subsidence In the road they were unable to get In all the wav. It will be necessary to have it reloaded and sent In by Mr. Webb. Decking has been ordered for the Puniwhakati bridge, to arrive nest November. A schedule of thirds has been approved by tho Land Board. General.—The plans for the Tututawa bridge are almost completed. There has come to hand and been distributed 10.122 gallons of tar. The Collett plant has been thoroughly overhauled and will be ready in a few days. The heavy roller is being fitted up again. All the plant in the shed has been done up. An option has been given to the; Christchurch Electrical Tramway Company over the Straker waggon for ten days I have procured shingle for the benzine shed at 7s per Yard. A number of quotations are to hand for concrete batch mixers. The Perry car requires overhauling and painting before the busv season siarts. The chairman ,-nd I went to New Plymouth to a demonstration of the converted lorry, which works very well. The cnK ; necr's roeommendat'ens regarding the removal of the stable and replacing the bridge on Denmark Terrace wero adopted. A further 30,000 gallons of tar Is to be secured, provided satisfactory financial arrangements are made. The chairman reported that, Willi tho engineer he had met. Mr. Koch, district railway engineer and traffic manager, and went thoroughly Into the proposals regarding the need of a skiing at Midhirst to facilitate the removal of metal from Ihe river there The railway officials recognised the siding and dead-end would be a great convenience tor the «mnci 1 the dead-end would run between £4OO and cTM and would pay handsomely, saving at fens* Is Der yard on the motal trucked. Mr Ferguson representing the Midhirst Dairy Company, waited on the council regarding the dmace done to factory works owing to a culvert lie ins 100 small to deal with the storm water A rcnort. was also read from the foreman of the riding that the plpse were large enough to cope with rainfall, and that the damace was caused through water from neighboring stables-In view of the foreman's report, the council took no action. V Lane, poundkeeper. reported that on July r the county ranger impounded 1 hack for trespass on the Opunake Road, and when sold it realised r,s, leaving him £1 5s short in expenses He was determined to lose no more nonev and would not collect any moneys due to the county. His losses through the county had been £l3 iris Od. Tho chairman expressed the opinion that. tne> could not verv well do anything in the matter Tho trouhlo was that, several owners who had no use for the horses turned them out on to 'cr 'were: We have no control over the pound. Perhaps we could make a small payment to the Borough Council that could be handed over to the poundkeeper. The county ranger submitted a list of animals he had impounded. Councillors contended that Mr. Lane could not be losing a great, deal. He was showing losses on certain animals, hut was not showing profits, if any, made on other lmpoundlngs. Cr Hancock thought the pound was controlled by the Borough Council, which kept the profits. Cr Mackay contended that If this was so, the borough authorities should attend to the complaint. Cr Baskin moved: "That tho council contribute 2s lid per week for twelve months to the ponndkeener'3 salary.—Seconded by Cr. Were and carried. CORRESPONDENCE, fi Wliateley complained of the state Oi the Mangaehu Road after it passed tho tunnel. Wheeled traffic found it was very neaTly Impassable, and motor cars found it extremely difficult. He also complained that council employees, after using the metal pit, had left the unmctalled road In a very bad condition.— Received. Mrs. E. S. Ley-don, Toko, wrole With reference to a small reserve opposite her section. Some years back she had secured tho council's permission to use this, and had it cleared and sown in grass. With the change of adjoining grounds she was informed that the land had been bought bv the new owner, and the writer's cows turned out on to the road. She was prepared to rent the land from the council.— Left to the riding members. Two eases of diphtheria were reported in the county, and certain recommendations by the health officer were, referred to the owners of the properties to have carried out. An application for twelve feet of Sin. pipes from Mr. \\'e.\ bourne (Midhirst). to permit access to his property, was granted, at cost of pipes, and an application by the Punlwhakau School Committee for pipes was granted In similar terms. STRIKING OP RATES. The following general rates for the ensuing 1 year were agreed to: North, East and West Ridings. :t%d ui tho £ ; South Riding, 2%d: ! Mangaehu Riding, 4d; on the rateable valuo of property, between April 1, 1018, and March 31, 19111. 1 On the motion of Cr. Were, the question of the purchase of a concrete mixing machine was held over until next meeting. Cr. Were said that he would like to see tenders called for 000 yards of shell rock for the Waiwiri Road. At the present time labor was available for the spreading, and if the work was delayed difficulty might be experienced in securing men. The suggestion was agreed 'o. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £4593 4s 2d were passed for payment, and the council rose. ).