STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING, The council met on Saturday. Present: Councillors E. Walter (chairman), J. O'Niell, T. R. Anderson, W. H. Were, 11. B. Wortliington, F. J. Mackay, L. Baskin. VOTES OF CONDOLENCE. The chairman stated he regretted the death of Mr H. J. H. Okey, M.P They had all agreed that Mr Okey had done a lot of good work in looking after the interests of the council, and when anytiling required attention he had always given of his best. They had lost a good man. He looked upon Mr Okey as a typical old English gentlemen, a courteous man, always approachable, and very considerate. He might not have been a brilliant man, but was, nevertheless, a man of sound commonsense. He moved a vote of condolence with Mrs Okey. Councillor Anderson, in seconding the motion, said that the time Mr Hiue, M.P., was away Mr Okey had worked hard in looking ftfter the interests of the council. Mr Okey was a farmer and thoroughly understood their requirements. He was a worker right from the start, and although Mr Okey did not represent them directly in Parliament, he felt that they had lost a friend. The chairman said he also regretted the death of ex-Councillor J. Smith, who had sat at the council table for several years, during which he had always taken a keen interest in council work. fce moved a vote of condolence to Mrs Smith and family. Councillor Hancock, in seconding the motion, said he had been associated with the late Mr Smith for the past thirty years. While some of the councillors might not have seen matters in the same light as did Councillor Smith, they respected his sincerity. • Councillor Baskin added a few words of appreciation, and stated that he deeply regretted the death of an old friend. * Both motions were carried in the customary manner. ENGINEER'S REPORT. W. J. Lopdell, county engineer, reported as follows: North Riding —General surface work has engaged our time during the month. The tarred portion of the Manganui flat ha 3 been banked up and the water tables and ditches removed back to the fence line. Keheley and Madgwick had reduced their price for boulders dumped at the Manganui re- . serve, and also had agreed on a price for delivering boulders at the railway station. Midhirst. Stanley road—A slip from the road side has left the place dangerously narrow. It will require a few feet to be taken off the cutting to widen the road. A start has been made with the forming of a part of the Makara road. The four feet pipes have arrived for Denmark Terrace, and wjll be put in place as soon as the weather conditions are favourable. Kent terrace has been widened at the filling. • South Riding: The foreman is engag- . cd on metal banking and general em-face work. The heavy rain during the month caused further slips pn the Robson road. Mountain road.—This road is in a very rough state, and now the weather is more favourable for scarifying it requires our earliest attention. East Riding.—Ohura Road: All the . available boulders and shell rock have been gathered up at Douglas and crushed. The road from Mr. Cain's store has been refaced. Fincham's Flat: The stone has bsen crushed and the worst portion of the road refaced. Toko Road east is being attended to with metal from the Huinga pit. If the weather permits I will send the lorry out 4o assist with this work. Waiwiri Road: A slip at the outlet of the tunnel, caused by the recent heavy rain, will have to be renewed. tluinga Riding.—The flood water has crossed the road in several placed beyond Huiroa, and caused considerable damage, otherwise this riding is in fairly good order for this season of the year. West Riding.—Opunake No. 1.: The stone in front of Mr. Rawles's property has been crushed, and a portion of the road,refaced. A start has been made raising the road at the Cardiff factory. The plant is set up ready to crush the inctal for same. Waingongoro Road: The contractor is proceeding very slowly with the removing of a dangerous corner on this road. Upper Palmer Road: I have inspected the dam referred to on two occasions, and find that the obstruction has been removed. Mangaehu Riding.—The small concrete bridge near Hamerton's has been completed, and the Kaitieke road bridge is finished. The repairs to the Pnni bridge have been completed. The large truss bridge in Puniwhakau is being repaired. Some of the decking has been sent out by motor lorry. The heavy rain brought down slips on several of the roads, which are being attended to. General.—Bridge Foreman Le Rois has resigned, and his place has been filled by Foreman McMillan, of Whaugarei. The county car has been painted and over-j hauled. The benzine shed is nearing completion. RIDING FOREMEN'S REPORTS. F. Carter (North Riding) reported that a box culvert had been put in at the entrance to the crushing depot, to replace Sin. pipes. General surface work had been carried out. L. Hatcher (North Riding) had attended to slips on Stanley Road. All metal roads were in fair order. S. Parker (South Riding) stated that the block on Robson Road had been at- . tended to, and most of the month spent in bankign and metal work. W. Atkins (Toko) reported a slip and [ wash-out during the recent heavy ranis, 1 the wash-out being caused through a ! length of timber collapsing at outflow ' of the drainage tunnel. He recommend- ' ed that a new length of 12 feet be put in. ; Another land slip had occurred near the ! Makuri Stream bridge, completely block- ! ing traffic. An 18 xl2 pipe culvert would ' be necessary. c S. Rogers (Douglas) reported that the ' Mangatuku Road was blocked for traf- ! fie for a short time, but with the help of 1 Foreman Savage and some ol the set--1 tiers a good track was made. A culvert ' near Mr. Wilmurhurst's was not safe for ' heavy traffic, and requires several string--7 ers under it. E. C. Smith (Huiroa) stated that the ' recent rains had caused a lot of backing to slip from the road, and his time s had been fully taken up in attending to these slips. i WAGES AND SL'i'- 'DIES. e The Minister of Public Works notified that where Government subsidies were 4 paid the contracts should be submitted to the Public Works engineer fa" t val before acceptance.—Thames CWnty j g " Council also wrote in reference to this, n stating that a delay would occur in ten--0 ders being submitted to the engineer, lr • and auggested that a protest against this j I decision be made.

the Thames County. With the bridge work it would mean a big difference. Cr. Mackay said it was Impossible to get men to work at lis per day. Cr. Anderson: You could'nt get a black boy for that wage. Cr. Mackay moved: That the Minister be informed that it is impossible to get labor at the price named, and be requested to withdraw the resolution. CORRESPONDENCE. The New Zealand Farmers' Union requested the council to erect finger-posts at all junctions of the main roads. Resolved: "That the council erect fingerposts where necessary." Messrs. A. J. Chainey, J. Bennett, A. Morrison, M. Bennett, ratepayers of the Ahuroa Road, Toko, petitioned for the repair of the boundary to the west as promised eighteen months ago. —The work will be undertaken shortly. W. J. Neilson, Midhirst, applied to I'have two entrances from Mountain Roafl to his property, corner of Mountain and ! Denbigh Roads, and was prepared to meet i the council in the cost, value or laborReferred to the engineer to make ar- ■ rangemeuts. , G. W. Allcnden, ifastings Road, Lowi garth, desired permission to run half-inch . pipe across the Hostings Road.—Granted, . subject to the engineer's approval ' CATTLE AT THE MOUNTAIN ! RESERVE. The Stratford Mountain House Com- [ mittee applied for permission to remove j gate from Upper Pembroke Road near I National Park Reserve, and re-erect same where the road abuts On the Patea River. At present stock were doing damage ( to the native flora. With this alteration the committee would be enabled to del rive a small annual rental by letting ' section 51, below the gate. r Mr. P. Thomson, secretary, said the i Park Board desired to protect the flora i for all time, and it was desired to have ; stock debarred from entering the reserve. Mr. R. McK. Morison said all were in- , terested in the mountain, and should look after their own particular spot. In meeting the committee in this respect the council would be doing something to protect the bush and banks.—Permission granted. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted for the follow- . ing contracts: Pembroke Road, 00 yards, ; E. A. and C. Chard; Robson Road, 100 j yds,, W. Bevans; Cardiff Road, 200 yds., , E. A. and C. Chard; Bird Road, 200 yds., [ W Bevans; Cornwall Road, 50 yards, [ Grimmer and Chamberlain; Climie Road, . 300 yards, Rata Hone; Opunake Road, No. . 2, 600 yards, Kehely and Madgwick; Ka- . puni Reserve, 200 yards, E. A. and C. ; Chard; Opunake Road No. 3, D. ,T. Kehely; Cardiff Road, 20 yards, E. A. and C. Chard. t GENERAL. ; The .council went into committee regarding collection of rates on properties • forfeited by returned soldiers, it was ( resolved that the Government should provide some'protection for counties, par- ® ticularly where there were special rates for the repayment of loans. Several applications were before the council from employees desiring increases - in wages. After considering the matter, 1 increases were made iu some instances', • the ranger being granted £lO per annum, and the toll-gate keeper's pay raised s to £3 3a per week. The chairman and Cr. Mackay were appointed to represent the council at the > conference to be held in Stratford on Ocs tober 17 regarding the formation of a • hydro-electric league, to urge on the 1 Government the matter of utilising the | water power for motor purposes. The matter of the reserves at Puniwhakau and Mangaehu was left to Cr ; Wortliington and the engineer to arrange I with the settlers. e ! Accounts totalling £1443 17s 3d were passed for payment. ,