STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1919, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

" MONTHLY MEETING. The Stratford County Council met on Wednesday. Present: Crs. E. Walter (chairman), J. O'Neill, T. £. Coleman, T. R. Reese, E. W. Hancock, W. H. Were, H. B. Worthlngton, L. Baskin and V. J. Mackoy. The chairman welcomed to the council table Cr. Coleman, who was elected to succeed Cr. Christoffell, and congratulated the ratepayers on their wise choice.

An insurance agent waited upon the council and stated that while he was away at the front several policies he had secured had gone to other Arms, and he asked that the council should place, some of its work with him.—lt was resolved that when the policies were reviewed in July applicant's agency would 1» considered with the other firms. Considerable trouble was being experienced in filling tiie position of bridge foreman. Three men had been selected, but when the time arrived two declined the appointment, and the third was unsuitable. It was resolved to leave the matter In the hands of the chairman, Cr. Worthlngton and the engineer, the chairman remarking that some of the bridges required attention.

It ..was. decided that the council could not support the JJithain Chamber of Commerce te hydro-electric power. Cr. Anderson, however, pointed out that there was no scheme, but rather they were eitdeavorlng to collect Information as to the power available in , the district. The chairman remarked that the Minister, at the meeting held In Stratford, was iiufavor of the New Plymouth scheme if they "could secure 8000 h.p. Cr. Coleman remarked that it was necessary to do something, as factories were being pushed for fuel. Cr. Anderson agreed, remarking that several factories had never had more than a week's supply In hand for many months.

Messrs. Boyd, Clark and Jamleson desired that the council should send the roller out to Rautiuha Road. Tfiey explained that (be road would be greatly Implored with a little attention. The chairman stated that the roller would probably be available In three weeks or so, and would then attend to the work.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.: J. W. Spence, engineer, reported:North Riding East.—Two narrow portions .of the Mountain Road on ■ the sbuth of Midhlrst township have been widened ahd refenced. Twenty-seven ■ yards ot screenings have been placed 011 this road at the back of the Midhlrst railway station. Tho entrance to Mp. G. Smith's property has hecn put in, North Riding East.—A certain amount of patching and blinding has been done on several roads. On the Beaconsfleld Road some of the pipes have been added to to widen the road. Two full sets of pipes have also been placed across tills road.

South Ridlhg.—Remetalling work lias been done on the Bobson Road, Upper Clieal Road and Finnerty. Road. The tarring work on the Cheat Road should be completed about the beginning of next week.

West Riding.—The metal for Hastie Road has been removed to Brecon Road, where the crushing of metal for Brooks Road Is' In hand. As the contract for 500 yards of boulders at Kaupokonul had not yet been started he recommended that this contract be re-let.

East Riding (Toko).—As the metalling of the Mangachu Road had been completed, the crusher plant had been moved to the Raupahu Road, the reinstalling of which should be completed by the end of the week.

East Hiding (Douglas) .—General road ivork has been done on the raalg road. A small bridie on the Makuri Road has been renewed. Mangaehu.Hiding.—The widening of the Mangaehu Road at Mr. Watchorn's has been completed. The contract for metalling portions of the Puniwhakau Road was let to Messrs Speck | and Ferguson, who have the work well in hand I Tenders have been called for the clearing of I slips and water-tables on the Manga Road. The i tenders will bo placed before the council at this i meeting.—^dopted.

SOUTH RIDING WANTS. Cr. O'Neill drew attention to the condition of several roads in the South Riding. Whilst the roads were being starved hj« also noticed considerable quantities of metal that were lying off the road for several years, and thought this should not be allowed. He gave figures of amounts spent on various roads that showed the South Riding should receive more consideration. He invited the chairman to go over the ijkmner and other roads and see for himself Cr.'Hancock: The riding is well represented now, and will push things ahead. The engineer was Instructed to have the roller down on these roads as soon as possible.

CORRESPONDENCE. A lengthy letter was received from Hon G W Russell as to subsidies for the peace celebtations.

A. Tiplady, clerk of the Eltham County l OT ,°,. te re ff' Harding's application for a refund of Bpecial rate on Cheal and Oru Road. The writer claimed Mr. Harding had no right to a refund. The difficulty in the past was that a portion of the land was in Stratford County and also in Eltham County. The Eltham had now been merged In the btratford County, and the latter could collect a special rate With half-yearly payment,—Resolved to get the county's solicitors' opinion A complaint by the Farmers' Co-operatlva Society of being charged 7s 6d for a car through the Walpuku toll-gate was amended to 2s 6d, the toil-keeper evidently classifying same as a lorry.

Stratford Hospital Board hotifled that a special levy of £B4 16s 9d for ordinary expenditure had been made on the county, and probably a further ,leyy would be made for capital expenditure l —Received.

Mtdhirst Dairy Company desired the council to reduce a charee of 7s Cd per yard for screening. Cr. Baskin considered the charge excessive, stating that 5s was a fair charge, a 9 a good deal was dust. The letter was received, there being no seconder to Cr. Baskln's motion. A Kodi, railway engineer, wrote as to several drains being blocked:—Left to the engineer to report. Regarding the poundkeeper's duties, the chairman stated that the county sub-committee' had met the Mayor, and as a result it had been decided that the borough and, county should each pay 103 per week to the poundkeeper, nnd share equally in cost of maintenance and losses on sales of animals impounded.—Approved.

It was resolved to calk- tenders for boulders and single* at. ilidhirst, and also boulders for Flnnerty Road and Cardiff. On the motloti of Cf. Were the Contract of Messrs. Speck and FergUsson to- supply aliellrotk on. Walwirl Road was extended from 600 yards to 1000 yards, , payment for the extra 400 yards to be made after January I next