STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1919, Page 6

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETINO, A special meeting of the council was held on Saturday. There were present: Councillors V, i Mackay, J. O'Neill, L. Baskin, T. E. Coleman, H. Worthington, T. It. Anderson, W. H. Were, and li. W. Hancock. BIDING LOANS. The chairman said the chief business of the meeting was consideration of the best manner to keep the roads In proper order. The existing method was not satisfactory as the traffic of the present was very different from that of six or seven years ago. Those councillors who had travelled round roads elsewhere which had been adapted to present-day traffic, he thought, were satisfied that they were a much better proposition for the country, being easier to keep in order when once laid down properly and also easier on the rates. The Stratford County had a lot of traffic and they should be up-to-date in the road making, and look after the Interests of the ratepayers in seeing that the rates on upkeep did not rise too high. It was impossible to do anything out of revenue. At present the metal was being wasted and blown off the roads, and considering the very high price of metal they should be doing all possible to keep the [ metal on the roads; this could only be done [by tar-sealing. From experience of the other counties he did not think thac the rates would bo heavier, beca»se the upkeep would be lessened. The council had to consider whether a general county rate would be struck. Ho did not think it would Ve possible unless each riding ceuld be levied for the money spent, and he was doubtful if they could do this. One or two ridings were keen on the loan, and he believed others thought they could do without it. Cr. Were said that his policy was to work lor butter roads, but the times had been against the council. They had been paying bigger rate 3 and more money for everything, and less work was accomplished. They had been trying to gel the by-roads in order, and, with the exception of one or two, they were new in good order, and most of theni were ready for tarring. The mam road from Stratford boundary to Strathmore—some nineteen miles—was going back unci metal was becoming scarcer and dearer' being at a prohibitive price. Cr. O'Neill: Put up a toll gate Cr. Were, continuing, said they estimated that it would cost £IO,IM for the work on [he East Main Road. From the town boundary lo Kahouri bridge would be sixteen feet wide, and thence hmrteen feet. He gave particulars of works for Beacouslleld, Skinner, Staudish Ahuroa, Waiwirl, Toko, Gordon, Crown Dougas and Huinga Roads; work on the Ohura itpacl would cost £10,164, and the total of the whole loan was assessed at £35,041 This included a good deal of tar-sealing of the roads where the grades were not too steep It was hoped that tbe rates would not be Increased, the interest on the loan being paid out of the 'general riding funds.

Cr. Coleman said he thought the South Riding could do without a loan. He further SoTe iu U 1922' S ° me S ° Uth RWing loias wouJd

l h»' Ma , c ,v" 111 ' 3ald he was pleased to hear of the conditions in the South Riding. It had Sh a Ki£ rlablii h COmplalilt h * 80me <* the ooiil.li Riding members that their roads were not receiving attention, and it was pleasing to know that it was not neeessary for them to have a loan He understood that the East Hiding proposal covered tar-sealing ncariy every road and that a rale would be struck over the while of the riding. The chairman said ho was sure they would have to alter their methods in tbe East Riding All the traffic from the Whangamomona district passed over their roads.

Or. Were said that in company with the engineer and chairman he visited Eltham County ihe engineer there informed them that scaritying rolling and tar-seallng cost from £9 IDs to fclO 10a per chain. Some discussion took place on whether the money should be raised by a county loan or riding loans. The county solicitor (Mr. J R L. Uantord) attended, and legal points were

Jhe chairman said the feeling seemed to be that the loan should not be a general one Cr. IN orlhlngton said there was only a smali mileage of main roads in the Mi.ngaehu Riding and probably an arrangement could be come to for the East to undertake this. Cr. Mackay said he was pleased to see Cr Were and his fellow member, the chairman, bringing down a proposal. Since the Inception of the council the East had raised £24,566 in loans, including £ 1840 drainage, and were now contemplating another £35,000. It seemed a big hurdle, but he hoped tiler would be successful. As far as the Nortli Riding was concerned he would be more modest. Cr Mackay outlined his proposal covering work on Beacouslleld Road (three miles), Standlsh Koad to the Cross and Croydon Roads (two miles), Salisbury Road and Kent Terrace (including some tar-sealing), the total being apprpiimately £3150. He suggested that a special area be defined, this being approximately all the land on the east side of the Mountain Eoari. Tlie Croydon Road was not included in the scheme, as the settlers on this road were receiving benefits from the tar-seallng. For the West Riding, Cr. Anderson said that about twenty miles had been put down recently; it would not take a great deal to tar-sea! this. There were three or four miles of by-roads with little traffic which would not need tar-sealing. Ee would like to know what the other work cost, He estimated It at about £15,000. Cr. O'Neill, the other South representative, also did not favor a loan. He considered It premature, owing to the high cost of wages and materials. It was best to let it drop for the present. Tile engineer was instructed to bring down estimates of the costs of tho works In the East, North and West Ridings, as set out by the representatives. GENERAL. The toll charges on lorries up to one ton were fixed at 2s Od. The tender of Swlndlehurst and BeneSald for from one to two thousand yards of boulders and 500 yards of shingle, Mangonui Reserve, ivas accepted. Grimmer and Chamberlain's tender for' five hundred cubic yards of boulders, Flnnerty Road, was accepted. The engineer reported on arrangements made to hire a roller from tho Eltham Borough to do i work in the South Riding.—Post.