STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1920, Page 5

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Councillors E. Walter (chairman), T. Coleman, J. O'Neill, T. R. Anderson, E. Hancock, \v. H. Were, R. B. Worthlngton. L. Baskin, and F. J. Mackay. The clerk (Mr. C. H. Penn) and the engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) were also present. ENGINEERS REPORT. The engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) reported as follows: North Riding (East) .—General maintenance work has been carried out on the Stanley, Beaconsfleld, Salisbury, Cross (east) Croydon and AckJand Roads. About half a ®JJe of the Makara Road has been reformed When the water tables have been formed and four set 3 of pipes put in, this road will be in fair order. Good work has been done by the contractor on the Manawawlrl Road as far as Mr. Bretherton's gate. As this road is only fenced on one side the stock cannot bo kept off the formation. A little attention by the local residents should keep the water tables clear and insure a good sound road. North Riding' (West),—During the past month the following roads have received attention, namely, Monmouth, Mountain, York, Denbigh, Upper Pembroke, and Cardiff. Further supplies of boulders have been taken out at Midhirst. At a rough estimate about 2000 yards have been placed on the crushing sites. South Riding.—Where necessary general repairs have been carried out on the various roads in this riding in the way of parching water tabling and blinding. Tarring and sanding on the Wingrove and Cheal Roads have been carried on during the month. Delays havd been caused through broken weather and the shortage of tar, but in the case of the latter assurance has been given that this trouble has been remedied and regular supplies are again available. East Riding (Toko). —It han been neces-! sary owing to the weak state of the Ohura; Road to do a very considerable amount of j patching. Tho Ohuroa, Toko, and Raupahu; Roads have received similar attention. In tho case of the latter road it Is proposed to get about 50 yards out of the Hinga Pit for maintenance purposes. The necessary decking timber for the bridge over the Makuri stream on the same road has been carted to the bridge site where it has been stacked and filleted. A few planks have been taken out of the Toko Tallway station road bridge and will be placed in position as soon as possible. The work of refaclng the portion of Waiwiri Road in front of Mr. Milner's i>roperty has now been completed, and the crushing plant moved to the Walhapa Road In the South Riding. East Riding (Douglas).—General repairs havo been effected on the main Ohura and the Douglas South Roads. On the Strapimore Saddle the water tables have in places been attended to and the greator part of the unmetalled portion of the Saddle Is getting very flat, and would be greatly Improved If crowned up. East Riding (Huiroa). —Several wash-outs and slips occurred on the Douglas North Road during the last heavy rain. The mam slip has been cleared where it covered the road, but further trouble may be expected during wet weather. The wash-outs at the north end of the Saddle and at Mr. Fraser's wool shod are being attended to. Water tabling has been carried out on (ho' Makuri and Akama Roads. On the latter road it was necessary to repair the bridge at Mr. Stahford's gate. Arrangements have been made to put pipes across the Mohakau Road near tho Klore Railway Station, where a spring had broken out on the formation. It has also been arranged to havo the road at the mouth of the Klore Tunnel repaired. . West Riding—The crushing cf the stone on the Palmer Road has been completed, part being used for maintenance and part for replacing portions of the Ojmnake No. 3 Road The crusher has now been moved to the Mangatokl stream, where maintenance metal will be crushed. General maintenance work has been carried out on the various roads in tho riding. Mangaehu Riding—During the month several small slips have been cleared off the Tututa.wa and Mangaehu Roads Tho clay portions of the Punlwhakau, Mangaehu, and Brewer-Taihora Roads have been run over with the small grader, all these roads being considerably improved at a low cost. Several slips have occurred on the Manga and Taihore Roads. CORRESPONDENCE. From McCarthy Bros, Manala, drawing attention to the bad state of the road at tho approach to their section on the Upper Palmer Road, adjoining the forest reserve, with n view to having about three or four chains formed and metalled—Deckled to | round off the road in the meantime, and make provision for metalling in next year's estimates. From S. G. P. Hann complaining of a culvert that had silted up on tho Bird Road, Ngaere Referre d to engineer to inspect and report. From the Valuer-General, stating that the Department was now engaged re-valuing the Stratford County, and asking the Council to supply the name and address of someone to act on behalf of tho Council as a member of the Assessment Court.—lt. was decided to appoint Mr. G. A. Marchant as tho Council's assessor, subject to his consent being obtained. From ?aranaki Education Board re children who arc receiving little or no education —Received. From Waipa County Council, asking endorsement of resolution urging tho Government to push forward with a vigorous immigration policy.—To be endorsed, THE DERBY ROAD. A deputation of fouf settlers from Derby Road waited on the Council with reference to improvements to that road, between the York* and Surrey Roads. The deputation stated that the road was in & very bad state and about eight or ten chains of imctalling was required to put it In order. Tho Waipuku Bridge was also in an unsafe condition, and required repairing. The deputation expressing willingness to provide the labor for the work if the Council would provide the materials. After some discussion, the chairman suggested that the deputation should ascertain if it was possible to form the settlers In the district Into a special rating area for the purpose of raising a loan, and if it was not possible to do this the Council would probably grant a £ for £ subsidy against the settlers* labor. The loan would need to be raised by the Inglewood County. Cr. Mackay said that the raislnf of the loan would take some time, and, as the road would be impassable when the wet weather came on, he thought something should be done at once. The Council eventually decided to vote the sum of £25 towards the work, on condition ! that the settlers found the labor. ' LOWER BIRD ROAD. A petition, signed by nine ratepayers, was received stating that, being defcirous of obtaining better communication with Toko by the Lower Bird Road, petitioners requested that the Council's engineer should prepare an estimate of the cost of erecting a bridge over the Patea River and opening up the road to Toko.—Granted. PRINCE OF WALES' VISIT. The chairman said that he had noticed that the Borough Council had voted £IOO to the Prince ♦ of Wales' Reception Committee, and suggested that as there would be a large number of country people In town on the occasion of the visit and provision had been made for entertaining the children, the Council should vote something towards tho expenses of the Committee. The Council decided to vote £SO for the purpose, provided the Counall was given representation on the Reception Committee. GENERAL. It was decided to grant the toll gate keeper an increase in wages of Is per day. The Council went into Committee to consider questions' of finance, and on resuming, it was reported that the Council had decided to accept a loan of £20,000 from the Public Trustee, surfh sum to be allotted to each riding in proportion to the amount of the rates. The following tenders were accepted: 250 cubic yards of boulders on Ackland Road, M. Aldridge; 350 cubic yards of boulders on Salisbury Road, Swlndiehurst and Berryfleld; 250 cubic yards of bouidrfas on Opunake Road and drainage on the Salisbury and Cross Roads, Hartigan and Spearman. It was decided that the engineer he authorised to procure another tar sprayer, and to order sufficient tar for the work in the West Riding. Accounts amounting to £2305*178 9d were passed for payment. Cr. Mackay wus given permission to hold over untii next meeting his motion to divide the North Riding.