STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1920, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. E. Walter (chairman). T. Coleman. .1. O'Neill, T. It. Anderson, E. W. Hancock. W. K. Were, H. 1!. Worthington, L. Baskln, anil F, J. Maekay. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer teported as follows: North Riding.—General work in tho way of Winding, water-tabling, and banking up has been (tone on tho following roads, Manganui, Croydon, East. Croydon, Cross, and Salisbury. On the Cross Road a culvert has been repaired. Pipes have been put in on the Cross Road to veplaee an old wooden culvert. The crushing of tho stone at the Mangimtil Reserve is in hand and the metal is being used for rcfacing a portion of the Mountain Road North from the Borough boundary. The Austin motor roller is being used in putting down the rnietal on this road, the wnrk done with the roller Is very satisI factory, and compares more than favorably with i work done with the steam roller. The blackberries on tho reserve have been cut. Tho foreman and surfacemen of both parts of the riding are engaged in crushing metal ,and refaefne Mountain Road. South Riding.—A considerable amount of patching lias been done on tlie Waihapa and Wtngrnve Roads. About 30 chains of the hill on the Wlngrovo Road have been dressed witli crushed pit. metal, a further stretch of this road, which requires attention, would have been done had the weather not interfered witli tho work at the pit. While the plant was in tlie district it was thought advisable to crush the boulder', originally carted out for the Pukengaliu Road, and to reface a portion of the Wlngrovo Road. Some work was done in connection with the ford on tho Waingoingoro Stream, Fiunerty Road, to enable wheel traffic to cross after tho old bridge was carried away. Tlie work on the concrete bridge should again be In hand within a few days. Tlie boulders on the Mountain Road are being crushed and used for refaclng from the and of the tar towards the railway crosslug on Mountain Road. East Riding (Toko).—About forty yards of sand from tho Hulnga Pit have been placed on tho Raupahu Road for t).r blinding. It was intended to tar the portion of this road which was refaced last season, but owing to delay to tar coming to hand and tho broken weather, the work lias been deferred tin next season. Advantage was taken of the opening up of the pit to get some metal for the Toko and Raupahu Roads, about 90 yards being used In tho work. Repair work has been carried out on the Waiwlrl, Ahuroa East, aud B.eaconsflcld Roads. East Riding (Douglas) —The drains on the "Mnglas South Road have been cleaned out. 5Y,e slips on the Strathmora Saddle have baen cleared away. On the Gordon Road the formation Is being widened to 17 feet preps ratory to widening the metal to 14 feet A start has been imade om the cleaning out of tlio Makur! Road drains. East Riding (Huiroa).—Several small slips have been cleared on the Douglas North Road. A pet of 9-inch pipes has been laid at the mad. A set of the same sized pipes hare also been put. in on the Makivrl Road. The flood water has again been over the latter road scouring out tlie metal. The Ailing near Mr. Eraser's wool shed on the Douglas North Boad has been made up. West Riding—During tho month 308 yards of boulders have been crushed and used In rcfacing the Opunako Rond near demon's cutting. Tlie Manala Road North has been heavily patched, tho Palmer Road North requires similar attention., both roads have suffered considerably through firewood carting A set of 9-inch pipes has been laid at the junction of the Barclay Road with the Waintongoro Road An old wooden culvert on the Brecon Road fell In, causing a. considerable portion of the road to be washed out, tlie culvert has been replaced with concrete pipes. Mangaehu Riding.—Several slips which occurred on the Mangaehu, Mangaehu South, and llangaotuku Roads have been cleared away A visit was made to the Manga and Whaka Roads, which roads have been rendered' almost Impassable owing to the heavy slips, the work of having the roads ppened is well in hand. CORESPONDENCE. From the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board stating that the rate levied on the County for the year 1920-21 was £Bl6 19s Od. heing a rate of Is per £IOO on. the capital rateable value of the county—Received. From tho Tuapeka County Council re the present system of imposing a. levy on local iiodles for Hospital and Charitable Aid purposes —Received. > From .the Hawera Cotjnly Council asking for support In urging on the Government' the necessity of completing the \llne to tho Mt. Epmont quarries.—It was decided to endorse the resolution, provided tlie metal could be supplied at a reasonable cost. The local member of Parliament is to be asked to interest himself in tho matter. SOUTH RIDING ROADS. A deputation consisting of MessTS J. Thomas, W. Morrison, N. Fryday, Walker, Kneebone, and Bocock, representing tlie South Riding ratepayers, waited dn tho Council with reference to tho state of the roads in their riding. Mr. Thomas said that tho deputation was the outcome of a meeting held in Ngaere to discuss county matters, at which the riding members and the engineer were present Tho ratepayers In the riding desired to urge that, the Council do its utmost to secure as big a return as possible for the outlay of loan money and to pay - attention to the grading and straightening of roads wherever possible. Amongst other things tho station hill at Ngaere required alteration, and would either have to be ripped up or another track provided for vehicular traffic. Good entrances to by-roads were also very necessary, and speeding up of the work on tho Mountain Road. In thlsi connection he suggested that a fund or loan should be raised to complete the Mountain Road, and tho rovenue from the toll gate used to pay Interest and sinking fund on tho imoney only as It was altogether inadequate for maintaining the road\ Other members of tho deputation supported Mr. Thomas' remarks, and the chairman intimated that the Council was going in for an up-to-date policy of road construction, ami agreed with the suggestion that the toll gate'revenue would, be better used to provide Interest and sinking fund on a loan if that could be done. The deputation then withdrew. THE CLIMIE ROAD, A petition signed by thirteen ratepayers and settlers on tho Climle Road, Ngaere, was received, asking the Council to call the attenllon of the Railway Department to the anpToach to the crossing of tho Climle Road, which was regarded as a constant source of danger to drivers of vehicles.—The Council decided to ask the. Railway Department to attend to the matter. Mr. Barleyman waltod on the Council with reference to the state of the Croydon Road at tho Stanley Road end, which he as being one of tho most disgraceful roads In the country. Cr. Maekay agreed that MP. Barleyman had a genuine grievance, but pointed out that it was impossible to give attention to it. owing to tlie shortage of labor. Ho suggested that Mr Barleyman should arrange to do the work and the Council pay hlim for it. Tho chairman assured Mr. Barleyman that tho matter would receive the attention of the Council. The chairman and Crs. O'Neill and Anderson, with the engineer, were appointed a committee to make inquiries regarding the imrohase of a motor lorry, and to report at next imeeting It was decided to advise the .Toll, Haupokonul, Kaponga, Mangatoki, and Lowgarth Dairy Companies that the Council's heavy traffic bylaws were now in force. The chairman, Cr. Anderson, and the engineer were appointed a committee to consider the purchase of a stone crusher for the county. GENERAL. Tho county ranger reported that he had to summon six persons for keeping dogs and not registering them, one case being taken to court and a fine of £2 and costs imposed. Another man had been fined £2 and costs for allowing bullocks to bo at large, and another 5s and costs for allowing Beven cows to be at large. <

In reply to Cr. Anderson, the chalnman reported that he had given permission for other cases to be withdrawn. /