STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1920, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The Stratford County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. W. J. Walter (chainman), W. H. Were, P. I. Mackay, E. W. Hancock, T. Coleman, H. Worthlngton, L. Basklu, J. O'Neill, T. R. Anderson, j ENGINEER'S REPORT. ! The engineer (Mr. W. J. Spence) reported as follows: North Riding (East) .—General repair work has been carried out on Stanley, Croydon, Cross and Beacbns'fleld Roads. On the Makara Road the weather has held up .work. North Riding (West).—The refacing of one mile of the Mountain Road from the borough boundary northwards has been completed. Other portions of the Mountain Road have been patched, as also have the Denbigh, Rutland, Radnor and York Roads. South Riding.—General maintenance work has been done throughout the Riding. East Riding (Toko).—On the Ohura Road the weak places have been patched and rolled from the Toko School to the Kahouri Bridge, the completion of this work has been delayed on account of the weather. The repairs to the Toko Station Road bridge are prattlcally completed. The work of refacing the Makurl Stream bridge on the Ruapatui Road is in hand. East Riding (Douglas) .—Practlcaßly the whole of the month has been taken up in patching, water-tabling, etc., on the Ohura Road. West Riding.—One hundred yards of maintenance metal were distributed on the Walngongoro Road, an amount not nearly sufflctßvit owing to the weak state of this road. On the portion of the Cardiff Hill, recently refaced about 50 yards of shingle have been used to bank up the new metal. The maintenance metal at the Manaia Road Junction, has been distributed, where required. The old wooden culvert aT the intersection of the Manilla and Opunako Roads has been replaced with concrete pipes. General repair work has been carried out in other parts of the riding. Mangaehu Riding.—The past month has been taken up In metal patching and water-tabling on the Mangaehu, Mangaotuiu and Tututawa Roads. CORRESPONDENCE. The, Taranakl Hydro-Electric League wrote stating that Council's proportion of the £7OO which it was proposed to spend on expert advice regarding the success of the power In Taranakl for the development of electricity, amounted to £7«— Decided to inform the League that the Council would pay Its share of the cost. The Taranakl Provincial Progressive League wrote inviting the Council to be represented at a conference of local bodies to bo held in the Municipal Chambers, Stratford, on July 20th.—Crs. O. Neill and Worthlngton were appointed the Council delegates to attend the conference. Mr. B. Masters, MP., wrote stating that legislation would shortly be introduced giving County Councils power under the Housing Act, to purchaso lands for the erection of workers' dwellings, and also land on which buildings had already been erected.—Received. Mr. O. P. Edwards, Mldhlrst, ivreto asking the Council to pay for the use of a portion of his land which had been used by the Council as a dump and crushing depot.—Referred to the engineer to .report at next meeting. GROWTH OF WILLOWS. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. B. Coates), forwarded a lengthy circular, concerning the opinions of the Ne* Zealand Rivers Commission, which had been investigating the question of river erosion, and flood damage in various parts of the Dominion, and which had brought under his notice the urgent necessity for the proper control of willow planting .along river banks. He added that no applications for assistance to repair flood damage, would be entertained by the Government in any case where it could be Bhown that such damage was wholly or partially due to wrongful planting or non-removal of willows from positions where they unduly restricted the flow of flood waters. The Department's engineers were being instructed to supply any advice concerning the pro ;• methods of planting, and the most economical means of removing or destroying willows.—Received.

GENERAL. The chairman reported that since last meeting the committee had purchased an Austin portable crusher for £3oo.—The action of the committee was endorsed. Mr. Nash, of Wiilca Road, waited on flic Council and objected to tho whole of his property being Included in the rating area for the Puniwhakau Road metalling on the grounds that the metal would stop four miles short of his place.—After considerable discussion the Council decided not to uphold the objection, and that the whole of Mr. Nash's property bo Included In the rating area. Cr. O'Neill moved that the Council take steps to raise a loan for completing the tarring of Mountain Road, contingent on the jrinister of Public Works allowing the revenue from the Waipuku toll-gate, to be used for payment of Interest and sinking fund on all moneys raised by nay of a loan—The resolution lapsed, the members for the North Riding opposing It on the grounds that the ratepayers In the North Riding would not agree to he included in the loaii.