STRATFORD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1921, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY.

, PAST MONTH’S WOBK. > MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Stratford County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. E. Walter (chairman), S. Pitt, J. H. Thomas, M. Davis, J. O’Neill, J. Jacobsen, T. R. Anderson, W. H. Were and J. T. Belcher. The report presented by the engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) stated that in the North Rifling four days had been spent on the metalled portion of the Croydon Road, and three days on the Cross Road, and a good deal of time had been given to repair work on the metalled roads In the western portion of the riding, the Mountain, Rutland, Radnor, York, Flint, Cardiff, Upper Pembroke and Monmouth Roads had received attention. The untarred portion of the Mountain Road (South Riding) had been patched and blinded with silt. Patching and watertabling had been carried out in the East Riding. Repair work had been done on the Ohura-Mangaehu road, mostly on the Strathmore side of the raddle. The Crown, or new road, had been attended to. Forty yards of crushed shell-rock had been railed to Huiroa and delivered at the bridge sites on the Douglas North and Makuri Roads. The West Riding had received attention in the matter ©f water-tabling and patching. The bend on the Opunake No. 3, near the Kapuni bridge, had been cut back to give a better view to travellers. In the Mangaehu Riding the approaches to the • Mangaotuku stream bridge were being made up on the north side; the south end would not require the same amount of materia], and the work would be put in hand as soon as the bridge was finished (a matter of a few days).

FINNERTY ROAD BRIDGE. In response to a request from the Eltham County Council, a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Anderson and O’Neill, was appointed to meet representatives of the Eltham Council to further discuss the balance of the Finnerty Road bridge account.

When this communication was under discussion, the chairman referred to the fact that a letter had appeared in the Press from the Eltham County clerk, criticising the Stratford Council, and mentioning that the estimates for the work had risen from £lOOO to £283'5. The chairman characterised the letter as being full of inaccuracies. He remarked that the Stratford Council never had an original estimate of £1000; the amount was £lBOO, and they raised a loan of £9OO as the half share. Statements had also been made about a decision come to at a meeting between the two engineers and the riding representatives, but such a meeting had never been held. There seemed to be some reason why the Eltham County Council was pushing this matter and giving it a good deal of publicity, apparently to discredit the Stratford County Council. The Stratford Council, however, had nothing to regret in this matter. They had been unfortunate in that the period of the work coincided with a time when wages were highest and materials dearest, but the council pushed the work, Rowing the settlers wanted the bridge. Cr. O’Neill thought that the attitude taken up was bid taste for a neighboring county. The chairman expressed the hope that after the committees’ deliberations the whole affair would come to finality.

BREAKING AWAY. Notification was received from the Eltham County Council that at their last meeting a petition was received from settlers on the Finnerty Road, asking that their properties be merged in the Eltham County. The Stratford Council was consequently notified that, failing any agreement, being reached by the two counties upon the matter, the Eltham Council, at the expiration of three months, would move for a commission to be set up to determine the petition. If desired, however, they were willing to meet delegates from the Stratford Council to discuss the matter.

The council was of opinion that there was nothing to be gained in discussing the request. A petition was also received from the settlers concerned, and the council decided that it be not acceded to. It was decided to notify the county solicitor of this position, and that he be instructed to take steps to protect the council’s interests. GENERAL. It was decided to support the Eketaliuna Council’s proposal that the Government be approached to put the payment of soldiers’ rates on a more satisfactory basis.

In view of the probable opening up of limestone quarries at Te Wera, the Public Works Department wrote, asking, if the. council would be prepared to take the same amount from this source .as they had intended to take from the Mt. Egmont quarries. The council decided to reply that at present it. is not. prepared to guarantee to take any stone.

It was decided to issue a warning to persons who had been found carrying excessive loans on vehicles, in proportion to the width of the tyres. The settlers concerned will be notified that the council is unable to give a guarantee in respect of the proposed Uia post office (York .Road). A letter was received from Mr. C. Meuli (Tariki), stating that as he had farms at Tariki and Bird Road, he incurred ti great deal of expense in passing to and fro, as the result of the toll fees at Waipuku. He asked that the council accept a lump sum annually, and exempt him from ordinary toll fee.—lt was decided to reply stating that the council had no power to accede to the request. Messrs Blackstock, Harris and Rowe waited bn the council, asking for consideration in respect to certain roads in the South Riding, which were becoming thin and worn out. Cr. O’Neill said there was £4OO on the estimates for the Waihapa Road, and £2OO for the Robson Road, and he suggested these amounts be supplemented by part of the loan moneys, with the idea of putting a certain length down in permanent surface, as patching was too costly a practice.— Before the deputation withdrew chairman informed them that the request would receive consideration.