STRATFORD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1922, Page 2

STRATFORD COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. THE MONTH’S OPERATIONS. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. E. Walter (chairman), S. Pitt, M. Davis, J. Jacoheen, W. H. Were, J. T. Belcher, T. R. Anderson, J. O’Neill, and J. H. Thomas. The engineer, Mr. J. W. Spence, reported for the month as follows: North Riding (East). —During the month a considerable amount of boulders have been taken out of the Manganui and Te Popo streams and dumped at the depot. A start has been made with the hauling of boulders for metalling the Esk Road, the boulders being taken out of the Piakau stream at the nortii end of the road. General surface work has been done on the Stanley, Croydon East and West, and Salisbury roads. North Riding (West).—-Maintenance work has been carried out on the Rutland, York, Denbigh, Radnor, Monmouth and Flint roads. Clay-banking has been done on the Mountain Road. The stringers for the bridge over the Rum Keg creek were procured on the properties on the upper Denbigh Road, These have been squared and carted down to the site, and placed in position. South Riding.—The metalling of about 20 chains of the Cheal Road has been done and the llnking-up of the portion of the Mountain Road between the tar stretches has been completed. A start lias now been made with the re-metalling and re-grading of the hill near the Cllmle Road junction on the same road. The metalling of the part of the Walhapa Road between the factory and the Robson Road corner has been finished. The weak portions of the Robson Road near the bridge have been scarified, rounded up with pit metal, and rolled. It is proposed to carry out similar Work on the Walhapa Road between the factory and the Wingrove Road. Eafft Riding (Toko).—General repair and maintenance work in the way of patching, water-tabling, and clay-blinding has been carried out on the Ohura, Ahuroa (west), Beaconsfield, Standish and Toko roads. Short drains have been put in on the Standish Road to relieve the water which has been accumulating from the swamps on the east side of the road. East Riding, Douglas.—Water-tabling, metalpatching and slip-clearing have been done on the Ohura-Mangaehu Road. A considerable amount of work has been necessary in making repairs to the Crown and Douglas South roads. This work has meant the using up of all available maintenance metal. The contractors have practically completed the quarrying of the shell rock for the Strathmore saddle. About five chains of the track to the pit now remain to be done. East Riding (Huiroa).—About four chains of the Makuri Road have been refaced with the shell rock obtained from the rock quarried from the side of the road. Water-tabling and general surface work have been done on this and the Douglas South road. On the Mohakau and Akama roads the drag log has been used and the water-tables cleaned out. Owing to a slip on the Autawa Road, it was necessary to widen on -the upper side at this place.

West Riding.—A very considerable amount of metal-patching has been done on the Hastings and Waingongoro roads. General repairs have been, carried out on the Opunake Nos. 1 and 3 and Cardiff North roads. Clay-blinding where necessary has been done. A further 100 yards of sand and shingle have been taken out of the Kapunl stream and dumped on the Palmer Road. Twenty-five yards of similar material has been obtained from the Waingongoro stream near Cardiff. About 40 yards of shingle and 150 yards of boulders have been taken out of the Kapunl stream near the Opunake No. 3 road. The contractor on the Ronald Road is making fair progress with the earthwork. The piers for the Konini stream bridge have been carried up to the required height, ahd the boxing for the stringers is being put In place. Mangaehu Riding.—About 150 yards of shell rock have been carried on to the road from the pit on Messrs. Arkwright and Johnson’s property. Where necessary, surface work in the way of metal-patching, water-tabling and slip-clearing has been carried out. The repairs, water-tabling and slip-clearing on the Mt. Humphries Road are well in hand. NOXIOUS WEEDS. In his report, the ranger mentioned that noxious weeds were showing up very freely in many parts of the county. Cr. Belcher complained that blackberry on the roads at Cardiff was becoming dangerous. The district was a fairly clean one, and he thought there should be some concerted action between the council and the noxious weeds inspector.—lt was decided to draw tlie attention of the inspector to the growth of weeds. The opinion was expressed that the noxious weeds inspector had too much ground to cover in the whole of Taranaki. Cr. Pitt then moved that the Minister’s attention be drawn to the spread of weeds and that he be advised to appoint extra Inspectors to -the district. Cr. Thomas said a great many of the settlers did not know that they were obliged to keep their frontages clear of weeds. TOLL-GATE REVENUE. The Taranaki County Council forwarded an opinion from the Counties Association’s solicitor, with reference to the disposition of tollgate and other revenue. It was stated that all revenue, with the exception of general rates, must be used for general county purposes. Consequently toll-gate revenue must be included in the general account and not credited to the separate ridings as formerly. The Taranaki County maintained that toll-gates were erected to make special provision for certain roads and that the revenue should be apportioned to these roads. The opinion of the different counties was sought, so that representations could be made to the Auditor-General. It was pointed out that the only toll-gate in the county was under a special arrangement with the Government, so that the council was not concerned—No action was taken. GENERAL. Complaint was made of a number of dangerous corners on various roads where banks obscured the view to the traffic. Cr. Pitt said the settlers should be instructed that the council would be quite willing to allow settlers to improve such corners at tlielr own expense if they so wished. The ranger reported that he had taken five horses, five cows and three calves from the roads during the month. One convict on had been secured for a breach of the lighting bl ’“l, 8, Baskin, on behalf ot the Midhirst Cemetery Trustees, asked tor 18 yards of screen ings to metal the drive to the cemetery.— Eighteen yards of screenings at 4s per yard W Cr. that he had Interviewed Mr. Fincham, who had agreed to do the d™"' Ing work asked for by Mr. Linn on the Stand- " The State Advances Office notified that the precedent consent of the Governor-General had been given to the raising of a loan ot £l5O for the Oruru Boad. The engineer was Instructed to call tenders tor the crushing, casting and spreading ot 1400 yards ot shell rock on the Stanley Boad, and tor carting 1200 yards at Strathmore. The dog tax for the year was fixed at 2/6 tor sheep and cattle dogs and 10/- tor all Ot lt r «s ßS declded to impose the 10 per cent, penalty on rates on and after March 24.