COUNTY COUNCIL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 1, 17 August 1911, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of tlio Stratford County Council was held yesterday morning. Present: Crs. .Marchant (chairman), Maxwell, Astbury, Christolfcl, Thomson, Hathaway,' Porritt, Walter, and Marfcll. A Doubtful Deviation. Messrs. Malone, Anderson, and Johnstone wrote: —Ho Barclay Hoad deviation: We should bo obliged if ■ you would inform us whether you have any trace of tho Barclay Hoad being deviated between the sections now owned by Messrs. Susans and O’Sullivan. vVo are informed that some yesirs ago it was arranged between Messrs. Hallo and McQueen, the then owners of tho sections, that the Barclay Hoad, which pursued a somewhat devious course, should .be Vwmightencd. Tho actual straightenffug seems to have been done, but the titles havq never been altered, and nothing seems to have been 'done to carry the arrangement into effect.Received. The Council has no record on tho matter. Encroaching Hedges. Cr. Astbury brought up the case of a resident* on Opuuakc Road who , was encroaching on tho road. Permission had been given by tho Council to have a wire fence four‘feet over tho road line to enable a live hedge to bo planted. Unfortunately the land had changed hands, and tho new owner had set a hedge on tho concession line. He thought tho owner, in his own interests, should be warned to move tho hedge back.—Cr. Thomson moved that notice to move back bo given.—Cr. Maxwell seconded.— The motion was carried.—Cr. Marfcll moved that tho foreman bo instructed to report to tho Council on any cases in which they think hedges are ‘being set over the boundary.—Cr. Astbury said discretion should bo used. Any hedge would encroach on tho road, although it was planted on the boundary. It was only in cases where tho hedge was planted over the line that /action should bo taken.-—Cr. Maxwell ' seconded pro forma. Ho saw no reason why landholders should not put their hedges on their own land.—the motion was lost. A Foreman’s Affairs. L. Roberts, County Foreman, Toko, asked for the right to graze on Ahuroa Road, stating that the road was no use to anybody. He was prepared to put a gato at each end to enable those wishing to get through to do so. He would pay a small rent and would keep down noxious weeds, and as there were a great number of these ho thought his proposals would be good for tho settlers. —Cr. Marfell moved that permission be given. It would be a good idea.—Cr. Walter seconded. He said the road was used very little, and was thick with noxious weeds.—Cr. Maxwell said Roberts had leased land on Beaconsfield Road and now apparently desired to have this road in connection with his farming operations. Also, ho thought the foreman should live close to his work. Cr. Walter said Roberts had only ten acres of land. He agreed that he should live near his work.—Cr. Astbury said the foreman should be written to, giving the opinion that the Council thought it inadvisable for him to move away from Toko. He moved in that direction.—Cr. Marfell did not object to the request being refused, but ho did not like the matter of the foreman shifting his residence being considered at the same time.— The Chairman said if Roberts were living near the road in question the request would be reasonable.—Tho Sermission was refused, and it was ocidod to send the foreman the Council’s opinion regarding his residence.

General. J. Caldwell, Kiore, asked if the Council wished to sell old timber taken off ' a small near Kiore.— Referred to the foreman. Foreman Kovaleski was authorised to make tracks in preparation for stone-getting. The Engineer was authorised to procure metal for the New Kopua Road if lie finds it necessary. The Clerk was instructed to serve notices on those settlers reported by Foreman Kovaleski for failing to cut back, trees. It was decided that Mr. Tarry bo called on to repair the damage done to the Bird Road bridge by his traction engine. The Secretary of the Taylor Memorial Fund forwarded an appeal for the co-oporation of the Council in raising funds.—The Council decided that it coulcf do nothing in the matter. . .

' H. Lineham applied for permission to take a few yards of earth from the Beaconsfield Road to fill up inequalities in front of his house.—The Council could not soe its way to agree to the removal of any earth on the road. A. Cray Stewart, Kiore, asked that work be done on the track to his property,—To be informed that the work is laid off and is under consideration of the Department. The Engineer was authorised to carry out necessary improvements to the The Clerk of the Land Board wrote that the ranger’s report on the Council’s proposals for expenditure of £221 11s 9d thirds accrued to March 31st was favourable; but that no payment would bo made until proposals are also made for the balance at credit, £258 9s 9d. The Chairman brought up the matter of the ranger’s expenses when attending to prosecutions, he having at present to carry on prosecutions without remuneration for lost time.— It was decided to grant a sum of 10s for each Court appearance to recoup the ranger for lost time. F. H. Mills, Matau, y rote that some time ago ho wrote to the Minister of Public Works asking for assistance to clear the Matau-Kiore Road, and that since then the settlers had decided to clear the road at their own expense. He asked the Council to back up his statement if applied to by the Minister, as there was a lot to be done before the road would be in order.—To be kept in mind. Five settlers asked that a large culvert be placed under the Mohakau Road opposite the drain across the northern end of section 7, block 9, Ngatimaru. The present drain along the south-east side of the road was not sufficient to carry the water from the large area that drains into it, and in consequence both the road and the land bordering it are kept saturated and are often flooded.—The work was authorised on the motion of Cr. Walter.

It was decided on the motion of the Chairman to subsidise to tho extent of £8 private drainage work now being done on Standish Road. Cr Thomson had his vote recorded against the motion.

Tho Chairman reported that there was only one tender (that of Messis Needham Bros, at £SB) for the New Kopua drainage extension. As it was £lO below the Engineer’s estimate it was accepted. J, Nairn, Mangatoki, wrote that he desired to get the Finnsrty Road end of Ronald Road formed and metalled. He thought a section paying £2O in, rates deserved a good road;

and ho asked that the Engineer bo asked to report on the matter. —To bo informed that the Council cannot see its way to do the work out of u venue. The Engineer was, however, requested to supply a report < n the work.